Young voices, future towns: How rural teens see tomorrow
What happens when you ask teenagers to imagine their hometown's future? The "My Future Town" project did just that, turning high school students in Tara, Chinchilla, Jandowae, and Dalby into visionaries through the power of speculative fiction.
While young people will inherit these towns, they rarely get a say in planning them. This project flips the script, putting their stories and dreams centre stage. Leading the charge is renowned children's author Dr Isobelle Carmody, who guided students through creative writing workshops that unlocked their imagination and encouraged them to tell stories of tomorrow.
When Carmody asked if writing about the future scared them, students had a surprising answer: the creative freedom felt more like play than pressure. Free from the usual academic scrutiny, they could tackle serious issues - from climate change to housing - while staying true to their voices. As Carmody puts it, "time opens up like a flower when writing."
Their stories paint a nuanced picture of tomorrow. While dystopian themes of climate change surface frequently, they're balanced with optimistic visions anchored in friendship, community, and scientific progress. Students showed deep appreciation for their towns' natural beauty, space, and safety.
The program wrapped with more than just participation certificates: it spawned a published anthology of student stories. Carmody notes she's "never felt so connected to a group in her whole life." Teachers, council members, and students came together for the book launch, proving that when young people dream about tomorrow, whole towns come alive today.
Through these creative workshops, "My Future Town" isn't just collecting stories - it's investing in the next generation of regional Australia's storytellers and leaders.