Leadership needed to build on the strength of young people’s diversity 

 

 

The MYAN has released a Federal Election 2016 Policy Platform identifying key issues and priority areas for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
 
Speaking on the release, the MYAN National Coordinator, Nadine Liddy, said “all candidates in this election have a responsibility to lead with innovative and concrete policies that ensure young people can unlock opportunities that lead to full participation.”
 
The MYAN election platform calls for more attention to strategies and policies that will address disadvantage and social cohesion, and for a targeted approach in the following areas: education, employment and training, youth settlement, housing and homelessness, mental health, racism and participation, and asylum seeker policy. 
 
The MYAN identified the same areas as priorities at the 2013 federal election, demonstrating the persistence of challenges and the need for priority action now to ensure young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds are not left behind. 
 
The MYAN make specific recommendations on the need to support refugee and migrant young people’s participation in education and employment as a crucial foundation for building a successful life and contributing to Australia into the future.
 
Programs focused on young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in isolation however will not address structural barriers to participation. The MYAN election platform calls for investment in programs and strategies that build greater social cohesion and leadership that promotes the strength of young people’s diversity.

 
Read the MYAN election platform in full here.