Recruitment is underway to find the next generation of youth leaders to take part in the Y WA Youth Parliament. Celebrating 30 years in 2025, the apolitical leadership and civic engagement program run by the Y WA empowers young people to have a voice in Parliament and their local communities
The four-month program is calling for young people aged 15 - 25 from Perth metropolitan and regional Western Australia, representing every electorate, to come together to address issues facing young West Australians, create meaningful connections and develop leadership skills that can be utilised to create real social impact.
Offering an insight into the world of Australian politics, participants will identify significant issues facing young West Australians, draft, debate, and advocate for mock youth-focused legislation and gain insight into the workings of government and policy development. Successful applicants will actively participate in the democratic process, voice their ideas, passions and lived experience and have these ideas heard by policy makers.
The program aims to secure representatives from all 59 electoral districts across WA and strives to bring together and represent all young people regardless of gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and culture.
CEO of the Y WA Dr Tim McDonald said, “This unique program empowers young people to have a say on important issues whilst building leadership and public speaking skills and understanding civics education.
“Youth Parliament highlights the strengths of young West Australians to actively engage with their community and nurtures their potential to lead, learn and connect, all while building valuable, leadership and life skills.”
Throughout the program, participants act as “youth members”, representing a West Australian electorate in parliament. The program culminates in July, with youth members attending Parliament House and participating in a debate in the chamber. On completion all bills are presented to Members of the State Government and Opposition for their review and consideration, as well as being presented to the Governor of Western Australia, the Lord Mayor of Perth and the WA Department for Communities.
Over the past 30 years the voice of Youth Parliament has on many occasions been ahead of the State Government law making, with many of the bills presented by the Y WA Youth Parliament being passed as law.
In 2020, the Y WA Youth Parliament passed the Coercive Control Bill 2020 (attached for reference). The Bill was ambitious and set out to extensively define Coercive Control. As of 2024 NSW and QLD have coercive control laws and the Family Violence Legislation Reform Bill 2024 was passed in Western Australia State Parliament in September 2024. The bill includes reforms to prevent coercive control, protect victims, and hold perpetrators accountable.
In 2012 Y WA Youth Parliament considered a bill banning single-use plastic bags, passing the Community and Environmental Waste Reduction and Sustainability Scheme Bill 2012 (attached for reference), with part of its provisions banning single-use plastic bags. Six years later, the WA State Parliament passed the Environmental Protection Amendment (Banning Plastic Bags and Other Things) Bill 2018, which instituted the statewide ban in Western Australia.
Dr McDonald adds, “The fact that some of the bills young people have researched, development and written, then debated and passed in their parliamentary sittings, are now legislation across our country is further evidence of why we should be listening to the voices of our youth. Our young people have a lot to say, and this program gives them a chance to speak up and be heard.”
Youth members work together to decide which topics will be debated covering issues from any State Government portfolio. Previous Bills have covered important issues such as daylight saving, sexual health, housing affordability, environmental responsibility, water provision, education, juvenile justice, health access in the regions, entertainment precinct curfews, youth-based decision making and learner driver laws.
The Y WA Youth Parliament is organised by a dedicated team of young people, including volunteers and former participants, with the assistance of the Department of Communities. Applications for the 2025 program are now open and close Monday 3 March.
To apply for the 2025 Y WA Youth Parliament program, visit https://bit.ly/YouthParliamentApplication2025