A key part of the mission of Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) is to empower young people to be active members of society. This includes providing young people with tools to help them make informed decisions as active participants in our democracy.
In the lead up to the referendum on a constitutional amendment to recognise and establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, YACVic will work to provide all young people with access to information that is accurate and non-partisan.
This will include details of how a referendum process works and why it is important, as well as helping young people understand the Voice referendum journey and actual question, and the proposed design of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
A vote that is about the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must be informed by their leadership, and we encourage everyone to listen deeply to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on this matter. We all have a responsibility to understand the journey to this referendum, to have strong conversations about it, and to make an informed decision.
We also should be cautious of believing or disseminating false or damaging information, and be aware of the stress and hurt this process may cause to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The board and staff of YACVic support the full recognition of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its call for Voice, Treaty and Truth.
We therefore are in favour of altering the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. We also support plans for a permanent youth advisory group to the Voice.
Equally, we support treaty and truth-telling processes, and applaud those already happening at a state level in Victoria through Treaty negotiations and the Yoorrook Justice Commission respectively.
Media contact: Katia Pellicciotta (she/her), YACVic Media & Communications Coordinator on 9267 3744 or KPellicciotta@YACVic.org.au
About Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic)
Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) is the peak body and leading policy advocate for young people aged 12-25 and the youth sector in Victoria. Established in 1960, YACVic advocates for the rights of young people in Victoria to ensure they are active, visible and valued in their communities.