The state's first dedicated NSW Office for Youth was launched yesterday so that young people can be directly involved in the government decision-making process.

This comes as the NSW Government’s 2024 Youth Summit Report shows 76% of young people feel unheard in government decision-making. However, will an Office for Youth really engage and solve the problems of youth?

The state government says that:

For more than a decade, young people in New South Wales have lacked a central point of engagement within government. The former Liberal-National government abolished the youth portfolio in 2011, silencing the voice of young people in executive government.

The new NSW Office for Youth will change that.

Young people made their expectations clear through 12 months of consultation and at the 2024 NSW Youth Summit: consultation without follow-through is no longer acceptable. They called for genuine influence in shaping policy. The Minns Labor Government has listened and is taking action:

The Office for Youth will:

• Engage young people on their terms - in urban and regional areas, online, and through community-based initiatives.
• Embed youth perspectives across government policies and programs from the outset, not as an afterthought.
• Cut through red tape and duplication that currently exists

From climate and housing to justice, mental health, and equity, young people in NSW have consistently shown leadership. The NSW Office for Youth will ensure that leadership is formally recognised, respected, and integrated into decision-making processes across government.

The NSW Government is committed to building a future where young people are not only heard but are active contributors to the decisions that shape their lives.

Also released today key findings of the 2024 Youth Summit Report show:

• 76% of young people say government doesn’t listen.
• Cost of living is the top issue, followed by mental health and vaping.
• 1 in 10 have experienced homelessness.
• 85% voted in 2023 but still feel shut out.

The report can be found here.

Chair of Youth Advisory Council said, “I’m excited to see how the Minister for Youth, along with the Advocate, will work together to ensure that all young people across the state, feel supported, valued and listened to.”

Minister for Youth, Rose Jackson, said, “The decisions we make as a government today, will affect generations to come so it is absolutely imperative that they are a part of the conversation. That’s what this is about.

“Young people have been ignored for way too long. Former NSW Liberal/National Government’s have cut the youth portfolio entirely- we’re putting it back, front and centre where it belongs.”

“This new Office isn’t just a nameplate on a door- it’s a proper, central place where young people are heard, respected, and actually help steer the ship.

“We’re not here to tick boxes or run another round of pointless consultation. This is about real change. Young people told us what they want and we’re getting on with it.

Zoë Robinson Advocate for Children and Young People, said, “The Office for Youth brings together expertise from across government to continue to engage with and ensure young people’s voices are not just heard but will inform policy and decisions that will impact them today and, in the future,”

Milly Bannister Founder & CEO of ALLKND said, “Young people aren’t just the future, they’re here, now, shaping communities and tackling challenges head‑on. The launch of the Office for Youth is an opportunity to put their voices where they belong – at the heart of decision‑making.

“At ALLKND, we see every day how powerful it is when young people are trusted to co‑design solutions that affect their mental health and wellbeing. This initiative signals a genuine commitment to listening to and learning from the lived experiences of young people across New South Wales, and I’m proud to stand behind it.”