headspace Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) volunteer information
Are you aged between 16-25? Are you passionate about youth mental health and wellbeing? Do you want to get involved in your local community?
Volunteer opportunities to join the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) at either headspace Elsternwick, Bentleigh or Syndal are open from Wednesday 11 March to Wednesday 15 April 2026.
What is the YAC?
The YAC is the youth voice of a headspace centre, and it’s all about making sure young people are heard. Made up of 16 to 25-year-olds, the YAC gives young people the chance to share their ideas, speak up about what matters, and help shape better mental health support in the community.
If you join the YAC, you can get involved in cool community projects, have your say on headspace services, grow your confidence and leadership skills, meet like-minded people, and push for the changes you want to see in youth mental health and wellbeing.
Your voice matters, and this is your chance to use it!
Applicants must:
- Be between 16 and 25 years of age
- Live, study, work or play in the, Bayside, Glen Eira, Monash and/or Kingston areas.
- Have an interest and passion in local youth issues such as youth health, mental health, LGBTIQA+, homelessness and/or alcohol and other drug issues (this could also include a personal lived experience or supporting a family member/friend).
- Be able to attend 1.5 - 2 hr fortnightly meetings for a minimum 1 year commitment (headspace Bentleigh meetings are scheduled on Monday evenings, Syndal on Wednesday evenings and Elsternwick on Thursday evenings.
- Have capacity for 2- 5 hours per fortnight for commitment for volunteer opportunities, including the compulsory meetings.
- Currently hold and/or be willing to obtain a Working With Children (for members over 18) and Police Check.
What are the benefits of being on the YAC?
You'll have the opportunity to:
- Build real-life skills like teamwork, public speaking, advocacy, event planning, and running projects.
- Connect with other young people who care about the same things as you.
- Connect and collaborate with health professionals and other young people passionate about mental health.
- Gain experience working with people from all backgrounds and grow your confidence in communicating with others.
- Help shape and improve youth mental health services in your community.
- Get access to training in mental health, suicide prevention, alcohol and other drugs, and other important topics.
- Receive references to support your education or job applications.
- Enjoy a flexible role that fits around your study, work, and other commitments.
We welcome and celebrate young people from diverse backgrounds! The YAC is better when it reflects the identities and backgrounds of young people from our local community.
We highly encourage you to apply, and will prioritise your application if you:
- Have a lived experience of navigating mental health challenges and accessing support
- Are someone who has supported a friend or family member to access mental health support
- Are part of the LGBTIQA+ community
- Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- Have a refugee or migrant background
- Have accessed support for drug and/or alcohol use
- Have accessed support for homelessness
- Have experienced barriers when accessing support including for mental health, alcohol and other drug use, or homelessness
Read the complete role statement here.
To apply, please create a Better Impact account below.
You will then be taken through a series of questions - allow some time (up to 30 minutes) to complete these. Once you have completed your application, we will be in touch via email or phone over the next few weeks. You will be contacted only if you meet the necessary requirements of the role.
If you have any questions about the role or the recruitment process, please contact Brixton (they/them) via email b.sterling@alfred.org.au or phone 0408 601 378
