My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Youth, and the action I seek is for the minister to join me in a meeting with the 2025 Glen Waverley youth advisory committee. This group will begin in 2025 and will be formed with young members of the Glen Waverley district. It will allow members to research a topic about something that matters to our local community, and they will have an opportunity to creatively formulate a policy idea in response to that issue. I am passionate about empowering young people to share their views about what matters to them. They are our future, and it is paramount that they are not only informed about politics but actively engaged.
I would like to give a special shout-out to a Glen Waverley district resident, Kirwan Schoenborn, who was one of the recipients of the 2023 Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize. A student at Wesley College in Glen Waverley, I was fortunate to meet her at this year’s Remembrance Day service held by the Waverley RSL, where she gave a wonderful reading in memory of those that served our nation.
I thank the minister and her team for all the work they do in engaging Victoria’s youth to be active participants in our community. I look forward to the minister’s response.
Minister’s Response:
I thank the Member for Glen Waverley for his invitation to attend a meeting of the new Glen Waverley youth advisory committee. I look forward to meeting with young people on this committee to discuss the issues that matter to them.
The Allan Labor Government recognises the important role of supporting young people to participate in the economic, civic and political life of our state. Under Our promise, Your future: Victoria’s youth strategy 2022-27, launched in August 2022, the Government committed $5.3 million to support new initiatives to improve youth participation and engagement in decision making.
We were proud to support the Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) to upgrade the Youth Engagement Resource Platform (YERP) to better help youth organisations and young people. This upgraded platform is now live and is supporting young people to take an active role in decision making by providing them, youth workers and government with practical guidance on youth engagement.
This work builds on existing mechanisms that ensure young people are involved in government decision-making, including the Victorian Youth Congress (VYC). The VYC is an advisory group of young people aged 12-25 who to identify and advocate for issues that matter to young people and deliver key projects. For example, VYC played a key role in the design and development of YouthNav, the Government’s new online guide for young people with tailored information on the skills young people need to navigate their future.
I encourage all Members of Parliament to share information about YouthNav with young people in their local area.
Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate Glen Waverley resident Kirwan Schoenborn on receiving the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize in 2023. Twelve students are awarded the prize each year and selected to tour significant commemorative sites in Türkiye, including Gallipoli. I recently had the pleasure of meeting with the young people at Parliament House after their return from Türkiye and hearing about their life-changing experience. I am glad to hear of the positive contribution Kirwan is making to the Glen Waverley community – she is one of many young Victorians who are keeping the Anzac Spirit alive.
Thank you again to the Member for Glen Waverley for his question and his ongoing advocacy for young people in his community. A member of my office will be in contact to arrange a suitable date, and I look forward to meeting with the Glen Waverley youth advisory committee.
The Hon Natalie Suleyman MP
Minister for Youth
