​​The North Central LLEN has once again been successful in taking part in the Y's Victorian Youth Parliament program for 2023. We are seeking 6 local young people across the Buloke and Loddon Shires and between the ages of 16-25 to join the team. 
​The program invites 120 people from all corners of the state to create a community of changemakers.
Empowered by each other and the incredible Volunteer Taskforce, participants will ultimately share their team’s ideas during Youth Parliament Week within the chambers of the Parliament House of Victoria. Furthermore, the residential camps will give participants a chance to develop their leadership skills through experiential sessions run by the Taskforce.

Over the years more than 30 Youth Parliament Bills have been adopted into state legislation. Successful Bills have covered social, safety, and environmental issues with benefits from mandating gender neutral school uniforms to banning lightweight plastic bags and many more. 

What's Involved

Youth Parliament is an annual residential program run by the Y that draws together 20 teams
(each comprised of 6 young people aged 16-25) from across Victoria to advocate for issues that
matter to them. Across the span of 5 months, participants will learn about the Victorian legislative
system, develop advocacy and community leadership skills, and create and debate their own
proposed legislation (Bill) on an issue that they are passionate about.
The program is delivered in three blocks:

OFF-CAMP (TERM ONE AND TWO):
In the lead up to the residential camps, teams will meet periodically with a mentor from the
Taskforce. In these meetings, participants will;
• brainstorm potential bill topics and elect their three most preferred Bill topics
• be assigned a Bill topic from their preferences to create and debate their Bill on
• be supported in the drafting and finalising of their Bill
• be introduced to the parliamentary debate structure and etiquette
Participants will also be given the opportunity to meet with a stakeholder and/or Member of
Parliament in the area of their Bill topic to discuss their Bill and advocate for change directly.

TRAINING WEEKEND (26TH – 28TH MAY):
Length: Three day residential camp at Lake Dewar Discovery Camp*
Purpose: Prepare teams for everything that they need to know from debate structure to media
training.
Across the weekend, participants will:
• Finalise understanding in key training areas such as parliamentary etiquette and debate
• Engage in practice parliamentary debates
• Engage in media training and be interviewed on their Bill by the Youth Press Gallery
• Establish the Chambers for Sitting Week including appointment of leadership roles
(Chamber Leaders and Youth Premier)
• Engage in skill development sessions covering topics such as confidence and leadership

SITTING WEEK (25th - 30th JUNE):
Length: Six day residential camp at Lake Dewar Discovery Camp*
Purpose: Youth Parliamentarians attend the camp and Parliament House to apply all that they
have learned, debate their Bills and continue to develop important leadership and
advocacy skills.
Across the week, participants will:
• Connect with a community of change makers
• Continue to build leadership and advocacy skills while at campsite through tailor-made sessions
• Travel by bus on the 26th, 27th, and 29th of June to Parliament House to participate in the
Youth Parliament sitting week
• Gain practical experience in the parliamentary debating process – participating as both the
sponsor (arguing for) and refuter (arguing against) roles for debate on Youth Parliament Bills
• Be given the opportunity to conduct a short speech (adjournment debate) directed to a state
MP on an issue they are passionate about

​*Residential camp:
Lake Dewar Discovery Camp
339 Garrards Lane, MYRNIONG, 3341
Want to find out more?
Follow the link below to learn more about North Central LLEN's 2022 Buloke-Loddon team or head to the Y's Youth Parliament website.