As the 2022 federal election heats up and May 21 edges closer, politicians are exhausting all avenues to claim every last vote that counts with debates, photo opportunities and endless posters hung on neighbourhood fences.

Amidst all the strange campaign moments, however, there's one avenue changing the way young voters are viewing Australian politics: the video sharing app TikTok. 

With more than one billion monthly active users, the social media platform has evolved from a viral video factory into a campaigning playground for Australian politics.

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Featuring comedy groups such as Mates Rates and content creators such as Left Right Out, federal election content on the social media app is endless, from satirical campaign spoofs to bite-size explainers on how the election and parties work.

Dr Francesco Bailo, lecturer in digital media and political studies at the University of Technology Sydney, believes TikTok will play a key role in shaping the voting attitude of young voters and ignite their interest in politics.

"The content shared on social media probably won't affect people who are already highly invested in politics," Bailo told 9news.com.au.

"But for those who are not politically active or interested, consuming such content will have a positive effect, especially since TikTok's main demographic is young adults aged 18 to 25 who have to start getting involved in politics."

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Elfy Scott, co-creator of political podcast series Left Right Out, agrees TikTok's many politically related videos are necessary and helpful in engaging young voters.

"Some people may think that using comedy for raising political awareness is reductive," Scott told 9news.com.au.

"But at least the message is getting out there even if it's just funny spoofs and memes."

With the average TikTok user in Australia spending about 17 hours a month on the app and 44 per cent of them in the 18-24 age bracket, it comes as no surprise many major politicians and parties have also jumped onto the social media bandwagon.

Not all politicians, however, have found success on the video sharing app.

Unlike other social media sites, TikTok doesn't allow paid political advertising on its platform, leaving all parties to their own devices to produce their own original content to find their niche audience.

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"The app has many fascinating uses to reach a wider audience," Scott said.

"But the two major parties aren't doing a fantastic job at communicating to the younger audience, which doesn't help their popularity at all."

Politicians such as Jacqui Lambie and Bob Katter, however, have become favourites for their outlandish videos partaking in viral TikTok trends.

Such videos include Lambie lip syncing to Kath and Kim while decked out in her own merchandise and Greens leader Adam Bandt placing a filter of "sexy Shrek in the sky" gyrating on Parliament House as the "newest Greens candidate".

In Victoria, Wannon's independent candidate Alex Dyson went viral when he teamed up with TikTok star Millie Ford to encourage young voters to cast their own vote and not copy their parents.

Although TikTok has exposed young viewers to the Australian political scene, the app's effectiveness in boosting approval ratings of the politicians who use the app is still to be determined.

"It's a bit early to find some robust results whether TikTok is an effective campaign platform," Bailo said.

"But what we have observed so far is that not every party has the same footing on the app.

"When you're moving onto a different campaigning background anything can backfire so with apps like TikTok you really have to give it your all or know who your target audience is."

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While the popular videos on Tiktok by politicians and content creators are engaging and informative, Bailo notes the app shouldn't be used as a primary source to be informed about politics.

"A lot of important issues can't be mediated through social media in general as they're very complicated," Bailo explained.

"[TikTok] users should keep in mind that social media has the power to also distort information or neglect certain political issues which seem 'boring' in order to get more views or likes."

A woman has been hospitalised after being targeted by a kangaroo at a popular Gold Coast golf club, where other golfers have reported ongoing attacks.

Mary Kohler, 64, was playing golf with a group of friends when a kangaroo attacked her at the Arundel Hills Country Club two weeks ago, leaving her with bleeding gashes along her neck and back.

"I could feel the pounding and the scratching," Kohler said.

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"I was screaming for help… my playing partners heard my cries and rushed to help.

"One of my girlfriends jumped out of the cart with a golf club and pounded the kangaroo off my back.

"It was quite terrifying. At this stage I didn't realise the extent of my injuries."

Staff at the golf club confirmed the kangaroos were getting out of hand, with more golfers forced to fend the animals off with their clubs.

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In a video posted to Facebook, a club member is heard telling staff about the ongoing attacks.

"A roo has attacked 15 people now," he is heard saying.

"It's still out there.

"What are you going to do, let a roo keep attacking people? What if it attacks a kid and kills it?"

Members said despite ongoing complaints to the club over the last few years, nothing has been done about the kangaroos.

While the club has signs warnings golfers not to approach the kangaroos, they appear in large numbers throughout the course.

9News reached out to the Arundel Hills Country Club for comment but they did not respond.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife say the club is private property, however they've notified the club they must call animal specialists to relocate any dangerous kangaroos.

Gabby Kanizay, 19, has become the youngest Australian woman to climb the summit of Mount Everest.

Venturing from Melbourne's eastern suburbs, the Brighton teen has conquered the highest mountain in the world.

Kanizay said it was the most amazing feeling.

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"Just to know that you're literally on top of the world and there is nobody higher than you at this point," she said.

The 19-year-old tackled the peak with her mum Jane by her side.

Along with their Sherpas, they were able to spend an hour at the summit and watch the sun rise from the top, something Kanizay said she would never forget.

"We definitely helped each other stay strong and helped each other get to the summit," she said.

"Now it's this experience, we will be able to share together for the rest of our lives which is awesome."

Kanizay said she set herself the goal to climb to the top of Everest when she was just 14.

Back home in Brighton, her father, Jarrod, said he was incredibly proud and overjoyed.

He said he never doubted his daughter's determination.

"She's very courageous and she's very sporty," he said.

"She has an energy about her that does allow her to stick to her guns and follow through."

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Jarrod said the pair have been training for the climb for years.

"It's very special because Gabby and Jane have done it together over four years now," he said.

"To have had these incremental efforts over the four years come to fruition now is just mind blowing.

"Gabby brings a spirit of happiness and complete joy to any room that she enters so for her to achieve this, it is amazing."

While Gabby has now conquered Mount Everest along with her mum, the teen says she won't stop now.

She has her sights now set on completing all 14 peaks across the world.