Agent TypeOrganisationActivities & OccupationsGovernment organisationsHistoryAs a result of the findings of a Task Force established in 1983 to examine existing arrangements and to devise a structure to carry out coordinated policy development, the Cain Government established the YPDC under the Youth Affairs Act (1986) and was appointed for a term of three years. Its broad mandate was to develop youth policy and to give expert policy advice to the Minister for and the Government. The Council was directly responsible to the Minister and the work of the Council had to be approved by Minister. The Bureau of Youth Affairs provided a Secretariat function for the Council. The Youth Policy Development Council superseded the State Youth Council. The Bureau of Youth Affairs (BYA) was the secretariat to the Council. The principle function of the Council was "to develop and co-ordinate all government policy and programs which affect young people". The YPDC produced two major reports in its first term, ‘Future Directions in Youth Services ’ and ‘Health for Youth Report’. The effectiveness of the YPDC was gradually eroded. The Council was reconstituted in 1987 with new part-time chair. It was restructured again in the early 1990s to include only members who were under 22. This is thought to have reduced its influence at a Ministerial level. The repeal of the Youth Affairs Act (1986) in 1996 ultimately resulted in the dissolution of the YPDC. This was met with some concern within parliament as it was felt the Government now lacked ‘frank and fearless advice about the impact of government policies on young people’.
Youth Policy Development Council (1984-1996). University of Melbourne Archives, accessed 07/12/2025, https://archives.library.unimelb.edu.au/nodes/view/63479
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