The Youth Minister's Advisory Council is made up of young people aged 15 to 25. They have an important role in representing the views of young people by sharing ideas and experiences to help shape strategies and youth policy in South Australia.
Council members
- Arianna Burgos-Garabelli
- Ash Cook
- Ava Musarra
- Jazmin Bingham
- Jeanne Munyonge
- Lucy Boundey
- Max Price
- Scarlett Green
- Wil Day
- Zane Leblond - Chair
Youth Minister's Advisory Council outcome statements:
Youth Minister's Advisory Council - Meeting outcome statements
Update as at 5 September 2024
The Youth Minister’s Advisory Council met for the 3rd quarterly meeting on 5 September 2024. Along with meeting with the Minister, the Council discussed the next phases of the Youth Action Plan, planning for the 2025 SA Youth Week and Deepfakes legislation.
The Council discussed the government’s proposed social media restrictions for young people and advised the Minister of their support for social media being regulated for the safety of young people. However, they expressed their concerns with the proposal, including:
- Concerns that a ban on social media will create more barriers to socialisation for young people living regionally and remotely.
- Impacts on young entrepreneurs who will not be able to effectively operate and market their business without access to social media.
- Concerns regarding parental permission needed for young people to use social media, as this could provide another barrier for young people who have difficult home lives and can’t rely on parents or guardians to provide access or permission.
Council members are going to be attending a social media summit in Adelaide on 11 October and are eager to participate in the upcoming consultation on the ban.
The Department for Human Services (DHS) provided an update on the development on the Youth Action Plan and potential future roles for Council members in the implementation of the plan. DHS also sought advice from the Council on what they would like to see at the 2025 SA Youth Week launch. Members were also advised of the opportunities available to them to help them plan the event as well as partake in the Youth Week Grant assessment process.
The Minister asked the Council to provide feedback on the Deepfakes discussion paper developed by the Attorney-General’s Department. The Council believes that Deepfakes need to be regulated to prevent young people from being exploited, defamed, and blackmailed. They believe an effective way to try and regulate Deepfakes would be through a regulatory body which uses AI and algorithms to detect Deepfake material.
The Youth Minister’s Advisory Council will meet for the final meeting of their term on 7 November 2024.
Update as at 31 May 2024
The Youth Minister’s Advisory Council met for the second quarterly meeting of the year on Thursday 31 May 2024. The Council provided feedback on the department's Suicide Prevention Action Plan, discussed the Youth Action Plan, and had a mid-term review with the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia of Youth Minister’s Advisory Council function and support requirements.
As young people are a priority population in the Suicide Prevention Action Plan, the Council advised that the State Government agencies involved need to consider the following:
- The importance of community connections and support when experiencing mental distress.
- Upskilling medical professionals who may be using outdated models to treat mental health.
- More education on self-harm, particularly in regions.
Members also discussed their experience at the National Youth Forum in Canberra in March 2024 and how they will be involved in helping facilitate the second Youth Action Plan consultation forum in July 2024.
The Youth Minister’s Advisory Council will next meet on 5 September 2024.
Update as at 29 February 2024
The Youth Minister’s Advisory Council met for their first meeting of 2024 on Thursday 29 February. Along with meeting the Minister, the Council met with representatives from Department for Education, Department for Infrastructure and Transport and the SA Youth Forum.
The Minister advised the Council there will be legislation throughout the year she would like them to be consulted on including the review of the Carer’s Recognition Act and e-Scooter Bill. The Council also discussed housing affordability and the new rental reforms with the Minister. The Minister provided information on the new housing developments in Oaklands Park and the renting with pet reforms.
In their meeting with representatives with the Department for Education, the Council was informed of exclusion rates, and the supports in place children and young people at risk of not engaging at school.
The Council was joined virtually by a representative from the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to discuss their concerns regarding public transport accessibility in regional areas. The Council was advised a review is being undertaken to improve the accessibility to regional transport and to contribute the review, the Council shared their concerns.
