The Role of the Australian Youth Representative

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and UNYA have partnered each year since 1999 to select and support the Youth Representative, enhancing the position and improving the selection process each year.

UNYA is responsible for the administration of the selection process until the final stages, where UNYA and DFAT jointly select the successful applicant. While the Australian Government solely gives instruction to the Youth Representative while they are in New York or representing the government in an official capacity, UNYA has also played a significant part in shaping the position outside of these parameters.

Throughout the process, the Youth Representative works closely with DFAT and UNYA, and has particular support from the National Vice-President (Youth Representation). UNYA’s role – both before and after the New York phase – is to facilitate and support the Youth Representative, which often involves organising events and forums with young people for the Youth Representative’s benefit.

The tasks of the 2010 Youth Representative can be categorised into three distinct phases: (i) pre-departure consultation, (ii) representation within the Mission and (iii) reporting back upon returning to Australia.

Phase 1: Pre-Departure Consultation, also known as the “listening tour”
Upon selection, the Youth Representative has the challenging but amazing task of consulting with a substantial proportion of Australia’s youth population. This should involve travelling to each state and territory, to rural and regional Australia, to indigenous communities, and to different collectives of young people within all of these settings. This will also involve working with UNYA’s state and territory divisions throughout this process.

There are two aims of the listening tour. It is envisaged that the tour will equip the Youth Representative with a comprehensive mandate of youth representation that may be outside the normal scope of their experiences as a young person. This will assist greatly in the preparation of the Youth Representative’s address to the General Assembly. Most importantly, during the consultation process the Youth Representative will be expected to publish articles about their experiences in various papers and journals, and as a result bring the stories of young Australians to the attention of the general public.

The Youth Representative is also expected to attend and present at UNYA’s National Youth Conference, which will be held in Perth in July 2010. There will also be a briefing session with the Department of Foreign Affairs within the months prior to departure which the Youth Representative will be required to attend alongside the UNYA National President and Vice-President.

Phase 2: At the Mission
In September 2010, the successful applicant will travel to New York City, where they will be based for approximately six – eight weeks within Australia's Mission to the UN, close to the banks of the Hudson River where the UN headquarters is located.

The Youth Representative is quite distinct from the interns who work in Australia's Mission to the UN, who act as individuals, rather than as a fully accredited member of the Australian Delegation. The position gives one young Austalian the chance to see the incredible workings of the United Nations on a firsthand basis. It is known from previous experience that the Youth Representative’s tasks can involve the following;

• Providing youth opinion to the Australian Delegation on the issues discussed at United Nations General Assembly;
• Attending discussions in the six committees and the plenary session of UNGA;
• Reporting on meetings and briefings for the Mission;
• Attending Australian Delegation and regional meetings;
• Assisting the Mission with administrative tasks;
• Assisting in organising the annual Youth Symposium for Youth Representatives and other young people at the UN in New York;
• Attending the annual meeting of Youth Representatives, which may be held with the UN Secretary General;
• Attending the annual meeting of the Youth Advisory Body for the UN's Youth Fund;
• Building strong relations with the other Youth Representatives to UNGA.

In addition to these tasks, previous Youth Representatives have participated in many different side-events to the General Assembly, both within the role of Youth Representative and also as an interested, young Australian. There are few busier places than New York City, and the diplomatic quarter of this wonderful city will certainly be in full swing each September. It is also expected that the Youth Representative shall seek to, in a professional manner, increase the profile of youth issues both within the Mission and with other Member States. This can include encouraging other Member States to include Youth Representatives in their delegations.

Previous Youth Representatives have also provided UNYA and their networks with journal-type updates while they are based at the Australian Mission.

Phase 3: Upon return
Upon return from the United Nations, the Youth Representative is expected to report extensively to the Australian community, particularly youth, about their experiences at the UN. This will involve the production of a comprehensive report for UNYA and DFAT on the consultation phase and time within the Mission.