Minister's Messages
Minister for Community Services | Australian Capital Territory | Northern Territory | Queensland | South Australia | Tasmania | Victoria | Western Australia
Minister for Community Services
Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion
The Australian Government is pleased to be a part of the eighth annual National Youth Week (NYW), the single largest celebration of young people on the Australian calendar.
National Youth Week highlights and celebrates the community spirit and contribution of Australia’s young people. The week provides the opportunity for young Australians like you to voice your opinions about issues that matter to you.
The slogan for National Youth Week 2007, ‘Launch Yourself’, was chosen by young people and is an open invitation to get involved, celebrate your achievements and make the week what you want it to be.
National Youth Week is your time to get out there in your community and make the most of the celebrations and activities that will be taking place all across Australia between 14 and 22 April 2007.
This year a number of NYW events have been organised by young people including competitions, concerts, parties, debates and exhibitions.
The Australian Government is committed to supporting young people and the contributions you make to your local communities and I encourage you to use this week to show the Australian community what you can do by taking part in the events, competitions and activities.
No matter what you are interested in or where you live, I encourage all young Australians to get involved and celebrate National Youth Week.
Australian Capital Territory
Katy Gallagher
ACT Minister for Children and Youth
Each year, young people in Canberra have an opportunity to join with their peers right across Australia to celebrate the unique culture of youth.
National Youth Week, as the largest celebration for people from 12-25 years, encourages young people to promote their achievements, to speak out about what’s important to them and to share their ideas, skills and vision for the future.
It’s about celebrating what’s great — and what’s challenging — about being a young person in today’s world.
I hope all young people in the ACT take the opportunity to participate in National Youth Week, and enjoy celebrating the important role they, and their diverse culture, play in our community.
Northern Territory
Ms Marion Scrymgour MLA
Minister for Young Territorians
Are you looking for an opportunity to show the rest of the community what life’s like as a young person? What it’s like as a young Territorian? National Youth Week is for you. It’s your time to Launch Yourself!
It’s also an opportunity to show the rest of the community what you can do, express your ideas, talk about issues that concern you, participate in the planning of events, celebrate your achievements and, best of all, have fun while you’re doing it!
The Territory has a youthful population and the Northern Territory Government is proud of the achievements and the contributions that young people make to our community. National Youth Week celebrates our diverse youth culture and is a showcase for the talents, creativity and commitment of young people to improving their own community.
The Office of Youth Affairs in the Department of the Chief Minister works with community groups to plan activities for National Youth Week in the Territory.
I urge all Territorians to get involved in National Youth Week, have fun and celebrate the achievements and contributions of our youth. And, to all the young people out there, come on, Launch Yourself!
Queensland
Warren Pitt
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Seniors and Youth
National Youth Week is Australia’s single largest celebration of young people and continues to grow in prominence in Queensland every year.
National Youth Week 2007 in Queensland promises to deliver larger, higher quality events and activities than ever before. Community and young people’s organisations, schools and clubs will be participating in major regional centres across the state. There will be one major event in each of the 10 Queensland regions, ranging from concerts, forums, workshops, exhibitions, sporting activities and more.
National Youth Week 2007 will take place from 14 - 22 April 2007 and encourages people to ‘celebrate and recognise the value of all young Australians to their communities’. This year is the eighth annual celebration of National Youth Week, and Queensland is pleased to showcase and celebrate all young Queenslanders’ talents, ideas, skills and voices.
In 2007, the slogan for National Youth Week is ‘Launch Yourself!’ In other words, this is a once a year opportunity for young people to get involved in planning, running or participating in events across the state.
The Queensland Government is proud to support National Youth Week and other initiatives such as the annual Young Indigenous Leaders Forum, which enable young people to showcase their talents, participate in their communities, learn new skills and have their say. The Young Indigenous Leaders Forum is another example of how young people can be involved in Government decision making and learn leadership skills.
I encourage young Queenslanders and their communities to get involved and celebrate National Youth Week 2007 by attending their local National Youth Week event, or by organising an event and registering it with the Queensland Office for Youth.
Get involved and ‘Launch Yourself!’ in National Youth Week 2007. I look forward to seeing your participation in the many exciting events and activities that are planned.
