Youth Taskforce interim report

The Youth Taskforce is developing a National Youth Policy Framework. The taskforce recently completed over 12 months of consultation on issues, policies and programs that impact and are important to young people. The taskforce reports to and supports the Minister for Youth.

The Youth Taskforce was established for an initial period of six months to report to the Minister for Youth, Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck by December 2019, on options for: whole of government coordination of policies and programs impacting young people; how to address gaps and consider options through investigating the extent of existing policies and programs; and ways to improve engagement and participation by young people in decision-making by government. This interim report is the result of consultation with young people across Australia. It presents the findings of this consultation, and will guide further consultation and the development of the National Youth Policy Framework.

This report was finalised in December 2019 and represents a moment in time prior to the impact of the [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had a significant impact on Australia's young people who have perhaps been most adversely affected by COVID-19 due to the fact that they are over-represented in industries that have been heavily affected by the impact of the pandemic, including accommodation, food services and the retail industry. Many young people were also adversely impacted by the bushfires in New South Wales and Victoria in the summer of 2019-20.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted the intended approach of the Youth Taskforce and the finalisation of this document. Throughout the document reference is made to the development of a Final Report in March 2020; the reprioritisation of work has meant that focus has been placed instead on the development of the National Youth Policy Framework (the Framework) due for submission to the Minister for Youth by the end of 2020. The Framework is being developed with the impact of these crises in mind and the knowledge that they will impact young people in the years ahead.

The interim report and the 'National Youth Policy Framework snapshot' were released in 2020. The snapshot provides a 1-page overview of the priorities explored in the National Youth Policy Framework consultations, including: opportunity and security; youth empowerment and engagement; safety, inclusion, respect and acceptance; environment; health and wellbeing; and navigating the system.

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