The Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Prime Minister of Australia
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Cc: Senator the Hon Dr Jess Walsh, Minister for Youth
Dear Prime Minister,
Re. Support for the continued funding of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition
I write in support of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC)’s role in improving outcomes for young Australians, and for their continued funding by the Albanese Labor Government.
AYAC is the peak body representing the 4.7 million Australian young people and wider youth sector. AYAC’s role is pivotal in advocating for the needs and interests of young people; empowering young people to advocate on issues of importance to them; coordinating and building capacity in the youth sector; and in providing timely, quality policy advice and recommendations.
The Albanese Labor Government made an historically important election commitment to support Australian young people, through AYAC, in the 2022 election. This followed a decade of Australian young people and the youth sector being left without the leadership, advocacy and support of a funded national peak, after being defunded by the Abbott Government in 2013.
This week, this commitment to the national peak was thrown into doubt when funding critical to the sustainability of AYAC was advertised at short notice by an open tender.
AYAC has extensive networks across the country in the youth sector, and has a large membership of over 2,500, many of which are young people. In just a few short years of being refunded AYAC has achieved many things, including:
- Supporting the Australian Government’s youth engagement mechanisms and strategy across departments
- Conducting surveys, consultations and focus groups with thousands of young people
- Contributing to research and policy development for young people including through numerous flagship reports, submissions, consultations and hearings
- Providing capacity, skill building and networking opportunities to the youth sector workforce
- Delivering multiple independent youth advocacy programs and training workshops
- Providing advice and recommendations to decision makers on many issues, including employment, education, safeguarding, youth justice, the digital space and more.
In closing, I reiterate my support for AYAC as the national peak body and endorse their funding application for the Youth Advocacy Grants program.
Australia needs a funded national youth peak body and Australian young people deserve one.
Yours sincerely,