Unpack the challenges and ideas raised in the first morning keynotes, and join Mary Maselina Harm, Hayden Moon, Alison Pennington, Finbar Piper (MC) and Loki Liddle for a Q+A.

Join Professor David Mackenzie (Upstream), Pam Baker (YFoundations), Elvis Martin (Youth Development Australia) Councilor Beverly Pinder (City of Melbourne), and Jahnaya ‘Naya’ Dehon (Early School Leaver) who will deliver three short presentations, followed by Q+A.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison joins the YFS2020 program to outline his key priorities for young people in Australia and answer your questions on his policies.

Followed by a Q+A with Youth Commissioner, Sophie Johnston.

Join Deb Tsorbaris (CECFW), Muriel Bamblett (VACCA), Paul McDonald (Anglicare Vic), Steve Kinmond (ACWA), Tasha Reynolds (CREATE Foundation) and Ruby Hermann (VACCA) as they critically discuss how to best support education and employment outcomes for young people in Out of Home Care (OoHC).

Join economist Saul Eslake, Bella Himmelreich (YOUNG Campaigns), Alison Pennington (Centre for Future Work), Shirely Jackson (Per Capita) and Tim Lo Surdo (Democracy In Colour) in this in-depth session on forging an economic future where young people are valued and essential.

Whether it’s at school or at work, young people throughout Australia experience racism on a daily basis. We need to confront this, and deal with Australia’s racism problem. Join Carmel Guerra OAM (CMY), Dr Berhan Ahmed (AAMEYS), Nyibeny Naam (University of Sydney), and Omar Abdu, and Grace Vegesana (Democracy In Colour), and learn from some of the leading experts in race politics in Australia.

Today, Australia is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. The impact of the Coronavirus pandemic has been profound. Thousands of
people have lost their jobs and businesses have closed their doors. But we can help.

Join Vidhita Jain from Jobs for Australia – a Not-For-Profit of Volunteers from the Talent Acquisition & Human Resources industry located across Australia that have been affected by COVID-19.

In this workshop, learn the ins and outs of building your resume and responding to selection criteria – so that you can stand out in your search for work.

For decades we have told young people the same advice: get good grades and go to university, and the jobs will come to you.

But how realistic is this? We know that thousands of young people are unemployed and underemployed. We know of those who do find work, many end up working in fields completely unrelated to their studies; and that work is often insecure and casual.

What do we need to change about career advice so that young people are equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate a career of many different jobs and industries over their lifetime?

Join Kelly Fawcett (FYA), Mahdi Mohammedi (MYAN), David Carney (CICA), Elizabeth Knight (Purposeful) and more for an exciting panel on the future of careers education.

What can we do about the gap between university and employment? Often when young people go through their studies and start applying for work in their field, it can take a long time to find a job related to their studies, and many employers demand minimum 2+ years experience for even entry-level jobs.

So are our universities doing enough to prepare students with practical skills for work? How do we manage this skills gap in the context of online learning and COVID-19?

Explore this and much more with Desiree Cai (YOUNG Campaigns), Associate Professor Dan Woodman (University of Melbourne), Natasha Brock (Student), Devendra Singh (CAPA), and Prof. David Adams (Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Tasmania).

Join Minus18 – Australia’s Champions for LGBTQIA+ youth – in discussing key foundational strategies for creating inclusive spaces in schools, workplaces and community organisations alike.

Harnessing their signature empathy-based presentation style, Seb and Tessa will provide an LGBTQIA+ lens through which future change-makers can view their work and feel more confidence in their ability to foster inclusion.

In an accessible 60 minute format, receive an overview of:

• Lived experience navigating spaces as young LGBTQIA+ person;
• LGBTQIA+ discrimination experienced by today’s young people;
• The importance and application of inclusive language; and
• The opportunity to engage in live Q&A with Minus18’s experienced presenters.

With social distancing measures continuing to be enforced, school students are switching to online learning. Curricula is being made available through online platforms, teachers are contactable via email and live streaming services, and parents are playing critical roles in facilitating course work. These measures are necessary if students are to continue their education while governments manage the spread of COVID-19.

