Meeting 2 highlights - 13 to 14 June 2026

Nineteen members of the 2026 Northern Territory Youth Round Table (Round Table) gathered for their second meeting of 2026 on 13 and 14 June.

Ministerial session

During their second meeting, members met with the Hon Jinson Charls MLA, Minister for Youth, Seniors and Equality. The minister reflected on the success of Northern Territory Youth Week in April 2026 and, together with senior executives from the Department of People, Sport and Culture, reaffirmed the Northern Territory Government’s commitment to supporting young Territorians and addressing issues that matter to them.

Members shared updates on their areas of focus and discussed their priorities for young Territorians. The minister and senior executives provided feedback and guidance to support members as they further develop their projects ahead of presentations in September 2026.

Key focus areas for 2026

During meeting 2, members refined and narrowed their focus areas for the remainder of their term:

• Safe spaces: Young Territorians, particularly those in remote communities, can face limited access to and awareness of safe spaces and support services.
• Youth crime: Examining the underlying factors that can increase the risk of youth involvement in the justice system and strengthening the impacts of activities that provide support.
• Health care: Young people across the Northern Territory can encounter fragmented services and disconnected support systems, which can affect their ability to access holistic care.

Professional development

Members participated in a series of professional development sessions facilitated by the Office of Youth Affairs, The Eventful Learning Co, and the Balanced Choice Program.

Members were supported to further define their priority issues and develop problem statements and policy pitches. The Eventful Learning Co guided members through the process of designing scalable solutions to their identified focus areas, while the Balanced Choice Program strengthened members’ public speaking and presentation skills in preparation for their presentations in September 2026.

Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment consultation

Representatives from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment consulted with the Round Table on the development of the Northern Territory Public Sector Workforce Strategy 2027-2032.

Members shared their perspectives on attracting, supporting and retaining young people in the Northern Territory Public Sector, helping inform the design of the strategy and future workforce initiatives.