Young Tasmanians Lead the Way at 2025 Youth Forum

One of Tasmania’s largest annual youth events has brought together passionate young people from across the state to explore the issues that matter to them most. 

The 2025 Tasmanian Youth Forum has been hosted by the Youth Network of Tasmania. This year’s theme was “Our Voice in Action”.

Minister for Children and Youth, Roger Jaensch said today’s forum offers a platform for young Tasmanians to share ideas, explore solutions, and build their skills through a series of interactive workshops and activities.

“This year’s theme, chosen by the young people themselves, reflects their strong desire to be heard and to drive meaningful change in their communities,” Minister Jaensch said.

“It was wonderful to see so many young people here today taking an active interest in youth issues, discussing ideas, and sharing their experiences with each other. 

“I deeply value the opportunity to hear directly from young Tasmanians, and to listen to what matters most to them.”

The forum plays a key role in:

• Informing decision-makers about the issues that young people care about most;
• Shaping Tasmanian Government policies and priorities;
• Helping the community understand both the challenges and the aspirations of young Tasmanians.

This year’s theme aligns with the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to ensuring that children and young people are empowered to speak up on the issues that impact their lives.

Our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future is all about making Tasmania the best place to live, work and raise a family, which is why our government is fiercely backing our future generations. 

Minister Jaensch also highlighted several other government initiatives that have been shaped by the voices of young people, including:

• The Change for Children 10-Year Strategy, developed with input from children and young people, which aims to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse.
• The Out of Home Care Advisory Group, launched in April 2025, to inform reforms in out of home care.
• The creation of the Participation and Empowerment Strategy to help us uphold children’s rights.
• The Youth Jobs and Participation Taskforce, to support more young Tasmanians into education, training, and employment pathways. 

“Thank you to the Youth Network of Tasmania for their continued leadership and dedication in delivering the Tasmanian Youth Forum,” Minister Jaensch said. 

“Their tireless work ensures that young people across the state continue to have a strong platform to speak up, be heard, and to help shape a better future.”