Tomorrow Movement / Common Ground / Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) / Think Forward / Run For It / National Union for Students (NUS) No clear jobs plan for young people (Tomorrow Movement)  With youth unemployment still at 11.8% (and long term unemployment numbers at a 26-year high), the Budget does not fund access to safe, secure and meaningful work for young people. The extension of JobTrainer does not fix the fact there are simply not enough jobs available. The Budget also fails to address the rising issue of young people in insecure casual and part time jobs barely maki ..read more

“If this industrial relations bill passes, casual young workers in hospitality and retail industries hardest hit by COVID-19 shutdowns last year will be worse off. Changes to the Better Off Overall Test, the definition of casual employment and taking away overtime for part-time workers will make it harder for young people to pay the rent each month,” said Kelly Fawcett, FYA’s Research & Policy Lead. Young workers’ experiences of wage theft The joint submission highlights case studies of how young people are already disproportionately exposed to wage theft. The submission supports national ..read more

Applications are now open for a new program to support projects addressing key issues facing young people across Australia, now and in the future.  The Australian Government Department of Health is partnering with the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) to run the Youth Action Project Grant Scheme (YAPGS), a national youth-recovery grants program.  Available to individuals and organisations, the grants will fall into two categories: new initiatives that uniquely respond to the hardship young people face now and in the future or existing initiatives that provide an ongoing service ..read more

This episode in our nation’s history has highlighted the true value of previously forgotten groups within the Australian workforce. These groups have not suddenly gained value, rather have suddenly been recognised for the value they possessed all along. Earlier in April, both major parties endorsed the single most expensive piece of legislation in Australia’s history, the Coronavirus Supplement. The ‘back in black’ budget surplus now seems like a distant flicker. Normalcy for many Australians today is defined not by our freedoms and ambitions, but by our access to an intricate a ..read more

When I began university I got more involved with the AYCC, a youth climate organisation. I started to meet different South Australian MPs and senators. In hindsight, I probably wasn’t very good at it: I worried too much about seeming like an authority, and I struggled to relate to the politicians as regular people. Despite that, I think these meetings were very important. Rich corporations spend vast sums lobbying our politicians – they have lobbyists based in Canberra who are constantly in and out of the offices of Parliament. Clearly they think it’s worthwhile. And while politicians will typ ..read more

The purpose of the survey was to hear from our community during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Major themes from responses were concerns for the economy, personal finance, the impact on education, mental health concerns, and how vulnerable communities will be impacted. Respondents saw a place for FYA to be there to advocate, to educate, and to connect with other like-minded organisations. What were people concerned about in the immediate future?  The major themes in responses were related to education, studying, teaching or students welfare. The next most prevalent theme was con ..read more

Then, on Sunday 22 March, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that the school holidays would be brought forward a few days early, with schools across the state officially closed from Tuesday 24 March. No one knew what Term 2 was going to look like until it was announced that students in my state would be learning from home. I’m in Year 11 this year, which is said to be the ‘trial’ year for your final year of schooling. A year for putting good study habits in place, and figuring out how you learn best, to get your goal Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) next year. This is pretty ..read more

COVID-19 has made it significantly harder to spend time with friends and loved ones, work and retain employment, travel, partake in our favourite activities like going to the cinema, sporting and music events, as well as enjoy the natural world.  Of course, we have also become more health-conscious and concerned for the welfare and safety of those who are suffering: grandparents who are particularly susceptible; friends who have been laid off from work; frontline nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals who are willing to endanger themselves for the good of others.  This cata ..read more

I’m thankful to still be studying and working in Australia. I (virtually) sat down with some of my peers, fellow international students from India, China, and Indonesia, to find out how they’re handling the unique circumstances international students face when dealing with COVID-19. Heading back home in the midst of a crisis Saumya Poojary, 23, is an overseas student from Mumbai. She’s facing the uncertainty of not knowing when she will be able to come back to Australia, but she was fortunate enough to be able to take a flight back to India so she wouldn’t be away from her family during the cr ..read more