The Australian Government wants your help to shape national policies and programs.

The Australian Government Youth Advisory Groups present new opportunities for you to work with federal departments and agencies to take action on the issues that matter to you.

There are five advisory groups that you can apply for:

First Nations
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Promotion of STEM
Climate Change and Conference of the Parties (COP)
Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-31

Committee members will attend training in Canberra and meet politicians, government officials, and other young people. The first committee meetings will be held in Canberra between 29–31 March 2023. Travel, accommodation, and meals will be paid by the Australian Government Department of Education and Australian Youth Affairs Coalition. Every member will also be paid an honorarium to recognise their contributions to their committee.

Apply HERE

Each advisory group will consist of eight young people between the ages of 16-25. You can apply for up to two advisory groups and will need to make clear which advisory group/s you are applying for. You don’t need any previous experience to apply. We’re looking for diverse groups of young people from right across the country. You must be available to travel to Canberra to attend the face to face meeting on 29-31 March 2023.

Applications open on Monday 23 January and close at 5PM AEDT on Sunday 12 February. You can apply here ayac.typeform.com/advisory-groups. We will let you know the outcome of your application in March.

You can attend an online info session where we’ll share more about the application process and answer your questions on 30 January 2023 at 6:30PM AEDT. You can register to attend at events.humanitix.com/advisory-groups. We can also support you to complete the form and accept applications in a different format to ensure the application is accessible to you. You can contact info@ayac.org.au if you need support to apply.

Apply HERE

Advisory Groups

First Nations Youth Advisory Group

The group will work with the National Indigenous Australians Agency on the design, including implementation plan, of the new Early Years and Education Capacity and Innovation Fund. The fund is being set up to help First Nations organisations and communities to support capability/capacity building and innovative activities that aim to contribute to better early years and education outcomes. This advisory group is only open to First Nations young people.

Youth Advisory Group for Mental Health and Wellbeing

The group will work with the National Mental Health Commission and provide advice on the impacts of digital technology and social media on young people. This advice will inform recommendations, policies and programs that support young people in navigating digital technology and social media to improve their health and wellbeing. The group will also work with the Department of Health and Aged Care to design better and more accessible support mechanisms for young people. The group will discuss how to best integrate services across the community to support the mental health of young people and how to use new technologies to complement face-to-face services. The group will also support the National Suicide Prevention Office to provide views and advice on the development of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, particularly as it relates to the diverse issues that are important to, and impact, young Australians.

Youth Advisory Group for the Promotion of STEM

The group will work on national exhibitions, run by Questacon, that are related to science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) and STEM career pathways. The group will also help to support the inclusion of young people from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. The group will advise the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) on the ethical and social concerns young people have about science and technology. They will help the department understand how they can inspire the next generation of young people in STEM, and how they can redesign programs to reflect young people’s perspectives.

Youth Advisory Group for Climate Change and Conference of the Parties (COP)

The group will be engaged by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) in the lead up to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP28 in Dubai, in November 2023. This engagement will help to shape the Australian pavilion events program, inform Australia’s joint COP31 hosting bid with the Pacific and mainstream young people’s perspectives into work leading into COP28. The group will also be consulted to ensure there is diverse youth participation from Australia at COP28.

Youth Advisory Group for Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-31

The group will provide advice on actions under Safe and Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-31, including strategies and programs that improve access to services that contribute to the safety, wellbeing and outcomes for vulnerable children and young people. The group will also advise the Department of Social Services on other programs, which may include supports for families and communities, disability programs, housing and homelessness policy, and working with young men as part of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children 2022-32. This work may include consideration of matters where governments can work more closely on responses to improve life outcomes for vulnerable children and young people. This advisory group is only open to First Nations young people and young people with disability who have experienced disadvantage or vulnerability, young people who have experienced abuse and/or neglect, and young people with an experience of out-of-home care or leaving care.

More information available here - https://www.ayac.org.au/advisory-groups

~ Stevie Afamasaga

Regional Youth Programs Coordinator

Past Student Pedrea Jackson stars in Blueback