Topics: 2015 National Youth Awards.
E&OE…
Sian Gard
Welcome to ABC Gippsland. How many young people do you know? Every time I meet a person under the age of 25, I think ‘was I that young? Was I that naïve sometimes?’ And also, ‘was I that driven?’ They’re just amazing – young people, I guess for me they always surprise and challenge me, which I think is a really positive thing. And right now nominations are open for the National Youth Awards. And to tell me more about it, I’m joined by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, the Honourable Senator Scott Ryan. Senator, I know you’re making sure your little one has their breakfast so we’ll keep this very brief. Can you explain for us, what is the National Youth Awards?
Scott Ryan
The National Youth Awards have been around since the turn of the century, and they’re a culmination of what goes on across the states and territories. They’re a combined effort of all three levels of government to recognise the work and achievements of young Australians.
GARD
What age bracket are the youth awards open to?
RYAN
So they’re for young Australians aged from 12-25, and there are seven awards – six specifically for young Australians within that age bracket, and one for the portrayal of young people in the media, which is open to a wider audience.
GARD
And Senator, in terms of the kind of applicants that you’ve received in the past, what kind of kids have gotten involved or put their hand up for these awards?
RYAN
Well this is my second year – last year was my first year presenting the awards – but this is the first year I’ve overseen the launch of the application process. And you see young people from all around Australia – regional Australia, big cities – working across the various categories. The six categories open to young people are safety, courage, culture and diversity, employment, health and leadership. And so you’ve seen young people working with new migrant communities, you see young people advocating for mental health services trying to reach into new areas for young Australians that might not get access to those services in the same way, and you’ve seen safety issues, where for example, in the past behaviours with alcohol or out late at night in the big cities. So, a really diverse group of young people with diverse backgrounds.
GARD
Why is it important for young people to actually get involved with these awards and get nominated?
RYAN
Well I think firstly what’s important is that we see the good work that young Australians do. I mean, sadly sometimes the news focuses on the challenges, and the news focuses on events and issues that aren’t always positive. So it’s good to have role models out there. It’s good for other young Australians to see that there is a positive portrayal of them, and to see how other young Australians can make a difference.
GARD
Now these awards are basically going to be presented next year, so you’re asking people to get applications in now. Generally speaking, how many applicants does this kind of award get?
RYAN
Off the top of my head, I have to admit I can’t tell you that. The good news is that all the awards are assessed and awarded independently. My role is to sort of oversee the process, and to be there for the ceremony and recognise the work of young Australians. But they have until the end of November this year to apply and then National Youth Week culminates in Brisbane next year with a big dinner, where you have state and territory finalists and national winners are announced.
GARD
And Senator, for you being involved with this in your second year, what do you enjoy about this process?
RYAN
I enjoy meeting young people from incredibly diverse backgrounds. We’re all a product of our own experience. I grew up in suburban Melbourne and I really enjoy meeting young people from different parts of Australia, and from different parts of the world when they’ve come to Australia working to improve their local communities or working to deal with some of the challenges they might have faced to help the next generation of Australians deal with them a little bit more easily. There’s an incredible diversity of experience and insights from young Australians. This is a diverse country and it’s great to see people with so many backgrounds bringing that to bear to make a difference for other young Australians in most cases.
GARD
Senator, I know that you’re on vegemite and toast duty, so I’ll let you get back to it. Thank you so much for your time this morning here on ABC Gippsland.
RYAN
Thanks very much, have a lovely day.
GARD
And you, too. That’s the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, the Honourable Senator Scott Ryan. And if you want to find out any more information on the National Youth Week Awards, you can log on to www.youthweek.com/nya. And it’s a great opportunity for a fantastic young person that you know to be nominated and to be recognised in the community, so make sure you get on that website and have a look around and put a nomination form in.
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