Why Youth Advisory Boards matter
Young people bring fresh perspectives, creative thinking, and lived experience that can strengthen decision-making and drive more equitable outcomes. At System 2, we’re committed to youth engagement that is meaningful, empowering, and impact-focused.
This blog, shaped by our experience with the System 2 Youth Advisory Board (YAB) and insights from leading organisations in the sector, shares practical steps for building a youth board that meaningfully influences organisational decisions (from research and strategy to projects and campaigns) ensuring that the impact created is relevant to the real needs and priorities of young people.
Step 1: Laying the foundation
Define the purpose and approach
The YAB was created to ensure young people, especially those facing systemic disadvantage, have a meaningful role in shaping our strategy, informing our research, and contributing to the design of projects and campaigns, placing their insights at the heart of everything we do. From the beginning, we collaborated with young people and community organisations to co-design the YAB. This included informal consultations with young people from diverse backgrounds, as well as learning sessions with organisations already experienced in youth participation. Their insights shaped everything from the board’s purpose and structure to how members are supported and engaged.
What helped us build momentum:
- Creating space for young people to identify and lead on the issues that matter to them
- Designing a structure that adapts to the needs and realities of members– offering multiple ways to participate, allowing different levels of involvement depending on capacity, and ensuring meetings were accessible, supportive and jargon-free.
- Learning from others about how to build trust and stay flexible in the process – for example, by being open to adjusting timelines, formats, or meetings structure based on what works best for young people at any given time.
Step 2: Recruiting diverse members
Outreach methods
Traditional recruitment processes can unintentionally exclude young people who don’t see themselves reflected in mainstream opportunities. We wanted our process to feel open and welcoming, especially to those whose voices are often missing from decision-making spaces.
Our approach included:
- Researching out to organisations that support CALD youth, First Nations youth, LGBTQIA+ communities, and young people in regional areas
- Creating accessible, relatable content for social media
- Simplifying the application process with short, open-ended questions and multiple ways to apply.
Key lessons from other organisations:
- Inclusive recruitment that is co-designed with young people builds trust
- Long or overly formal applications can discourage participation, especially from disengaged youth.
How we invited young people to join our Youth Advisory Board through accessible and inclusive outreach on Instagram
Step 3: Creating a culture of engagement
Co-design with young people
System 2 hosted a co-design workshop asking, “What’s the best way to engage disengaged young people?” The responses led to:
- Simplified engagement options, including online participation.
- A welcoming environment, with relatable facilitators and minimal jargon.
- Flexible participation levels, recognising that life circumstances may limit consistent involvement.
Support and accessibility
Recognising the challenges members face, System 2 provided:
- Giving plenty of notice before meetings, along with clear agendas and easy-to-read summaries
- Regular check-ins to stay connected and respond to needs as they come up
- Providing payment for their time, recognising the value of their contributions.
A blend of insights from our co-design workshop and ongoing feedback from Youth Advisory Board members, ensuring the YAB remains engaging and supportive.
Step 4: Amplifying perspectives
Gathering insights from lived experiences
Members conducted informal research within their networks, engaging peers, family, or community members to bring authentic insights into meetings. We kept the process flexible, allowing members to choose how they gathered and shared information. Whether through conversations, voice notes, or short written reflections, every contribution was valued.
Avoiding tokenism
- Their feedback was reflected not just in meeting notes, but in real decisions and actions.
- Example: The themes chosen for System 2’s research priorities were directly shaped by YAB input.
Examples of how member feedback has directly influenced the Youth Advisory Board’s approach and activities.
Step 5: Measuring impact and adapting
Measuring impact helps ensure that youth engagement leads to real change.
Track outputs and outcomes
Outputs:
- Involvement in finalising in System 2’s research priorities
- Involvement in research activities
- Youth perspectives presented at major forums, like the Social Impact Summit.
Outcomes:
- Stronger connections with young people experiencing disadvantage, enhancing our credibility.
- Organisational initiatives that reflect lived experience, helping us move closer to long-term systemic change
Iterate and improve
We regularly reviewed what was working and what could be improved, sharing updates with the YAB so they could see how their input shaped decisions. This cycle of reflection and action helped build a culture of trust, transparency, and shared ownership.
Amplifying young people’s voices: John Craven, CEO of System 2, sharing insights from the Youth Advisory Board at the Social Impact Summit.
Best practices to remember
- Use targeted outreach and flexible participation options.
- Let young people define priorities and shape processes.
- Offer emotional safe space, logistical assistance, and financial compensation.
- Show members how their input leads to real change.
Driving real change together
We know many organisations are deeply committed to engaging young people meaningfully, and System 2’s journey was built on learning from these efforts. By amplifying youth perspectives, embedding flexibility, and promoting inclusivity, we’ve seen the transformative potential of our Youth Advisory Board.
Are you ready to take the next step in empowering young people? Together, we can amplify their perspectives that respond directly to young people’s lived realities.