Youth development programs and services

Department of Communities, through the Youth portfolio, currently has four key areas of focus to improve outcomes for all young people in Western Australia aged 10 to 25 years:

• Youth development – to support young people to attain life skills, develop the knowledge and confidence needed to be involved in community life and to respond to issues impacting their lives.
• Youth engagement – to provide opportunities for young people to be involved in decisions that affect them, whether this is at the state or local level.
• Positive promotion of young people – initiatives that promote and value young people for who they are and the positive contribution they are making.
• Advocating on behalf of the needs of young people – raising awareness with stakeholders of the needs of young people, particularly related to decisions that affect them.

These focus areas are supported and achieved through the provision of funding to the sector through service and grant agreements for youth development programs and services.  

The Department provides more than $6 million of funding every year to support:

• More than 180 active units within the Cadets WA program
• Seven Youth Development Services:
  • The Aspire Program
  • Australian Guide Program
  • Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Voyages and Volunteer Extension
  • The Boys Brigade
  • Girls’ Brigade WA
  • Scout Program
  • Youth Parliament
• The Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia, the non-government peak body for the youth sector in Western Australia.