THE UNYA NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE 2003
- Ross Broad
Daniel Miller, Conference Co-convenor, welcomes delegates to UNYC 2003.
The United Nations Youth Association National Youth Conference is one of the premier and most prestigious Australian youth conferences, bringing together over 100 secondary students from all states of Australia and overseas. Students from New Zealand and East Timor have been regular attendees at the Conference.
The Official Opening, Dolphin Theatre, UWA.
Mr Fred Collard, Nyungah Elder, gave an indigenous welcome to the land.The Conference itself is a week-long series of discussions, workshops, speakers and debates. A mock General Assembly of the United Nations featuring nearly one hundred member states is the climax of the Conference and a great spectacle.
The official party listens while His Excellency the Governor is introduced.
From left; Ms Alyson Kelly, UNYA National President, Lt-Gen. John Sanderson, AC, Governor of W.A., Professor Alan Robson, Acting Vice-Chancellor and President of UWA, Daniel Miller, Fred Collard.
In 2003, Western Australia was delighted to play host to the National Youth Conference. Held at Saint Catherine’s College, Crawley, over 120 people made their way from all corners of Australia to converge on Perth for a week in July.
Led by convenors Daniel Miller and Sasanka Thilikasiri, the Conference was a great successful and set a new standard for future conferences. Speakers included the Governor of Western Australia, Lt-Gen John Sanderson, who officially opened the conference, the Federal Attorney-General Daryl Williams, Professor Greg Craven, and the Hon Fred Chaney AO, co-chair for reconciliation Australia. As usual, the week was capped off with a mock session of the General Assembly, held in superb Drill Hall at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle.
A Youth Declaration was also formulated with young people given a chance to outline their view on many diverse topics relating to domestic and international policy-making.
This document was presented to the Hon Sir Guy Green AC KBE CVO, in his then capacity as the Administrator of the Commonwealth of Australia.
The youth declaration was circulated through the parliamentary and NGO community, and is one of the few youth-formulated documents of its kind.
In 2004, the 43rd annual UNYA National Youth Conference will be held in Melbourne. The Organising Committee is currently hard at work securing speakers and finding sponsorship for the events.
The Western Australian delegation to attend the event has already been chosen from the vast pool of talent showcased at our recent UNYA (WA) State Conference, held at picturesque Swanleigh in late February 2004. It promises to be an inspiring event for all involved.
Furher information:
For more information about the UNYA National Youth Conference 2004 in Melbourne, contact Convenor Eleanor Jenkin by email at unyc2004@unya.asn.au.
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