Member for Monash Mary Aldred has encouraged young people in the electorate to nominate for the 2026 National Youth Parliament.
"I'm passionate about promoting civics education in our schools and the National Youth Parliament is a fantastic way to encourage young people to take an interest in our political system and get involved in their local community," Ms Aldred said.
The National Youth Parliament will bring together 150 senior school students, each representing one of Australia's federal electorates, to engage directly with civics and the Parliament over the course of a five-day residential program in Canberra.
Through hands-on learning experiences, including simulated parliamentary debates, students will gain a deeper understanding of how Parliament works.
Ms Aldred attended the launch of the 2026 program in Federal Parliament during the last sitting.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick launched the program, which will be run by the House of Representatives in partnership with The Y, formerly known as YMCA.
Y Australia is a nationally recognised leader in youth civic engagement, with more than 40 years of experience delivering Youth Parliament programs across the country.
All young people aged 16-17 who will be living in Australia in August 2026 are welcome to apply, regardless of background, education or experience.
"As a young person, I really valued opportunities to get involved, like serving on the board of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria," Ms Aldred said. "We have so many clever, kind and talented young people in the Monash electorate, and I want anyone who is keen to nominate to have a go at nominating."
For more information on the National Youth Parliament or to apply, visit nyp.houseofrepresentatives.gov.au/apply