Konan is a youth advocate with a focus on civic participation, public policy and digital governance. After a year of development, Konan has launched ‘TappedIn’, a newsletter-based social enterprise that targets the issue of young people discovering opportunities in the advocacy space. Hear more about Konan’s involvement with MYAN and TappedIn below.
How did you get involved with MYAN and what does your involvement look like now?
My involvement with MYAN started back when I was living in Tasmania, looking for an avenue to share my experience migrating from Japan. Settling wasn’t easy. I was 11 years old and came from a distinctively different country, but there were certainly things I did, and ways I was supported, that made the transition much easier. I wanted to share these experiences with other young migrants struggling to settle, especially in regional areas of Australia. I also wanted to communicate with those in power about what really makes a difference when it comes to finding a sense of belonging and community in Australia.
What issues shape your work? What’s an issue or topic relevant to youth settlement / multicultural youth advocacy that you think we should be talking about more?
Within youth advocacy, I mainly focus on areas such as building community, civic participation, and digital governance. I believe that finding a sense of community and having a reliable support network is crucial to a young person’s foundation and wellbeing. Civic participation ensures that young people are not just impacted by policy, but active participants in the decisions and institutions that shape their lives. Because we as a society, and especially young people, spend so much time on our devices, it is equally important to ensure our digital spaces are built with robust safety mechanisms, strong privacy protections, and systemic safeguards that protect vulnerable users from harm.
From my personal experiences, a critical shortage of “third spaces” is a serious issue which is under addressed in conversations regarding youth settlement and multicultural communities. While settlement discussions heavily focus on home, school, or employment, we often overlook the social spaces in between. Having somewhere accessible outside of those institutions, where young people can connect with others, feel comfortable, and freely express themselves is vital to our well-being and sense of belonging.
What is TappedIn and how does it work?
Simply put, TappedIn is a newsletter-based social enterprise with two sides of a coin: collection and delivery. We collect opportunities from companies, non-government organisations (NGOs), universities and charities, then deliver those opportunities to young Australian advocates.
It is completely free to access, giving young people access to opportunities like paid advisory roles, surveys, and volunteering positions, as well as exclusive conferences, events, and upskilling workshops.
I founded TappedIn after more than two years of experience working as a youth advocate with organisations including TikTok, Meta, Snapchat, and Australian Government departments responsible for youth, social services, home affairs, health, and education.
Throughout my work, one thing kept bothering me time and time again. Opportunities were circling around the same people already involved in advocacy, while countless other young people had never heard about them. I created TappedIn to change that.
By making opportunities more visible and accessible, TappedIn opens doors for young people across Australia, regardless of where they live or their circumstances. My goal is simple: to ensure that every young person has the chance to have their voice heard, build valuable skills, and contribute to shaping the decisions that affect their lives.
What advice would you give to young people who are interested in advocacy, but are not sure where to begin?
If you’re new to advocacy, I recommend two simple steps: follow and reach out. First, follow platforms that advertise youth opportunities, such as TappedIn, the Office for Youth on Instagram or LinkedIn,the ARACY newsletter and MYAN’s social media and newsletter Second, reach out directly to organisations you resonate with. For example, if you are interested in advocating for multicultural young people, you can search for “multicultural youth advocacy Australia,” find their contact details, and send a brief email. Often, organisations will have current or upcoming opportunities available, but even if they don’t, they can frequently refer you to someone who does.
Stay in touch with Konan on LinkedIn here.