Past Youth Advisory Groups

Check out the great work of our previous Youth Advisory Groups.

2024 Youth Advisory Groups

Working Partner: Department of Home Affairs

Members:
  • Emma from South Australia
  • Faaiza from New South Wales
  • Isabelle from Victoria
  • Jeremy from South Australia
  • Joshua from Western Australia
  • Kuba from Tasmania
  • Tobias from Queensland
  • Tully from Queensland.

Working partner: Office for the Arts

Members:
  • Charlie from New South Wales
  • Matthew from New South Wales
  • Max from New South Wales
  • Michaela from Queensland
  • Nicola from South Australia
  • Nyarath from Victoria
  • Reede from Tasmania.

Working partner: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Members:
  • Caitlin from New South Wales
  • Chris from Queensland
  • Janelle from Northern Territory
  • Lucinda from Victoria
  • Max from Victoria
  • Ramon from Queensland
  • Shai-lee from New South Wales
  • Teah from Queensland.

Working partners: Department of Education and National Indigenous Australians Agency

Members:
  • Georgie from South Australia
  • Jonathon from Western Australia
  • Noah from New South Wales
  • Rhea from Queensland
  • Shanaya from Northern Territory
  • Sienna from Queensland
  • Tremane from Western Australia
  • Tulara from South Australia
  • Victory from Victoria.

Working partner: Department of Social Services

Members:
  • Ahmad from Victoria
  • Declan from Queensland
  • Elloise from South Australia
  • Gavyn from Victoria
  • Jemma from Australian Capital Territory
  • Jessica from Queensland
  • Kane from New South Wales
  • Taryn from Western Australia.

Working partner: Department of Social Services

Members:
  • James from Queensland
  • Jordy from Northern Territory
  • Kathleen from Western Australia
  • Samantha from Tasmania
  • Sarah from Queensland
  • Sharnya from Tasmania.

2023 Youth Advisory Groups

Working Partner: National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA)

Members:Outcomes:

Noah from New South Wales

Sienna from Queensland

Shanaya from Northern Territory

Georgie from South Australia

Rhea from Queensland

Victory from Victoria

Jonathon from Western Australia

  • Member input informed and contributed to aspects of the Early Years 
    and Education Capacity and Innovation fund.
  • Members provided valuable insight into the National Indigenous Australians Agency through their first-hand experience with education and other important topics.

Working Partner: Department of Health and Aged Care, the National Mental Health Commission (NMHC) and the National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO)

Members:Outcomes:

Isabelle from New South Wales

Jessica from Victoria

Saul from Queensland

Katherine (Katya) from Victoria

Ipshita from Tasmania

Troy from Western Australia

Sankara from Victoria

Arsh from Northern Territory

  • Input from members contributed to the National Mental Health Commission’s advice
    to government on solutions to address youth mental health
  • Insights shared with the National Suicide Prevention Office have strengthened actions
    in the draft Suicide Prevention Strategy.
  • Feedback to the Department of Health and Aged Care informed the Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing study.
  • Input continues to inform the government’s Headspace evaluation.

Working partner: Department of Industry, Science and Resources and Questacon - the National Science and Technology Centre

MembersOutcomes:

Houjie (Henry) from New South Wales

Ewa from Queensland

Aayushi from Victoria

Frank from Victoria

Marianna from Western Australia

Chloe from the Northern Territory

Tegan from Tasmania

Charlotte from Queensland

  • Members provided advice to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources on its Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review and Australia’s National Science and Research priorities.
  • Member input helped to shape future Questacon program and activities around cyber.

Working partner: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)

Members:Outcomes:

Thomas from Queensland

Chris from the Australian Capital Territory

Maheen from Australian Capital Territory

Emily from Victoria

Andrew from Western Australia

Jakob from New South Wales

Ella from South Australia

Bodhi from Queensland

  • Member feedback embedded into COP28 program and events.
  • 8 recommendations made to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) on improving young people’s engagement in the COP process.
  • Group recommendations taken on by DCCEEW as it continues engaging with young people, including the new Youth Community of Practice.

Working partner: Department of Social Services (DSS)

Members:Outcomes:

James from Queensland

Samantha from Tasmania

Jaida from New South Wales

Kathleen from Western Australia

Sharnya from Tasmania

Stephanie from South Australia

Jordy from the Northern Territory

Sarah from Queensland

  • Advice provided to the Department of Social Services (DSS) on Safe and Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021—2031.
  • Insight from members helped guide policies and programs for young Australians through the framework.
  • The group’s commitment has been integral in DSS’s decision to continue the Safe and Supported group in 2024.