UN Youth Australia is the largest youth-for-youth volunteer organisation that aims to educate and empower young people in Australia on domestic and global issues. We know that young people from all backgrounds and lived experiences have the vision and passion to create meaningful change within their communities and throughout the world. Our programs, designed by young people for young people, aim to equip young people with the skills and inspiration to create impactful change wherever we need it.
We run a broad range of peer-education programs that give the participants we reach a deep understanding of the social and political issues the world faces today, and the skills and drive to solve them. Within Australia, we organise a National Youth Conference, Evatt (a national Model United Nations competition based on the Security Council), Voice (a national problem-solving and pitching competition), and a wide variety of state and territory events. Internationally, we coordinate educational tours of Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and the United States of America for secondary school students. View our programs on our website here.
Our programs are participated in by young people 12 to 18 (typically in high school), completely organised by 18 to 25-year-old young people across Australia.
Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations Program
Every year we appoint a young person from across Australia as our Youth Delegate to the United Nations. Their mandate (goal) is to represent every young person in Australia to international and domestic bodies. Through our Listening Tour, we host consultations in every state and territory, across metropolitan cities, regional towns, and rural communities, to understand what matters to young people. We make zero assumptions about the issues you're facing or care about. Perhaps you're worried about Climate Change (a lot of us are too ...) or about a change in your school or local youth service. Every issue is heard and incorporated into our reporting to the community and decision-makers globally!
This year, your 2023 Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations (or 'Youth Rep') is Imogen Kane (she/her), 23, from Melbourne, Victoria. Learn more about Imogen by reading her introduction here (link to UN Youth's website) or by visiting her Instagram @ausyouthrep.
Listening Tour consultations are open to young people aged 12 to 25 (inclusive) in all regions. Consultations are held in person and online. If you would like to host or organise a consultation with us, please submit an Expression of Interest.