POLICY AND ADVOCACY
MYAN consults with young people and relevant sectors, on their experiences and solutions, to inform policy and advocacy. We collaborate with government, key peak bodies, organisations and researchers and develop policy resources and submissions on key concerns/areas of interest affecting young people.
MYAN advocates on policy issues through ad-hoc mechanisms and formally through committees, inquiries, commissions and advisory groups.
National Policy
This submission has a focus on young people (aged 12-24) from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Economic shocks and structural barriers to economic participation impair healthy adolescent development, disrupts settlement, and risk individual long-term financial exclusion and disadvantage. We call on the government to address longstanding inequalities and pre-existing barriers for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds that contribute to experiences of poverty and financial hardship to ensure that all of Australia’s young people can thrive and access meaningful and equitable opportunities for social, economic and civic participation. We believe that failing to invest in young people will result in substantial economic, social, and political costs.February 2023
This submission provides a national perspective, drawing on MYAN’s breadth of experience working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, their communities and the youth and settlement sectors across Australia. It has a focus on the rights and interests of young people (12- to 24-year-olds) from migrant and refugee backgrounds in the Australian Migration and Humanitarian Programs. This submission provides feedback about how changes to settlement services and how they are delivered could continue to further improve settlement outcomes, with a particular focus on optimal youth settlement outcomes. Supporting effective youth settlement is critical to ensuring that young people from refugee backgrounds reach their potential as active citizens, and are able to fully contribute to, and benefit from, Australian society. Young people have their own unique challenges within the settlement journey, and therefore need a distinct and targeted approach to settlement.December 2022
MAY 2022
MYAN welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Inquiry into the Efficacy, Fairness, Timeliness, and Costs of the Processing and Granting of Visa Classes Which Provide for or allow for Family and Partner Reunions. This submission focuses on the particular concerns and challenges faced by young people in their efforts to access family reunion, and provide a national perspective, drawing on our breadth of experience working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, their communities and the youth and settlement sectors across Australia. It has a focus on the rights and interests of young people (12 to 24 year olds) from migrant and refugee backgrounds in the Australian Migration and Humanitarian Programs. MYAN welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Senate Select Committee on Job Security. This submission provides a national perspective; drawing on MYAN’s breadth of experience working with young people aged 12-24 from refugee and migrant backgrounds, their communities and the youth and multicultural sectors across Australia. Throughout 2020/21, MYAN consulted broadly with young people and various sector organisations across Australia about the impacts of COVID-19 on young people. Those findings have also informed this submission. The submission responds to the following Terms of Reference: the risks of insecure or precarious work exposed or exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. MYAN is joining with organisations and individuals across Australia to support a permanent increase to JobSeeker. The economic downturn in Australia due to the impact of COVID-19 saw the participation rate fall as people left the labour market, and the unemployment rate rise. While the Australian economy seems to be recovering relatively quickly from COVID, the recession of 2020 will have lasting effects on young people. However, MYAN is deeply concerned about the proposal to increase JobSeeker’s base rate by $3.57 day to $44.00 per day and the impact this will have on the ability of young people, including young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to meet the costs of basic necessities like food, utilities, rent and the costs associated with looking for work. The impacts of living in poverty are far reaching, but have significant consequences on people’s job readiness and ability to access secure and meaningful employment opportunities. Poverty does not result in improved employment outcomes, nor does it benefit the economy MYAN welcomes the opportunity to contribute to a submission to the Department of Home Affairs on Australia’s 2021-22 Migration Program. MYAN’s submission highlights that the pause on migration in response to COVID-19 presents an important opportunity to reflect on Australia’s Migration Program and plan for a program that equally: meets the economic needs of Australia, upholds our global commitments to providing resettlement through the Humanitarian program, and ensures that economic benefits are balanced with adequate support to migrants and investment in social cohesion. promote these ideologies. Our submission reflects a number of concerns and recommendations that are important for the young people we work with, as well as their families and communities. These include: regional settlement, social cohesion and the attractiveness of Australia as a migrant destination country. MYAN welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Inquiry into Extremist Movements and Radicalism in Australia. MYAN Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence focuses on the rise in Australia of ideologies, groups and individuals that threaten Australia’s social cohesion. It includes a call for more public debate on this issue, stronger policy, and legal responses, and more effort to regulate systems and forums that promote these ideologies.APRIL 2021
