Ministers Statement: Young Victorians

Ms SPENCE (Yuroke—Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Youth) (13:37): It is with great pleasure that I rise today to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s work to develop a whole-of-government youth strategy. Last month along with the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, the member for Sunbury, I launched the commencement of public consultation to inform the development of the strategy because there has never been a more important time to listen to young people about the challenges they face and the issues that matter to them. As we know, the coronavirus pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on young people. It has impacted the way they work, the way they learn and the way they socialise, and the barriers confronting their generation have risen higher still. They need a plan for the short and the long term.

Our government strategy will put young people front and centre. It will inform the way government works with young people, the youth sector and the broader community. Importantly, this strategy is about unleashing the great potential of our youth. We are going into communities to hear from young people who would not usually have an opportunity to talk to government and to elevate the voices of these young people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Young people will inform the content of the strategy at every step, and Youth Affairs Council Victoria is leading consultations alongside other partners in the youth sector.

We are already underway, and by the end of the year we will have concluded around 30 virtual forums with local communities and young people across the state, including in Ovens Murray and Goulburn, Gippsland, Bayside and Mornington Peninsula, Central Highlands, Golden Plains, the Mallee, Western District, Loddon and Barwon and forums all across metropolitan Melbourne. I look forward to hearing from young people all across Victoria and I hope that all members of this place will encourage young people in their electorates to share their views via the online consultation or at one of the upcoming virtual forums.