History
The first Australian YMCA Youth Parliament was held in Brisbane in 1963. 116 young people from all states spent two weeks in preparation for, and presentation of, the 1963 Youth Parliament in the Legislative Council of the Queensland Parliament. In 1985, the State Director of the YMCA Victoria, Mr Dave Davis, put forward the idea of developing and presenting a Youth Parliament to a group of young people from around Victoria who represented their local YMCAs. Victoria's first Youth Parliament was held in the Legislative Council, Parliament House, September 1987.
In the Victorian Youth Parliament's 35+ year history, more than 30 pieces of state legislation have originated in the Youth Parliament, including:
- Roadside drug testing for drivers
- Over the counter availability of the morning after pill
- Mandatory wearing of a bicycle helmet
- Removal of glass from identified high-risk entertainment venues
- Gun reformation laws
The 2025 Youth Parliament program is in the works!
The next iteration of the Victorian Youth Parliament program is on the hunt to find passionate young people to breathe life into the program.
Year after year, we see participants and taskforce members walk away from this program having made deep and personal connections with one another, and feeling inspired to take on the challenges of the world.
Youth Parliament Team Applications
Team applications for the 2025 Victorian Youth Parliament Program have now CLOSED.
Volunteer Taskforce Applications
See the Taskforce page for application information.
Youth Press Gallery and Individual Youth Parliament Applications
Youth Press Gallery and Individual applications will open in early 2025, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re still looking to be part of the program.
View the work achieved in our 2024 program.
Please follow our Facebook or Instagram to be notified of any future opportunities that become available.
– Kaitlin (Sheepy) Woolford, Victorian Youth Parliament Program Director