Young people will be at the centre of a bold new strategy to best support young Victorians and address the challenges they face as we rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic.

Minister for Youth Ros Spence today launched a public consultation to inform Victoria’s first-ever youth strategy.

2020 has been a particularly difficult year for young Victorians, who are telling us they feel uncertain about their future and are worried about their mental health, keeping up with their education and finding a job.

The new youth strategy will unify and strengthen the way the government works with young people across the state as we rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic.

Today marks the beginning of a long conversation between government and communities right across Victoria to build a strategy that will create real, meaningful change for all young people.

The Victorian Government is calling for all young people to have their say on what matters most to them and the co-designed and youth-led consultation process will be open for more than two months. A series of online youth and community forums will be held across the state, including in suburban, regional and rural areas.

The Government is partnering with youth sector organisations including the Youth Affairs Council Victoria, Koorie Youth Council, Centre for Multicultural Youth, Minus 18 and the Youth Disability Advocacy Service to make sure the forums include a diverse range of voices.

Victorians are also invited to contribute by responding to a short online survey or making a written submission by 14 December. The discussion paper and online survey is available at engage.vic.gov.au.