OUR WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
MYAN engages young people from around Australia, inclusive of regional areas, through state/territory youth advisory structures. We support young people to represent the rights and interests of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds nationally and internationally. We do this by appointing and supporting the National Youth Ambassadors Network and hosting the national multicultural youth leadership summit, FUSE.
National call for MYAN’s Youth Ambassadors 2022!
MYAN is now recruiting members for Youth Ambassador Network (YAN) 2022.
YAN has up to 16 members (1-2 representatives from each state and territory) from a diversity of faith, gender, age, linguistic, ethnicity, migration, life, and educational experiences. They are agents of change working within their state or territory with MYAN Australia’s partners and in the national arena through MYAN Australia.
To know more about our past YAN members click here.
Who can become a MYAN Youth Ambassador?
You can be the next Youth Ambassador if you are:
- Aged between 18 and 25;
- From a migrant, refugee or asylum-seeking background (this includes young people born in Australia with migrant parents);
- Committed to the values, purpose and expectations of the YAN and MYAN Australia
- Ability to work well within a team with fairness, integrity, and respect for a diversity of opinions, cultures and values,
- Demonstrated leadership skills and/or experience in leadership activities that promote the needs and issues facing young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
Applications close 9am (AEST/Melbourne time), Friday 29 April 2022.
MEET OUR YAN
Supported through MYAN Australia and our state and territory partners, YAN members are active advocates and actors working to influence the national agenda for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
The YAN are not representatives of all refugee and migrant young people in their state or territory, but provide a perspective of young refugee and migrant Australians to MYAN Australia. They also work on practical activities within their state or territory and serve as advocates, amplifying the voice of others, in a range of national and state/territory forums.
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Get in touch with the YAN at myanprojects@myan.org.au
Follow the YAN’s activities on social media
Hosted by MYAN, FUSE is Australia’s bi-annual national multicultural youth leadership summit. With the themes Connect, Ignite and Trailblaze, FUSE is a unique and transformative opportunity for young Australians from refugee, migrant and asylum-seeking backgrounds to build and apply leadership and advocacy skills, expand their networks, and connect with peers from across Australia.
Over 3 days, delegates participate in skills-building workshops, hear from experienced advocates working in diverse sectors, explore key issues and solutions facing young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, and engage with decision-makers and MPs from the state and federal level.
FUSE is designed to equip delegates with the skills, confidence, knowledge and networks to engage in creating changes in their local communities, and at the state and national levels. Post FUSE, delegates are supported to apply their skills and knowledge at the state and local levels through MYAN’s partners. Many have gone on to be leaders in their state/territory and have joined MYAN’s Youth Ambassador Network (YAN).
LIFE IN AUSTRALIA: CELEBRATING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM REFUGEE AND MIGRANT BACKGROUNDS
MYAN’s short film series was launched at the MYAN conference in November 2017. The short films capture young people’s stories and experiences of settling in Australia. Produced in partnership with Dr David Corlett, acclaimed filmmaker and host of SBS’ Go Back To Where You Came From, the 9 films feature young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds talking about leaving their country, arriving in Australia, what helped them settle in Australia, belonging, identity and aspirations for the future. These films are part of MYAN’s resources supporting the National Youth Settlement Framework.
“YAN members share their views on Cultural Diversity Week and what it means to them”
Story sharing is a powerful tool to present the perspectives of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds living in Australia. Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia ( MYAN ) has engaged members from the Youth Ambassador’s Network (YAN) to share what Cultural Diversity Week means to them via different mediums such as art, dance and conversation.

NSW Youth Ambassador, Maria ‘Domina’ Augustine, speaks to Ramya Prabhakaran – a dance choreographer – about how dance has formed a deep connection to her roots and culture. Ramya speaks about different dance forms, how they can showcase cultural aspects, and what cultural diversity means to her as a Tamil dance choreographer raised in Australia.

SA Youth Ambassador, Chanceline Kakule, interviews MYAN’s FUSE Youth Delegate, Celestina Rabi, about Cultural Diversity Week. Chanceline explains, “Every year on the 19th-27th of March, we as a nation recognise the significance that this week holds, for all people who come from the four corners of the world. Multiculturalism is a core part of the Australian identity and our way of life.

Mary Harm- MYAN’s Ambassador from Queensland, narrates Pacific Climate Warriors’ initiative to create a colouring book with images that could be conversation-starter for intergenerational discourse on matters that affect Pacific Islanders.