Youth Parliament is Y NSW’s flagship youth leadership and engagement program and has been operating for over twenty years in NSW.
During the recent school holidays Lane Cove local Adelaide Kennedy represented the electorate of Lane Cove, “I wanted to be a part of Youth Parliament because I’m super passionate about social justice and politics”. Adelaide said.
With a focus on leadership and advocacy, the Youth Parliament program enables high school students in years 10 to 12 to build confidence, develop leadership skills, engage with civic leadership, policy development, and democratic parliamentary debate, and Adelaide a year 11 student at Marist Sisters College Woolwich enjoyed the process.
Adelaide told ITC:
“The best part about the programme was the training and camps and the social aspect; I met so many interesting young people with similar interests from all over NSW and the ACT”.
Youth Parliament – Six-Month Training Schedule
Adelaide and this year’s cohort from across NSW participated in a six-month training schedule that included in-person camps and online workshops.
Participants worked together to create Youth Bills with recommendations on issues for change.
Adelaide was an “independent” on The Arts Music & Culture Committee. The Committee put together a Bill for Arts, Music and Culture.
“The Bill for Arts, Music and Culture was about representation in the arts for young people. It was about telling their stories, the stories of diverse, unique and incredible people from a range of backgrounds and cultures,” Adelaide said.
The training and collaboration culminated in a Parliamentary debate during a mock sitting week in the NSW Parliament with the Members of Parliament acting as chair, an experience Adelaide relished.
“Speaking in parliament was really exciting. Everybody was so supportive and kind, and it was a great atmosphere,” she said.
It’s an incredible opportunity for young people to advocate, grow skills and make life-long connections with other young people from all over the state, and Adelaide clearly agrees.
“I would absolutely recommend Youth Parliament to anyone – even if they aren’t interested in politics – its a wonderful experience and it’s a great way to meet passionate young people and to learn about our democracy”.
Applications for the 2025 program open late in 2024 and you can apply here.
Adelaide is one busy girl. Last year, she played the role of Maddy in Black Sun/Blood Moon by writer/director Chris Bendall. Read more about Adelaide’s starring role here.
