Today is International Youth Day and should be celebratory. At the YACVic conference, I see the many reasons why we should be celebrating our young people for the amazing things they are doing with and for their communities.

Instead, this is a generation that has experienced the harshest impact due to COVID. The impact on employment has been significant, compounded by the fact that young people are a part of a growing casualised workforce. The mental health and well being of young people has also been adversely affected due to lockdowns and in particular the lack of access to mental health services that are experienced by many young people particularly in rural and regional communities.  There is no national youth policy or strategy that can provide young people with a voice and where their challenges are acknowledged.

Nevertheless, Happy International Youth Day from Youth Workers Australia, who represent the work of professional Youth Workers who strive to make a difference in young people’s lives and ensure that they have a seat at the table.