Applications for the 2012 Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations officially closed yesterday evening. At this point, the selection panel will begin the process of reading through the applications received. The panel will invite long applications from a shortlist of candidates which will be submitted in December before a further shortlist is selected for interviewing over January 2011. The 2012 Youth Representative will be announced in March 2011.

The Youth Representative is selected by UN Youth Australia and endorsed by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to represent the views of Australian youth to the United Nations. The Youth Representative spends many months touring Australia to interact with as many young people as possible, even if it means going to every corner of the land (and, perhaps, to small islands beyond). After this "listening tour", the Youth Representative heads to New York as part of the Australian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly.

The current Youth Representative, Benson Saulo, is beginning to wind down from his unforgettable year in the role. You can follow his remarkable journey on his blog at bensonsaulo.wordpress.com.