The Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations is a joint position created by partnership between UN Youth Australia and the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Appointed yearly through a rigorous application process, the Youth Representative holds an extensive nationwide consultation, meeting with young Australians, politicians and leaders. Each year the Youth Representative travels to the United Nations' General Assembly in New York as an accredited member of the Australian Mission to the UN to deliver a statement on behalf of the young people of Australia. Upon returning to Australia the Youth Representative delivers a report to the Australian Federal Government along with all State and Territory Governments on the year's consultations and key findings along with recommendations.
In 2026, the Youth Representative to the United Nations is Janice Rodrigues.
Listening Tour Each year, the Youth Representative takes part in a comprehensive national listening tour, engaging with young people across Australia on issues that are important to them. The Youth Representative also meets MPs, Government Officials and NGOs to learn about service delivery, give advice and to represent the views and findings of young people in Australia. The listening tour usually includes a core theme or questions that is the basis for the tours consultations and findings.
The listening tour, which is supported by various levels of government, UN Youth Australia and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade holds consultations and meetings in all Australian States and Territories, major cities and regional towns along with rural and remote areas. Consultations and workshops are held in schools, universities, prisons, juvenile detention facilities and community venues.
Attaché to the Australian Mission to the United Nations Each year the Youth Representative travels to the United Nations General Assembly in New York as an accredited member of the Australian Mission to the United Nations, whilst at the UN the Youth Representative will engage with international leaders and deliver a speech representing the youth of Australia.
Youth Representative Report
As part of the Youth Representative program a report is delivered to the Australian Federal Government along with all State and Territory Governments outlining the findings and recommendations of the Youth Representative from their listening tour.
As described by Vasil Samardzhiev, Chief Youth Representation Officer in 2024, "the Report gives people of all spheres of work an insight into how young eyes view the world around them, and the change they do not yet see."Samardzhiev, V., Ng, J. & Gamagedara, R. (2024). Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations Program: Youth Representative Report 2024. Melbourne, Victoria: UN Youth Australia. https://unyouth.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-Youth-Representative-Report-1.pdf
The 2024 Youth Representative Report captured over 2000 perspectives, and the 2025 Youth Representative Report captured 5000 perspectives from young Australians across every state and territory, across rural and urban communities, and from diverse backgrounds and identities.
Office Holders NameYearUNGA StatementAndrew Hudson1999Carrie McDougall2000Kirsten Hagon2001 Statement by Ms Kirsten Hagon, Youth Representative, for the Australian Delegation, 9 October 2001. Australian Mission to the United NationsRebecca Jenkin2002Adam Smith2003 Statement by Mr Adam Smith, Australian Youth Representative, 6 October 2003. Australian Mission to the United NationsCat Thao Nguyen2004Ben Whitehouse2005Elise Klein2006 Statement by Elise Klein, Youth Representative, 3 October 2006. Australian Mission to the United NationsBen Groom2007 Statement by Mr Ben Groom, Youth Representative, 9 October 2007. Australian Mission to the United NationsElizabeth Shaw and Melanie Poole2008 Statement by Ms Elizabeth Shaw and Ms Melanie Poole, Australian Youth Representatives to the United Nations, 7 October 2008. Australian Mission to the United NationsChris Varney2009 Statement by Mr Christopher Varney, Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations, 6 October 2009. Australian Mission to the United NationsSamah Hadid2010 Statement by Samah Hadid, Australian Youth Representative, 4 October 2010. Australian Mission to the United NationsBenson Saulo2011 Mr. Benson Saulo, 2011 High-level Meeting on Youth, 111th Plenary Meeting 26 July 2011. Statement by Benson Saulo, Australian Youth Representative, 4 October 2011. Australian Mission to the United NationsDan Ryan2012 Statement by Mr Dan Ryan, Australian Youth Delegate, 8 October 2012. Australian Mission to the United NationsAdam Pulford2013 Statement by Mr Adam Pulford, Australian Youth Representative, 7 October 2012. Australia Mission to the United NationsLaura John2014 Statement of Laura John, Australian Youth Representative, 7 October 2014.Shea Spierings2015 Statement of Shea Spierings, Australian Youth Delegate, 7 October 2015.Chris Eigeland2016, Statement of Chris Eigleland, Australian Youth Representative, 5 October 2016. Australian Mission to the United NationsPaige Burton2017Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly 72nd Session National Statement by Paige BurtonAmos Washington2018 Statement of Amos Washington, Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations, 3 October 2018.Kareem El-Ansary2019Lucy Stronach2020-21Angelica Ojinnaka2022Imogen Kane2023Gavin Choong / Vasil Samardzhiev2024Satara Uthayakumaran 2025Janice Rodrigues2026
References