October 2009     Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Minister for Youth Kate Ellis have launched a nationwide discussion with young people as part of the National Strategy for young Australians.

The National Conversation is a chance for young people, the youth sector and the community to help shape the Government’s National Strategy for Young Australians through online events, local and national forums and face-to-face discussions.

The National Strategy will focus on seven priorities:

• Empowering young Australians in schools, technical colleges and Universities to shape their own future
• Providing support to young Australians within their families
• Supporting young Australians to make a greater contribution to their communities
• Enabling young Australians to participate safely and confidently online
• Equipping young Australians with the skills and personal networks needed for employment
• Improving opportunities for early intervention and problem solving and
• Establishing clear cut legal consequences for behaviour that endangers the safety of others.
• The Strategy will guide Government action to support young people and to ensure they have the opportunities and skills needed to make a positive contribution to society.
• The discussion will include a live, online interactive webcast on 12 November to allow young people from across the nation to join the conversation.

Young people and their communities will also have an opportunity to host their own forums in coming weeks.

More information is available at the Australian Youth Forum website.

From a media release by The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, October 22 2009.

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