UN YOUTH REP MEETS WITH PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDS

Australia’s Youth Representative to the United Nations, Amos Washington, was the special guest at an event in Federal Parliament yesterday organised by the Parliamentary Friends of Young People.

Amos, a 22-year-old law student from Mount Barker in South Australia, has spent the past six months on a self-funded tour of Australia talking to young people prior to heading to New York next month to address the United Nations General Assembly about his findings.

Co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Young People - Centre Alliance Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie and Liberal Member for Brisbane Trevor Evans – hosted the event with Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick so they could bring the voluntary work conducted by Amos to the attention of their colleagues.

“I am very proud of the work done by Amos, a young person from my electorate who was also a member of my youth advisory group Young Mayo,” Rebekha said.

“By the time he heads to New York, he would have conducted more than 150 consultations with young people across the country, from Tasmania to Far North Queensland, in cities and remote communities, and even in our youth detention centres.

“While issues raised by our young people vary depending on location and personal circumstances, the message I am hearing from Amos is that young people are not Australians on the cusp of engaging in society, they are Australians already experiencing civic life and their views need to be acknowledged and acted on.”

Amos said the Parliamentary Friends of Young People event was a chance to engage with MPs across the political spectrum.

“It was great to talk about what we are doing in the program so far and the exciting things we have planned for the rest of the year,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to coming back from the UN and reporting on my findings of our work throughout the year.”

Rebekha said she was looking forward to reading the Youth Representative to the UN report.

“In the meantime, the Parliamentary Friends of Young People are keen to raise money for Amos who has self-funded the past six months of consultation largely through private donations and a GoFundMe page,” she said.

“Australia’s Youth Representative to the UN is a role appointed annually by UN Youth Australia in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who generously fund his flights and accommodation to New York, but that doesn’t cover living costs throughout the year.

“Eventually the Friends would like to lobby for a larger stipend for this role.

“This time around our MPs and our community can help Amos out by donating to his campaign or by attending a community fundraiser in Mt Barker on Thursday, September 6.”

Details about the fundraiser are available here. And you can watch a short video with Amos ​here.