As the peak body, AYAC advocates for young people and provides assistance to the youth sector through training, networking and professional development opportunities.
The organisation's aims are as follows:[2] AYAC's vision is for an Australia in which young people are informed, empowered, encouraged and supported to participate in their communities.
[4] This decision was widely criticised at the time, including by the then Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs (Senator Kate Lundy) who accused the Government of being "incapable of debating issues on an intellectual level, preferring to use the muzzle instead".
[7] At the time, the Minister identified AYAC's role as "an independent voice and advocate of young people and the youth sector".
In 2020, the Morrison government announced that $150,000 would be allocated to AYAC to boost its efforts to underline the issues affecting young people and to encourage wider participation.