MARCH 2021
FEBRUARY 2021
FEBRUARY 2021
FEBRUARY 2021
MYAN welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Inquiry into Temporary Migration. This submission provides a national perspective, drawing on the MYAN’s breadth of experience working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, their communities and the youth and settlement sectors across Australia. It has a focus on the rights, interests and particular vulnerabilities of young people (12 to 24 year olds) from migrant and refugee backgrounds, who are living in Australia on either Special Category Visas (subclass 444), Temporary Protection Visas (subclass 785), or Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (subclass 790). MYAN’s submission presents the views and opinions of diaspora youth from refugee and migrant backgrounds across Australia. MYAN worked with young people within our networks, whose input forms the main content of this submission. We are calling for targeted approaches in policy and service delivery in: Employment, Income Support, Education, Digital Access, Mental Health, Family Violence and Racism, Discrimination and Youth Justice. Read MYAN’s COVID-19 Policy Platform here. Centre for Multicultural Youth and MYAN prepared a joint submission to the Select Committee on COVID-19 Inquiry into the Government’s Response to COVID-19. The submission has a focus on young people (aged 12-24) from refugee and migrant backgrounds. We consider this Inquiry an important opportunity to provide direct feedback about the impact of the Federal Government’s response on young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, including migrant workers, international students, refugees on temporary protection visas and asylum seekers on (temporary) Bridging visas. The submission has a focus on the Australian Government’s response up to mid-May 2020 in 6 key areas of concern: public health Information, income support, employment, digital access, racism and discrimination and mental health. Our principal concern is that the initial government response to COVID-19 did not adequately meet the needs of everyone in Australia, including young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. MYAN makes this submission to the Australia Human Rights Commission ‘Free and Equal: An Australian Conversation on Human Rights.’ MYAN makes this response to the Draft Report released by the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Mental Health in December 2019.JULY 2020
JULY 2020
MAY 2020
MYAN has released a COVID-19 Policy Platform identifying seven priority areas for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
MAY 2020
February 2020
January 2020
September 2019
MYAN welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee’s Inquiry into Nationhood, National Identity and Democracy. We welcome a robust, evidence-based conversation about these areas in the context of Australia’s long history of migration, cultural diversity and multiculturalism as a public policy underpinning social cohesion. This includes recognition of the positive contributions that people from refugee and migrant backgrounds make to Australian society and complex and dynamic notions of national identity in the contemporary world. This submission provides a national perspective; drawing on the MYAN’s breadth of experience working with young people aged 12-24 from refugee and migrant backgrounds, their communities and the youth and multicultural sectors across Australia. The issues being considered by the Committee, particularly in relation to citizenship, multiculturalism, social cohesion, and national identity are critical issues for the young people we work with, their families and communities. We have drawn on consultations with young people and those working with them in preparing this submission. We have chosen to focus on: nationhood and national identity, citizenship and Global citizens, the relationship between citizen and the state, multiculturalism and the impact of racism and discrimination on young people and social cohesion.
August 2019
MYAN made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee’s inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2019 (‘the Bill). MYAN prepared a submission to the previous Committee Inquiry and prepared this letter in response to the current Bill and additional proposed amendments.
June 2019
MYAN welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the review of the Melbourne Declaration. This submission has a focus on the rights and interests of children and young people and provides a national perspective, drawing on MYAN’s breadth of experience working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, their communities and the youth and multicultural sectors across Australia. MYAN understands that access to and engagement in education is a critical factor in young people’s economic and social participation in Australian society.
As part of The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) human rights conference ‘Free and Equal’, MYAN was provided an opportunity to meet with Dr. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: a significant opportunity for Dr. Bachelet to hear directly from young people in MYAN’s networks about key human rights issues facing them in Australia today.
