Creating unity in a disconnected world: Australian students lead the way forward

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Australian high school students from 18 different schools are set to unite in the nation's capital for the first ever Together For Humanity (TFH) National Youth Summit, which will be held at the Parliament of Australia on Monday, 12 August 2024.

Students will converge on Canberra from across the country with the purpose of voicing their ideas around how to address diversity, inclusion and community cohesion in Australia. Schools attending are Government, Independent, and Catholic sector schools from metropolitan and regional Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and the ACT, with a mix of faiths, including Catholic and Islamic.

"After several successful state-based youth summits in NSW and Victoria, Together For Humanity is continuing our expansion of coast-to-coast programs and activities by holding our first ever national summit," says Annette Schneider, CEO of Together For Humanity. "What better place to bring the future leaders of Australia together than Parliament House, where they can speak directly to the country's decision makers and be inspired to be change-makers themselves." 

Based around the theme of 'Growing Belonging in a Disconnected World', the TFH National Youth Summit provides a platform for the voices of Australia's youth to be heard. Students will take part in group discussions and collaborative brainstorming sessions. They will present their ideas for addressing diversity and inclusion concerns in their local areas to politicians and community leaders in attendance, and propose ways to create a cohesive, prejudice-free Australian society. 

Guests attending include Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, the Hon Jason Clare MP, Member for Blaxland and Minister for Education, Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson, Senator for Victoria and Shadow Minister for Education, the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Member for Cowan, Minister for Youth and Minister for Early Childhood Education, Kylea Tink MP, Member for North Sydney and parliamentary sponsor of the National Youth Summit, and Luul Ibrahim, Educator and Founder of Somali Support in Perth who tragically lost her three year-old brother in the Christchurch Mosque shooting.

"The schools joining us at the summit represent the distinct face of Australia's youth and are a sample of the diverse makeup of schools in the country," says Rabbi Zalman Kastel AM, Dean and Founder of 

Together For Humanity. "Events such as this, which allow students to interact with other young people they may never have had the chance to, have proven benefits in promoting belonging, and helping students to appreciate differences and overcome stereotypes."

During the summit, students will hear from inspirational speakers including Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, the Hon Jason Clare MP, the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, ABC Radio presenter Sirine Demachkie and human rights campaigner Thenu Herath (Advisor with the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue and former CEO of The Oaktree Foundation).

TFH strives for an Australia where racism and prejudice have been eliminated and all young people feel that they belong. For over 20 years, the educational not-for-profit organisation has been actively working with Australian schools and their communities to foster interfaith and intercultural understanding, offering curriculum-linked student programs, teacher professional learning, and online learning courses. TFH also provides partnership grants and support for school communities to address cross-cultural challenges, and coordinates interschool encounters such as youth summits, which have been held in NSW since 2016, with one held in Victoria in 2023.

Schools involved in the 2024 TFH National Youth Summit: Hills Adventist College (NSW), Salisbury High School (SA), Oxley College (NSW), Kolbe Catholic College (VIC), Parafield Gardens High School (SA), Baldivis Secondary College (WA), Christian College Geelong (VIC), St George Girls High School (NSW), St Mary's Cathedral College Sydney (NSW), Ipswich State High School (QLD), The Y Vocational School (WA), Telopea Park School (ACT), Belconnen High School (ACT), Kooringal High School (NSW), Australian International Islamic College (QLD), Bellfield College (NSW), St John Paul II College (ACT) and St Laurence's College (QLD).

For more information, to arrange interviews or discuss attending the summit, please contact:

Sophie Blue

Blue Planet PR

sophie.blue@blueplanetpr.com.au

+61 416 006 821

Alana Free

Blue Planet PR

alana.free@blueplanetpr.com.au

+61 408 225 816

Nicky Sandler

Together For Humanity

nicky@togetherforhumanity.org.au

+61 427 385 487

About Together For Humanity:

Together For Humanity is a not-for-profit provider of educational services that works with schools to eliminate prejudice, so all young people feel they belong. Our diverse team of educators provide face-to-face and online programs that teach students how to deal with differences and support teachers to make classrooms more inclusive. Established in 2002, Together For Humanity's programs have reached over half a million young Australians. Together For Humanity programs are supported by the Australian Government Department of Education through the Connected Youth and Communities initiative.