Sydney Youth Summit to Light a FUSE for Bright Ideas

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, today participated in a youth summit that will seek to dismantle negative social barriers and drive positive change.

The Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN) has been hosting the national three day youth summit in Sydney since 22 October. The event is the first of its kind, bringing together young leaders from humanitarian and other migrant backgrounds to further develop and apply advocacy and leadership skills and share perspectives with other young people from around Australia.

“The FUSE Multicultural Youth Summit is an exciting challenge for young people as they work on ideas and plans for positive change in their communities,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.

“The Australian Government recognises the importance of investing in young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to achieve their full potential.”

Senator Fierravanti-Wells said the Federal Government offered a range of programmes to foster English language learning, educational and employment outcomes.

FUSE aims to help participants forge networks with other young people from around Australia and engage with a range of decision-makers while helping to establish the MYAN Australia Youth Advisory Group.

“Young people are often passionate advocates for change and FUSE will help them identify not only problems but also potential solutions to some deep-seated issues in our community,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.

Some of the issues confronting young people from humanitarian and other migrant backgrounds include racism, discrimination, family pressures and unfamiliarity with the Australian way of life.