Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations

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Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations
Incumbent
Gavin Choong
since 1 January 2023
Reports toAustralian Government, The United Nations
Term length1 Year
Final holderImogen Kane

The Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations is a joint position created by partnership between UN Youth Australia and the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Appointed yearly through a rigorous application process, the Youth Representative holds an extensive nationwide consultation, meeting with young Australian's, politicians and leaders. Each year the Youth Representative travels to the United Nation's General Assembly in New York as an accredited member of the Australian Mission to the UN to deliver a statement on behalf of the young people of Australia. Upon returning to Australia the Youth Representative delivers a report to the Australian Federal Government along with all State and Territory Governments on the year's consultations and key findings along with recommendations.[1]

In 2023 the Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations is Imogen Kane.[2]

Listening Tour[edit]

Each year, the Youth Representative takes part in a comprehensive national listening tour, engaging with young people across Australia on issues that are important to them along with meeting MP's, Government Officials and NGO's to learn about service delivery, to give advice and to represent the views and findings of young people in Australia.[1] The listening tour usually includes a core theme or questions that is the basis for the tours consultations and findings, in 2021 the question of the tour is: "What would Australia look like if young people were the key drivers of decision making?"[2]

UN Headquarters in New York, New York, USA
The flag of the United Nations
The Youth Representative travels to all States and Territories of Australia and to regional and remote areas.

The listening tour, which is supported by various levels of government, UN Youth Australia and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade holds consultations and meetings in all Australian States and Territories, major cities and regional towns along with rural and remote areas. Consultations and workshops are held in schools, universities, prisons, juvenile detention facilities and community venues.[3]

Attaché to the Australian Mission to the United Nations[edit]

UN Headquarters in New York, New York, USA

Each year the Youth Representative travels to the United Nations General Assembly in New York as an accredited member of the Australian Mission to the United Nations, whilst at the UN the Youth Representative will engage with international leaders and deliver a speech representing the youth of Australia.[1]

2018 Youth Representative to the UN, Amos Washington said in his speech to the United Nations Third Committee "There is a misconception that young people are waiting in the wings, yet to experience the real world. However, the issues the young people raised with me affect people of all ages, and are among the many issues that the 2030 Agenda strives to address."

"Young people I met advocated for a kinder society, free from bullying and harassment. In this sense, youth issues are community issues, and community issues are youth issues."[4]

Listening Tour Report[edit]

As part of the Youth Representative program a report is delivered to the Australian Federal Government along with all State and Territory Governments outlining the findings and recommendations of the Youth Representative from their listening tour.[1]

2018 Report Recommendations[edit]

  1. Lower the Australian voting age to 16
  2. Alternatives to youth detention always be prioritised
  3. Schools provide comprehensive, inclusive sex education, and education on mental health, bullying, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.
  4. The federal government funds additional youth mental health services in regional communities.
  5. The Government appoint a Minister for Youth.
  6. The federal government appoints a fully funded youth advisory council.
  7. Local and state/territory governments implement inclusive youth consultation strategies.
  8. The government fully funds a national youth peak body.

[5]

Office Holders[edit]

Name Year UNGA Statement
Andrew Hudson 1999
Carrie McDougall 2000
Kirsten Hagon 2001 [6]
Rebecca Jenkin 2002
Adam Smith 2003 [7]
Cat Thao Nguyen 2004
Ben Whitehouse 2005
Elise Klein 2006 [8]
Ben Groom 2007 [9]
Elizabeth Shaw and Melanie Poole 2008 [10]
Chris Varney 2009 [11]
Samah Hadid 2010 [12]
Benson Saulo 2011 [13][14]
Dan Ryan 2012 [15]
Adam Pulford 2013 [16]
Laura John 2014 [17]
Shea Spierings 2015 [18]
Chris Eigeland 2016 [19]
Paige Burton 2017 [20]
Amos Washington 2018 [4]
Kareem El-Ansary 2019
Lucy Stronach 2020-21
Angelica Ojinnaka 2022 [21]
Imogen Kane 2023
Gavin Choong 2024

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "UN Youth Australia - Youth Rep".
  2. ^ a b "2021 Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations Announced". UN Youth Australia. Archived from the original on 2020-10-17. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  3. ^ "Youth Rep Facebook Page". Facebook.
  4. ^ a b [1] Statement of Amos Washington, Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations, 3 October 2018
  5. ^ "2018 Youth Rep Report - UN Youth Australia" (PDF).
  6. ^ [2] Statement by Ms Kirsten Hagon, Youth Representative, for the Australian Delegation, 9 October 2001. Australian Mission to the United Nations
  7. ^ [3] Statement by Mr Adam Smith, Australian Youth Representative, 6 October 2003. Australian Mission to the United Nations
  8. ^ [4] Statement by Elise Klein, Youth Representative, 3 October 2006. Australian Mission to the United Nations
  9. ^ [5] Statement by Mr Ben Groom, Youth Representative, 9 October 2007. Australian Mission to the United Nations
  10. ^ [6] Statement by Ms Elizabeth Shaw and Ms Melanie Poole, Australian Youth Representatives to the United Nations, 7 October 2008. Australian Mission to the United Nations
  11. ^ [7] Statement by Mr Christopher Varney, Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations, 6 October 2009. Australian Mission to the United Nations
  12. ^ [8] Statement by Samah Hadid, Australian Youth Representative, 4 October 2010. Australian Mission to the United Nations
  13. ^ [9] Mr. Benson Saulo, 2011 High-level Meeting on Youth, 111th Plenary Meeting 26 July 2011
  14. ^ [10] Statement by Benson Saulo, Australian Youth Representative, 4 October 2011. Australian Mission to the United Nations
  15. ^ [11] Statement by Mr Dan Ryan, Australian Youth Delegate, 8 October 2012. Australian Mission to the United Nations
  16. ^ [12] Statement by Mr Adam Pulford, Australian Youth Representative, 7 October 2012. Australia Mission to the United Nations
  17. ^ [13] Statement of Laura John, Australian Youth Representative, 7 October 2014
  18. ^ [14] Statement of Shea Spierings, Australian Youth Delegate, 7 October 2015
  19. ^ [15], Statement of Chris Eigleland, Australian Youth Representative, 5 October 2016. Australian Mission to the United Nations
  20. ^ Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly 72nd Session National Statement by Paige Burton
  21. ^ "The Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations – The official website for the Australian Youth Representative and Listening Tour". Retrieved 2022-04-16.
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