National Indigenous Youth Parliament still connecting young leaders

Almost six months on from the first ever National Indigenous Youth Parliament, the 50 young participants continue to support each other in their leadership journeys.

The week-long event was run by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), in partnership with the YMCA, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Indigenous Australians’ right to vote in federal elections.

With a series of workshops, seminars and parliamentary debates, six Indigenous representatives from each state and territory, plus two people from the Torres Strait, were able to experience the federal political process and learn valuable leadership skills.

The participants continue to support each other and share their stories through a Facebook page – something Yamatji man Warrick Clinch, who was one of the South Australia representatives, has found invaluable.

“We’re all constantly putting little notes on the page saying ‘this happened today’ and then other people go, ‘oh I’ve had that and this is what I’ve done’,” Warrick said.

“It’s just good to have that reference point.”

Now working in an Indigenous youth drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic in Melbourne, Warrick said the Youth Parliament experience is still driving his passion for advocacy.

“We are the next generation. If we want to see those stereotypes gone we need to do it ourselves. We’ve got to take that responsibility on and get out there and be the difference.

“I definitely want the Youth Parliament to go again because it was an amazing experience.

“I’m still in contact with the AEC and I’ve told them many times that if they run it again that I want to be on the taskforce, I want to be involved, I want to mentor and I want to get people involved because it was probably one of the best experiences of my life.”