Shaping South Australia’s future through the voices of young people

The 31st South Australian Youth Parliament has officially concluded, following six days of debate, collaboration and leadership at Parliament House. Delivered by YMCA South Australia, the 2026 program brought together 75 young people aged 15 to 25, giving them a platform to speak about the issues affecting their lives, communities and future.

Participants began their journey with a two-day training weekend, where they developed skills in leadership, public speaking, bill writing and parliamentary procedure. They then put those skills into action during Parliament Week from 12 to 17 July.

The opening ceremony featured messages from David Wilkins MP, Jenn Roberts MP and 31st Youth Governor Charlie Caldwell, with the Welcome to Country given by Uncle Tamaru. 

Throughout the week, the program operated across both chambers of Parliament, with Lucy McDonald serving as Speaker of the YMCA Youth House of Assembly and Alex Luczak as President of the YMCA Youth Legislative Council. Participants researched complex issues, developed legislation, delivered speeches and considered different perspectives. Eight Youth Bills were passed through the Youth Parliament process, progressing into Youth Acts within the program. The Bills addressed issues including healthcare equity, homelessness, artificial intelligence, transport, employment, water security and human rights. The completed Acts are then handed to South Australian political leaders to help the government understand how they could respond to issues affecting the younger generations.

The week concluded with a closing ceremony featuring the Honourable Katrine Hildyard, Minister of Human Services, along with speeches from leading Youth Parliamentarians.

Supported this year by the Department of Human Services, Youth Parliament has continued to run consistently over 31 years, remaining one of the longest running youth civic programs in the state that directly influences policy makers with the voices of passionate young people. In doing so, YMCA South Australia lives out its mission by creating opportunities for young people to grow in body, mind and spirit, contribute to positive change, and help shape South Australia’s future.