National Youth Roundtable 2002 Member Profiles

Iyngaran is 17 and studying Medicine at James Cook University in Townsville.

He has represented the Northern Territory at the National Youth Science Forum, the Professor Harry Messel International Science School and the National School's Constitutional Convention and Debating Championships.

He was the President of the Leo Club of Nightcliff and is a keen soccer player having represented the Darwin region in soccer.

He is also heavily involved in cultural and youth group activities with the Hindu and the Tamil Societies in the Northern Territory and was chosen as the Northern Territory youth delegate for the National Hindu Conference in 2001.

He was also a Kids Helpline trained Peer Helper and Student Representative Council member at his school, Casuarina Senior College.

A migrant himself, Iyngaran has had personal experience of intolerance and racism that many migrants encounter everyday in Australia.

Iyngaran feels that this conflict and friction in the community can be caused by lack of awareness, understanding and appreciation of other cultures.

He is focussing on making the community and young people more familiar with other cultures by holding a community and school cultural day as well as developing educational material.

View Report (92KB)

Sixteen year old Linden is a student at Swan Christian College.

He has been a member of the Constitutional Centre of Western Australia, the Future Leaders Conference and the Australian YMCA Centenary of Federation Youth Parliament.

Linden recently led a team of students to Wongutha Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed School to promote a friendship exchange between students with different cultural backgrounds.

Linden is raising awareness in the community about the problems mining companies are causing; namely, salinity and land degradation, which are affecting Aboriginal people, the environment and the land he loves.

He believes sacred sites on Wongatha land are at risk. Linden is also looking at better defining Aboriginality, in terms of identification and acceptance, to ensure that support goes to the truly disadvantaged.

*Report unavailable

Fifteen year old Patricia studies at Morley Senior High and is involved in the Vietnamese Evangelical Church.

In 2001 she was a participant in the Sir Charles Court Young Leaders Program and was nominated for the Western Australian Youth Minister’s Positive Image Award.

Patricia won the State award for the National History Challenge and was runner-up in the State Simpson Prize.

Patricia would like to see wider awareness about the experiences of second-generation immigrants, by promoting existing local programs that have an emphasis on languages and cultural activities/events.

Patricia believes that loss of cultural/family background can lead to problems ranging from frustration and depression, to antisocial behaviour.

She feels it is important that such programs are encouraged, sustained, and emulated by other groups in the community.

View Report (84KB)

Mohammed is 23 years old and works full-time as a project officer for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council.

He is the Home Island Youth Group Co-ordinator and is involved with the Cocos Cultural Activities Club, Cocos Fisheries Committee and also a member of the Fire and Emergency Services of Australia.

Mohammed has experienced a range of different cultures through his overseas travel and rural background.

Mohammed is keen to increase equal opportunity in youth services on the Cocos Islands.

He believes young people on the Islands are disadvantaged because of isolation, a lack of facilities available to young people and a lack of youth involvement in the decisions that directly affect them.

Mohammed feels all of these elements have contributed to antisocial behaviour among young people on the Islands.

View Report (120KB)

Frank, 24, works part-time as a computer programmer for Coles Myer and is a volunteer worker with various organisations such as the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre and St Vincent’s Youth & Homeless Community Programs.

He participates in many activities such as the Monthly Good Grief – Outreach and is a peer facilitator in a Youth Project Team of the Victorian AIDS Council.

Frank has also contributed to the writings of a Young Person’s Bereavement Book and is a presenter for ‘Going Even Deeper’, a Community Hypothetical.

Frank is interested in reducing homophobia in society through education.

He believes that no person should be treated differently, or be discriminated against, simply because they are part of a minority.

View Report (604KB)

Lance is an 18 year old student at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology studying a Bachelor of Arts (fashion).

He has participated in the “Paving the Way” with the Education Trust Victoria, the National Youth Week Forum and the “East Timor Relief” appeal.

Lance has fundraised for Western Family Services and was involved in the Melbourne City Mission Winter Sleepout. He has completed a university enhancement study in Philosophy through Monash University.

Lance is interested in addressing issues faced by homophobic students and staff in school systems.

He would like to promote equality across all areas. Specifically, he feels it is fundamental that all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students feel secure and safe in their school environment.

View Report (604KB)

Jodie, 21, has a three year old son. She helped with the formation of the Willunga Youth Forum and is active within this Forum. Jodie is involved with a young parent group, Tour Down Under and the facilitation of regular youth events.

Jodie is interested in educating young parents to improve their ability to access housing within the community and provide information on the standards of housing available. As a young parent, Jodie would like to raise the profile of young parents' issues in a community forum.

View Report (88KB)

Twenty year old Robert has just completed his second year of a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) at the University of Technology in Sydney.

He is involved in social justice issues, particularly in relation to reconciliation and refugees.

In 1999 Robert received a commendation for his service to the community from the Order of Australia Association.

He has been involved with Scouts and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and in 2000, he won a Young Citizen of the Year award from Sutherland Shire Council.

Robert would like to promote greater understanding between Australians from different cultural backgrounds and greater equality and acceptance between cultural groups.

He believes this is an important objective because there are significant tensions between cultural groups.

Robert feels these tensions stem from a lack of understanding and can result in inequality, racial violence and inappropriate policies.

View Report (129KB)

Jordan, 20, attends Charles Sturt University in Bathurst where he is involved in a number of forums including the Student Council and the Queer Collective.

He is also actively involved in his community through the Willoughby Council Youth Forum and as the President of the Mitchell Buddhist Group. In 2001 he helped establish a reading room for children at Mobray Primary School.

Jordan is interested in promoting real solutions to difficult issues facing school-aged gay and lesbian young people.

He would like to see a re-education of sexuality, as social intolerance and discrimination seem to surround the gay and lesbian lifestyle, particularly in schools.

Jordan believes this can prevent gay and lesbian young people from reaching their full potential.

View Report (171KB)