However, these new remote arrangements depend on the presumption that students can and will learn remotely and that their homes are productive and safe places to learn. Even though schools and governments have promised to loan laptops and mobile internet devices to students who need them, those who were already facing disadvantage at school are now at risk of far deeper, long-term inequality.

Join Rebekah Sarkoezy (ACCAN), Tasha Ritchie (CYDA), Corenna Haythorpe (AEU), Meera Barani (MYAN), Nina Laitala (VicSRC), and Srishti Chatterjee (University of Melbourne) for a lively conversation on accessible education in remote and online learning environments.

Maxine Sharkey (AEU), Laytham Bradley (Apprentice), Howard Kelly (Melbourne Polytechnic), and Craig Robertson (TAFE Directors Australia) explore the pitfalls of Australia’s TAFE system and what is needed to future-proof VET and TAFE.

Each year we discover and share new insights and research into the experiences of young people. But what happens to this research?

This session focuses on drawing the connections between research on young people and discusses how we can ensure that these insights create influence on policy and decision-makers.

Join Mohamed Semra (Youth Advocate), Kelly Fawcett (FYA), Luke Rycken (YACVIC) and the Victorian Minister for Youth, Ros Spence in a critical discussion about the implementation of cutting edge research in government.

Today, Australia is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. The impact of the Coronavirus pandemic has been profound. Thousands of
people have lost their jobs and businesses have closed their doors. But we can help.

Join Sandra Lim from Jobs for Australia – a Not-For-Profit of Volunteers from the Talent Acquisition & Human Resources industry located across Australia that have been affected by COVID-19.

In this workshop, learn how to nail the job interview – whether it’s over the phone, via video or in person.

Andrea L. Pino-Silva (The Hunting Ground) and Sharna Bremner (End Rape on Campus) deep-dive into the critical issue of harassment that young people face in education and at work, and how this can scar young people’s transitions into secure and meaningful employment.

 Young people in regional and rural communities experience unique challenges in education, employment and transitions. They also often feel underrepresented in conversations that are about them. 

How do we improve the representation of the experiences, concerns, needs, and ideas of young people from ALL of Australia and not just our major cities?

Join Brodie Gaudion (Mallacoota Youth Group), Brady Cronin (Youthrive Victoria), Matt Pfahlert (ACRE) and more in this discussion.

Let’s face it, we don’t really get much training on our rights in the workforce when we’re at school, uni or TAFE. It can be difficult to know what rights you have in the workplace, especially as a young worker.

It’s hard to know everything when it comes to superannuation, paying tax, what a fair wage is, and what to do if your boss is underpaying you or if you’re feeling unsafe at work.

Join this workshop with the Young Workers Centre and learn about your rights at work, plus where you can turn to if something isn’t quite right in the workplace. 

With Dominic Hồng Ɖức Golding (NEDA), Mary Sayers (CYDA), Rick Kane (Disability Employment Australia), Tadc (YDAS), Hayden Moon (Trans Action Warrang) and Jesse Williams (YDAN). 

Youth. Climate. Jobs. COVID-19 recovery. If you could ask our politicians anything, what would it be?

Yasmin Poole joins Anthony Albanese and Amanda Rishworth MP to debate all things young people and the future including where governments fail to include young people in policy and decision making, how to change this, and what they plan to do about Australia’s youth employment crisis.

What is the role of employment services in preparing and supporting young people into work? With Sally Sinclair (CEO of NESA) and Debra Cerasa (CEO of Jobs Australia), Muhadesa Haidari (MYAN), Finabr Piper (MC) and Alex North (Unemployed Workers Union). 

What role do employers have to play in supporting young people’s transitions into the workforce? Join Nathaniel Diong (Future Minds Network), Daniel Tan (Pencil Rocket), Peter Strong (COSBOA), Rose Guamann (Bar Manager), and Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Sally Capp to discuss the responsibilities and opportunities employers have in the future of work and youth employment.

