About AYAC
The Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) is Australia's non-government youth affairs peak body. Officially launched at our first Annual General Meeting on the 16th of May 2002, AYAC's formation is the result of several years of work by state and territory youth affairs peaks and a number of national youth sector organisations, following the wind-up of the previous peak body AYPAC in 1999.
AYAC aims:
- To provide a body broadly representative of the issues and interests of young people and the youth affairs field in Australia. To advocate for a united Australia which respects and values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, promotes human rights, and provides justice for all.
- To represent the rights and interests of young people in Australia, at both a national and an international level.
- To promote the elimination of poverty and to promote the well-being of young Australians, with a particular focus on those who are disadvantaged.
- Recognising the diversity of Australian society, to promote the cultural, social, economic, political, environmental and spiritual interests and participation of young people in all aspects of society.
- To advocate for, assist with and support the development of policy positions on issues affecting young people and the youth affairs field, and to provide policy advice, perspectives and advocacy to Governments and the broader community.
- To facilitate co-ordination and co-operation within the youth affairs field.
AYAC is currently unfunded and has no paid staff. It is managed by an elected Executive Committee of volunteers. We are in the process of seeking funding so that we can provide a strong independent voice for young people and organisations that work with young people in Australia.
AYAC is an incorporated association. A copy of our constitution can be downloaded from http://www.ayac.org.au/media/constitution.pdf. (You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file.)
Structure
AYAC is governed by a National Representative Council, which can consist of up to 22 members and includes office bearers, one representative from each state and territory youth affairs peak, eight representatives from national youth organisations, two general members, one representative from an indigenous organisation and one representative from a CALD Organisation. All members are elected at the annual general meeting. The members for 2006 - 2007 are:
- Independent Chairperson: Alan Wu
- Young Spokesperson: Luke Bo'sher
- General Member: Mitch Wall
- General Member: Rey Reodica
- National Youth Organisation: Ani Wierenga (Australian Youth Research Centre)
- National Youth Organisation: Dave Ireson (Fusion Australia)
- National Youth Organisation: Michael Coffey (National Youth Coalition for Housing)
- National Youth Organisation: Emil Wajs-Chaczko (St John Ambulance)
- National Youth Organisation: Simon Sheikh (United Nations Youth Association)
- National Youth Organisation: Carmel Guerra (National Multicutural Youth Issues Network)
Each state and territory youth affairs peak has permanent membership of the National Representative Council. They are:
-
Siyavash Doostkhah
Youth Affairs Network of Queensland (YANQ)
30 Thomas Street
WEST END QLD 4101
T: (07) 3844 7713
F: (07) 3844 7731
E: admin@yanq.org.au
W: http://www.yanq.org.au/ -
Rey Reodica
Youth Action & Policy Association (YAPA)
146 Devonshire St
SURRY HILLS NSW 2010
T: (02) 9319 1100
F: (02) 9319 1144
E: info@yapa.org.au
W: http://www.yapa.org.au/ -
Meredith Hunter
Youth Coalition of the ACT (YCACT)
PO Box 5232
LYNEHAM ACT 2602
T: (02) 6247 3540
F: (02) 6249 1675
E: info@youthcoalition.net
W: http://www.youthcoalition.net/ -
Georgie Ferrari
Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic)
Level 2, 172 Flinders St
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
T: (03) 9267 3799
F: (03) 9639 1622
E info@yacvic.org.au
W: http://www.yacvic.org.au/ -
Theresa Moore
Youth Network of Tasmania (YNOT)
45 Sandy Bay Rd
HOBART TAS 7004
T: (03) 6223 5511
F: (03) 6223 2255
E: ynot@ynot.org.au
W: http://www.ynot.org.au/ -
Jennifer Duncan
Youth Affairs Council of South Australia (YACSA)
GPO Box 2117
ADELAIDE SA 5001
T: (08) 8226 3080
F: (08) 8226 3081
E: yacsa@yacsa.com.au
W: http://www.yacsa.com.au/ -
Lisa Laschon
Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia (YACWA)
4/1329 Hay Street
WEST PERTH WA 6005
T: (08) 9485 2750
Rural: 1800 670 231
F: (08) 9485 2757
E: yacwa@yacwa.org.au
W: http://www.yacwa.org.au/ -
Alice Bignall
Northern Territory Youth Affairs Network (NTYAN)
PO Box 84
DARWIN NT 0801
T: (08) 8930 0651
F: (08) 8930 0644
E: ntyan@darcity.nt.gov.au
An Executive Committee elected by the National Representative Council attends to the day to day operations of the organisation while it is unfunded. The members for 2006 - 2007 are:
- Independent Chairperson: Alan Wu
- Secretary: Georgie Ferrari (Youth Affairs Council of Victoria)
- Treasurer: Meredith Hunter (Youth Coalition of the ACT)
- Young Spokesperson: Luke Bo'sher
- Emil Wajs-Chaczko (St John Ambulance)
- Simon Sheikh (United Nations Youth Association)
