Australia’s youth gather to enrich their movement

Young people can offer a unique perspective on the challenges facing our country. But wider society all too often marginalises youth, ignoring the meaningful and valuable contributions they make to society.

At the upcoming Youth-Led NGO Roundtable, a joint initiative of the federal government and the United Nations Youth Association (UNYA), 20 young leaders from preeminent Australia youth organisations will gather in Canberra for three days of dialogue, skills building and strategic planning.

Most significantly, the Roundtable will allow the youth movement to celebrate the work it does around the country and share ideas for the future. In doing so, the Roundtable will reveal to all Australians one simple fact: young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow—they are also the leaders of today.

 Our youth serve as agents for positive change across the nation. UNYA is merely one of countless examples. As the largest by-youth for-youth organisation in the country, UNYA educates and empowers young Australians as global citizens.

With divisions in each state and territory, UNYA engages with over ten thousand youth every year. Many of these young people have the chance to travel across Australia through UNYA’s programs, as well as to The Hague, East Timor and Harvard University. By providing an avenue for acquiring knowledge of current affairs and international politics while gaining skills in negotiation and debate, UNYA is helping to create a generation of young leaders who are equipped to face the challenges of the future.

Moreover, through our advocacy initiatives, UNYA strives to represent the views of youth to all levels of government. Each year, we select one young person to travel to New York and address the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of Australian youth. We also publish an academic journal for young writers, convene events designed to facilitate the expression of youth opinion, and lobby governments on issues of importance to young Australians.

Throughout our 50 year history, we have constantly discovered the underlying worth of the youth perspective on contemporary issues.

Being free of old prejudice and pessimism, with an emphasis on a sustainable future, youth provide a natural counterbalance to prevailing ideologies. As many among the demographic cannot vote, however, young voices do not often resonate in the chambers of government. Consequently, young people constitute a unique but sadly lacking ingredient in the public sphere.

Unquestionably, when addressing modern dilemmas such as climate change, our country would benefit immensely from involving its youth. The creativity, optimism and audacity of young Australians are characteristics that would add a fresh dimension if injected into public debate.

All youth-led groups in Australia, regardless of their focus, are united by a common belief in the capacity of young people to make a difference. Later this month, leaders of these groups will congregate at the Roundtable to ensure this capacity is recognised and encouraged.

By investing in and listening to Australian youth, our nation will enrich its social fabric by allowing future custodians to have their rightful say in the world they will inherit.