A POWERFUL new community art exhibition, Young Voices for Change, has launched at Midland Gate Shopping Centre, showcasing real postcards written by children across the state about poverty.
Presented by No Place for Poverty, the exhibition brings together handwritten messages created by children and young people who were asked to reflect on a confronting reality: more than 420,000 people in WA live in poverty.
In response, children were invited to write directly to government decision-makers, sharing how this made them feel, and what they believe needs to change.
The result is a collection of honest, thoughtful, and hopeful postcards, each signed with a name and age, and rooted in a clear message: that the rules creating poverty can and should be fixed.
“These postcards are simple, but incredibly powerful,” No Place for Poverty lead Alex Hughes said.
“They show that children understand what’s happening in their communities. They care deeply, and they’re asking for something better, not just for themselves, but for everyone.”
Rather than focusing solely on statistics, Young Voices for Change brings a human perspective to an issue affecting communities and the installation presents children not as bystanders, but as voices calling for fairness and change.
The exhibition is hosted in the highly accessible environment of Midland Gate Shopping Centre, allowing members of the public to encounter these messages in their everyday lives for six weeks.
Developed in collaboration with partners including Barking Gecko Arts, and supported by Midland Gate as host venue, the exhibition is designed to invite both reflection and participation.
Visitors are encouraged to read the postcards and consider the question at the heart of the exhibition: What would you write?
No Place for Poverty is a movement of West Australians who believe everyone deserves a fair chance to live a good life. By amplifying community voices and lived experiences, the movement works to bring attention to poverty in WA and advocate for a stronger, more inclusive future.
