Young voices to echo in Legislative Assembly for NSW Youth Parliament 2024
Next week, the chambers of the NSW Parliament will witness a remarkable transformation as almost 70 dynamic young people step into the roles of parliamentarians for the 2024 Y NSW Youth Parliament Sitting Week.
From 9 to 11 July 2024, the Legislative Assembly will house youthful energy and innovative ideas as these participants, representing a diverse cross-section of New South Wales electorates, engage in a rigorous three-day legislative session.
The Y NSW Youth Parliament program, a premier youth empowerment initiative that has been shaping young leaders for over 20 years, offers high school students in Years 10 to 12 a unique platform to voice their concerns and propose solutions on issues critical to their communities.
Participants have been preparing Youth Bills across a variety of portfolios, including Aboriginal Affairs, Arts, Music and Culture, Education and Training, Housing and Homelessness, Justice, Rural and Regional Development and Women’s Affairs. These bills will be the focal point of debate during the sitting week, reflecting the participants’ commitment to advocating for meaningful change.
“The Y NSW Youth Parliament not only serves as a platform for young people to express their ideas and concerns, but also fosters the development of skills such as confidence, public speaking, critical thinking, and civic duty. Participants are empowered to be active and influential in shaping their communities,” explained the Y NSW CEO Rob Kennaugh.
As NSW’s leading youth empowerment initiative, Youth Parliament offers young people a unique opportunity to engage directly in the legislative process.
“The Youth Parliament program also marks a significant milestone in its commitment to inclusivity and representation. Participants this year hail from a broad spectrum of backgrounds, ensuring a rich diversity of perspectives and experiences,” added Mr Kennaugh.
Alyssa Jeffries is a 17-year-old from Illawarra who has returned to Youth Parliament in 2024 after completing the program in 2023. She believes youth parliament inspires the lives of young people to address issues within their lives and work together towards making meaningful change and impact within the community.
“The issue that I am most passionate about is gender-based violence. As a result I joined the Women’s Affairs Committee this year and we are currently making a bill on prevention of gender-based violence,” explained Alyssa.
“I think that needs to be a massive shift as to how we teach respectful relationships to students in high school. By writing our bill I hope that it will bring the attention to the forefront of politicians to spark change,” she added.
Over the last few months, Youth Parliamentarians have been diligently preparing their Youth Bills, conducting consultations with local communities, and engaging with industry experts during their committee meetings. The sitting week will culminate in the presentation and debate of these Youth Bills, reflecting the young participants’ deep commitment to their communities and leadership.
“The 2024 Youth Parliament Sitting Week promises to be a very special event, showcasing the passion, intelligence and civic engagement of NSW’s young people. The outcomes of this session will be presented to Members of Parliament and other key stakeholders, potentially influencing future policy decisions,” added Mr Kennaugh.
For the Y NSW’s 2024 Youth Parliament program there are 66 participants covering more than 53 per cent of the state’s electorates. Two parties were formed at the start of the Program, Future Horizons Party and Opportunity Builders Party.
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Canguro
Return to home pageLast April we were fortunate to host a young Belgium couple for almost a month, switched on and whip smart both; she with a Masters in Law and he with a Masters in Political science. I took them into the city to the NSW Parliament and on seeking admission, one of the staff took us into the Legislative Assembly, and noting that the house was in recess, gave us a very generous overview of the Australian political system both state & federal as well as a compare & contrast with British & American systems. We must have spent close to 30 minutes in the chamber, the three of us and the parliamentary staffer, and for my Belgium friend it was clearly one of the highlights of his Australian visit.
I had recent feedback from him now that he’s back home; despondent and saddened by the electorate’s endorsement of far right parties in the EU and local elections, by the rejection of Green’s policies and what that may herald in regard to responding to the challenges of climate change per energy & environment, best practice management of refugees and asylum seekers, and general good governance. My conversations with this millennial European may not have been a trigger for taking a closer interest in matters political but they certainly reinforced the fact that politics affects us all and it’s better to be in the know than just say no.