Yet the suspension of daily activities and need to socially isolate has also offered an opportunity to pause and reflect on what matters, and what changes we might like to see continue.

Healthier habits for young people

For many fortunate young people in rural communities, the prospect of leaving the house has become one of excitement.

Being one of the few reasons to be outdoors, exercise has transformed from an exhausting and often avoided chore into an activity of genuine enjoyment, exploring the local natural gems we rarely make time to visit.

Young people are also using this time to learn a new skill such as cooking, art, yoga, reading and more, finding free sessions online on YouTube and Instagram.

Being unable to visit friends and family has meant finding new ways to create meaningful, strong online connections.

Video calls, Netflix parties and staying in touch regularly has made us more appreciative of our relatives or friends. This has seen young people play a key role in maintaining community spirit.

The good news from community spirit

Alex Dekker from Alex Makes Meals put his studies on hold, to work with more than 200 like-minded volunteers to produce thousands of meals every day to feed frontline health workers.

There have been and still are gaps

Of course, COVID-19 overall has not been good news for young people.

The pandemic has exposed the gaps in the system, with a disproportionate impact on young people experiencing disadvantage.

Youth unemployment is rising and is highly likely to be a significant long-term problem without intervention.

Many students are unable to engage in online school, either due to no access to technology, lack of support, or difficult circumstances at home.

We have seen young people's increased exposure to online gambling and cyber bullying.

Young people have dropped out of regular support groups, putting their mental health and social connection at risk.

Migrant and refugee communities, and international students have received only minor support at most.

And many more children have gone missing from the state's residential care system.

In response, we have seen governments recognise these impacts and advance some supports in a timely fashion.

Telehealth services have been recognised as an important step for ensuring everyone receives medical attention.

Schools have been funded to provide access to digital technologies and internet services to students who would otherwise miss out on school.

The rate of Jobseeker payments has temporarily increased by $550 a fortnight, and there have been some welcome increases to funding for child protection, family services and disabliity providers across the state.

The Commission for Children and Youth has expanded an inquiry into why children go missing each year to look specifically at the consequences of COVID-19.

We must continue advocating for the important reforms brought about by COVID-19 to be supported and built upon long term.

Finding new ways to engage

Those of us working with young people have been forced to re-evaluate our priorities and realign our work as restrictions rolled out.

With funding bodies being more flexible, responsive and supportive of new ideas, organisations are working together more and better than ever, and working with young people to respond to the crisis in creative and inclusive ways.

Better Partnerships

Workers now have access to training, networks and specialist services that used to happen only in the city.

Metro colleagues have had to navigate working remotely, often with inconsistent internet and they're now starting to understand what that really means for rural and regional people.

And COVID-19 has paved the way for more collaboration between different services and young people for success.

In Glenelg Shire and in many other places around the state, it has been an entire community effort to contribute ideas and support for spreading clear and concise messages around COVID-19.

They have introduced local hashtags, set up local library exchanges where people pass on books, artworks and letters to each other, had young people sharing messages for the community on footpaths, and created supportive online youth spaces where young people can be connected.

The need for hope

In this generation-defining pandemic, rural and regional young people are key stakeholders, and youth workers really matter.

They connect young people with the community, and bring hope to so many people's lives.

We want and need to have hope.

Not a naive hope, but a real expectation, based on evidence and intent.

Hope is a call out for funding for youth workers to find and re-engage the young people who have fallen through the cracks.

Hope is putting forward a strong collective voice as a sector on the issues that matter, and not accepting inadequate responses to the gaps in care and support.

Hope is a society that treasures the connections that we have made and does not shy away from acknowledging the challenges.

Hope is young people having a real voice in how our systems and society are rebuilt.

That's our very real hope for the future.

Karen Walsh is the Great South Coast Rural Development co-ordinator. Lara Paull is a student intern from Yackandandah for Youth Affairs Council Victoria.