YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament

One of a number of Australian YMCA Youth Parliaments, the first session of the YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament was held in 1996 in Brisbane. It provides a variety of parliamentary forums for youths between the ages of 15 and 25 inclusive to participate in parliamentary debates of topics of importance to local young people.
Format and Composition
Every year during the month of February, young people aged 15-25 can nominate for positions as Youth Members (YMP's). This process includes filling out a application which includes sections to prove the caliber of every participant. Participants are required to select two state electorates, for which they apply (e.g Brisbane Central or Chatsworth).
A selection panel works through all applications and reviews every application's merits and ability to positively affect the community. Once the selection panel has filled all requested seats, vacant seats may be given to second round applicants. Every successful applicant is notified of their success and given detailed information packs.
In April of the year, all successful Youth Members gather for training days, at which they are educated on the legislative processes of the state parliament. These training days also act as a bonding day for Youth Members and allows hopeful leaders to mingle and win support.
In September holidays, YMP's gather at a YMCA camp to begin the week long camp, and week long parliamentary activities. The first two days are dedicated to group building and leadership elections. The remaining days are dedicated to parliament, and debating bills that were created between April and September. Committee leaders, either refuting or supporting become Shadow Ministers, or Ministers, depending on the split of the parliament.
At the end of the week, Youth Bills that have been passed are signed by the Youth Governor for assent and then referred to the relevant Ministers within Government for further review. For example, bills passed by the Public Transport Committee would be referred to the Minister for Public Transport, Rachel Nolan.
Previous Parliaments
In 2009, the Youth Parliament Program was guided by the 2009 Executive Team, led by Coordinator Louis Paul Franks and Youth Governor Jessica Crosisca.
The Hon. Tommy Brennan Youth Member for Brisbane Central was elected by his fellow Youth Members to the position of 2009 Youth Premier with the runner up Kurt Hopkins, Youth Member for Pine Rivers elected as Leader of the Opposition.
2009 also saw the parliamentary sitting week moved to the 29th September to the 3rd October and an additional two days were added to the parliamentary sitting program.

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