The National Conference (formerly UNYC) is the largest residential youth conference held annually in Australia, consistently recognised by government and the NGO community as Australia’s premier conference for young people.

The week-long conference brings together over 150 bright-minded and passionate young people from every State and Territory in Australia, as well as New Zealand, Japan and Tonga. Every year, UN Youth selects an Australian capital city to host the National conference. In 2012 the conference will be hosted in Melbourne. Recent National Conferences have been held in Perth (2010), Brisbane (2009) and Hobart (2008).

The National Conference aims to educate young delegates about important international issues facing today’s world. The theme of UNYC 2011, Seeing the World Through a Younger Lens, encouraged participants to see that young people can offer valuable solutions to pressing public policy issues. During the conference, delegates participated in a range of stimulating exercises, from model United Nations debate to interactive speaker forums. Delegates were also part of the nation-wide campaign, YouthChange.

After the National Conference the experience does not end. Delegates are equipped with a range of tools to effect positive change in their local communities and have numerous opportunities to make a difference within UN Youth and other community groups.