Young People and Identity Online Forum

Young People and Identity Online Forum - summary and outcomes

In 2004 and 2005 the Youth Advisory Council held a number of forums with young people around New South Wales. One of the key issues arising in these forums, regardless of location or the background of participants, was that of young people's sense of identity. To find out more about this issue, Council held an online forum, inviting young people and other interested parties to submit their thoughts.

There were twenty-eight submissions to the forum, including four from Council members. While discussion centred on participants’ own views and experiences, a number of common issues emerged.

• It was broadly agreed that ‘identity’ could be defined as a person’s understanding of themselves and their place in the community. Identity was seen as being an outward reflection of people’s attitudes, values and ethics.
  
  
• Many participants commented that young people are under a lot of pressure to form a ‘permanent’ identity that fits within certain accepted models. These people felt that there needs to be an allowance for ‘fluidity’, as people’s identity is constantly being influenced and changed by the world around them.
  
  
• A number of people commented on the influence/pressure felt by young people to conform to a certain identity or stereotype. This pressure was identified as coming from parents, peers and the community, with conflicting expectations arising. This conflict may be especially felt by young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
  
  
• Young people’s desire to be accepted, especially among their peers, may make it hard for them to make their own decisions about their place in the world. Additionally, the labelling of children from a young age (‘brainy’, ‘sporty’, ‘dumb’) by parents, schools and other institutions can be difficult for young people to overcome as they forge their own identity.
  
  
• A number of submissions also mentioned the lack of facilities/accessible spaces for young people to interact and express themselves and to form their own views.

The Youth Advisory Council and Margaret Kama, Commissioner, Community Relations Commission, co-hosted a meeting with key groups interested in the identity issue on 2 July 2005. Representatives from the Youth Action and Policy Association (YAPA), the Commission for Children and Young People, NSW State Student Representative Council, Youth Partnership with Arabic Speaking Communities and the Youth Partnership with Pacific Communities attended.

As a result of this meeting the Community Relations Commission (CRC) has established a Multicultural Youth Network. The Network will build on the Government's election commitments and policies on citizenship.The CRC acknowledges the need to support young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to engage in the community, and become leaders in the community.

On behalf of the Youth Advisory Council, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the online forum. These submissions will be presented to the Minister for Youth, Reba Meagher, as part of the YAC's investigation into issues around young people and identity.

Mathew Ferguson
Chair, Youth Advisory Council
November 2005