YACSA

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YACSA The Youth Affairs Council of South Australia (YACSA) is the peak body in South Australia representing

Thank you to the 30 young people from across SA who joined our Youth Participation Roundtable last week. 💚They talked ab...
09/10/2026

Thank you to the 30 young people from across SA who joined our Youth Participation Roundtable last week. 💚

They talked about the barriers they face to participating in decision-making processes, from accessibility of opportunities and transparency throughout them, to the attitudes and assumptions of the people in charge.

Their responses were taken directly to government and sector leaders this week at our second Roundtable.

ID (1): Young person speaking to the person sitting beside them.
ID (2): Tables of young people working on activity together, sorting cards into categories.
ID (3): Young people sticking bright sticky notes to a whiteboard.
ID (4): Young person speaks to room from their table, gesturing outwards. The person beside them is listening.
ID (5): Young person sitting at table smiling.
ID (6): Young person speaks into Bluetooth microphone, looking into the camera of the phone recording. Phone recording screen visible over shoulder of team member.

Earlier this week more than 40 leaders from state and local government and service delivery joined YACSA for our second ...
09/10/2026

Earlier this week more than 40 leaders from state and local government and service delivery joined YACSA for our second SA Youth Participation Roundtable.

The discussion was framed by young people who attended the first session, exploring what it would take for meaningful participation to become standard practice in SA.

Thank you to everyone who came and contributed, and to the Commissioner for Children and Young People SA and Professor Lucas Walsh for joining us and speaking to the importance of genuine youth participation.

We’re pulling together a summary of what we heard at both Roundtables for all participants, along with a proposal for what happens next.

ID (1): Two people listening to Doug (back turned) speak across their table.
ID (2): Natalie speaks to attendees in front of bright slide with Acknowledgement of Country on screen.
ID (3): A young person is speaking in a video on a slide titled, ‘in their words’.
ID (4): Tables of attendees in discussion.
ID (5): Facilitator adds to poster on window titled, ‘Key messages’ with a black marker.
ID (6): Man listening to man beside him speaking in table discussion.

During August YACSA CEO Natalie, and Senior Project Officer, Doug, attended the 2026 Active Citizenship Convention’s ‘Lu...
05/10/2026

During August YACSA CEO Natalie, and Senior Project Officer, Doug, attended the 2026 Active Citizenship Convention’s ‘Lunch with Legends’ sessions, talking democracy and civic participation with year 10 students from across the state.

This year the Department for Education, South Australia initiative brought together more than 1,000 students from over 110 South Australian schools. The students they spoke with were considered and engaged, asking sharp questions about who gets a say and how.

ID: Natalie and Doug stand with young people and other ‘Legends’, smiling for group photos in front of a blue wall with graphics related to the convention.

Last week YACSA Policy Officer, Georgia attended the 2026 SANDAS Symposium.In partnership with Embolden, this year’s sym...
29/09/2026

Last week YACSA Policy Officer, Georgia attended the 2026 SANDAS Symposium.

In partnership with Embolden, this year’s symposium explored the intersection between specialist domestic, family and sexual violence services and alcohol and other drugs.

Over 120 representatives from across the AOD and DFSV brought deep expertise to the discussion, looking at how we can break down silos, strengthen frontline practice and prevent violence before it happens.

ID: Georgia (centre) is pictured with Child and Family Focus SA CEO, Melissa Gibson (left), and South Australian Council of Social Service CEO, Catherine Earl (right) in front of colourful stand-up banners.

This upcoming Conservation SA workshop, in partnership with YACSA, brings together youth workers to shape the creation o...
17/09/2026

This upcoming Conservation SA workshop, in partnership with YACSA, brings together youth workers to shape the creation of SA's climate movement strategy.

Young people are not just the leaders of the future, they are the leaders of now. As SA's climate movement evolves, the voices of young people, and those who work with them, must be front and centre.

This co-created statewide movement strategy brings together a diverse cohort of community members, grassroots groups, campaigners, volunteers, advocates, and organisations to create a shared vision and plan for SA's climate movement.

This workshop will explore the:

🌏 intersections between environment, climate and youth work
🌱 youth sector’s capabilities, needs and goals in the space.

Join us online on Thursday 22 October from 10am – 12pm.

Register now 👉 https://www.conservationsa.org.au/youth_sector_workshop_cocreated_movement_strategy

ID: Yellow tile is split into a top half with logos and dark text, and partially transparent bottom, with image of student climate protest visible underneath and light text. The split background is an exaggerated wave, high on the right side and dipping down to the left.

Do you facilitate a youth advisory group in South Australia?YACSA is mapping youth participation practice across the sta...
15/09/2026

Do you facilitate a youth advisory group in South Australia?

YACSA is mapping youth participation practice across the state – what's working, what's hard, and what needs to change. If you run or support a group that gives young people a role in decision-making, we want to hear from you.

Take the survey now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PKXGTLG

ID: YACSA graphic with dark green header reading ‘Youth participation in SA – youth sector workers,’ cream background below. Text: ‘Do you facilitate a youth advisory group in SA? YACSA is mapping youth participation practice across South Australia – what's working, what's hard, and what needs to change. We want to hear from workers across the sector running groups that support young people to influence decision-making.’ Button: ‘Take the survey.’

Most youth participation data comes from young people who are already engaged – those already on advisory groups or invo...
14/09/2026

Most youth participation data comes from young people who are already engaged – those already on advisory groups or involved in consultations regularly.

We're specifically seeking responses from young people aged 12–25 who haven't taken part in any youth advisory group, workshop or consultation. If you work with young people who fit this description, please help this survey reach them.

It only takes about 10 minutes, and is totally anonymous: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9MDRH5F

ID: YACSA graphic, pale pink background. Text: 'Never been asked what you think by a government or organisation before? That's exactly why we want to hear from you.' Button: 'Take the survey.' Underneath: 'For young people aged 12–25 across South Australia.'

YACSA is mapping how youth participation actually works across South Australia – what's working, what's not, and where t...
11/09/2026

YACSA is mapping how youth participation actually works across South Australia – what's working, what's not, and where the gaps are.

If you know a young person (12–25) who has taken part in a youth advisory group, workshop, panel or consultation anywhere in SA, please send them the survey below.

Take the survey now 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9MYKYNP

It only takes about 10 minutes, and is totally anonymous.

ID: YACSA graphic, dark green background. Text: 'You've done the youth advisory groups, the workshops, the consultations. Now we want to hear what actually worked – and what didn't.' Button: 'Take the survey.' Underneath: 'For young people aged 12–25 across South Australia.'

Today marks the beginning of National Child Protection Week, focused this year on shifting conversations into meaningful...
05/09/2026

Today marks the beginning of National Child Protection Week, focused this year on shifting conversations into meaningful action.

Conversations about child safety are a starting point. They build understanding and shift how people think, but on their own they don't keep anyone safer.

What matters most is what happens next, and how those actions lead to better supported for children, young people, families and communities.

Find out more about National Child Protection Week via Napcan: www.napcan.org.au

ID: A pale green, watercolour-style tile. Black text reads 'shifting conversation to action', with 'every conversation matters' in green text above it and 'to action' highlighted in a bright green brushstroke box. Below is black text reading 'National Child Protection Week' and '6-12 September 2026', with the NAPCAN logo in the bottom right corner.

Address

Level 4, 182 Victoria Square, Tarntanyangga
Adelaide, SA
5000

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61882117546

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