Youth Action NSW

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Youth Action NSW

Youth Action is the peak body representing young people and the services that support them in NSW. To achieve this, it is the role of Youth Action to:

1.

We work towards a society where all young people are valued, engaged and supported. Respond to social and political agendas relating to young people and the youth services sector
2. Provide proactive leadership and advocacy and shape the agenda on issues affecting young people and youth services
3. Collaborate on issues that affect young people and youth workers
4. Promote a positive profile in th

e media and the community of young people and youth services
5. Build capacity for young people to speak out and take action on issues that affect them
6. Enhance the capacity of the youth services sector to provide high quality services
7. Ensure Youth Action’s organisational development, efficiency, effectiveness and good governance. Youth Action:

- monitors and responds to government policies and proposals affecting young people
- promotes and advocates on issues affecting young people and youth services
- brings young people and youth workers together to act on issues affecting them
- works to raise a positive profile of young people in the media and in the community
- provides training, forums and conferences to young people and youth workers
- provides information and referral
- produces a range of resources, publications and newsletters.

24/08/2026

We’re partnering with Office for Youth on the first statewide mapping of youth spaces across NSW!

Youth spaces are essential community infrastructure and provide places for young people to build trusted relationships, develop confidence, participate in their communities and access support before challenges escalate.

Delivered by Youth Action and funded by the NSW Office for Youth, the project will build the first statewide picture of where young people connect, participate and access support.

Findings and recommendations are expected by the end of 2026.

20/08/2026

💜Introducing our Social Media Content Contractor💜

Hi, I'm Bri. I'm 24 and the new face behind the posts at Youth Action for a little while. I actually created the last 3 posts!

I'm currently a first year design student at WSU, and I'm here at Youth Action because I care about the systemic change they are pushing for.

I'm excited to use visual storytelling to help make a difference. 😊

14/08/2026

Be part of the conversation.

Youth Action is inviting members to our next Youth Sector Session on Wednesday 19 August from 10–11:30am.

We’ll be joined by Carlee Maccoll from AbSec to explore their new Leaving Care Hub, a free, co-designed online resource designed to help young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people prepare for leaving care. The hub provides a practical roadmap covering everything from housing and Centrelink to healing and staying connected to culture.

We’ll also share updates with the sector on Youth Action’s upcoming NSW state election strategy, our hubs mapping project and the NSW Youth Work Awards.

We’d love to see you there!

Register for the Sector Session at 9a5dac67-9541-463e-9d49-49c5380b3501@8a4494f1-0c2e-4ec4-ac92-a132c142f050" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9a5dac67-9541-463e-9d49-49c5380b3501@8a4494f1-0c2e-4ec4-ac92-a132c142f050 or via the QR code.

Artwork created by Leticia Forbes, Wiradjuri and Torres Strait Islander designer, founder of .miya and former Youth Action Board Member.

12/08/2026

🌍 Different contexts, common aspirations. 🌍

Young people around the world live very different lives, but many also want the same things: opportunities, education, work, a voice in the community, and a future worth looking forward to.

Today is International Youth Day - we’re recognising the young people working to create that future, whether that’s in schools, communities, workplaces or online.

11/08/2026

🗓️Consultation on Youth Hubs🗓️

We have been pushing hard for a more coordinated system that actually supports young people where they are.

From our ‘From Fragmented to Coordinated’ paper to meetings with MPs, everything keeps leading back to the same point. More integrated youth hubs are needed, and we will continue to push for this.

By integrated, we mean health, job support, and social connection all in one place, so young people don't have to chase around for help.

We are digging deeper into the local experience to make this campaign even stronger, and we especially want to hear from youth service providers about what matters most.

Join the conversation on Microsoft Teams this Thursday, 13 August from 10-11:30am.

Register using this link: 22f0d6a2-7e62-4c1c-9118-d605e3c02a28@8a4494f1-0c2e-4ec4-ac92-a132c142f050" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/22f0d6a2-7e62-4c1c-9118-d605e3c02a28@8a4494f1-0c2e-4ec4-ac92-a132c142f050

27/07/2026

Please reshare: safety announcement for people who are experiencing family and domestic violence.

Today, an emergency warning system will be tested nationwide. Known as AusAlert, it will trigger a loud noise and message on mobile phones at at 2pm AEST (1.30pm ACST, 12.00pm AWST).

Domestic violence support groups are warning people to take extra precautions if they keep a secret safety phone ahead of the nationwide test this afternoon.

Family and domestic violence support
• 1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732
• Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578
• Women's Crisis Line: 1800 811 811
• Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491
• 13 YARN: 13 92 76
• Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114
• Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277
• Victims of Crime Helpline: 1800 819 817

Via ABC & NCOSS

24/07/2026

Yesterday, Youth Action CEO Lauren Stracey spoke with ABC's Jess McGuire on NSW Drive about the growing shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists in NSW and what it means for young people, youth workers and the mental health system.

Young people don't suddenly wake up in crisis. Too often, they ask for help early but can't get the support they need. Manageable challenges escalate while they wait for specialist mental health care that comes far too late, if at all. Too often, youth workers are left filling the gap, despite not being a substitute for specialist mental health services.

Every young person deserves the right support, at the right time. That means investing in specialist mental health services and youth-specific supports, including youth hubs, so young people can get help early, before they reach crisis. We need a connected youth mental health system where clinicians and youth workers can each do what they're trained to do.

Read our media release: https://bit.ly/20260724MH

16/07/2026

We're excited to announce that Youth Action is partnering with the University of Sydney, Youth Justice NSW, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation and Telstra Foundation on a new Australian Research Council-funded project, Digital Media for Youth Justice.

The project will work alongside young people involved in the youth justice system to better understand how they use social media and digital technologies, and how digital safety education can better support them. Using media co-creation as a participatory research method, the research will support young people to co-design evidence-based digital safety resources and programs informed by their lived experience.

Together, the project aims to foster safer and more inclusive digital media use, while contributing to future education, policy, and preventative and rehabilitative support.

We're proud to be part of this important collaboration and look forward to working with young people, researchers and our project partners as the work gets underway.

10/07/2026

Nearly 40% of young people aged 16 to 24 have experienced a mental disorder, up from 26% in 2007.

The finding comes from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s new Australia’s health 2026 report and points to the urgent need to support young people before they reach crisis point.

Speaking with ABC NewsRadio yesterday about the data, Youth Action CEO Lauren Stracey highlighted that young people’s mental health is not only built through clinical settings responses. It is also shaped by connection, relationships and community.

That means making sure young people can access support earlier, when they first notice something is not quite right, and listening to them about what is driving help-seeking and what support works.

It also means ensuring mental health care is responsive to the different experiences of young people across genders.

Listen to Lauren’s interview with ABC NewsRadio at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-09/more-young-people-seeking-mental-health-support/106895538

08/07/2026

What a wonderful time celebrating NAIDOC Week at AbSec’s Family Fun Day!

The Youth Action team really enjoyed being part of such a vibrant celebration of culture, community and connection, and meeting and yarning with so many young people, children and families. Through our Ask for Health project, we also had some great conversations with young people about health literacy and what helps them feel informed and confident about their health.

There was so much energy, pride and joy in the air. Seeing children and young people connecting with culture, family and community was a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from belonging, and the important role young people play in carrying culture, stories and community forward.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme, “50 Years of Deadly”, celebrates five decades of strength, vision and legacy. It was wonderful to see that legacy so alive across generations.

A huge thank you to AbSec for bringing community together for such a special celebration. We loved being part of it!

Address

52-58 William Street
Sydney, NSW
2011

Telephone

+61283543700

Website

http://www.youthaction.org.au/

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