Representing young people at the United Nations.
The Australian Youth Representative Program elevates the experiences of young people across Australia by creating spaces for them to explore, discover, and understand the issues most important to them and their communities.
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Meet the Youth Rep
Every day, young people's experiences, opinions and knowledge are misrepresented within our global society
United Nations
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Within the realm of minimal design, every element serves a purpose, and every detail is meticulously curated.
We created the Youth Representative Program as a centre of truth-telling, driven by young people
Since 1999, the Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations embarks annually on a Listening Tour, Australia’s largest face-to-face consultation of young people aged 12 to 25. Listening Tour Consultations bring together young people from across Australia’s diverse and varied communities to share their visions, challenges, and perspectives on current domestic and international issues and opportunities.
The Youth Representative leads these consultations as interactive, activity-based discussions to identify how local and global issues affect young people in their unique contexts and environments.
Sharing Australia's Youth Experiences at the United Nations
Australia’s youth experiences and perspectives shared during the Listening Tour are analysed and reported on to the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, the Australian Government, and the Australian and International Community.
Each September, the Youth Representative delivers an address to the Third Committee as a representative of Australia. They join the Australian Mission to the United Nations (New York Office) to be the youth voice and advisor in debates, negotiations, and strategy work around topical global issues, particularly those impacting young people.
Meet Gavin Choong!
2024 Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations
Gavin (he/him) is a youth and human rights advocate, with experience working in First Nations affairs, climate justice, refugee rights, and international development. He is passionate about amplifying minority voices, promoting awareness of the diverse challenges faced by marginalised communities, and supporting tangible initiatives which tackle these issues.
Gavin is currently in the final year of his Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Biomedical Science at Monash University.
As a multicultural advisor and ambassador, Gavin aims to work with diverse communities during his terms as the Youth Representative, as well as empower these young people to tell their stories.
Gavin in Action
Attend a Listening Tour Consultation!
Consultations for this year’s Listening Tour, led by Gavin, are now being planned. Take a look at the opportunities to interact with Gavin available, and keep up to date as we add more engagement dates in the future.
If you are a young person looking to organise a consultation for your group, or an organisation looking to host a consultation, please fill out an Expression of Interest (EOI) through this form (click here).
Mailing List
We would love to take you along on our journey. By signing up to our mailing list, you will receive monthly updates from the Youth Representative themselves, as well as exclusive promotional videos and graphics that you can share to help further the reach of our program and involve more of your community.
Take the Survey
You can tell us a bit about yourself, your opinions on several topical issues and life across Australia, your top issues and why, and your message to the United Nations. We take your anonymous responses and voice them to the United Nations and Australian community, including decision-makers in government.
Get in touch!
Need to contact Gavin, the Program or UN Youth Australia? Fill in a contact request form and our team will be back in touch with you!
Media Enquiries
For media enquiries, please contact us at communications@unyouth.org.au.
Contacting about a consultation
If you wish to organise a consultation, please refer to this page or contact us at listeningtour@unyouth.org.au.
General Enquiries
For general enquiries, please call the Chief Youth Representation Officer, Vasil Samardzhiev, at +61 468 848 469, or via email at cyro@unyouth.org.au.
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