Engaging with policy documents

Making comments on a policy may seem scary, but you, as a young person, have a voice and should be allowed to engage with any policy that affects your life.

Start by finding out how the policy was created and what the rules say about making changes to it. It might seem obvious, but before commenting, make sure you have read the whole document. It is easy to spend lots of time commenting on one section, only to find that your points are addressed in another section later on.

At this point you’re probably thinking, ‘How am I expected to do all of this?’ Take a deep breath and take it one step at a time. Changing the world doesn’t happen overnight.

If you are ready, here are a few ways to approach commenting on a policy document:

• General comments- Whether you write a few sentences or a page, try to provide your overall views on the document. These can be personal comments, or you can refer to your research from earlier.

• Specific comments - If you feel comfortable moving beyond general comments, you can then focus on specific sections of the policy document that are relevant to you and your cause, identifying the gaps and weaknesses and offering ways in which the sections may be strengthened.

• Changes to the language - The language should be committal and progressive. It should inspire action and give timelines. Language should also be simple, inclusive, and non-discriminatory. Editing the language of a policy is a way to strengthen the document and make it more impactful.

Generally, the more specific you are, the more useful your comments will be. Make notes of all the thoughts you have while reading, and the comments you make on the policy document.