April 2019
CMY and MYAN undertook a review of CMY and MYAN’s previous policy work around issues of mental health and young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, whilst also drawing upon relevant broader literature. We also held consultations with CMY staff who work directly with young people and their families and with young people on CMY’s Youth Advisory Group. Additionally, we convened a national teleconference with MYAN networks around Australia in relation to the terms of reference.
Read the submission here.
January 2019
MYAN provided a submission to the Independent Panel for Review into Integration, Employment and Settlement Outcomes for Refugees and Humanitarian Entrants, and case studies highlighting examples of good practice.
January 2019
MYAN recently made a submission to the Department of Home Affairs on Australia’s 2019-2020 Migration Program Discussion Paper. This submission provides a national perspective, drawing on the MYAN’s breadth of experience working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, their communities and the youth and settlement sectors across Australia. It has a focus on the rights and interests of young people (12 to 24 year olds) from refugee and migrant backgrounds in the Australian Migration and Humanitarian Programs.
December 2018
MYAN made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for Inquiry on Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2018. MYAN has been concerned about the presentation of the Bill to and by the media as legislation targeting young people under 18 following a similar damaging political discourse in Victoria.
August 2018
MYAN made a supplementary submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration on its Inquiry on Review Processes Associated with Visa Cancellations. You can read MYAN’s initial submission here and supplementary submission here. In its submission, MYAN called for an expanded inquiry into visa cancellations regime, including a focus on the specific impact and circumstances of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, their families and communities, and emphasised that the current visa cancellations regime is leading to ‘double penalisation’ of young people while undermining the efforts of the youth justice system.
August 2018
MYAN made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Education and Employment, highlighting the particular concerns of and recommendations from young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in Australia in relation to current employment services and proposed changes for the next generation.
August 2018
MYAN prepared a submission to the Department of Jobs and Small Business on the next generation of employment services, detailing the experiences of young people in navigating employment services and the labour market in Australia. The submission, informed by MYAN’s youth consultations on employment held across Australia in early 2018, highlighted particular concerns of and recommendations from young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in Australia in relation to current employment services and proposed changes for the next generation.
July 2018
MYAN made a submission to the National Children’s Commissioner on Australia’s progress of implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), following a survey MYAN conducted with young people to hear their views.
June 2018
MYAN made a submission to the Department of Home Affairs on Australia’s Humanitarian Programme 2018-19. MYAN’s submission focused on strengthening Australia’s position as a global leader in the resettlement of unaccompanied humanitarian minors and made recommendations to continue resettlement of children and young people at risk, as well as increased family reunification for young people and youth-sensitive sponsorship through the Community Support Program.
May 2018
MYAN made a submission on the Consultation Draft of Labor’s National Platform. MYAN recommended that the Platform include a specific and ongoing commitment to youth specific settlement services, as well as an end to detention of children and young people in immigration detention onshore and offshore, and an increase in intake through the Australia’s Unaccompanied Humanitarian Minor Programme.
April 2018
MYAN Australia made a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee for the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Encouraging Self-sufficiency for Newly Arrived Migrants) Bill 2018 recommending the Committee to not pass the Bill, and review the Bill with consideration of its potential damaging impacts on young people with particular vulnerabilities, particularly those from refugee or refugee-like backgrounds who may arrive in Australia with non-humanitarian visas. MYAN further recommended exempting vulnerable young people from any waiting periods for accessing social security benefits, and providing support for young people arriving in Australia with Orphan visa (subclass 117) and remaining relative visa (subclass 115) under the Family stream.
Additional information to the submission can be viewed here.
April 2018
MYAN made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Commitments for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2018
April 2018
MYAN made a submission to the Inquiry on Review Processes associated with Visa Cancellations made on Criminal grounds. MYAN emphasised the importance of adopting a youth justice approach to respond to anti-social behaviour seen in a small number of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
February 2018
MYAN made a submission to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) on Australia’s Migration Programme in response to DHA’s discussion paper ‘Managing Australia’s Migrant Intake’. MYAN’s submission focuses on the need to ensure enough spaces for young people in planning Australia’s migrant intake, adequate support structures in Australia for young people from refugee-like backgrounds, and to utilise and simplify the Migration Programme to ensure family reunification for humanitarian arrivals.
