Adam was one of the FUSE 2025 Delegates, attending a transformative two-day leadership summit offering a unique platform to build advocacy skills, connect with diverse peers, and pitch ideas to influential MPs and Senators. His pitch, ‘Bridging the Digital Divide – A National Policy for Youth Employment Equity’, addresses the persistent issue of youth unemployment in Australia, specifically focusing on the challenges faced by young migrants and refugees. He shares his reflections after attending FUSE 2025.

Hello!

I’m Adam, one of MYAN’s (Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network) 2025 FUSE delegates. Before I jump into my own experience, let me quickly explain what FUSE is.

FUSE is an amazing opportunity for 18–25-year-old migrants and refugees to pitch an idea, program, or policy directly to politicians at Parliament House in Canberra (yep, the Parliament House!). If there’s an issue you’re passionate about—or something that’s personally impacted you—MYAN gives you the platform to share it with people who have the power to make change. For me, my inspiration came from struggling to find work and the support I received along the way. I wanted to pay it forward to others who face the same barriers.

Over the two days in Canberra, there were so many highlights. One of the biggest was hearing from leaders like Senator Charlotte Walker, the youngest person ever elected to Parliament (she’s even younger than me!). These leaders shared their stories, lessons learned, and why they’re committed to making sure young people—especially those who can’t vote yet—are still heard and represented.

But the real highlight? Sitting down with MPs and having honest conversations about the issues that mattered—not just to me, but to all of us. And here’s something I learned: despite what the media sometimes makes them out to be, politicians are human, too. Sure, they have agendas and responsibilities, but they also care deeply about people and communities. During my chats with them, it was clear they genuinely wanted to hear our perspectives.

Now that I’m back from Canberra, the work doesn’t stop—it actually starts here. At FUSE, you deliver a short pitch of your idea. Afterwards, you get the chance to develop a full policy framework and continue collaborating with MPs who want to take it further. That’s the beauty of FUSE—it’s not just a two-day event; it’s a launchpad to keep your voice in the conversation. And don’t worry, you’re never doing it alone—you’ve got MYAN’s team and fellow young advocates backing you all the way.

Here’s to hoping that you’ll be one of MYAN’s FUSE delegates soon!