Youth for Parliament

Youth for Parliament (Youth Parliament) is a leadership and civic engagement program that empowers young people to create, debate, and advocate for laws that matter to them. Participants work in teams to write a Bill (a proposed law), learn parliamentary processes, and then debate their Bill inside the actual chambers of Parliament House.

The program provides young people with:

• A platform to express their views on real issues
• Hands-on experience in debating, law-making, and public speaking
• Opportunities to influence government decisions. Many Youth Parliament Bills have become real Victorian laws
• A supportive environment to develop leadership, teamwork, and advocacy skills

Bills that have become real laws

Over nearly 40 years in Victoria, the Youth Parliament has influenced around 60 pieces of state legislation. Bills first introduced by young people have gone on to become real laws, including:

• Banning of single use plastic bags
• Roadside drug testing for drivers
• Over-the-counter availability of the morning-after pill
• Mandatory wearing of bicycle helmets
• Gun reformation laws
• and many more. 

Most recent win? The Victorian Government’s plan that public transport will be free for all under-18s from January 2026.

Click here to learn more about the Victorian Youth Parliament