The recent Regional Consultative Workshop and Review of the NYDA Act 2014 was held in Banz, Jiwaka province from 17th June to the 21st of June where the Highlands regional participants were told of the importance of this exercise. The Minister for Community Development and Religion, Jason Peter, who spoke during opening of the recent consultation and review, said the National Government is focused on addressing the youth issues in the country such as unemployment, and looks forward to making important changes so to better deliver that, and that is why such consultations, and the review of the NYDA Act are significant to the cause. He said this consultative and review exercise aims to get the views of all youth stakeholders in four (4) Regional Consultative Workshops. “Once this is done, all the lists will be put together and then sent to the government,” said the minister when explaining the process following the consultations and reviews. The NYDA Director Mr. Joe Itaki also gave his piece of advice, urging all youth stakeholders to make submissions and give their views in the respective regional consultations. “In collaboration with key stakeholders, we need to work together to raise the bar pertaining to youth interventions, hence the Act Review is timely to ground programs on a solid legal footing. This will help towards strengthening connection from national to the subnational level,” he said. Meanwhile, the two remaining regions (New Guinea Islands & Southern) will host their Regional Consultative Workshops in July. The Momase region was the first to start and completed its consultative workshop last year. Thereafter, all views, opinions and submissions will culminate in the final amendment to be presented to the National Parliament at the end of this year.