COMMUNITY NEWS

Youth Parliament 2024

Mildura Rural City Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from young people aged between 16 and 25 years, to be a part of the 2025 YMCA Youth Parliament Program Mildura team.

The YMCA Victorian Youth Parliament is a program designed to give young Victorians an opportunity to participate in the parliamentary processes in the Victorian State Government. It is a chance for young Victorians to advocate on issues they are passionate about and relevant to young people's lives.

A team of six participants receive public speaking and leadership training, attend residential camps and research issues they are passionate about. From their research, participants develop a Bill that they will debate in the Victorian Parliament over three days in July 2025.

The program provides participants with great personal and professional development opportunities, and the bills that are handed to the relevant Ministers, provide the government with awareness into what issues are important to young Victorians.

The program involves two residential camps at YMCA Lake Dewar Discovery Camp, Myrniong. The training weekend held in May 2025, prepares participants for parliamentary etiquette, public speaking and media training, with skill development sessions in leadership and confidence. 

The Youth Parliament program culminates in a week-long residential camp in July 2025, including three days of debate in Parliament House. The remainder of the time is spent at the campsite in preparation and taking part in advocacy and leadership capacity building sessions.

This opportunity is funded by Mildura Rural City Council and YMCA at no cost to successful applicants.

Expressions of Interest are open until Sunday 1 December 2024. Those who are interested can visit www.mildura.vic.gov.au/YouthParliament to register.

For further information or assistance with the application please contact the Youth Services team on 0447 881 152 or 03 5018 8100 or email youthservices@mildura.vic.gov.au