The Victorian Government has opened applications for the 2026 Victorian Youth Congress, inviting young people from across the state to help shape policies and programs that affect their lives.
Announced by Minister for Youth Luba Grigorovitch, the Congress will bring together 20 Victorians aged between 12 and 25 to provide advice to government and contribute to projects aimed at improving outcomes for young people.
The Youth Congress forms part of the government’s broader approach to youth engagement, offering members an opportunity to share views on issues affecting their communities and participate in policy discussions.
According to the government, members of the current Congress have taken part in a range of initiatives over the past year. These included hosting a Youth Strategy Forum at Parliament that brought together more than 70 young people and sector representatives, developing a communications campaign to increase awareness of the YouthNav platform, and travelling to regional areas to gather feedback from young people about feeling safe in their identity.
Insights gathered through those consultations were later presented at the 2026 National Youth Forum in Canberra by two Youth Congress members representing Victoria.
The Congress also contributes to the delivery of the state’s five-year youth strategy, Our Promise, Your Future, which aims to improve opportunities and outcomes for young people across Victoria.
The government says the Congress is designed to reflect Victoria’s diversity, with members drawn from metropolitan and regional communities, including First Nations people, members of LGBTIQA+ communities, multicultural and multifaith backgrounds, and people living with disability.
Supporters of youth advisory bodies argue they provide governments with direct access to the experiences and priorities of younger generations. However, youth advocacy groups have previously noted that the effectiveness of such forums ultimately depends on the extent to which governments act on the advice they receive.
Minister for Youth Luba Grigorovitch said the government was committed to supporting young Victorians to have a voice in decision-making.
“Labor is backing the next generation of leaders,” she said.
“Young people deserve a real seat at the table and that’s exactly what Victorian Youth Congress gives them.”
Applications for the 2026 Victorian Youth Congress are now open through Youth Central.
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