Introduction: The Growing Importance of Youth Voice in Governance

Youth engagement in governance is no longer a peripheral afterthought but a central pillar of democratic renewal. Across Australia, advisory councils and youth parliaments are providing young people with concrete opportunities to shape the policies that affect their lives. The ACT Youth Advisory Council stands out as a pioneering example, enabling young Canberrans to directly influence local decision-making. In a territory where the median age is 35 years, ensuring that the perspectives of those under 25 are heard is critical to building inclusive, forward-looking policies. The Council serves as a formal conduit between the youth of the Australian Capital Territory and the ACT Government, ensuring that adolescent and young adult viewpoints are not lost in the bureaucratic process.

What is the ACT Youth Advisory Council?

Origins and Purpose

Established under the Youth Advisory Council Act 2010, the ACT Youth Advisory Council is a statutory body that provides a structured avenue for youth participation in government. Its core mandate is to advise the ACT Minister for Children, Youth and Families on issues affecting young people, as well as to promote the participation of young people in civic life. The Council is guided by the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly Article 12 which affirms the right of young people to express their views on matters that affect them.

Membership and Diversity

The Council comprises up to 15 members aged between 12 and 25 years, reflecting the broad demographic of young people living in Canberra and the surrounding region. Members are selected through an open application process that seeks to ensure representation across gender, cultural background, disability, geography (north versus south Canberra), and type of school (public, private, or home educated). This diversity is not merely symbolic; it directly enriches the advice provided to government by bringing lived experiences from different segments of the youth population.

Operational Structure

The Council meets fortnightly during school terms, with additional working groups focusing on specific policy areas such as education, mental health, climate action, and employment. Each meeting is facilitated by the Office for Youth within the ACT Community Services Directorate, which provides administrative support and ensures that the Council’s recommendations are documented and transmitted to the relevant Minister. The Council also elects a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson annually, providing leadership development opportunities for its members.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Providing Policy Feedback

Perhaps the most direct role of the Council is evaluating and responding to proposed legislation, strategies, and programs that affect young people. For example, when the ACT Education Directorate releases a draft of the Future of Education strategy, the Council convenes youth roundtables and submits formal feedback. This feedback often identifies gaps in mental health support in schools, the need for more flexible learning pathways, and the importance of youth-friendly communication in policy documents. The Council’s submissions are taken seriously by government departments and often result in amendments before finalisation.

Organising Youth Engagement Activities

Beyond reactive feedback, the Council proactively organises events to engage the broader youth population. These include the annual Youth Week celebrations, which feature forums, art exhibitions, and sport activities designed to foster community connection. The Council also runs “Youth in the Kitchen” workshops teaching cooking and budgeting skills, and “Mock Council” sessions where teenagers simulate Legislative Assembly debates. These activities lower the barrier to civic participation by making it accessible, fun, and relevant to young lives.

Raising Awareness About Civic Participation

A core function of the Council is demystifying government for its peers. Through school visits, social media campaigns, and videos produced in partnership with the ACT Government’s digital team, Council members explain concepts like how a bill becomes law, the role of an electorate officer, and how to submit a petition. This peer-led approach is far more effective than top-down education, as young people are more likely to engage with information delivered by someone their own age. The Council maintains an active presence on Instagram and TikTok, reaching thousands of young Canberrans each month with bite-sized political education content.

Collaborating with Schools and Community Groups

The Council does not operate in isolation. It partners with organisations such as the Youth Coalition of the ACT, the ACT Council of Parents & Citizens Associations, and the Multicultural Youth Service. These collaborations allow the Council to tap into the expertise of established community organisations and to amplify the voices of marginalised youth who might not otherwise participate. Joint initiatives have included mental health first aid training for youth workers, and a campaign promoting free public transport concessions for tertiary students.

Advocating for Key Issues

Council members are vocal advocates on a range of issues. In recent years they have campaigned for safe injecting facilities to address drug-related harm among young people, lobbied for increased funding for youth homelessness services, and pushed for climate emergency declarations that include youth representation on advisory boards. Their advocacy is grounded in evidence, but it is also infused with personal stories that make abstract policy problems human. This combination of numbers and narrative is powerful in swaying both politicians and the public.

Impact on Civic Policy Development

Education Policy

One of the most tangible impacts of the ACT Youth Advisory Council can be seen in education policy. In 2021, the Council conducted a survey of over 800 students across Canberra asking about their experience of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings—including high rates of disengagement among senior students and a demand for more flexible deadlines—were presented to the Education Minister and directly informed the design of the ACT Education Directorate’s Remote Learning Strategy. As a result, students now have clearer guidelines on workload and mental health check-ins during extended closures.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Mental health is consistently the top concern raised by young people in the ACT. The Council has successfully advocated for the establishment of youth-specific mental health drop-in centres in Tuggeranong and Belconnen, and for the expansion of the Headspace program. Council members sit on the ACT Mental Health Advisory Council, ensuring that young people’s voices are included in conversations about service design and funding priorities. Their input has led to shorter wait times for adolescent psychologists and the introduction of peer support workers in emergency departments.