In their discussion with the founder of the SA Youth Forum, the Council found that both groups have similar concerns and interests including housing, cost of living, access and inclusion and climate change. As a result of this meeting, Youth Minister’s Advisory Council and the SA Youth Forum want to meet and explore opportunities to work together further in the future.
The Youth Minister’s Advisory Council will next meet on 30 May 2024.
Update as at 8 November 2023
The Youth Minister’s Advisory Council met for their 4th Quarter Meeting on Wednesday 8 November 2023. Along with meeting with Minister Nat Cook, the Council met with Karen Hunt from Department for Innovation, Industry and Science (DIIS) to discuss the new Adelaide University and with the Concessions team in DHS to learn about the review that is currently being undertaken.
The Council discussed a wide range of topics with the Minister including, their forward agenda for 2024, Voice Referendum result, youth homelessness, and the impacts of short-form content on children and young people.
Queries the Council raised in their previous meeting in relation to the new university were addressed in their discussion with Karen Hunt from DIIS. The Council learned about how universities are created through legislation, how the creation of the new university will impact current university students and graduate outcomes in the future.
Staff from Concessions in DHS provided an overview of what they have found in the review of the 22 available concessions that may affect young people. The Council advised that there are school-leavers and young people who are not aware of Youth Allowance and Concessions available to them and suggested further awareness raising and education is required.
The Council was given an update on the development of the SA Youth Action Plan and some of the key findings of the consultation. The Council will be provided with the full consultation report and involved in the further development of this Plan.
The Youth Minister’s Advisory Council will next meet in 2024.
Update as at 6 September 2023
The Youth Minister’s Advisory Council met for their third quarterly meeting on Wednesday 6 September 2023. The Council met with the Minister of Human Services and with the Assistant Minister for Autism, Hon Emily Bourke MLC.
The Assistant Minister informed the Council about the establishment and functions of her role and the Office for Autism.
The Council discussed multiple issues with both the Minister and the Assistant Minister, such as their concerns over the University merger and housing for young people. When discussing the University merger, the Council questioned how many current students supported the merger and expressed concerns over the change in campus culture and requested a further update on the merger and answers to specific questions at their next meeting. The Council discussed financial assistance options to help young people become homeowners and housing developments in the outer metropolitan area.
The Council provided feedback on the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 review and the ‘Keeping Our Promises’ report from the Commissioner for Children and Young People. The Council expressed deep concern over the shortcomings highlighted in ‘Keeping Our Promises’ and in particular, the increase in exclusionary and absentee rates among school students. The Council expressed support of the reforms to stop rent bidding as this puts vulnerable people at further disadvantage and it welcomed reforms to allow renting with pets.
The Youth Minister’s Advisory Council will meet again in November 2023.
Update as at 8 June 2023
The Youth Minister’s Advisory Council met for their second quarterly meeting on Thursday 8 June 2023. Along with meeting with the Minister, the Council received an update from a representative of the National Office for Youth and participated in a workshop to help develop South Australia’s new Youth Action Plan 2023-26.
The Council heard about the establishment, functions, objectives and current areas of focus for the Office for Youth. Council members were encouraged to participate in upcoming engagement opportunities being run by the Office for Youth, to highlight issues of importance to South Australian young people and to inform the development of a national youth engagement model. Further information about the Office for Youth is available.
Members discussed a range of issues with the Minister, including the importance of affordable housing for young people, domestic and family violence supports and financial barriers for young people undertaking student placements and work experience. The Minister expressed her commitment to tackling the issues facing young people and that affordable housing is a priority for the State Government, while acknowledging that the creation of new housing stock takes time. The Minister also highlighted the opportunity for Council members to provide input to the current review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995.
The Council provided their view on priorities for the new Youth Action Plan 2023-26, across the areas of health, safety and justice, education and employment, connection and access to resources, and citizenship and participation. Community members are welcome to have their say on the new Youth Action Plan via YourSAy until 6 August - South Australia’s Youth Action Plan 2023-2026 | YourSAy
The Council next meets in September 2023.