Hosted by the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia (MYAN), FUSE 2025 brought together 16 inspiring young Australians from refugee, migrant, and asylum-seeking backgrounds at Parliament House in Canberra to engage directly with policymakers and shape a more inclusive and equitable future.
FUSE is 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. This year’s theme—Shaping Tomorrow: My Vision for Australia—challenged delegates to envision innovative, community-led solutions.
The program featured three core components:
Leadership Workshops: Hands-on sessions covering advocacy, media engagement, and parliamentary pitching—all designed to empower delegates to articulate their vision for Australia.
Decision-Maker Pitches: Delegates presented proposals directly to parliamentarians, driving genuine dialogue on youth-led change.
Peer and Sector Networking: Against the backdrop of Parliament House, participants forged connections with fellow aspiring leaders, mentors, and representatives from youth, migrant, and multicultural organisations.
FUSE 2025 Program
Held on 30–31 July in Canberra, the event delivered a jam-packed program.
Day One
Travelling from across Australia, FUSE delegates, MYAN staff, and the Governance Team gathered at Rydges Canberra for a full day of workshops. The day began with a welcome from MYAN’s National Manager, Rana Ebrahimi, and Chairperson, Carmel Guerra.
Delegates spent the day refining their pitches and practicing within the group. They also had the chance to share ideas and engage in a Q&A with staff from the Department of Home Affairs, who offered valuable advice and insight from their own experiences.
The evening featured a reception event beginning with a Welcome to Country by Ngunnawal knowledge holder Richie Allan. Guests were treated to a heartfelt recount of growing up in multicultural Western Sydney by the Hon. Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, who shared an excerpt from her biography ‘Finding My Place’. The night ended on the dance floor, where delegates and guests exchanged culture through music and movement.
Day Two
An early start saw delegates and the MYAN team head to Australian Parliament House with breakfast and final pitches in hand. After a quick photo outside Australia’s political epicentre, the group stepped inside Parliament, settled into their dedicated room, and prepared for a big day of meetings, pitches, and exclusive access to the nation’s key decision-makers.
Delegates shared powerful vision statements covering issues such as mental health, housing security, digital equity, and anti-racism advocacy. FUSE’s format offered rare opportunities for parliamentarians to engage directly with these ideas. The pitches combined personal stories, community insights, and practical solutions addressing real challenges faced by multicultural young people today. Read about the pitches HERE.
We thank the following Parliamentarians for meeting with FUSE 2025 delegates:
Hon. Ged Kearney MP
Hon. Julian Hill MP
Senator Paul Scarr
Senator Charlotte Walker
Senator David Pocock
Senator Fatima Payman
Senator Jordan Steele‑John
Ms Alice Jordan‑Baird MP
Ms Alicia Payne MP
Ms Allegra Spender MP
Mr Basem Abdo MP
Mr Gabriel Ng MP
Mr Leon Rebello MP
Mr Luke Gosling MP
Dr Monique Ryan
Ms Sally Sitou MP
Dr Sophie Scamps MP
Mr Steve Georganas MP
Ms Tania Lawrence MP
Ms Zaneta Mascarenhas MP
The day also included informal visits from parliamentarians who dropped by to share their experiences, answer questions, and offer insight into life as an Australian politician. Delegates were especially excited to meet Senator Charlotte Walker, the youngest senator in Australian history; Senator Fatima Payman; and Mr Basem Abdo MP, the first Palestinian elected to the Australian Parliament, and to hear about their journeys. We thank all parliamentarians who took the time to hear our voices.
The two-day summit ended with an emotional yet empowering debrief, with delegates sharing their reflections on the FUSE 2025 experience;
“Politicians are not as scary. They were friendly and happy to see us and hear from us.” – Anna
“In the end, people are humans. They can only see what’s in front of them and getting exposure to different things is super important—and that’s what FUSE is all about.” – Adam
“I really loved this opportunity to meet the Senators and Ministers of Australia. It was great to speak to them personally in the room—they were receptive to our ideas, gave great feedback, and really listened to what we had to say. I don’t know if such an opportunity comes easily, so to have this was fantastic.” – Atui
“Ministers actually care. Seeing so many come and listen to us, give feedback, and really care about what we had to say was shocking—in a good way!” – Yuwal
“I learnt how to navigate advocacy language, especially when titling initiatives and movements to minimise opposition from stakeholders.” – Princess D
“Today I learnt how far putting yourself out there can benefit you. Never be afraid to show your true self.” – Farhiya
“FUSE is lit!” – Olliver Lim
“Today I’ve learnt that politicians are just people like me and you.” – Tumsifu
What’s Next for FUSE Alumni?
MYAN continues to support delegates beyond the summit. Alumni gain access to mentorship, leadership opportunities, and the chance to join MYAN’s Youth Ambassador Network to shape future FUSE themes, lead workshops, and advocate for systemic policy change.
FUSE embodies MYAN’s mission of empowering young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to lead—not just participate. Through leadership development, networking, and direct policy engagement, FUSE transforms lived experience into actionable advocacy and amplifies under-represented voices in Australia’s civic and political spaces.
FUSE 2025 reaffirmed the incredible potential of multicultural youth to lead.
Thank you to all delegates, the Youth Ambassador Network, policy mentors, facilitators, and Parliament House hosts for creating a space where ideas can truly shape Australia’s future.
Curious to connect with a FUSE delegate, learn more about their pitches, or get involved in upcoming MYAN initiatives? Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn, and sign up to our e-newsletter for more.