Young Victorians (16-25) are invited to apply for the 2026 YMCA Victoria Youth Parliament - part of a national Youth Parliament program run by the Y across Australia.
Dive into politics, learn how parliament works, and make your voice heard. 2026 will be the 40th anniversary of the program here in Victoria.
Youth Parliamentarians will attend a YMCA Victoria training camp in May to sharpen their skills in writing, debating, and passing Bills. They’ll also build public speaking, critical thinking, communication, leadership, and teamwork skills.
The Victorian Government is investing more than $160,000 to support this year’s YMCA Victoria Youth Parliament and YMCA Youth Press Gallery programs, including continued support for young people living with a disability can access the program.
Over the past 39 years, Youth Parliament has influenced more than 60 pieces of Victorian legislation, including laws on the morning-after pill, banning single use plastics, and most recently the introduction of free public transport for people under 18 across Victoria.
Teams of Youth Parliamentarians will draft, debate, and vote on Bills during a three-day session at the Victorian Parliament in July 2026. Passed Bills will be presented to government ministers for consideration.
Applications open today and close on Sunday 14 September. For more information or to apply, visit www.vicyouth.ymca.org.au/learning-and-leadership/youth-parliament/get-involved
Quotes attributable to Minister for Youth Natalie Suleyman:
"We are proud to continue supporting the YMCA Victoria Youth Parliament – giving young Victorians the chance to see how government works, develop their leadership, and be part of influencing real change."
"Our support for this platform is part of our ongoing work to make sure all young Victorians, from every background and ability, have a voice and can be heard on the issues that matter to them."
Quotes attributable to the Youth Governor of Victoria, Scarlet Lee:
"Youth Parliament values young people and young voices above all else. Victoria’s youth are immensely powerful and capable, they have impactful statements to make and invaluable insights into the contemporary world. We, as a society, would be foolish to discount some of our greatest minds due to their age. That is why this program exists, to provide a platform for Victoria to be influenced and reformed by our most indispensable change-makers, our youth.
It feels only fitting that this program takes place in Parliament house, as that is where our young people belong. Their voices and words deserve to be spoken and heard alongside elected ministers and state matters, as this program is real and creates real change."
