National Youth Commission into Youth Homelessness
In 2007-2008 YDA conducted the first National Youth Commission inquiry into youth homelessness. The process held 21 hearings throughout Australia, received input from 319 people, and examined 91 written submissions. The inquiry was resourced by philanthropic funds from the Caledonia Foundation.
The NYC report ‘Australia’s Homeless Youth’ was launched by Minister Tanya Plibersek on April 8, 2008. In conjunction with the NYC, a feature film on homeless youth in Sydney was made over two years by award-winning documentary filmmaker Shark Island Productions. The film was shown on ABC national television to an audience of 1.1 million Australians. The report and film had a major impact and informed the development of the Federal Government White Paper on Homeless. A second NYC is under development on young Australians and the youth labour market in the 21st century.