2018 Youth Rep Report Referenced in SA Government Youth Policy
Our 2018 Youth Representative to the United Nations Amos Washington has had his consultation report referenced in the South Australian Government’s Youth Action Plan.
The SA Government’s plan outlines the state’s vision for “A South Australia that is safe, inclusive and sustainable for all young people, now and into the future” and outlines a number of goals for the state to take action on.
The 2018 Youth Representative report found that discrimination and inequality was the top issue on the minds of young South Australians followed by mental health and wellbeing, alcohol and drugs, violence, crime and abuse, family and relationships and education.
2018 Youth Rep Amos Washington at a South Australian consultation
28.6% of young South Australians felt that their opinions were represented by politicians in government and 55.2% of young South Australians felt that people respect their opinions as young people. However, the majority of young South Australians expressed a desire for greater youth engagement and representation.
The Youth Representative to the United Nations program, first established in 1999, is the only role of its kind in Australia. Appointed annually by UN Youth Australia and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Youth Representative holds an extensive, nationwide consultation to engage with and discover the issues most important to young Australians.
Known as the Listening Tour, this consultation process sees the Youth Representative meet not only with young people but also with prominent members of the Australian community. This includes MPs, NGO leaders and those involved in the youth and education sectors.
In September, the Youth Representative travels to New York to represent Australian youth at the United Nations, as a member of the Official Australian Delegation to the UN. There, the Youth Representative delivers a speech on their findings during the Listening Tour. Upon their return to Australia, they deliver a report to state and federal governments on the year’s consultations.
Read the South Australian Governments Youth Action Plan Here.
Read the 2018 Youth Representative Report Here.
Keep up to date with the Youth Representative role and read the latest report Here.