The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honourable Milton Dick MP, has launched a National Youth Parliament, to be held in 2026.
The National Youth Parliament will see 150 high school students selected to represent each electorate across Australia to participate in a three-day program in Canberra, including at Australia’s Parliament House.
The initiative comes as a report by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) shows only four in 10 year six students meet the proficiency standard in civics and citizenship.
By the time young people are in year 10 – it is even worse – with less than three in 10 students meeting the proficiency standard.
The data follows a new survey by the Lowy Institute finding that 36% of young Australians (aged 18-29) do not believe democracy is the best form of government or are indifferent to it.
A national platform for young Australians
Youth Members will have the unique opportunity to learn about aspects of being a Member of Parliament, including the process by which bills are drafted, considered, and pass Parliament to become law.
The National Youth Parliament will complement the Speaker’s existing civics education program, Parliament in Schools, which has already been delivered to over 145 schools across Australia, including regional and remote schools.
The National Youth Parliament will begin taking applications in the second half of this year.
“Young people have a vital role to play in public discussion, and a youth parliament is a meaningful and sustained youth engagement model that we have seen across Australia and the Commonwealth,” Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Milton Dick said in a statement.
“I am so passionate about setting up the foundations to ensure our next generation have the skills, tools and knowledge to lead this country through the challenges of our future. I look forward to welcoming students from all over Australia to develop their appreciation of civics, parliamentary debate and of course, strengthening our great democracy.”