For more information, visit www.generate.qld.gov.au or phone 1300 555 954.
South Australia
Paul Caica
Minister for Youth
National Youth Week (NYW) is the single largest youth event in Australia. It celebrates and recognises the views, opinions, contributions and achievements of young Australians.
National Youth Week is a unique opportunity for young people to take centre stage, express their ideas and views, raise issues and showcase the positive contribution that young people make to society.
Last year in South Australia more than 18,000 young people attended the 100 youth events run across the State. This year I encourage all young South Australians aged 12-25 years to take part in activities and enjoy special events that celebrate their individuality and diversity.
The Government of South Australia is proud to continue its support for National Youth Week through the Office for Youth, providing funding and event management training to young people and local Councils.
The National Youth Week theme for 2007 invites young people to ‘Launch Yourself’ and I encourage you to do just that.
Tasmania
Michelle O’Byrne
Minister for Community Development
The Tasmanian Government is committed to making Tasmania a dynamic and prosperous place to live and one that encourages and inspires young people.
It’s vital that the opinions and ideas of young Tasmanians are heard and that they are involved in decision making that will shape the future of Tasmania.
National Youth Week provides a forum for young people to express their ideas and views and plan events and activities that mean something to them. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and skills of young people and the valuable contribution that they make to the Tasmanian community.
The Tasmanian Government is proud to continue its support for National Youth Week, through the Department of Premier and Cabinet, by providing $62,000 funding to help stage events and activities throughout the State.
Tasmanians are creative and resourceful people and I’m confident that we’ll host some of the most innovative and popular events on the National Youth Week calendar in 2007.
I encourage all young Tasmanians to get involved and make their voice heard during this exciting week.
Victoria
James Merlino
Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs
As the new Minister for Youth Affairs, I am looking forward to joining Victoria’s young people to celebrate the fantastic contributions they make to our community.
In 2007 the Victorian Government will fund more than 70 events across the state during the Week.
Victoria’s young people offer such a huge range of skills, backgrounds and perspectives that I am sure the National Youth Week events they run will reflect their terrific diversity and offer some great events.
In 2006 it was fantastic to know more than 27,000 young people and community members were involved in National Youth Week events – from music and dance workshops to cultural festivals and sporting activities.
I also look forward to working with the 2007 National Youth Week Young Member, Jamie McConnachie who is a great ambassador for the young people of this state and for Indigenous young people.
The strong partnership the Victorian Government has with VicHealth will continue in 2007 and we are also pleased to welcome new partner, beyondblue, the National Depression Initiative, which is joining with us to fund and support 2007 National Youth Week activity.
Through the Office for Youth, we support giving young people across Victoria genuine opportunities to get involved in their communities – to create events run by young people, for young people.
I look forward to attending as many of the events as possible and urge all young Victorians to 'Launch Yourself', and get involved in 2007 National Youth Week.
Western Australia
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich MLC
Minister for Local Government; Racing and Gaming;
Multicultural Interests and Citizenship; Government Enterprises;
Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure;
Goldfields-Esperance; Youth
Western Australia is proud to contribute to the celebrations of National Youth Week 2007, an opportunity for the community as a whole to recognise and acknowledge young people for their achievements.
With the theme 'Launch Yourself', National Youth Week is a call to action for people of all ages to join in and celebrate the creativity and vitality of young people in Western Australia.
Active participation is a key element in the development of young people, and National Youth Week events encourage learning, social and community connections and confidence building, which all help to prepare young people for future success.
Throughout the week in Western Australia, young people will be actively coordinating a range of celebratory events aimed at promoting a positive image of youth. As part of National Youth Week 2006, there were over 70 events staged attracting nearly 7,000 young people which demonstrates that young people are very much an integral part of community life.
As part of the celebrations, the WA Youth Awards Showcase will be held on Thursday 19 April 2007, and will recognise and acknowledge outstanding young Western Australians who contribute to the wellbeing of other individuals, families and communities in a variety of ways. Included in the Showcase are the WA Youth Media Awards, which acknowledge journalists and media organisations for acknowledging the positive contributions of young people in the community.
I encourage all Western Australians to launch themselves into National Youth Week 2007! It is an excellent opportunity for young people to express what it means to be a young person and the important role they play in communities.