Environmental and Climate Policy

The Council has been instrumental in the ACT’s ambitious climate target of net-zero emissions by 2045. Through the Youth Advisory Council, young people have argued that climate policy must include intergenerational equity, and have pushed for measures like the ban of single-use plastics and increased tree canopy in urban areas. The Council’s climate working group produced a report called “Our Climate, Our Future” which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly and contributed to the Climate Change Strategy 2023-2030.

Community Safety and Justice

In the area of community safety, the Council has advocated for restorative justice practices in schools rather than suspensions, and for better police training around interactions with young people. They have also co-designed a “Youth Safety App” that provides information on how to report harassment and access support services. This project was funded by the ACT Government’s Community Safety Grants program and was developed after the Council highlighted that many young people did not know how to navigate the justice system.

How Youth Can Get Involved

Eligibility and Application Process

Any young person aged 12 to 25 who lives, works, or studies in the ACT is eligible to apply for membership. Applications open once a year, typically around March, and are advertised through schools, youth centres, and social media. The application process includes a written response to a prompt (e.g., “What is an issue affecting young people in your community and how would you address it?”) and a short interview with current Council members and a staff member from the Office for Youth. Experience is not required—the Council values enthusiasm and a willingness to learn above all else.

Commitment and Support

Members are expected to attend fortnightly meetings, participate in at least one working group, and contribute to events like Youth Week. The Council provides training in public speaking, policy analysis, and meeting procedures. Travel costs to meetings are reimbursed, and members can claim a small honorarium to acknowledge their time. For school-aged members, participation can be counted toward the ACT Senior Secondary Certificate’s Community Service requirement or the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Alternative Ways to Participate

If full membership is not feasible, there are many other ways to engage. Young people can attend Council-run consultation sessions, submit written feedback on current policy topics, or volunteer at events. The Council also maintains a “Youth Ideas Portal” on the ACT Government website where anyone under 25 can propose a policy idea or highlight a problem they have identified. These ideas are reviewed by Council members and may be escalated to the Minister. Additionally, schools and youth groups can request a visit from Council members for a Q&A session about how to get involved in government.

Benefits of Youth Participation in Policy

Research consistently shows that when young people are involved in civic processes, they develop higher levels of political efficacy, critical thinking skills, and a sense of belonging. For the ACT community, the benefits include policies that are more relevant and responsive, reduced rates of youth disengagement, and a pipeline of future leaders who understand the democratic process from the inside. The Council also supports intergenerational dialogue, which is essential for addressing long-term challenges like climate change and fiscal sustainability.

Personal Development for Members

Former members of the ACT Youth Advisory Council frequently report that their experience was transformative. Many go on to study political science, law, or public policy at university, and a number have subsequently run for public office or worked as policy advisors. The skills developed—chairing meetings, negotiating compromises, speaking to media, and writing reports—are highly transferable to any career. The Council also provides a supportive peer network, reducing isolation for young people who are passionate about making a difference.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Despite its successes, the Council faces ongoing challenges. One is ensuring that membership reflects the full diversity of the ACT’s youth population, particularly those who are disengaged from mainstream institutions or who face barriers like disability, low income, or cultural isolation. The Office for Youth has tried to address this by partnering with migrant and refugee support organisations and offering alternative formats for applications (e.g., video or audio submissions). Another challenge is managing expectations: the Council advises but does not decide, and sometimes recommendations are not adopted. Maintaining the motivation of young members when progress is slow requires honest communication from government about constraints and timelines.

Another lesson learned is the need for continuous training for government officials on how to work effectively with young people. Traditional committee styles can be intimidating, and officials sometimes use jargon that excludes young participants. The Council has pushed for “youth-friendly” meeting practices, including the use of plain language, shorter sessions, and visual materials. The ACT Government’s Youth Engagement Toolkit was developed in partnership with the Council to share these best practices across the public service.

Future Directions and Expansion

Looking ahead, the ACT Youth Advisory Council is exploring ways to deepen its impact. One proposal is to create a dedicated youth budget, where a small portion of the territory budget is earmarked for projects co-designed with young people, similar to participatory budgeting models used in other cities. Another is to establish a formal peer-mentoring program linking past and present Council members. The Council is also advocating for lowering the voting age to 16 in local government elections, a change that would further empower young people in the territory.

The Council’s influence continues to extend beyond Canberra. It has been consulted by other states and territories looking to set up similar bodies, and its model has been cited in academic papers on youth governance. In 2023, the Council received a National Youth Governance Award for its innovative approach to inclusive policy development.

Conclusion: Amplifying the Voice of a Generation

The ACT Youth Advisory Council is far more than a token gesture toward youth participation—it is a functioning, policy-shaping body that has delivered real change on education, mental health, climate, and community safety. By bridging the gap between young citizens and decision-makers, it ensures that the next generation’s needs and aspirations are embedded in the territory’s agenda. For young people in Canberra, the message is clear: your voice matters, and there are structured, supportive pathways to make it heard. As the challenges facing society become more complex and long-term, the insights and energy of youth have never been more critical. Whether through Council membership, attending a forum, or simply having a conversation with a local Member, every act of civic participation strengthens the fabric of democracy.

For more information on how to apply or to read past submissions, visit the official ACT Youth Advisory Council page. Additional resources on youth participation in Australia can be found through the United Nations Youth Association of Australia and the Youth Coalition of the ACT.