Australian Government - Australian Youth Forum

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AYF Vox Pops

Find out what young people across Australia had to say on three important issues: street violence, employment and job security and binge drinking.

To watch the videos visit the Vox Pops page.

Learning or earning: New education and training requirements for 15 to 24 year olds

All governments in Australia have agreed to a Compact with Young Australians, which comprises a National Youth Participation (‘learn or earn’) Requirement for under 17 year olds; an entitlement to education or training places for 15 to 24 year olds; and changes to Youth Allowance (Other) and Family Tax Benefit (Part A) for young people aged under 21 without Year 12 or an equivalent qualification, making education and training a precondition for income support.

For more details, visit the Compact with Young Australians page on the DEEWR website.

youTHINK: live & online – 12 November 2009

The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, today hosted a live forum with young people at the Telstra Experience Centre, Sydney. The forum was also webcasted nationally. More information is on the youTHINK page.

Online Community Youth Spaces – 12 November 2009

The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, today announced that young people in their own community will be able to create and manage their own Online Community Youth Space.

They will be able to develop their creative, technical and management skills and apply them in a project that encourages youth community involvement. Their website will be a local youth community-building tool, providing a guide to community events and an online youth forum.

Applications are now open for the 2010 Australian Youth Representative Position! – 28 October 2009

Each year since 1999 the United Nations Youth Association and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has chosen one young Australian to be the Youth Representative in Australia's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In 2010, this could be you!

The Australian Youth Representative is responsible for representing the views and interests of Australian young people to the United Nations.

The Australian Youth Representative will have the amazing opportunity to journey around Australia to further understand the depth and breadth of the opinions of young Australians, before travelling to the Australian Mission. Once in New York they will work in the UN as a fully accredited member of the Australian Delegation, working closely with Australian diplomatic personnel. They will also work with fellow Youth Representatives from other Member States to advance the youth agenda and meet with UN staff to formulate new projects for young people around the world!

Young Australians between the age of 15 and 24 are strongly encouraged to apply for this exciting position! Applications will close on the 2nd of November, 2009.

For more information and to apply, go to United Nations Youth Association of Australia website.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reserves the right to withdraw the Youth Representative position at any time.

National Conversation’s focus on rural and regional youth - 23 October 2009

The Hon Tony Burke, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is encouraging young Australians living in rural and regional areas to join the National Conversation. You can read Minister Burkes blog and details of activities arranged between 22 to 28 October on the National Conversation ‘What’s going on' page.

Prime Minister’s Australian Youth Forum (AYF) Challenge - 22 October 2009

On 22 October 2009 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Minister for Youth Kate Ellis launched a new national competition, The Prime Minister’s Australian Youth Forum (AYF) Challenge, to generate innovative ideas about how young people can mobilise and better connect with their local communities.

Launch of the National Conversation – 22 October 2009

The National Conversation was launched simultaneously by the Prime Minister, hosting an online forum at Parliament House, and Minister Ellis in person at the Lyneham High School in Canberra. More information is on the ‘We Hear You’ page.