By Maggy Liu

9:25am: five minutes until the Opening Ceremony…

9:35am: after the President and Youth Governor are brought in by the Usher of the Black Rod, YMCA Youth Parliamentarians filed in, ready to begin!

“you are the future of our country and it makes me very proud to be in the room with you all”

10:00am: Minister for Youth Affairs Jenny Mikakos, Shadow Minister of Youth Victorians of the Opposition Steph Ryan & Chair of the Board of YMCA Victoria Anthea Hancocks gave empowering speeches touching on thanking the organisers, welcoming the young people and expressing we have the power to create change in Victoria.

10:05am: Youth Governor 2016 Caitlin Meyer gives the final opening speech of the day.

@the same issues coming up again and again – “what you’re doing is adding voice to the chorus, that these issues have been impacting the youth of Victoria for far too long.”

@giving young people a voice – “why should our voices be amplified? the days that children should be seen and not heard are long in the past.”

@encouraging the participants – “you are the ones to challenge expectations and exceed them.”

10:10am: “I declare the 30th Youth Parliament officially open” – Caitlin Meyer

10.13am: Time for morning tea, don’t forget to check out our Twitter as well!