Youth Parliament 2012 – Applications now open
The Youth Parliament program is supported by the Office for Youth and managed by the YMCA of South Australia. Youth Parliament provides a unique forum for young people aged 16-25 to express their views, develop skills and learn about South Australia’s parliamentary system.
Applications for Youth Parliament 2012 are now open, down load the application form click here, to find out more contact:
Rebecca Schaefer, YMCA
Phone: 8200 2500
Email: rebecca.schaefer@ymca.org.au
You can also find out more about the Youth Parliament program online at
Note applications close on Friday 24 February 2012
Youth Parliament 2012 Media Release
Youth Parliament 2011
The Office for Youth sponsors the YMCA of South Australia to run Youth Parliament, which provides a unique forum for young people aged 16-25 to express their views, develop skills and learn about our parliamentary system.
Now in its 16th year, the program has educated more than 1,000 young people in the SA Parliamentary system, voting procedures, parliamentary etiquette, public speaking and bill writing in a professional and challenging environment. These young people have also had the chance to express their views and concerns in a safe and supportive environment.
These views are then developed into a Youth Parliament bill, with participants working in teams of up to eight people to craft their proposed legislation. Each team’s bill is debated during at least three full days in the chambers of Parliament House. Events during the week include an exciting recreation program, opening and closing ceremonies of Youth Parliament and a formal reception at Government House.
Youth Parliament is a SACE accredited program. Participants may be eligible to gain two units in Integrated Learning by participating in the program and meeting several other requirements. Participants interested in claiming SACE accreditation should discuss this with the project manager at the commencement of the program. All participants will complete two nationally vocational accredited modules Facilitate Work Teams and Communicate in the Workplace.
Approximately 90 young people from around the State came together to debate 14 bills they developed for the 2011 Youth Parliamentary sitting week in Parliament House from Monday 18 July 2011 to 22 July 2011.
The 2011 youth parliament passed five bills:
- Rural Students Housing Scheme Act 2011
- Music Education Act 2011
- Migrant Education Act 2011
- Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2011
- Workforce Participation Act 2011