Are you aged 16 to 24? Want to help the Australian Government take action on issues that matter to you? Applications for the 2026 Youth Advisory Groups are now open!
Led by the Office for Youth, the Youth Advisory Groups ensure young people’s ideas are heard on policies and programs that affect them.
In 2026, the advisory groups will work directly with the government on issues such as making sport safer and more inclusive, supporting open discussions about mental health, helping young people tackle foreign interference, and ensuring First Nations voices are heard.
In 2026, each advisory group will consist of up to 10 people.
The advisory groups are:
- Climate Change and Water Youth Advisory Group, working with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- First Nations Youth Advisory Group, working with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
- Sports Participation Youth Advisory Group, working with the Australian Sports Commission
- Mental Health Youth Advisory Group, working with the National Mental Health Commission
- Countering Foreign Interference Youth Advisory Group, working with the Department of Home Affairs
Applications close on Sunday 26 October 2025. The first meeting will be in Canberra in early 2026.
You can read about past Youth Advisory Groups and apply on the Office for Youth website.