Media Release by The Hon Sussan Ley MP

National Youth Roundtable to meet with Government

The 50 members of the National Youth Roundtable 2004 have today presented the Australian Government with their findings about issues, which impact on young people.

Parliamentary Secretary for Children and Youth Affairs, Sussan Ley, said this year’s Roundtable members were being given the best possible foundation in how to develop and deliver their ideas to Government.

“Not only does the National Youth Roundtable provide Government with an important forum to hear from Australia’s youth, it also provides these young people with the opportunity to develop their confidence and leadership skills,” Mrs Ley said.

The National Youth Roundtable is the centrepiece of the Australian Government’s youth consultation mechanism. Each year the Roundtable brings together 50 people, aged 15 to 24 from diverse backgrounds and locations across Australia, to exchange with the Government their views and perspectives.

Some of the issues highlighted by the group included:

  • Environmental sustainability;
  • Cultural diversity;
  • Communication with Australia’s youth by Government and non Government organisations;
  • and Health issues.

“This year, members have learnt how to work as a team, worked with facilitators to develop skills in consultation and project planning for their Roundtable year and have attended workshops on how to deal with the media, ” Mrs Ley said.

“The Roundtable members have also participated in Step to the Future Youth Leadership Forum, which also gave them an opportunity to interact with representatives of the Australian Forum of Youth Organisations.

“The members of this year’s Youth Roundtable have developed an insight into the issues confronting their peers and also an awareness of the workings of the Australian Government.

“They have all grown throughout this experience and will be a great inspiration to their local communities when they return.

“The Australian Government remains committed to continuing to nurture our youth through programs such as the National Youth Roundtable, giving Australia’s leaders of tomorrow a voice, today,” Mrs Ley said.

For more information about the National Youth Roundtable, go to the Australian Government’s youth website (www.thesource.gov.au), (free call) 1800 624 309 or email roundtable (roundtable@thesource.gov.au).