Alister Henskens SC MP has encouraged young people from Ku-ring-gai to consider applying for a position on the 2017 NSW Youth Advisory Council and get involved in Government decision making.

Council members are sought to represent the diversity of young people living in NSW in terms of locality and gender, Aboriginality, and cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Mr Henskens said that the Youth Advisory Council is one of the most effective ways for young people to be involved in Government decision making.

“The Youth Advisory Council is a powerful way of ensuring the voice of young people in NSW is heard loud and clear,” Mr Henskens said.

“Importantly, the insights provided by the Council helps shape the development of policies and programs that affect young people.”

“Members of the Council make an important and valuable contribution to the NSW Government’s work and the way we deliver services for young people in NSW,” Minister responsible for youth John Ajaka said.

One of the key roles of the Youth Advisory Council is to provide advice to the Minister responsible for Youth and the Advocate for Children and Young People.

The NSW Advocate for Children and Young People Andrew Johnson said that the 12 member Council meets regularly throughout the year to monitor and evaluate policies and legislations which affect young people.

“The advice of the NSW Youth Advisory Council has been instrumental in our work including the important contributions they made to the development of the first three-year whole of government Strategic Plan for Children and Young People recently launched by the NSW Government,” Mr Johnson said.

Applications close at 5:00pm Friday 30 September 2016.

For more information and application forms please visit the Advocate for Children and Young People’s website www.acyp.nsw.gov.au or by call (02) 9248 0970.