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 Voices of Young Australians: Uniting for Social Cohesion
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What is Voices of Young Australians?
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Program Details
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Partners
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What is Voices of Young Australians?
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Voices of Young Australians: Uniting for Social Cohesion is a program that aims to foster and facilitate grassroots change and initiatives through anti-discrimination youth leadership training and youth led projects that promote respect and understanding between all Australians.
Through anti-discrimination leadership training and youth-led project work, young people from diverse (refugee, migrant and Australian born) backgrounds have the opportunity to develop their confidence, leadership and project management skills whilst developing relationships and broadening their personal and professional networks.
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Program Details
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The first phase of this program was delivered across the Cities of Hume and Whittlesea from June ‘07-June ‘08, engaging 25 diverse young people from 5 schools. Youth-led initiatives developed by these young leaders included:
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- Youth Dialogue Forum, addressing issues of racism and discrimination;
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- ‘Is it ‘cos I is different? Youth Against Discrimination’, an anti-discrimination comedy event;
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- ‘Today’s world; Tomorrow’s Leaders’, a youth radio show celebrating talents and achievements of multicultural young people;
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- ‘Hands with a Voice’, an anti-racism school charter, and;
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- Youth Multifaith Forum, aiming to promote interfaith dialogue between young people.
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Projects were supported by Whittlesea Council Youth Services, City of Hume Youth Services, Student Youth Network (SYN FM) and with additional funding from the Foundation for Young Australians.
The second phase of this program is currently being delivered across the Shire of Melton in partnership with Melton Youth Services from July 2008 to June 2009. Current youth-led initiatives include:
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- Youth Forum: Tackling Racism and Discrimination, bringing together 100 students from the western suburbs of Melton;
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- Cultural Runway, a multicultural event for Refugee Week celebrating cultural diversity through fashion, food and dance;
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- Multicultural Youth Camp, bringing together young people to learn about cultural diversity and leadership;
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- The Amazing Race Caroline Springs, which invites all community members to learn about cultural diversity in a fun, Amazing Race style event.
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Projects are being supported by schools, local business, Melton Youth Services and the Shire of Melton Council, as well as the Victoria Police and local community stakeholders.
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Partners
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The program is co-ordinated by CMY, funded by the Scanlon Foundation and auspiced by the Australian Multicultural Foundation. The three-year program (ending in June 2010) is being delivered within schools and the community across local government areas in Victoria.
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