Youth Parliament
ACT Youth Parliament
The Youth Parliament is an annual youth development program for 25 young people aged 16 to 25 who will represent their community and young people in our region in our ACT Legislative Assembly. These Y Members of the Legislative Assembly (YMLAs) will develop their own understanding of civic identity and participation. They will use their own voices to provide insight on how the young people of our region view our community and its issues, while learning from key community figures, institutions and Members of all ages. The program is also specifically about democracy and how these ideas can be taken forward into bills and motions.
Youth Parliament will be an opportunity to learn about the role of our ACT Legislative Assembly and our place in civics and democracy. Youth Parliament is an opportunity for personal development, building and gaining skills in public speaking, debating, confidence, community consultation and advocacy. The 25 young people (YMLAs) will be encouraged to engage with and grow a network of young constituents and community connections, supported by an online youth press gallery and digital ecosystem.
Youth Parliament is also an opportunity for young people to engage with leaders, mentors, and older generations, learning together as Youth Members try and find solutions for the issues our community faces.
No matter how old you are, we all experience the same challenges. Let’s get young people at the decision-making table and hear what they have to say! At the Y, we want to help young people learn from and listen to everyone across our community.
Become a Youth Member
Anyone across the Canberra Region aged 16 to 25 years at the commencement of the program can be a Youth Member.
All you need to bring to the program is the openness to listen and learn – we’ll supply the opportunity to learn all you need to know about parliamentary debate, Bill writing, working with the media and more!
Like the ACT Legislative Assembly, we can only select so many Youth Members; so if you miss out on your first attempt, we’d love for you to follow along with the program and apply for the next year. You can also join our digital ecosystem and engage with the YMLAs.
Youth Parliament is a platform to use your voice as a young person, representing your community. You will have the opportunity to work and collaborate with other young people, and together you can make a big difference for your community.
The Y is grateful to the Snow Foundation and Hands Across Canberra for funding this initiative.
2026 Program and Timeline Schedule
Applications open: July – November 2025
Applications to join the Y Canberra Region Youth Parliament are open.
Program start: February 2026
Youth members meet for the first time with a welcome launch and connection events.
Mentoring and Consultation Phase: February – July 2026
Leadership, connection, and mentoring sessions are held. Committees meet either in person, over the phone, or online to write their Bills and engage in community consultations. Flexible online workspaces are used for collaborative editing, file sharing and constructive discussion. Youth Members are encouraged to use their position to maximise their community engagement throughout this period.
Sitting Week: July 2026
Sitting Week brings all Youth Members together in Canberra at the ACT Legislative Assembly to debate their Youth Bills, deliver personal statements and gain insight into the work done by our territory’s lawmakers. Various social activities are also organised to ensure a fun, challenging and memorable week for everyone.
Essential information
Who can apply to be a part of the Youth Parliament?
Any young person from the age of 16 to 25 years from the Y Canberra Region.
Where does the Y Canberra Youth Parliament take place?
Various training days and workshops will be held at various sites, with the bulk being run from our Yarralumla Y site.
The Youth Parliament sitting day will be held at the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Is there a participation fee for Youth Parliament?
No. There is no fee associated with participation in the program.
I’m from a regional area, can I participate?
Young participants from Queanbeyan and adjacent local government areas will be considered! Please contact us if you think there may be any issues with transportation or accommodation.
Do I have to know anything about politics?
Absolutely not! The program is designed for you to build your own knowledge and opinion along the way. You will learn everything you need to know throughout the year.
Do I have to be a member of a political party?
Certainly not! We do not mind – as long as you leave partisan politics at the door, you are more than welcome.
Does Youth Parliament cater for young people with disabilities?
Absolutely, we do everything we can to cater for any physical, mental or other disability. If you have any questions, please send us an email to discuss your situation.
Applications are now open for Youth Parliament 2026!
Please read through the Expectations for Participation below before applying.
Applications close November 2025. Applicants will be contacted in December 2025 and January 2026 (this timeframe allows for waitlist if a position is turned down).
The program is currently being put together with dates, workshops and experiences being confirmed as we approach our program launch!
If you have any questions before applying, please contact us or submit an expression of interest.
Expectations for Participation
Due to the limited spaces in the program, unfortunately, some applicants will miss out. Therefore, it is imperative that every applicant who wishes to participate in the program understands the expectations of all participants and is willing to meet those expectations, as follows:
- Participants commit to attending all team meetings of the team they are placed into and engage in all events, writings, consultations, workshops, etc.
- Participants must attend the entire sitting day of Youth Parliament.
- While in the program, participants are expected to participate in all sessions and activities to the best of their ability.
- Participants are expected to respect the diversity and the opinions of other young people on the program and understand that the Canberra Youth Parliament is a non-partisan, issues-based program and is not affiliated with any political party or specific ideologies.
- Participants should note that Youth Parliament is a drug, alcohol and weapon-free program, and no drugs, alcohol or weapons are allowed onto the program.
2026 Youth Parliament Individual Application Form
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Contact the Canberra Youth Parliament team
If you would like to make a general enquiry or if you have a question that hasn’t been answered on our website, please feel free to contact our YP Team.
Email: yp.canberra@ymca.org.au
Phone: (02) 6242 4040
Address: 25 Geils Court, Deakin, ACT, 2600
The Y is grateful to the Snow Foundation and Hands Across Canberra for funding this initiative.