Happy Saturday!
Picture this: you’ve just finished Year 12. Schoolies is done, exam results are out, and you’re ready for whatever comes next.
Except the Government has already booked your next year: a stint in a hospital, on a fire crew, on a farm, or in the Australian Defence Force.
That’s the idea behind mandatory civic service, and it’s back in the national conversation after former Australian treasurer Josh Frydenberg raised the proposal in his new book.
So how would mandatory civic service work? And could it actually happen?
Let’s get into it.
What is mandatory civic service?
Mandatory civic service is the idea that school leavers would spend a compulsory period of time performing public or community work.
It’s different from conscription, which is when a government requires people to serve in the military. Conscription exists in various forms around the world, but Australia hasn’t had it since 1972.
Unlike conscription, civic service would let people choose the army, but also offer options like working in aged or health care, disaster relief, or certain agricultural settings. It would require participants to leave home and work in different communities, with different groups of people.
According to Frydenberg, the underlying motivation behind this pitch is: “The more people feel a sense of connectivity and community, the better, the more resilient we will be as a nation”.
So, what does TDA’s audience of young Aussies think of the pitch?
Audience perspective
Well, a slim majority (52%) of TDA respondents said they don’t support the idea, while 48% of respondents said they do support the idea of mandatory national civic service. We allowed people to tell us why they had formed that view, and the answers were fascinating.
Ok, so let’s summarise the key arguments put forward by our audience in favour of civic service:
Social cohesion: Many readers argue this idea could help create a foundation of social cohesion across the country by introducing new people, communities and ideas of a national identity to the next generation. As one reader put it: “People from all walks of life would be working together to create something bigger than themselves. The best version of Australia is when we all come together for a common cause. All for it!!”
Resourcing: Other readers argue that the industries that form the backbone of our society remain significantly under-resourced, and that this is a way to plug those shortfalls. With constant headlines about the need for more aged care or health care workers, could this be the answer? Some readers think so.
Exposure: Exposing young people to different workforces and areas of Australian society could attract new people to these underappreciated industries. A TDA reader said: “As a 21 yr old, who works in social services, I think if everyone had to do a year of a job like emergency services and saw how hard life is for others, then everyone would be a lot more motivated to do something about it.”
On the flip side, the key arguments against national civic service were as follows:
Economic strain: Many readers questioned allocating taxpayer funding towards this program, and how much it would cost to invest in it. One reader posited: “Why would we create a program that has to be funded by taxpayers during a cost of living crisis rather than encouraging school leavers to get into the paid workforce and contribute to the economy? This isn’t setting up anyone for success.”
Independence: Others pointed out that after 12 years of schooling, where young people have their every move dictated by others, taking away their post-school independence and autonomy feels unfair.
Burden on industries: The final key argument put forward by detractors of this idea is that having inexperienced school leavers who are forced to participate in a program could create an additional burden for the participating industries. On this, we heard: “I just don’t think first responders need to babysit a whole year's worth of essentially kids who don't really want to be there on top of responding to the crises they are already faced with on the day-to-day.”
So, will it happen?
The short answer is: it’s highly unlikely.
This week, a spokesperson from the Department of Defence told TDA the Government is not currently considering any form of conscription.
That doesn’t mean the idea hasn’t been floated before, though. In 2022, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott suggested school leavers should spend six to 12 months in the military or helping in the community.
So, what do you think? Do you support or oppose the idea?
Hit reply and let me know!
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