Hume Youth YMCA Parliament Program

If you are interested in joining the Hume YMCA Youth Parliament team, complete the application form before Thursday 25 January 2024.

Application Form

All applications will be put through an assessment process and will be scored by three Assessment Panel members. Six preferred candidates and a waitlist will be selected. You will be notified of the outcome via an email and phone call.

If a candidate can no longer commit to the YMCA Youth Parliament program, the position will be offered to the next person on the waitlist.

Completing a YMCA Youth Parliament application does not guarantee a placement; however, Hume Youth Services will endeavour to support you on your leadership journey with other potential opportunities.

In the lead up to the residential camps, teams will meet attend three meetings with a mentor from the Taskforce. In these meetings, participants will:

• be assigned a Bill topic from their submitted preferences;
• be supported in the drafting and finalising of their Bill; and
• be introduced to the parliamentary debate structure and etiquette.

Teams may also be given the opportunity to meet with a stakeholder in the area of their Bill topic to discuss their Bill and advocate for change directly. It is also recommended that teams meet frequently outside of their supported mentor meetings to keep on top of the Bill writing workload.

The Training Weekend is a 3-day residential camp at Lake Dewar Discovery Camp from Friday 24 May – Sunday 26 May 2024.

Please note this 3-day residential camp is a compulsory part of joining YMCA Youth Parliament.

Across the weekend, participants will:

• Finish writing their original Bills with support from the taskforce.
• Finalise understanding in key training areas such as parliamentary etiquette and debate.
• Engage in practice parliamentary debates.
• Engage in media training and be interviewed on their Bill by the Youth Press Gallery.
• Establish the Chambers for Sitting Week including appointment of leadership roles (Chamber Leaders and Youth Premier).
• Engage in skill development sessions covering topics such as confidence and leadership.

The Week of Youth Parliament is a 6 day residential camp, also at Lake Dewar Discovery Camp Sunday 30 June to Friday 5 July 2024. This is when Youth Parliamentarians will debate their Bills at Parliament House in front of ministers and the public.

This week will combine professional learning and recreation for participants to apply the training they have received across the YMCA Youth Parliament program. Participants will be given the opportunity to engage with their peers through recreational and social activities.  

Across the week, participants will:

• Connect with and build a community of change makers.
• Continue to build leadership and advocacy skills while at campsite through tailor-made experiential learning sessions.
• Travel by bus on the Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday of camp to Parliament House to participate in the Youth Parliament sitting week.
• Gain practical experience in the parliamentary debating process – participating in both the sponsor (arguing for) and refuter (arguing against) roles for debate on Youth Parliament Bills.
• Be given the opportunity to conduct a short speech Member’s Statement directed to a state OR federal MP on an issue they are passionate about.

All team members should commit to participating in all aspects of the YMCA Victorian Youth Parliament program.

By applying to be a Parliamentarian you are committing to the following:

• Attending in person meetings with the Taskforce mentor.
• Spend at least five 5-hours working on the Bill and speech writing outside of the meetings.
• Attend and participate in a training weekend on Friday 24 May – Sunday 26 May 2024.
• Attend and participate in The Week of Youth Parliament (including 6 day residential camp).

This should be agreed to prior to submitting your application to join the team.