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 60 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 rearing to go!
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 has had a hand in shaping a huge number of ambitious and accomplished individuals who carry the learnings from their time with this program close to their hearts.
2025 Team Applications have now CLOSED.
Volunteer Taskforce Applications have now CLOSED.
Youth Press Gallery Applications have now CLOSED.
Individual Applications have now CLOSED.
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