The federal government needs to better understand the needs of older and younger Australians if it is serious about economic reform, community groups say.
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Ahead of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's mini-summit of business, community and union leaders on Thursday, the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition is calling for young people to better connected with their political leaders.
The group had its funding stripped by the Abbott government's first budget in 2014 and has since existed on a part-time basis.
Noting that there is currently no official government mechanism to consult with young people, national director Leo Fieldgrass said his organisation was pleased to be included in Thursday's meeting.
He said priority areas were improving young people's school-to-work transition, investing in community services that support young people and encouraging more civic participation from young people.
"We need to support all students to develop 21st century skills that young people will need for the jobs of tomorrow," Mr Fieldgrass said.
He said that schools needed to be better linked to the vocational sector and businesses and that career guidance needed to begin earlier in high school.
Mr Fieldgrass warned that young people needed real work experience and not just "training churn" in programs like Work for the Dole, where there were "no real jobs at the end".
With youth unemployment rising to 14.2 per cent earlier this year - its highest level since 1998 - business, community and government have expressed concern about getting more young people into work
Mr Fieldgrass said involving young people in discussions that will affect their future would only strengthen any reforms.
"We can make young people feel connected ... then that will strengthen all of the economic reform that we are trying to achieve."
Mr Fieldgrass' plea for young people came as the Council on the Ageing called on the Turnbull government to help "shift the paradigm about ageing". Council of the Ageing chief executive Ian Yates said the change was needed so "we do not see older people as a burden".
Mr Yates said economic reforms - that should also involve a review of retirement incomes - needed to look at how more older people could be included in the workforce.
Noting many older Australians wanted to work and made huge unpaid contributions - in terms of caring and child minding - Mr Yates said they were an "important element in improving productivity".
The Australian Council of Social Service said the summit was a chance to see welfare reform considered alongside economic reform.
"They are not separate pieces of work," deputy CEO Tessa Boyd-Caine said.
Dr Boyd-Caine added ACOSS would continue to call on the government to abandon plans to make young people wait four weeks to get the dole.
"We know the jobs aren't out there for young people."
