Young People in the Community
Community involvement benefits all of society by building strong relationships across economic, cultural and age divides, encouraging the use of shared, safe recreation areas, and promoting wider opportunities for education, training and employment.
The Victorian Government seeks to help young people to be active in their communities.
There are a number of ways young people can get involved:
Involve
Involve is an official Ministerial Advisory Committee whose role is to ask young people what they think about different topics and what issues are important to them, meet with people from the government and the community and develop advice to present to the Minister for Youth Affairs.
- Read more about Involve
Scouts and Guides
The Victorian Government supports Scouts Victoria and Girl Guides Victoria by providing funds for a range of areas and initiatives.
- Read more about Scouts and Guides
Youth Parliament
Every year in the second week of July, YMCA Victoria Youth Parliament offers young Victorians an opportunity to stand up, talk hard and be heard. Any Victorian aged 16 to 25 who wants to have their voice heard is eligible to participate. The program is supported by the Victorian Government.
- Read more about Youth Parliament
Advance Schools program
Advance is a one-year, school-based program that encourages young people in Years 9 to 12 to get actively involved in their community through volunteer work. It's a partnership between the Office for Youth, Victorian government secondary schools and community organisations.
- Read more about the Advance Schools program.
Rock Eisteddfod Challenge
Each year this national performing arts competition event invites young people to showcase their dance, drama and design skills. The 2011 Rock Eisteddfod Challenge saw around 300 Australian schools and 25,000 students participate.
- Read more about the Rock Eisteddford Challenge
FReeZA
FReeZA provides opportunities for young Victorians to enjoy music and cultural events in their local area that are drug, alcohol and smoke free. Over 140,000 young people attend FReeZA events throughout the state each year.
- Read more about FReeZA
Engage!
The Engage! program 2012-2014 (previously known as the Youth Participation and Access program) offers funding over three years for community organisations and local governments, to develop programs that encourage the social, civic and economic participation of young people through locally planned activities. Engage! provides opportunities for all young people, including those with additional needs or who face barriers.
- Read more about the Engage! program
National Youth Week
National Youth Week is a week-long celebration of young people held annually throughout Australia. In 2013 it will run from Friday 5 April to Sunday 14 April.
- Read more about National Youth Week
Regional Youth Affairs Networks
Regional Youth Affairs Networks (RYANs) are key regional networks that provide advice and channels of communication and consultation between the Victorian Government and young people.
- Read more about Regional Youth Affairs Networks
Supporting multicultural Victoria
The Centre for Multicultural Youth is the key agency in Victoria working with multicultural young people. It provides the Victorian Government and the wider community with research and policy advice on issues affecting young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including young people from refugee backgrounds.
- Read more about the Centre for Multicultural Youth (external site)
