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- Youth Advocacy and Advisory Groups
Young people have the right to have a say in all matters that affect them.
There are many opportunities for youth advocacy in Queensland! Start by exploring community groups that advocate on topics you care about.
We've put together a list of youth advisory, advocacy, and leadership groups to help young people use their voices to influence positive change.
Australia and Queensland-wide
Australia - National Office for Youth - Safe and Supported Youth Advisory Group
The group provides advice to the working partner on Safe and Supported, the national framework for protecting Australia’s children.
Queensland - State Youth Leadership Program (SYLP)
A multi-stage training program designed to develop young people into leaders. It focuses on adventure-based learning and a chance to step out of their comfort zone, challenge themselves, and develop skills useful in school, community, work, and life.
Online Safety
Australia wide - eSafety Youth Advisory Council
The council gives young people the opportunity to share their insights and experiences about online safety with eSafety and Government.
STEM
Australia wide - National Office for Youth - Promotion of Stem Youth Advisory Group
The advisory group provides advice to inspire future generations of STEM professionals by addressing barriers to participation and engage with young people.
Support
Mount Isa - Young People Ahead Youth Advisory Group
Leads community partnerships to promote an environment that embraces individuality, integrity and opportunity for a positive outcome for young people and their families.
Ipswich - ICYS Ipswich Community Youth Service Inc
Provides assistance and support to at-risk young people, their families and their communities in the Ipswich and surrounding regions since 1983.
Innisfail, Cairns - Innisfail Youth and Family Care Inc -
Provides recreational activities and emergency accommodation for young people.
Queensland - Queensland Youth Services Inc
Provides a diverse range of youth support services in North Queensland
Redcliffe - Redcliffe Area Youth Space Incorporated
Services span behavioural and mental health, education, social inclusion and capacity building.
Housing
Queensland - Queensland Youth Housing Coalition
A state-wide advocacy organisation working towards ending youth homelessness.
Brisbane - Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC)
Free confidential legal and social support services for young people.
Climate Change
Australia wide - National Office for Youth - Climate Change and COP28 Youth Advisory Group
The advisory group provides advice to the working partner on increasing engagement and participation of young people in the UNFCC and its COPs.
Queensland - Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network (Australian Youth Climate Coalition)
Seed is Australia’s first Indigenous youth climate network.
Leadership
Australia wide - Foundation for Young Australians
Programs that focus on empowering young people top to bottom.
Queensland - PCYC Youth Leaders Program
This programs aim to develop and support, as well as challenge and inspire young people to recognise and achieve their leadership potential.
Toowoomba - Youth Leaders Program
This program allows young people from across the region to learn about local communities and groups, local events, activities, and services available for young people.
First Nations
Australia wide - National Office for Youth - First Nations Youth Advisory Group
Provides advice to the NIAA on the development of the Early Years Education Capacity and Innovation Fund (the Fund).
LGBTQ+
Queensland - Queensland Action Group for LGBTIQ+ Students
An active voice in issues affecting LGBTIQ+ students and their families in Queensland, meeting with politicians, policy makers, and academics, and making written and oral submissions to parliamentary inquiries at state and national level.
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)
Queensland - MyQ - Multicultural Youth Queensland
A platform for advocacy, leadership, and change for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in Queensland. The Council brings together young people with diverse skills and knowledge to represent the needs of young people.
Australia wide - Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN)
Support for young people to represent the rights and interests of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds nationally and internationally. Three advocacy programs - Youth Ambassador Network (YAN), the Youth CaLD Disability Collective (YCDC) and Youth Reference Group (YRG)
Queensland - QPASTT - Youth Voice
Program committed to promoting human rights and social justice through leadership, advocacy and provision of representation for young people; fostering respect, fairness and a sense of belonging for all.
Child protection
Queensland - CREATE Foundation - Young Consultants Speak Up program
An empowerment program that builds young people’s confidence and teaches them to advocate for themselves on an individual, state and national level.
Child sexual abuse
Australia wide - Bravehearts Youth Advisory Council
An avenue for the voices of children and young people to inform and provide youth perspectives on the work of Bravehearts and our sector partners.
Mental Health
Queensland - Headspace Youth Reference Group
Works to ensure that any new initiative from Headspace will make a positive difference in the lives of young people, and the resources headspace receive from government and corporate partners are put to the best use.
Australia wide - Orygen Youth Advisory Council
Advise Orygen on how best to implement its strategic plan.
Australia wide - National Office for Youth - Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Youth Advisory Group
Provide advice on mental health and suicide prevention by designing better support options for young Australians, particularly for First Nations Australians, culturally and linguistically diverse people, young women and girls, and LGBTIQA+ people.
Blackwater, Emerald, Springsure, and Capella - Youthinc Groups
The ‘Hub of Opportunity’ is an online source of community-based projects and opportunities.
Bundaberg - Youth Development Action Team
YDAT was created to work in partnership with Bundaberg Regional Council to assist in identifying issues the young people of the region are experiencing.
Brisbane - Lord Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (LMYAC)
LMYAC delegates act as representatives of their school and community and are a voice for raising issues or sharing ideas that affect young people.
Cook Town - Cook Shire Youth Council
Share your ideas, collaborate with others, and make a real impact on the issues that matter to you!
Fraser Coast - Youth Advisory Council
Work in partnership with youth and community organisations to provide strategic advice and capacity building that encourages young people's participation in the community.
Gladstone - Region Youth Council
Formal advisory committee to Council on youth-related matters within the region.
Gold Coast - Junior Council (Year 10)
A civic leadership program aimed at Year 10 and 11 students from Gold Coast high schools.
Ipswich - Youth Advisory Council
Council members come together to raise issues and share ideas that affect young people.
Logan - Youth Action Group
The group plays an active role in ensuring the needs of our city’s young people are heard, while also turning ideas into exciting community projects.
Livingstone Shire Council - Youth Action Group
Young people work with staff to discuss local concerns and potential solutions. Each term the group design and deliver a community project/event that addresses a concern or need.
Scenic Rim Regional Council - Youth Leadership Program
Council members develop their self-awareness, leadership skills and their ability to collaborate in a group working environment.
South Burnett Regional - Youth Council
Young people who want to have a greater say and help build a strong and inclusive community.
Southern Downs - Southern Downs Youth Council
Meet regularly and advocate for the needs of the young people by organising youth and community events, taking part in leadership forums and self-development activities.
Sunshine Coast - Young Leaders Academy
A year long program with the aim to inspire and create a diverse, honest and authentic group to achieve community action.
Tablelands - Regional Council Youth Advisory Council
To identify opportunities for building economic and social capacity, growing youth services and engaging youth as key stakeholders in their future.
Torres Strait - Torres Shire Youth Council
Members can run for Junior Mayor, Deputy Junior Mayor and the position of Secretary and experience leadership roles in the wider community.
Toowoomba - Regional Youth Advisory Committee
Supports young people in the community.
This is not an exhaustive list, there are many advocacy and leadership opportunities available throughout Queensland.
Do you have an opportunity you would like us to list here? Reach out and let us know!
Youth advocacy is important because young people have unique lived experiences and bring insightful perspectives to situations, especially those that impact them. If we are working with and for children and young people, we must collaborate with them as much as we can.
— -QFCC Youth Advocate Jessy, Child and Youth Participation Framework