Applications for the Y NSW’s 2023 Youth Parliament Close Soon

If you are inspired to make change within the parliamentary arena and you are in Years 10, 11 or 12 (or equivalent age) why not apply for the Y NSW’s 2023 Youth Parliament? You need to get in fast, though, because applications close on February 17.

As NSWs premier youth empowerment program operating for over 20 years, Youth Parliament offers young people the opportunity to debate in NSW Parliament, create Youth Bills on issues for change, and have their voices and recommendations heard by Members of Parliament.

Youth Parliamentarians receive specialised training through a series of camps and online workshops, parliamentary education and experience, plus the opportunity for community engagement and teamwork which are all designed to nurture participants in developing their skills to create social impact and positive change.

Throughout the program, participants are invited to create reports with recommendations for policy change and debate their recommendations during a mock sitting week in NSW Parliament House chaired by Ministers of Parliament.

The Y NSW then actively works to facilitate ongoing engagement with relevant Ministers.

Y NSW CEO, Susannah Le Bron said that the Youth Parliament program provided an important platform to ensure young people were heard.

“Each year I am amazed at the immense passion, intelligence and insight participants bring to Youth Parliament as they speak on issues that are important to them,” Ms Le Bron said.

“Young people are the focus of everything we do at the Y NSW so it’s incredibly exciting watching participants flourish as they are empowered to engage with civic leadership, policy development and democratic parliamentary debate.”

Approximately 1,000 young people have participated in the program over the past ten years with 97 per cent surveyed saying they felt more empowered to advocate for issues in their local communities.

Testament to the value of the program, former Youth Parliamentarians have gone on to become Members of Parliament and returned to the Youth Parliament program as guests and mentors.

Eligible young people should visit ymcansw.org.au/youth-parliament and submit their application before 17 February 2023 to take part. School teachers and Members of Parliament can also nominate a young person.

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