The Youth futures summit into youth employment and transitions
24 - 28 August 2020What is on the horizon for young people? Contribute to a new vision for young people post-Covid-19 and co-design the future.
COVID-19 has completely disrupted our work and social lives. Not only has it led to the massive shift of most people working from home and remotely, but it has also led to a huge jump in youth unemployment and underemployment, increasing debt for young people, disruption to school and education, serious mental health challenges, and more.
There is no doubt that COVID-19 has exacerbated the pre-existing issues young people faced in education, employment and transitions.
It is critical that we prepare for the post-COVID-19 world in order to support young people into secure and sustainable futures.
About the Summit
YFS2020 will adapt to the challenges of our time and be a completely virtual event. And no, this won’t be anything like your typical webinar.
YSF2020 will:
- Draw together thousands of people from multiple sectors and communities that are reflective of the diversity of cultures, backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs that make up all of Australia
- Be co-presented, co-attended and shaped by young people
- Deep-dive into the challenges and identify what the solutions should be
- Explore a number of different areas from education, youth mental health, the Australian economy, training, job services, young workers' rights, and what the future of work will look like.

Why attend the youth future summit?
The Summit provides an opportunity for you to be part of forming a new ecosystem now and for the future of work, which is co-designed with young people for young people.
To do this, the Summit will ask what we need to:
KEEP
What already works? Let’s identify the best of what we do now to bring into the future.
change
What do we need to change so that young people are able to learn, work and earn with better prospects?
create
What do we need to create to foster an ecosystem for the future of work where employment is sustainable?
Tickets on Sale
We need you to join hundreds of community members, to build on the findings of the National Youth Commission Australia Inquiry into Youth Employment and Transitions and address poor transitions from education to work and youth unemployment and underemployment.
Ticket options
One Session ticket
$20 per person
$10 young person*
*50% for young people 30 years old and under.
Half week Ticket
$170 per person
$85 young person*
*50% for young people 30 years old and under.
Full week ticket
$300 Per Person
$150 young person*
*50% for young people 30 years old and under.
SCHOLARSHIPS
YFS2020 will grant a number of scholarships for people to attend the Summit to ensure that the price of tickets is minimised as a barrier for attending. Apply for a scholarship here and find out more about how we’re ensuring YFS2020 is an inclusive event here.
Summit Program
Please Note: We will be adding updates to the agenda as we confirm more speakers and facilitators. Some sessions may be subject to change. Young people will be involved in all aspects of the Summit Program.

Meet OuR Speakers
Mary Mesalina Harm
Pacific Climate Warriors
Tim Lo Surdo
Democracy In Colour
Sara El-Amine
Change.org; Obama for America
Hayley McQuire
National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition (NIYEC)
Yuma Soerianto
Made By Yuma
Michele O’Neil
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
Yasmine Poole
Youth Advocate
Prof. Pasi Sahlberg
UNSW Gonski Institute
the youth futures summit is presented by
Partners
Participating Organisations
The Youth Futures Summit acknowledges that the work undertaken to organise this event is on the stolen land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded and wish to pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.