The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, including CRIS members Prof Anita Harris and A/ Prof Philippa Collin.

The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (the Academy) welcomes the opportunity to

engage with the Queensland Government (the government) on the development of a new

Queensland Youth Strategy (the new Strategy).

The Academy strongly supports the government’s commitment to improving outcomes for

young people in Queensland. Ensuring youth succeed in their transition to an autonomous

life is of critical importance to our national future.

The Academy is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that draws on the expertise of

its over 750 elected Fellows to provide practical, evidence-based advice to governments,

businesses, and the community on important social issues.

Our submission provides six recommendations aimed at enhancing the Queensland youth

policy framework; it also provides a high-level summary of some key challenges facing

young people.

Underpinning this submission is significant research from the social sciences, including

relevant work on important issues not covered in detail in this submission. These include

studies on youth justice, the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, and

youth with disabilities.

The Academy recommends:

1. The new Strategy recognises the uncertainties and impacts created by climate change and intergenerational equity as key global transformations shaping the modern youth experience, and especially notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated their effects.

2. The Queensland Government extends its commitment to youth engagement through comprehensive participatory engagement models, including up-to-date digital approaches, so that diverse young people can contribute to meaningful change across all areas of government policy and the policy cycle.

3. The new Strategy recognises the cross-cutting and interconnected nature of youth policy and identifies coordination mechanisms to deliver policy, programs, and services.

4. The Queensland Government investigates opportunities and structures to support focused youth research and to foster collaboration across policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in the field of youth.

5. The new Strategy is underpinned by youth-centred indicators together with a monitoring and evaluation framework, which has been developed in consultation with young Queenslanders and experts in youth outcomes measurement.

6. The new Strategy incorporates cross-cutting themes of social and emotional wellbeing, financial security, and access to affordable housing. The Queensland Government investigates opportunities and structures to support focused youth research and to foster collaboration across policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in the field of youth.

5. The new Strategy is underpinned by youth-centred indicators together with a monitoring and evaluation framework, which has been developed in consultation with young Queenslanders and experts in youth outcomes measurement.

6. The new Strategy incorporates cross-cutting themes of social and emotional wellbeing, financial security, and access to affordable housing.