Hosted by Oaktree, this session will spotlight youth changemakers in Timor-Leste and Cambodia, who are creating and leading grassroots movements. The discussion will explore the unique nature of youth-led change in both shifting power relations and empowering young people.

The session will also examine the tools and resources needed to mobilise and support youth-led movements, as well as why such movements need to be at the forefront of enacting systemic change.

These youth changemakers will draw upon their learnings, experience and expertise in mobilising young people. 

Radical ideas expressed through art, creativity, performance and more have shaped social progress throughout human history. 

Creative work undoubtedly has the ability to shift perspectives, birth movements, and lead to real impact and change. 

Join Vanamali (Mali) Hermans along with three young finalists from the Youth Futures Creative Competition as they present their creative work exploring “barriers to employment” and critically discuss the role of creativity in social change. 

Young people need safe, secure and affordable housing. So what’s going wrong and how do we fix it? With Cosmin Luca (MYAN), Joel Dignam (Better Renting), Rebecca Mullins (My Foundations Youth Housing), Pete Zwiers (Kids Under Cover), Barry Berih (CMY) and more.

Half of all mental health conditions in adulthood emerge by age 14, and three quarters by 24. Young people are disproportionately affected by the economic impact of the pandemic and the mental health issues that come alongside it.

With what is going on in the world today, plus pre-existing pressures of school, getting a job, feeling a sense of belonging, climate change, social media and more, we can feel anxious about the future, our jobs, our education and our health. 

Join Nicole Gibson (Love Out Loud), Jason Trethowan (CEO Headspace), Sarah Bostock (Orygen), Finn Duff (MINUS18), Vicki Smith (Clinical Psychologist) and Angelica Ojinnaka (MYAN) as they uncover why mental health must come first in creating better outcomes for young people. 

The impact of COVID-19 on a generation of young people can’t be underestimated. 

They’re a segment of the workforce already experiencing high unemployment, and poor access to rights and safety and they will be disproportionately dealing with the impacts of this crisis for decades to come. 

It’s never been more important that young workers come together to campaign, have their voices heard and join together in union. And that’s exactly what they’re doing. 

Join ACTU’s President, Michele O’Neil and Young Worker’s Centre Director Felicity Sowerbutts as they share stories of how young workers can speak up, stick together and win.

What can we learn from 20 years of research into youth transitions? Join Professor Hernan Cuervo, Mohammed Mohammed, Ramzy Osman, Dr. Brendan Churchill and James Anfruns in a deep dive into the University of Melbourne’s Youth Research Center ‘Life Patterns’ project.

While media and social media can be a power for good by highlighting issues, raising awareness and facilitating dialogue, often young people are painted poorly by mainstream media and are also trolled, harassed and abused in the comments section on social media.

Caspar Roxburgh (host of Binge Thinking Podcast) joins Will Connolly (Egg Boy) and Varsha Yajman (School Strike for Climate) to explore the good and the bad of media and social media, the impact on youth mental health, and more. 

With Peter Kenyon (Bank of Ideas), Trent McCarthy (VicLLENS), Selba Gondoza-Luka (Afri-Aus Care Inc.), Mo O’Meara (Mohow) and more coming soon.

There are a significant proportion of young people who are not in education, employment or training.

How can we support these young people to find what works for them?

JoinAvanthi Bulathsinhala (batyr), Annemaree Callander (Brisbane Youth Services), Mary Sayers (CYDA), Yoosuf Mohamed (batyr), Gus Wylie (batyr), and Melinda Crole (YMCA). 

In this session, review the National Youth Commission Australia’s 2 year inquiry into youth employment and transitions. 

Learn about the inquiry findings, recommendations and deliver your feedback on the proposed National Plan.

Join this debate on whether we need a Universal Basic Income, hosted by Andrew Tangas with Emma Dawson (Per Capita), Dr Elise Klein (Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU), Prof. Greg Marston (Basic Income Guarantee Australia, UQ) and Prof. Gini Foster (School of Economics, UNSW). 

Youth. Climate. Jobs. COVID-19 recovery. If you could ask our politicians anything, what would it be?

