consultation is not participation

young people are further marginalised from mainstream society by the social, political, cultural and economic contexts in which they live (Brown 1992, 2010; Cooper & Brooker 2020; Joseph, Akpokavi, Chauhan & Cummins 2002)

as critical dialogue is central to youth work practice, so youth workers must be open to dialogue with young people who hold different views. Working with diverse voices and elevating those voices that are often silent are important and crucial to good participation.

In most countries young people under the age of majority are ‘disenfranchised’, that is to say, they have limited opportunities to engage with the political process and governance structures of their country, state or province by virtue of their age and thus are often excluded from political and civic decision-making (Corney 2004, 2014a, 2014b; Far... See more

Youth workers will recognise the impact of social and structural forces on young people, so that their practice is responsive to young people’s experiences and needs and to break down barriers that restrict young people’s life opportunities (Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) Code 2007).

Cooper, C. (2011). Youth participation and emancipation. In A. Fitzsimons, M. Hope, C. Cooper & K. Russell (Eds), Empowerment and participation in youth work (pp. 41–66). Learning Matters, Sage.

Youth workers need to be able to understand the nature of participation in situ : the context in which it is taking place, the boundaries of decision-making, what is able to be negotiated and/or what is achievable within those boundaries, and the level and range of participation options for young people in a given time and place, and that there are... See more

A measure or rationale for making difficult decisions with young people can be found in the UNCRC ‘best interests’ principle. It is important to ask what the benefits for all young people are, what the direct outcomes or consequences will be for those who participate in the decisions and who will be affected by them – be these effects moral, ethica... See more

Cahill, H., & Dadvand, B. (2018). Re-conceptualising youth participation: A framework to inform action. Children and Youth Services Review , 95, 243–253.