Rewriting the Rules for Youth Participation: Inclusion and Diversity in Government and Community Decision Making

The National Youth Affairs Research Scheme (NYARS) has commissioned this research to provide government and community organisations with a framework for youth participation approaches that facilitate the involvement of young people from a range of backgrounds. The research is the first of its kind to be conducted in Australia and examined the following: existing opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds to participate in decision making, perceptions and expectations of participation experiences of participation, the strengths and limitations of targeted verses universal approaches to involving young people, motivations for participation, barriers to participation, benefits of participation, and strategies for involving young people from diverse backgrounds. The research explores the attitudes and experiences of policy makers and service providers, and young people from diverse backgrounds.