State Member for Hastings, Neale Burgess is encouraging young people aged 16 to 25 to make their voices heard as part of the annual YMCA Victorian Youth Parliament.
As part of the program, twenty teams of six participants receive training in public speaking and leadership at residential camps, as they research issues that they are passionate about. From this research, they develop a Bill, which is then debated in the Victorian Parliament over three days in July.
Youth Parliament has a long and successful history in Victoria, having helped shape more than 25 pieces of Victorian legislation including laws on mandatory bike helmets, roadside drug testing and gun reforms.
Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Cindy McLeish MP said: “Youth Parliament presented a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn leadership skills.
Young Victorians are not just the leaders of tomorrow – they are the leaders of today. Youth Parliament helps to teach our young leaders the skills needed to raise the voices of young people in the community,” Ms McLeish said.
Applications are now open and close on Thursday 7 March. For more information on how to apply, visit vicyouth.ymca.org.au/programs/youth-parliament.html
Mr Burgess said: “Youth Parliament is a program designed to give young Victorians a chance to be heard at the highest levels of State Government, on a wide range of issues relevant to young people’ lives.”
