Page 1926 - Week 07 - Thursday, 23 August 2007
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On 9 August I held a multicultural youth forum. I learnt a lot being able to talk to a great bunch of young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. It gives me a fresh perspective on Canberra, and provides me with important information when I am making decisions as minister. At this forum, I met with a group of very impressive youth leaders, along with close to 100 other young people at the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre. The day was spent with these young people outlining the major issues facing them. They also suggested ways to move the issues forward and ways in which the ACT government can help.
In this rapidly changing world, talking with young people, and especially a group from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, is a privilege. Young people bring a unique perspective on the ever-shifting landscape of multiculturalism, of values, beliefs and communities at the local, national and international level. Young people offer us an important glimpse into the future. Their attitudes to their life, community and culture in Canberra help us understand current attitudes and how those attitudes are likely to change.
The ACT government has a responsibility to encourage the representation and participation of young people in our community and to make sure that their needs are addressed by our government agenda. In particular, the ACT government holds three key responsibilities: to address the unique issues faced by multicultural youth in our community and ensure they have opportunity to reach their full potential; to help them preserve their cultural identities, for themselves and future generations, while balancing their modern Australian lives; and to ensure the broader community appreciates and accepts these people and their cultures without prejudice or discrimination.
Speaking with and listening to young people has given me as Minister for Multicultural Affairs insights into which direction we want the ACT to head. Many of the challenges facing Australian youth reflect the way they are perceived by the broader community. The positive and negative perceptions citizens have of young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are known to be a critical factor in how they are treated in the public domain. This community is often exposed to negative media portrayals of young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. These include allegations of gang rather than group, creating a climate of suspicion and fear.
Young people who have newly arrived in Australia are often so busy with the challenges of settlement that they often do not have time or energy to deal with issues that may seem so large and so hard to address. They are often struggling to master the English language. There is school and study, and they are often juggling part-time work and family commitments. So it is important that governments and communities everywhere work together to tap into the strengths, experiences and creativity of young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The need for the multicultural youth forum was identified in the multicultural strategy 2006-09. The document states:
The ACT Government will facilitate a Youth Forum seeking the views of young people from diverse cultural backgrounds to discuss a range of issues.
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