I am thrilled and humbled to be a part of the YAN representing NSW. I am honoured to learn from diverse young people and ensure their voices are heard and taken seriously. I have had wonderful opportunities to volunteer for MYAN and Bankstown Intensive English Centre, and for RacetoRaise fundraising for a Sri Lankan village. I have also been selected to attend the University Scholarships leadership Symposium and the Peace Summit at the United Nations. I am eager to grow in this role and hopefully create a meaningful, sustainable impact with the YAN cohort.

New South Wales
22 | South Indian

“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision,
then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” - Audre Lorde

I am a proud Samoan/Chinese-Fijian passionate about the power of storytelling in creating social change. During my studies, I played a key role in establishing The University of Queensland’s first ever South Pacific Islander Association (UQSPIA) and was the first female to be elected president of the Asia Pacific Youth Parliament for Water, held in South Korea in 2017. Since attending FUSE 2019 I have joined the Multicultural Youth Queensland Council advocating for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Today I am serving as the Brisbane Coordinator for a group of young community leaders known as the Pacific Climate Warriors. By elevating the stories of those on the front-lines of the climate crisis, we are shifting the power to First Nations people and changing the narrative of Pasifika people from mere victims of climate change to warriors of the Pacific.

Queensland
25 | Samoan/Chinese-Fijian

“Love anyway. Love even though. Love just because.” - Anon

I’ve been finishing year 12 this year whilst doing a Certificate II in construction training, and after I graduate my aim is to gain an apprenticeship to be a boilermaker. As part of the National Youth Week Film competition 2017, I was one of five young people invited to Melbourne for a filmmaking workshop. There I produced a short film about my life story and my passion for music and this was aired on SBS VICELAND and NITV. I really value staying positive and believe that you should never let someone else put you down. Being part of the YAN is an amazing opportunity for me, because I get to learn about leadership and advocating for young people whose voices are never heard enough in the community. I will help to empower them and stand by them so their voices can be heard.

Northern Territory
21 | Congolese

“Negativity may knock at your door, but that doesn’t mean you have to
let it in.” - Anonymous

I am currently studying a double degree in Law and Journalism, hoping to work in the human rights and refugee field. After watching my parents struggle with the repercussions of their journeys settling into Australia, I am adamant in working to ensure that immigrants and refugees are given the same opportunities as everyone else to exponentially grow. I am currently a part of the Global Youth Task Force with United Nations Women, where I represent Australia in the fight for gender equality across the globe. I further work with the Youth Affairs Council of WA as a Shout Out Speaker and as a youth consultant, delivering trainings to young leaders from refugee and migrant backgrounds to help them develop leadership skills.

Western Australia
19 | Muslim Palestinian Iraqi

“Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers
to turn on the light” – Albus Dumbledore

I am a law graduate, Indian-born migrant and proud Tamil woman from Melbourne. I passionately use my lived experience in my position as a Youth Advisor at CMY and Create Change Fellow at Democracy in Colour to craft projects where community and identity are at the heart of everything. I recently founded The Vermilion Project, where I fuse my love for law, advocacy and community to promote the economic and social participation of people affected by menstrual health conditions and invisible illnesses. The Vermilion Project seeks to achieve this goal by promoting the use of targeted employment law resources, career advice, mentorship and diverse storytelling in workplaces, universities and schools. I am a 2019 Young Social Pioneer at the Foundation for Young Australians, and was most recently selected as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper in their Melbourne Hub.

Victoria
25 | Indian

“I just hope that more people will ignore the fatalism of the argument
that we are beyond repair. We are not beyond repair. We are never
beyond repair.” - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

I am of Afghan Hazara Ethnicity and I am currently studying a Diploma of University Studies in Science at the University of Tasmania. I am passionate about volunteering and helping others, which led me to be a volunteer at the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) North as an interpreter and helping drop-ins. I am a member of the Youth Advisory Network in MRC North and a MYAN member, as well as a member of Get Outside with Community Leaders program. Recently, I initiated a youth group Afghan Youth Association Network (AYAN) for young people in my community. I organise and plan events and recreation activities for them, such as International Women’s Day and Girl’s Day events, Sport tournaments and a Kite Festival. I am also a sporty person and play in a local futsal competition every Sunday night. Other hobbies of mine include travel, swimming and camping.

Tasmania
19 | Afghani

“Good thoughts, good words, good deeds” -Zoroaster