Youth Advocacy

-QFCC Youth Advocate Jessy, Child and Youth Participation Framework

A Youth Advocate is a young person living in Queensland aged 14 to 25 who is passionate about advocating for issues that are important to young Queenslanders. Youth Advocates come from a diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences.

The QFCC supports Youth Advocates as casual employees in recognition of their expertise and time. As such there is an Expression of Interest and assessment process to become a youth advocate at the QFCC.

Youth Advocates do not have a set work pattern or hours, they chose the participation opportunities they want to be involved in and have the flexibility to work around other commitments. 

Youth Advocates are vital to amplifying the voices and experiences of young Queenslanders and influencing decision makers on issues that impact young people. Some of the ways Youth Advocates do this is through:

• Providing advice to the QFCC on issues or topics that are important to young Queenslanders.
• Providing advice to government and non-government agencies on issues that are important to young people through meetings, workshops, policy submissions or other forms of content.
• Writing website and social media content about topics that young people are passionate about.
• Involvement in youth participation projects – this could include facilitating focus groups, chairing meetings, presenting to government officials (including ministers) or representing the QFCC at youth forums and events.
• Involvement in media activities that support your advocacy areas (e.g. radio interviews, newspaper articles and etc).

Youth Advocates work alongside other young people from diverse backgrounds.

The QFCC is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for Youth Advocates. All young people with diverse lived experience, cultures, abilities and backgrounds are invited to apply to be a Youth Advocate.

The QFCC is a independent statutory body of the Queensland Government.

Our vision is that every Queensland child is loved, respected and has their rights upheld. 

We influence systemic change by assessing the child protection system’s performance, collaborating for impact and amplifying the voices of Queensland children and their families. We do this in six ways:

• We monitor performance and identify changes that improve outcomes for children and their families.
• We produce authoritative analysis of complex social issues focused on generating awareness and solutions.
• We enable children, families and communities to contribute to discussions and decisions that impact their lives.
• We protect and promote child rights by building an everyday accountability for child rights.
• We support, connect and collaborate with organisations that advance the safety, rights and wellbeing of children.
• We value and invest in staff and continuously improve our systems and structures.

Check out our Strategic Plan 2022 – 2026 if you want to learn more about the work we do.

Youth Advocate, Child and Youth Participation Framework

Youth Advocates work primarily with the QFCC’s Youth Participation team but will also work with other QFCC staff members, government departments, non-government organisations and stakeholders. Any work you participate in with will be facilitated by members of the Youth Participation team.

As a Youth Advocate you are a member of a large group of passionate young people from across Queensland who want to create change and advocate for the needs of young people. You will have the opportunity to learn from young people with different backgrounds and lived experiences through your work as a Youth Advocate.

The QFCC supports young people from all locations across Queensland and we provide hybrid and online youth participation opportunities so all you need is an internet connection to get involved.

To express your interest in becoming a QFCC Youth Advocate, please complete the EOI form. This is a quick and easy way to let us know how you’d like to get involved.