Media Release

Australia’s youth will have a greater say in policies affecting them with the announcement today of the 50 members of the first National Youth Roundtable by the Federal Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp.

"The Roundtable will provide Australia’s young people with a direct voice to Government. It will ensure that my Parliamentary colleagues and I are in touch with young people’s views on a wide variety of youth issues, including employment, education, health, youth suicide, and youth services. The Roundtable will be a major forum for direct communication with Australia’s youth," said Dr Kemp.

The 50 members of the Youth Roundtable, all aged between 15 and 24, include young Australians from all States and Territories, metropolitan and rural areas, and from various cultural backgrounds.

The Roundtable will build on the respect generated for young people by the Constitutional Convention, where young Australians distinguished themselves by the constructive nature of their contributions on such an important national issue.

"The Youth Roundtable consists of a wide mix of young people, including some who have overcome barriers such as disabilities, homelessness and unemployment," said Dr Kemp.

"Some Roundtable members have already represented their peers at national and international forums, and some have received public recognition for the contributions they have made to improving opportunities for their generation.

"I am confident they will provide the Government with a first hand perception of the issues of concern to Australia’s youth and, more importantly, will suggest workable measures to address those issues."

Applications for membership of the Roundtable were sought late last year. More than 10,000 application forms were distributed throughout schools, youth and community organisations and youth support groups. A hotline was also set up to take calls from young Australians who were interested in applying.

"An impressive group of almost 1,000 young Australians applied to be a part of the Roundtable, which is a key element of the Government’s Voices Of Youth initiative," said Dr Kemp.

 Final Roundtable membership was chosen by a specially formed selection committee which included representatives from youth organisations, the education sector and young people themselves.

The 50 young people announced today by Dr Kemp to join the Roundtable (and 10 reserve members) attended State-based training workshops in February. These workshops maximised their opportunity for full participation in the National Youth Roundtable.

At the workshops, participants developed the skills necessary to establish support networks in their own states for involvement in community based projects.

The first Roundtable will be held in Canberra between 8 and 10 March 1999 with a second meeting later in the year.

"I look forward to meeting and listening to all Youth Roundtable members," said Dr Kemp.

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