Australian Youth Representative
to the United Nations
OUR VISION
FOR 2024
If you as a young person had the power to change one thing about Australia today, what would it be?
Every young person has a unique story to tell.
As local, regional, and global inequalities continue to widen, we found the courage to raise our voices by taking to the streets and turning to digital spaces in order to show our leaders that we reject the status quo. Young people have the resilience and imagination to dream of a fairer and brighter future. These aspirations, however, are not always heard.
During my term as the 25th Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations, I want to empower young Australians to tell their truth.
This will be done through the Listening Tour, a journey around the country to listen to the opinions and ideas of young people. Consultative spaces will be safe and supportive, and the perspectives of young Australians will be centred and valued. These spaces will be led and created by young people.
Young people are not a homogenous group.
Collectively, we embody a kaleidoscope of gender, cultural, and racial diversity which mirrors the rich tapestry of individuals who constitute Australia. In reality, not all young people have the same opportunity or privilege to tell their story. It is too often the case where the stories left untold are the ones most worth hearing. In that spirit, this year we will engage with young Australians on their terms.
In the words of my predecessor, Imogen Kane, we will let young people decide what the conversation is and where it takes place, because the best discussions always happen where people are comfortable to be themselves. With a strong online presence, we will ensure young people from regional and rural Australia also have the chance to have their voices heard and the opportunity to follow on the youth representative journey.
My vision is to bridge the gap between the experiences of young Australians with the discussions and decisions made by those in power.
We want to rebuild our trust in government, big business, and the international community by encouraging these institutions to listen to our ideas. Our voices matter, and by engaging, we are making sure our shared interests are a priority.
Capturing the concerns and hopes of young Australians from all walks of life.
The outcome of the Listening Tour will be a Report, capturing the concerns and hopes of young Australians from all walks of life. I am hopeful this Report will set a precedent for the co-design and co-creation of policies affecting young people in Australia, ensuring active participation from those directly impacted. The principle is clear: no decisions should be made about youth, without directly involving youth themselves.
Over the 25 years this program has been running, we have seen significant progress in child and youth advocacy in Australia. While certainly a milestone to celebrate, it goes without saying that our work is far from over.
In that spirit, I want to pose to you a question today:
If you as a young person had the power to change one thing about Australia today, what would it be?
I look forward to meeting each and every one of you during my term, and being inspired by your stories.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with me at youthrep@unyouth.org.au.
Gavin Choong
Gavin Choong (he/him) is the Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations for 2024. He is a youth and human rights advocate, with experience working in First Nations affairs, climate justice, refugee rights, and international development. Gavin is currently in the final year of his Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Biomedical Science at Monash University. He is passionate about amplifying minority voices, promoting awareness of the diverse challenges faced by marginalised communities, and supporting tangible initiatives which tackle these issues.
Gavin is currently a member of Amnesty International’s Global Youth Collective, playing an important role as a spokesperson on youth issues and raising youth perspectives both internally and externally. Through his work with Amnesty International, Gavin has advocated for stronger digital rights protection for children and youth, as well as greater participation of young people in leadership more broadly. Most recently, as a scholarship recipient of the New Colombo Plan under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Gavin completed an exchange program at the University of Hong Kong to strengthen Australia’s regional engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
Gavin has been recognised as a Top 100 Future Leader by the Australian Financial Review, and was named on the ‘40 under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians’ in 2023. As a migrant to Australia, Gavin understands that not all young Australians have the same opportunities to have their voices heard. As an multicultural advisor and ambassador, Gavin aims to work with diverse communities during his terms as the Youth Representative, as well as empower these young people to tell their stories.