“MYAN strongly opposes proposals to weaken the racial discrimination provisions of the Racial Discrimination Act, or to amending section 18C”. Read full statement here. Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN) Australia and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia made a joint submission to the Senate Inquiry on the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Youth Jobs Path: Prepare, Trial, Hire) Bill 2016 MYAN made a submission to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection on the introduction of a temporary parent visa. The DIBP Discussion Paper is available here. MYAN made a submission to the Department of Education on the employability skills component of Youth Jobs PaTH. Pre- employment and basic skill training in employability skills could potentially be very positive for young people from CALD background, and particularly for refugee young people with limited or no experience of the Australian work place culture. This submission provides a national perspective, drawing on the MYAN’s breadth of experience working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, their communities, and the youth and settlement sectors across Australia. The submission responds to a selection of the questions that MYAN regards as central to determining how relevant this element of the Jobs PaTH package will be to migrant and refugee young people. MYAN made a submission to Department of Immigration and Border Protection on Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Programme for 2016-17. The submission highlights a number of key international protection concerns facing refugee and asylum seeking young people across the world, explores how the rights and needs of young people are being addressed within Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Programme, and identifies barriers to settlement outcomes for young people of migrant and refugee background within current settlement support arrangements. MYAN thanks the many contributors to this submission who shared their concerns and experiences, as well as their ideas and recommendations.December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
August 2016
March 2016
“MYAN strongly opposes proposals to weaken the racial discrimination provisions of the Racial Discrimination Act, or to amending section 18C”. Read full statement here. Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN) Australia and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia made a joint submission to the Senate Inquiry on the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Youth Jobs Path: Prepare, Trial, Hire) Bill 2016 MYAN made a submission to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection on the introduction of a temporary parent visa. The DIBP Discussion Paper is available here. MYAN made a submission to the Department of Education on the employability skills component of Youth Jobs PaTH. Pre- employment and basic skill training in employability skills could potentially be very positive for young people from CALD background, and particularly for refugee young people with limited or no experience of the Australian work place culture. This submission provides a national perspective, drawing on the MYAN’s breadth of experience working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, their communities, and the youth and settlement sectors across Australia. The submission responds to a selection of the questions that MYAN regards as central to determining how relevant this element of the Jobs PaTH package will be to migrant and refugee young people. MYAN made a submission to Department of Immigration and Border Protection on Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Programme for 2016-17. The submission highlights a number of key international protection concerns facing refugee and asylum seeking young people across the world, explores how the rights and needs of young people are being addressed within Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Programme, and identifies barriers to settlement outcomes for young people of migrant and refugee background within current settlement support arrangements. MYAN thanks the many contributors to this submission who shared their concerns and experiences, as well as their ideas and recommendations.December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
August 2016
March 2016
MYAN made a submission to Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) Discussion Paper Employment Services – building on success. MYAN made a submission to Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program 2013-2014.March 2013
February 2013
MYAN and AYAC made a joint submission to the Race Discrimination Team, Australian Human Rights Commission for the National Anti-Racism Strategy. MYAN made a submission to Access and Equity Inquiry Panel: Inquiry into Australia’s Access & Equity Strategy and Framework.May 2012
March 2012
MYAN 2022 Federal Election Policy
MYAN released a 2022 Federal Election policy platform in April 2022.
This Election Platform uses the National Youth Settlement Framework as a basis for setting out what the Federal Government can do to enable the effective settlement of young people – by investing in programs and strategies that advance a strong, cohesive multicultural society, with an intentional focus on the experiences and futures of young people. This includes targeted interventions for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, with particular attention paid to those facing heightened vulnerabilities including young women, homeless youth, LGBTIQ youth, young people with disabilities, asylum seekers and young people on temporary visas, and regional and rural youth.
MYAN COVID-19 Policy Platform 2020
MYAN has released a COVID-19 Policy Platform identifying seven priority areas for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
We are calling for targeted approaches in policy and service delivery in: Employment, Income Support, Education, Digital
Access, Mental Health, Family Violence and Racism, Discrimination and Youth Justice.
