YAC contribution

Each year, the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) plays an important role in the Australian Youth Digital Index (AYDI), reviewing the findings, reflecting on what they mean for young people, and helping identify the issues that deserve deeper exploration.

In response to the insights emerging from the Index, the YAC undertakes two youth-led projects each year to explore key themes in greater depth and turn evidence into action. 

In 2025, this included The Sleep Challenge and the Digital Skills Project. The Sleep Challenge explored the relationship between digital habits, wellbeing and sleep, encouraging participants to experiment with healthier routines and share their experiences. The Digital Skills Project investigated the capabilities young people need to thrive in a digital world, exploring how digital skills are learned, developed and applied in everyday life. Findings from this project were incorporated into the 2025 AYDI report.

In 2026, the YAC turned its attention to the growing influence of artificial intelligence in young people’s lives. Through What’s Real?, members are exploring how young people navigate a world where AI-generated content is increasingly difficult to distinguish from human-created content. Alongside this, a second AI-focused project is examining how AI is affecting young people’s learning, creativity, relationships, opportunities and wellbeing.

Together, these projects reflect the YAC’s commitment to ensuring young people’s voices remain at the centre of conversations about technology. By pairing AYDI insights with youth-led inquiry, the Council helps translate research into practical action and contribute to safer, more inclusive digital futures for young Australians.