YANQ has been in operation since 1989 and became incorporated in January 1991.

The original idea for the Youth Affairs Network was to link regional networks of youth services and organisations into a Statewide network. Meetings and conferences in 1987 and 1988 confirmed the need for a coordinated networking and information-linking system in order to promote the needs of young people.

The forerunner to YANQ was the Youth Affairs Contact Centre, originally funded through a Federal Government grant and then resourced by the Youth Division of the Queensland State Government. The Contact Centre operated a “008” (free of charge) Youth Info Line and sent out a monthly newsletter around the State.

During this time, a Steering Committee, which had been elected at a public meeting in 1987, was also in operation to develop a proposal and funding submission for the Youth Affairs Network of Queensland. Since 1991, the membership has grown from some 200 to almost 500. YANQ produces publications (newsletters and journals) for its membership.

YANQ receives its core operational grant through Families Youth and Community Care Queensland. YANQ also receives special projects’ funding from various State and Commonwealth Government Departments, especially in project areas relating to social justice target groups

YANQ is funded biennially to organise and run the State Youth Affairs Conference as one of its significant Statewide activities.

A Strategic Plan was developed and came into operation from July 1992 and ran through to June 1995. It was modified and extended until June 1996. In early 1998, the Management Committee, in collaboration with the staff, developed a Strategic Plan for the period 1998 – 2000. In 2000, a four-year Strategic Plan 2000-2004 to incorporate directions of the new Constitution was developed. The first year focuses on transitional period.