MYAN 2019 ELECTION POLICY PLATFORM
MYAN has released a 2019 Federal Election Policy Platform identifying eight priority areas for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
This Election Platform uses the National Youth Settlement Framework as a basis for highlighting what the Federal Government can do to enable the active and sustained participation of young people in Australian society – by investing in programs and strategies that advance a strong, cohesive multicultural community.
Read MYAN’s summary Election Platform here.
See MYAN’s Election Report Card Snapshot here.
MYAN 2016 ELECTION POLICY PLATFORM
The MYAN have released a policy platform identifying key issues and priorities areas for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in the lead up to the 2016 Federal Election. The platform calls on all candidates to lead with innovative and concrete policies that ensure young people can unlock opportunities that lead to full participation.
MYAN 2013 ELECTION POLICY PLATFORM
This policy platform presents the key issues and recommended responses for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in the context of the 2013 Australian federal election. Recommendations are designed to address identified issues and are based on an understanding that this group of young people commonly face additional and more complex transitions to their Australian-born counterparts and have particular needs in their settlement journey.
Mental Health Policy Brief
MYAN policy brief on mental health of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
A Fair Chance for Us All
MYAN policy brief on meaningful employment for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
International Policy
July 2018
Following months of consultations, UNHCR released the final draft of the Global Compact on Refugees. Throughout the consultation process, the youth agenda has progressed considerably and the final draft now recognized adolescents and youth as a group with specific needs and recognizes them as a stakeholder. MYAN released a short brief on its observations on the final draft following the release of the final version of the Global Compact on Refugees in the autumn of 2018.
May 2018
MYAN recently released its response to Draft 2 of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). The development of the GCR is an historic moment and MYAN has been engaged in the drafting process, advocating for the inclusion of youth rights in the GCR. We were pleased to see stronger representation of youth needs, rights and capabilities in Draft 2 and believe this could be further strengthened. We have also been involved in the process organised by International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) to provide a joint response from the NGOs to the GCR Draft 2. MYAN congratulates ICVA for giving young people a platform to make presentations on behalf of NGOs. Two members of UNHCR’s Global Youth Advisory Council (GYAC) delivered ICVA’s statements during the last round of formal consultations in Geneva in early May.
April 2018
MYAN endorsed a position paper from the Compact for Young People in Humanitarian Action – Recommendations on youth in the Global Compact on Refugees.
This paper calls for recognition of the particular rights, needs and capabilities of young people to be better reflected in the GCR. This includes commitments to facilitating their meaningful engagement in solutions and to youth-specific policy and programming. Following the New York Declaration in 2016, the drafting of the GCR is currently underway, with a series of consultations occurring throughout 2018. The final GCR will be released at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2018. Read more about the GCR here.
April 2018
MYAN has recently released a response to Draft 1 of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). The creation of the GCR is a critical opportunity for the recognition and inclusion of refugee youth rights and needs in discussions around refugee protection. This would ensure that refugee youth, as a group with distinct rights, needs and capacities, and who make up at least one-third of the global refugee population, are adequately protected and empowered. This reflects and builds on the work of UNHCR and civil society over several years in promoting the rights and needs of refugee youth.
MYAN made a contribution to the development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) focusing on appropriate care for children in the context of international migration (developed by an inter-agency working group including UNHCR and UNICEF, Geneva).
December 2017
MYAN prepared this advocacy brief to support the inclusion of youth rights and needs in the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). UNHCR’s Global Youth Advisory Council (GYAC) has provided input and endorsed the brief in December 2017. The GYAC has also prepared a paper presenting recommendations on the GCR. The GYAC paper and MYAN brief are complementary and should be read alongside each other. Read the advocacy brief here.
October 2017
This report to the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (the CERD Committee) examines Australia’s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The report is intended to inform the Committee’s review of Australia during its 94th session in November 2017. It has been prepared with substantial input by 26 individuals and non-government organisations (NGOs) from across Australia and endorsed by and 53 NGOs. This report seeks to address some of the key concerns and Concluding Observations made by the CERD Committee in its 2010 review of Australia and important issues that have arisen since 2010. Read the report here.
May 2017
MYAN made a contribution to the Australian NGO Coalition Submission to United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Review of Australia Fifth Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
