AusAID Australian Youth Ambassador for Development Program

The AusAID Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development program (AYAD) places skilled young Australian volunteers aged 18-30, on short-term assignments in developing countries throughout Asia and the Pacific.

Youth Ambassadors work with Australian organisations and their overseas counterparts in a broad range of areas that include health, environment, rural development, gender, governance, justice, education and infrastructure development.

Youth Ambassadors use their skills and expertise to actively contribute to international development. They gain an increased understanding of the development needs of our neighbouring countries and broaden their experience by living and working in a cross-cultural environment.

There are two departures each year - one in March and one in September.

To find out more about the AYAD Program and meet Returned Australian Youth Ambassadors, register for an Information Session:

Sydney: 6.30pm - 8pm Wednesday 31 March 2004, Rydges North Sydney 54 McLaren St.

RSVP with your full name, email address and which session you will be attending by 24 March 2004 to ayad@austraining.com.au.

For further information on the Australian Youth Ambassador for Development program please visit: www.ausaid.gov.au.

Australia Youth Trust and the Tom Harvey Award for Citizenship

The Australia Youth Trust was launched in October 1996 at a special event where Diana, Princess of Wales was the guest of honour.

The Award is part of a wider program of grants made by the Trust to help young people within Australia and the Commonwealth help relieve poverty and suffering, provide literacy, education, training and employment opportunities and the promote an exchange between young Australians and young people in developing Commonwealth nations.

The award is named after the late inaugural Chairman of the Australia Youth Trust to recognise the outstanding work of a young Australian in development work in Australia and in developing countries. The Award is a cash prize of $1000.

Past recipients of the Tom Harvey Award for Citizenship include:

• Tammy van Wysse (2001) for her marathon swim to raise awareness of the plight of the Murray-Darling;
• Ms Veronica Anderson (2002) for her rehabilitation work and care of youth people through the Youth Off the Streets program; and
• Mr James Moody (2003) for his work as a special adviser to the UN Secretary General on sustainable development issues.