Our Advocacy
Youth Action advocate on behalf of young people and the Sector to provide advice on systemic issues. Our work is grounded in the voices and lived experiences of the young people and the services who support them.
From Fragmented to Coordinated: Building stronger systems for young people through Youth Hubs (2025)
Youth hubs are a locally-based, integrated support service that provide young people with access to the resources they need to develop essential skills, tailored to their individual needs. They provide a central third place where young people can spend time with trusted, professionally qualified youth workers and build connections with their peers.
Submission to Inquiry on foundational and disability supports available for children and young people in NSW (2025)
Youth Action completed a submission to the Select Committee investigating available foundational and disability supports for young people living in New South Wales. We gathered input from over 100 young people and tested findings with an intensive focus group of six young people.
Submission to the Inquiry into the prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in New South Wales (2024)
In preparation for this submission, we heard from over 60 representatives from the youth sector about their views on the young people they work with experiences’ of loneliness. We have also drawn specifically from our consultations with young people on mental health and as well as our recent consultations on increasing social cohesion.
Submission to the Inquiry into the impacts of harmful pornography on mental, emotional and physical health (2024)
Youth Action prepared a submission to the Standing Committee on Social Issues Inquiry into harmful impacts of pornography on young people. we heard from over 60 representatives from the youth sector and from a focus group of 10 young people.
“Young people want to do well, it just comes down to the support we get.” (2024)
Youth Action completed a submission to the Committee on Law and Safety’s Inquiry into community safety in regional and rural communities. In preparation for this submission, we held an open online consultation with a total of 50 young people and representatives from the youth sector.
NSW 2024-25 Budget and Young People
Youth Action welcomes the NSW Budget focus on young people doing it tough such as those in contact with child protection and law, justice systems as well as those disengaged from education and learning. Young people in our consultations have told us about their challenges with food insecurity, housing and homelessness, transport expenses and rising cost of utilities.
Supplementary Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Cost of Living (2024)
Since entering our first submission in May 2023, we have continued to hear from young people and the youth sector about how cost of living is affecting young people, especially young people doing it tough.
“Disability is a spectrum and everyone with disability is going to look different” (2024)
Youth Action’s Submission to the Inquiry into children and young people with disability in New South Wales educational settings
Youth Peak Bodies Australia-wide call on the Government to Raise the Rate (2024)
Australia’s youth affairs peak bodies collectively call on the
Government to commit to a substantial increase in the base rates of the Job Seeker Payment and Youth Allowance as a matter of priority.
Key Tenets of Programs that Successfully Engage Young People
This report conducted an assessment of the key tenets of successful programs in 8 Youth Action member organisations working in a diverse range of contexts with young people. It collated interviews with CEOs, front line workers and young people.
A Fairer NSW for Young People: Youth Action Pre-Budget Submission (2024-25)
Youth Action is asking for a specific focus on young people and the services and supports they need to tackle the challenges they face in the NSW Government 2024-2025 Budget.
Take a health and harm minimisation approach to vaping: Young people’s voices about the programs and services needed to prevent the uptake and continued use of ecigarettes (2023)
Vaping use amongst young people in NSW is a recent phenomenon with young people and those working with them reporting it’s prevalence amongst their peer group.