The Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations is a volunteer position within UN Youth Australia, tasked with representing young people within Australia in domestic and international spheres. It is annually appointed in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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The Australian Youth Representative to the UN is the only role of its kind in Australia. It is annually appointed by UN Youth Australia in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Since 1999, the Youth Representative has been tasked with representing the views of young Australians both domestically and abroad as well as leading the largest annual face-to-face consultation of young people in the country.

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The Role in Brief

• Type: Volunteer, Non-remunerated
• Location: Australia-wide, remote*
• Load: 25 hours/week*
• Tenure: 12 months – Dec 2026 start (unless negotiated otherwise)

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Key Aspects

• Leading the Listening Tour, an annual face-to-face consultation of young people in Australia.
• Delivering an address at the 3rd Committee (Social Development) of the General Assembly.
• Advocating for youth-friendly policy through conversations with members of the Australian community in the political, non-profit and corporate sectors.
• Collating findings and work in a Youth Representative Report, to be distributed in October.

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The ‘Listening Tour’, an extensive nation-wide consultation tour for young Australians, is the core domestic component of the Youth Representative Program. Through hundreds of face-to-face meetings, the Youth Representative is able to effectively act as an advocate for youth. These consultations are designed as interactive workshops that include discussion, sharing, and collaborative activities to unpack potential social issues of concern, and why they matter at an individual and collective level.

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Aligned with Program design and outcomes, the Youth Representative will co-create the consultation process to incorporate aspects of their vision, interests, and expertise. Hosted in collaboration with a range of organisations including UN Youth Australia’s Divisions, councils, youth groups, governments, and private institutions, these consultations are youth-led spaces that are safe and engaging for all young people.

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A nation-wide survey for young Australians aged 12 to 25 is distributed as part of the Listening Tour. It is a key knowledge-gathering mechanism on the experiences, opinions and motivations of young people.

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The Youth Representative will be expected to co-create the 2027 Survey, with public submissions open between January and August 2027.

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International Engagement

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The Youth Representative joins the Australian Mission to the United Nations every year to represent Australia's young people at the General Assembly in September/October.

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Culminating in a speech to the Third Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Youth Representative’s stay in New York involves negotiating with Youth Representatives from other countries, and helping to inform the debate around topical issues from the youth perspective.

We are looking for you if you are:

• Dedicated to representing UN Youth Australia
• Keen to amplify the thoughts on young Australians
• Experience in engaging young people
• Have a clear vision for the role as a Youth Representitive
• An experienced and engaging public speaker and network
• Knowledgeable about Australia's engagement with the United Nations

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Applicants must be Australian citizens, at least 18 years old when they apply and no older than 25 as of 1 January 2027. The position is a substantial 12-month volunteer commitment involving remote work and extensive domestic and international travel. Full eligibility and commitment requirements are outlined in the position description.

You, or any interested young people, are also welcome to contact the Chief Youth Representation Officer directly at cyro@unyouth.org.au if you have any questions about the role, eligibility requirements or application process.

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Applications close strictly on 13 September 2026, 11:59 PM AWST. 

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Follow the link for more information and please cite Ripple Opportunities in your application. 

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Please note that all enquiries for this opportunity can be handled directly with the organisation.