Australian Government - Australian Youth Forum

News

News and Events

New Topic - Youth at Work

24-06-09

When you start your first job, your rights and responsibilities in the workplace can be a bit of a mystery.

The Government is developing a Young Workers’ Toolkit, so we want to hear your experiences – good and bad – at work.

Keen to share? - Visit our Ideas Board.

If you have an idea for a future discussion topic, you can let us know via our feedback form.

Mission Australia Survey

Aged 11-24 years? You have an opportunity to comment on a range of important issues, visit the Mission Australia survey.

This is Mission Australia's 8th annual National Survey of Young Australians - about 45,500 young people participated last year. The survey is open until Friday 26 June.

The survey results will be published in a report, which is anticipated to be released in November. Previous reports are available.

AYF Outreach - Sale, Victoria

An Australian Youth Forum (AYF) Outreach event was held in Sale, Victoria on Saturday 30th May. The Minister for Youth, the Hon Kate Ellis MP, opened the floor to young people from the Gippsland region.

Report from the 2008-09 AYF Youth Engagement Steering Committee

03-06-09

The AYF Youth Engagement Steering Committee has released a report on their role and activities to date. Read the Steering Committee Report.

AYF Outreach events in Launceston and Devonport

The Minister for Youth, the Hon Kate Ellis MP, hosted the first Australian Youth Forum (AYF) Outreach events in Launceston and Devonport, Tasmania.

Announcement of more youth events

15-05-09

Thank you for taking the time to visit the Australian Youth Forum (AYF). Since the AYF was launched on 2 October 2008, the input from young Australians through the AYF website, the AYF Steering Committee and the first national youTHINK event has been overwhelming.

This is the reason the Australian Government established the AYF in the first place – to directly engage with young Australians about the issues that affect them and their communities.

Many of the ideas suggested by young Australians are already influencing Australian Government policy. For example, the Government is considering a national approach to addressing violence using some of the great ideas from youTHINK – like the role and behaviour of authority figures, the need for better awareness among young people about the causes and consequences of violence and the link between violence and alcohol.

Also, the ideas from the ‘Contributing to our Democracy’ discussion have been submitted to the Special Minister of State, Senator John Faulkner, who is responsible for the Government’s plans to make our electoral system more relevant and accessible to all Australians – including young people.

The AYF is now moving beyond just large scale events – and starting to engage young Australians about the issues that affect them and their communities. There are a number of AYF outreach events being held over the next few months. AYF outreach events are scheduled to take place at:

- Launceston (TAS) on Tuesday 19 May,
- Devonport (TAS) on Wednesday 20 May,
- Sale (VIC) on Saturday 30 May, and
- Bankstown (NSW) on Wednesday 10 June.

The AYF will also be holding a national event on Tuesday 30 June in partnership with the Salvation Army. This event involves discussions held in more than 40 locations across Australia, with focal activities taking place in Melbourne. Around 1,000 young Australians are expected to make their contributions on the four themes of: youth homelessness, the impact of the global recession on young people, the Compact with Young Australians, and access to government services. It is shaping up to be a great event.

Please keep visiting the AYF website for more information about upcoming AYF activities.

AYF Outreach events in Launceston and Devonport

15-05-09

Minister for Youth, the Hon Kate Ellis MP, has announced two Australian Youth Forum (AYF) Outreach events taking place in Launceston on 19 May 2009 and in Devonport on 20 May 2009.

Ms Ellis is holding the outreach forums to connect with young people and to engage with young people on local community concerns.

At these forums, employment and jobs, and violence and safety will be discussed.

Event Details:

Launceston: 1pm-3pm Tuesday 19 May 2009 at Launceston College, 107-119 Paterson Street, Launceston

Devonport: 9.30am-11.30am Wednesday 20 May 2009 at East Devonport Recreational Centre, Caroline Street, East Devonport

If you would like to attend the Launceston event, please contact: Wendy Newton Ph (03) 6323 3327 or email wendy.newton@launceston.tas.gov.au by 12 noon on Monday 18 May, 2009

Registrations have closed for the Devonport event

Budget News - 'What's in it for Youth?'

15-05-09

The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Youth, has released 'What’s in it for Youth?' - a quick guide to youth 2009-10 Budget and other relevant measures.

Video messages and transcripts from Treasurer, Wayne Swan and the Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis are available at www.youth.gov.au.

Check out 'What’s In It for Youth?' to find out how this budget affects young people.

New topic for discussion - Binge Drinking

Binge Drinking is the new discussion topic for the Australian Youth Forum (AYF) Ideas Board.

Discussions on ‘Violence and Safety’ at the inaugural Australian Youth Forum (AYF) event youTHINK, held on 20 February 2009, showed that young people consider alcohol abuse to be one of the main causes of violence in public places.

The Australian Government is concerned about alcohol abuse by young people – particularly when it develops into a culture of binge drinking.

Have your say on Binge Drinking on the AYF Ideas Board.

Don’t forget, if you have an idea for a future discussion topic, you can let us know through our Discussion Idea Page.

Ministers' response to your submissions - Bullying & Body Image

01-04-09

The Minister has considered your input on 'Bullying' and 'Body Image', which ran as Ideas Board topics from 2 October to 13 December and 16 January 2008, respectively. Thank you to everyone who posted ideas.

Its great to see young people wanting to take part and communicate with the Australian Government on these issues.

You've demonstrated that these issues were important to you, your friends and the community. The Ministers' Reponses are located on the We Hear You page.

Have you say on the new Ideas Board topic of Global Poverty.