UNYA Vic Conferences

UN Regional Youth Summit

May 28-May 30 2010

One of UNYA’s premier events is the UN Regional Youth Summit (UNRYS). UNRYS is a weekend-long conference for students in years 10-12. In 2010 it is to be held at Lake Hume Resort, just outside of Albury, from the 28th – 30th of May.

Students attending the summit will have the opportunity to discuss important international issues, participate in model UN debates, listen to inspiring speakers and meet like-minded people. It is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested to learn about important social, political, economic and environmental issues, and to become empowered to make a difference!

UNYA thanks everyone who participated in UNRYS 2010. It's not too late to get involved - sign up to our mailing list and keep a look out for programmes we offer throughout 2010!

Tertiary Conference

April 9 2010

The UNYA Tertiary Conference is an annual forum for university-aged youth to meet with each other and discuss the important issues of our time.

Held at Parliament House Victoria, the forum runs from 9:30 AM to 5 PM. In the morning, students will hear from one of four expert speakers on a topic of their choice (chosen on the registration form). Participants will then break into discussion groups to discuss their policy topic in-depth and author a policy paper together.

In the afternoon, students will choose from one of two international situations. Either an International Court of Justice debate about an ex-KGB member, or an interactive problem solving activity on the Darfur crisis.

In its inaugural year of 2009, the conference was a raging success, and it has been improved further for 2010. At the conference, you'll find new friends with many common interests, and an intellectual setting to thrash out ideas to help solve the problems of this crazy world, as well as have some fun in a mock international debate.

Thank you to all delegates who participated in a successful Tertiary Conference 2010.


Annual State Conference 2010

March 7 2010

Each year UNYA Victoria hosts a State Conference for secondary school students in Years 10, 11, and 12. The State Conference is a non-competitive event that aims to educate, inspire, and develop the negotiation, speaking, leadership and diplomatic skills of the students that participate.

Students are given the opportunity to grapple with the critical global issues of our time, whilst engaging with and learning from their peers. Students present their own views in discussion workshops and speakers' question-and-answer sessions as well as representing those of an allocated country in model United Nations debates.

Past students often comment that during the conference they have been exposed to fascinating issues that they never knew existed, while others say that it gave them an opportunity to demonstrate and develop their knowledge, in conjunction with their studies in International Politics or 20th Century History.

The conference also gives students who are interested in debating or public speaking a unique context to use their speaking abilities. The formal debate structure, as well as the diplomatic context of the debates, gives students of all abilities a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate and develop their skills in a new forum.

Thank you to all delegates who participated at the State Conference 2010.