However, there’s a new generation of politically aware young citizens from right across the political spectrum who share a passion and drive for progress.

For Maddy Weeks, Nick Calleja and Sam Rowland this weekend’s State Government election is an important step towards the future. Here, they tell us why.

At just 17, Miss Weeks isn’t old enough to vote; but that doesn’t mean she can’t play an active role in the election.

She is just one of dozens of young people who have aligned themselves in recent months to shape the result of this weekend’s polls; pledging support to local political parties and volunteering time to campaign.

For the former Mulwaree High School student, it all began when she went along to a Labor campaign meeting last year.

Interested in what the party had to say on TAFE, renewable energy and community services she enlisted as a volunteer.

Now, she contributes through social media, manning the sidewalk at pre-poll and doing as much as she can to spread the message to her young friends.

“I’ve been involved with Goulburn Labor since about December. I saw something on Facebook about the campaign launch so I went along to that and really liked their ideas and their perspective of new change for Goulburn,” she said.

“I thought I may as well get involved. I can’t vote but I can help spread the message to people that can vote,” Miss Weeks said.

“I have a lot of young friends that can vote and it’s easier to get through to them with youth involvement in the party.

“(My friends) thought my involvement was a bit odd to be honest but once I told them what I was doing they got really interested in it because not many young people really care about the elections but their vote counts just as much as anyone else’s so it’s important for them to know who they’re voting for because it’s their future.

“‘Time for Change’ is their slogan and I really like that because I think that’s what Goulburn really needs.”

Similarly new to the political scene is 23-year-old Mr Calleja.

He became involved with the Goulburn Greens last year, quickly rising through the ranks to become Convener of the party and now Campaign Manager for local candidate Iain Fyfe.

Mr Calleja told the Post he first became interested in politics while studying at Trinity Catholic College, taking up position with the NSW Youth Parliament in 2007.

It served as an introduction to politics and all its processes, an experience he claims was “invaluable”.

The progression to signing on with The Greens came naturally, he said.

“It had a lot to do with feeling disenfranchised with what the two major parties were doing and how they had no firm stance on the issues I cared about,” Mr Calleja told the Post.

During a party meeting last year, he volunteered to take on the campaign manager’s role in a bid to provide a more progressive voice to the region.

He believed many young people felt misrepresented when it came to policy and politics.

“Most young people I find have a great deal of empathy. An example is that most of our generation are very pro-marriage equality and aren’t quite sure why we haven’t done that yet. Another big one is employment and housing affordability…

“(A lot of youth) don’t want to have anything to do with politics at all, given the two major parties have been throwing the electorate around a bit over the years. The Greens are the party that’s mostly standing up for what young people are interested in, (although) I would encourage people to do their research on the different parties and find out which works for them.”

Mr Calleja isn’t the only young campaign manager steering a party towards this weekend’s polls.

Mr Rowland, 23, is the Liberal’s go-to man.

Vice-President of the local branch and now campaign manager for incumbent MP Pru Goward, Mr Rowland told the Post is role is, simply, “to make sure Pru Goward gets re elected”.

“I’ve always had a keen interest in politics and have been a member of the Liberal Party for some four or five years. I knew from a young age that I was more conservative, in that I believe in small business and the freedom of the individual. I aligned with the Liberal Party on a philosophical level.”

Mr Rowland is far from inexperienced, having run his own campaign for local council in 2012 and played a part in the 2013 federal election alongside Angus Taylor.

“Subsequently I was appointed as Pru’s campaign manager. I have enjoyed it because I’ve had such a wonderful candidate to work with. Pru has an incredible work ethic; if she’s not door knocking she is phone canvassing and if she’s not phone canvassing she is meeting with constituents.”

Mr Rowland believed there to be a “low-level” of interest from young people in the lead up to the polls. He attributed “dirty campaigns” from opposing candidates as a reason why.

“In my view there’s been a low level of interest from young people and it’s not hard to see why… Politics has such an impact on all of us and we need to engage as much as possible.”