Adam Bandt MP and Lidia Thorpe MP are joined by young people to debate all things young people and the future including where governments fail to include young people in policy and decision making, how to change this, and what they plan to do about Australia’s youth employment crisis.

When it comes to what you want to do with your future, you ALWAYS have a choice.

• The path that’s been set out for you, that you follow
• The path that’s UNWRITTEN, that you create for yourself ✏️ 

Many of us feel so much pressure to make the ‘right’ decision when we graduate, which is nearly impossible to do given how uncertain the future feels. It’s not easy to let go of what you’ve been told you should do with your life after school, taking the unwritten option is daunting and full of unknowns.

But here’s the thing, choosing to create your own future career is also the path that will fulfil you the most, because you get to fill it with the things that matter to you most, that light you up and that give you purpose.

In this workshop facilitated by Elizabeth Knight, founder of Purposeful, we’ll be help you to make the brave choice to re-imagine what’s possible for your future, and to choose the ‘unwritten’ path. 

What you’ll learn: 

• Understand why you don’t have to choose a career but can in fact create one yourself
• Why taking control of your future by creating your own career pathway is a really secure and sustainable career choice in today’s world
• How to find meaning and hope for your future in face of overwhelming uncertainty
• How to re-imagine what’s possible for your future and create a career pathway you care about

Join Elsa Tuet-Rosenberg (Democracy In Colour) for a rapid-fire crash course on what racism looks like, and how we can challenge it when we see it.

Based off DICs 101 Anti-Racism and our 202 Allyship training workshops,a combination of group work, facilitated conversations and role play we come up with the answers together and upskill each other to better tackle racism. Together we will explore what racism is and how it manifests structurally, and covertly in our everyday lives.

Together we will also discuss what tackling racism can look like, looking at case scenarios and role playing how we can challenge different examples of racism that we may encounter in our lives and workplaces. We are seeing an increasing consciousness of racism and a growth of momentum towards racial justice. Come along to explore how you can be part of this change, and have a taste of our organisational training programs. Our sessions are facilitated by people of colour, passionate about having real conversations about systemic racism.

This workshop has limited spots, with a maximum capacity of 30 participants, and will prioritise young attendees to the attend the session and we encourage people of all levels of knowledge to attend! This session is designed to create a safe space for learning, even for those who might not have had these conversations before!

The climate crisis is not new. For years we have been warned by the world’s scientists of the detrimental impacts human industrial life is having on the planet.

But within this global challenge lies opportunity. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention.

Join Ricky Archer (NAILSM), Isaac Nasedra (Pacific Climate Warriors), Steve Murphy (AMWU), and more to explore what opportunities the climate crisis has created for us in terms of renewable industry, green jobs, indigenous land rights, management and justice, and more.

Join Callum Lindsay-Field (FYA), Adrian Picolli (UNSW Gonski Institute), Kalina Page (VicSRC), Leah Pappas (CEAV) and more in this session dedicated to re-imagining the way we measure success in schools.

More information coming soon.

We often hear the statistic that 50% of the world’s future jobs haven’t been created yet. So how on earth are educators and trainers supposed to know what skills and capabilities will be needed for these jobs?

This narrative is then paired with the claim that young people need enterprise skills, should look to create their own jobs, and use their natural agility and flexibility to make up for the insecure labour market.

So how true is this? Join this session to hear and learn directly from young entrepreneurs including Cienan Muir (Indiginerd), Mehak Sheikh (FYA), Nick Pearce (HOMIE), Morgan Hipworth (Bistro Morgan), Mehak Bokhari (MYAN) and more about the ins and outs of creating your own work, the challenges that come with this, and what needs to change.

What are the different ways to work and lead with young people? Join this workshop if you want to gain an understanding of why it’s essential to have young people front and centre in policy and program design, and how you can do this.

With Kieu Gavin (Oaktree), Opemipo Olubodun (Ylab Global), Tadc (YDAS), Gina Chinnery (Orygen), Lee Striker (YOUNG Campaigns) and more.