Who We Are
Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN) is Australia’s peak body representing multicultural young people, powered by a national network of youth, government, and community sector partners. Guided by our vision that youth are valued, supported, and able to thrive, we champion a cohesive and inclusive Australia that recognises and builds on the strengths of its young people.
Our core work
Policy Advocacy
Through our policy, advocacy and research work, we use evidence and community insight to provide a credible and informed source of knowledge and advice on settlement, policy, and programming relevant to young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, acting as a crucial advocate for multicultural youth, representing their interests at local, state, and national levels. We engage with government bodies, policymakers, and community organisations to ensure that the voices of young people are heard and that their specific needs are addressed in policy and practice. Our work helps shape policies that support multicultural youth, focusing on areas such as education, employment, health, and social inclusion.
Youth Leadership and Participation
Empowering young people to become leaders in their communities is central to our work. MYAN supports the development of young people’s leadership skills and networks to create change in their communities, take an active role in decision-making processes, and engage in advocacy to influence the national and international agenda. We do this through our national youth advisory networks, our bi-annual youth leadership summit FUSE, and providing meaningful opportunities to participate in consultations, conferences, and media opportunities , as well as other national and international opportunities.
Capability Building
MYAN maintains broad stakeholder networks and relationships across Australia’s youth and settlement sectors, recognising that various sectors all play a critical role in facilitating successful settlement outcomes for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. We undertake a range of sector development activities to build the capacity of service providers to best meet the needs of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. These include training and professional development, webinars, conference presentations, and national consultations. MYAN’s National Youth Settlement Framework continues to be the benchmark for good practice in youth settlement andreamins a vital tool for the settlement sector.
International Engagement
MYAN shares our expertise in the international arena on policy and programming for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. This includes engagement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) headquarters in Geneva, the Compact on Young People in Humanitarian Action, and the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN).
