The Wellspring

Yesterday, the Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Youth, launched the Australian Youth Forum, the Australian government’s new $2m youth engagement initiative, which replaces the previous government’s beleaguered National Youth Roundtable. This funding includes $400 000 annual funding for the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, the national youth affairs peak. (For a history of the national youth affairs peak and the federal government’s initiatives to engage and consult with young Australians, see my post here.)

Here is the short speech I gave on behalf of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition at the launch:

Ten year’s ago, the former government defunded Australia’s national youth affairs peak, leaving young Australians without an independent and consistent voice to present their concerns and aspirations to the youth sector, the government and the broader Australian community. This move effectively left young Australians without a coherent and coordinated role in numerous discussions of national public policy – even those that had a direct and dramatic impact on us. In the last few years alone, young Australians have had a tough time being heard on some really big issues: plans for a new health and social services access card, changes to laws governing Australia’s electoral roll, and dramatic reforms to Australia’s industrial relations and higher education arrangements.

This changes today.

A decade on, this government’s decision to establish the Australian Youth Forum, and importantly, to re-fund Australia’s national youth affairs peak, represents not merely the realisation of an election promise, but also a recognition of the rights of young people to be heard on issues that mater to them, a response to the overwhelming support of the youth sector for greater sector development and a stronger voice in their government, and, most importantly, a genuine commitment to engaging meaningfully with young Australians in a variety of ways that are independent, accountable and inclusive.

And so it is with great excitement, gratitude and anticipation that the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, with members including each state and territory youth affairs peak, numerous national youth organisations and young people themselves, congratulates Minister Ellis and the Rudd Government on the establishment of the Australian Youth Forum. We look forward to working with you, the youth sector and young Australians across the country in advancing the wellbeing and fuller participation of young people in Australian society, in promoting collaborative work and sector development amongst community organisations that work with young people, and in ensuring that this is merely the first step in forging a better, fairer deal for young Australians.