Thursday, 13 April 2017

Young Gippslanders will have even more opportunities to have their say and help shape government decisions, with Victorian Youth Congress applications opening today.

Minister for Youth Affairs Jenny Mikakos has announced the opening of applications at the Victorian Government’s first Youth Summit, which was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday and attended by over four hundred young Victorians.

The inaugural summit was a huge gathering of Victoria’s young people bringing together an abundance of ideas and actions to improve the lives of young people now and in the future.

Marking the first day of National Youth Week, the summit provided an opportunity for young people to share their views, hear from other inspiring young change makers and workshop priority issues including mental health, education, housing and education.

The outcomes from the summit will guide discussions for the Victorian Youth Congress, an advisory group of young people aged 12 to 25, which will meet with Ministers in 2017-18 and advise on all areas of youth policy.

The summit also marked the first of more than 100 youth-focussed events and activities to take place this week as part of National Youth Week.

For information on local NYW events – see www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au}

Harriet Shing, Member for Eastern Victoria Region, said the congress is an important platform for young people to directly influence policies and programs, and encouraged young people in Gippsland to apply.

Reflecting the diversity of young people in Victoria, the group will include representation from Aboriginal young people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with a disability, LGBTI young people and young people living in regional, rural and metropolitan Victoria.

The Youth Summit and the Youth Congress are key actions being delivered as part of the Victorian Government’s Youth Policy: Building Stronger Youth Engagement in Victoria, which was announced last year. The policy strengthens how government engages with young people, including those whose voices often go unheard.

For more information on the Victorian Youth Congress and how to apply, please go to: www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing:

“I encourage young people in Gippsland to apply for the Victorian Youth Congress, which builds upon the many initiatives to engage young people in policy and decision-making across our region and the state. It’s an opportunity to speak directly with government and to shape their communities.”