Youth Advisory Council

The New South Wales Youth Advisory Council (YAC) was established in 1989 under the Youth Advisory Council Act, to ensure that young people participate in the development of Government policies and programs which concern them.

The Youth Advisory Council advises the NSW Government on:

• Issues of concern to young people (aged 12-25) in NSW;
  
• Government policies relating to young people; and,
  
• Youth-related programs.

2008 Youth Advisory Council members

Twelve YAC members were announced by the Minister for Youth, The Hon. Linda Burney MP, in February 2008. They are:

Amanda Scott (Chair), 21 - Windang
Mohammed Zaoud (Deputy Chair), 20 - Auburn
Samantha Dawson, 20 - South Penrith
Martin Drennan, 21 - Bronte
Tjirra Francis, 18 - Toormina
Krysten Gers, 17 - Broken Hill
Helen Machalias, 19 - Armidale
Maggie Malak, 20 - Epping
Matt Petherbridge, 19 - Weston
Tim Quadrio, 22 - Eastwood
Matthew Smith, 17 - Oatley
Michael Yuen, 21 - Parramatta

Have a Say

Have a Say is where you'll find opportunities for young people to communicate directly with Government on a range of issues.

If there are issues affecting young people in NSW that you'd like to raise at any time, please feel free to contact us.

• Subscribe to the email alert service to be notified of future opportunities to have a say on this site on issues affecting young people in NSW.

Past Forums

In 2006, the Youth Advisory Council sought opinions from young people and other interested parties on these issues: 

• Young People and Disability - summary of online forum and outcomes
  
  
• Young People and Racism - summary of online forum and suggestions for change

In 2005, the Youth Advisory Council sought opinions from young people and other interested parties on these issues:

• Young People and Identity - online forum summary and outcomes
  
  
• Young People and Work - summary of online forum and related info
  
  
• Young People Feeling and Being Safe - forum summary and online discussion

Office of Industrial Relations/WorkCover Survey: Young People and work

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. Your responses will help OIR and WorkCover to ensure that they are providing young people with the information they need about their rights and responsibilities at work.

A summary of survey findings is linked from the bottom of the YAC Young People and Work Forum summary.

Youth Participation Survey

• 2004 Youth Participation Survey - read the final report (PDF, 486kb) on the survey results.

Youth Advisory Council Annual Reports

• 2007
  
• 2006
  
• 2005
  
• Previous years

Review of the Youth Advisory Council Act

New South Wales is the only Australian state or territory to provide a statutory basis for its youth advisory structure.  The NSW Youth Advisory Council is governed by the Youth Advisory Council Act 1989.

A Review of the Youth Advisory Council Act 1989 was conducted in 2003 to ensure the Council’s structure, functions and membership enable young people’s views to be effectively heard by government. Read more about the Review and its results.