AFRICAN AUSTRALIAN YOUTH FORUM

Such an honour to host and hear from an incredible group of individuals on a range of topics from #mentalhealth, #employment to #investment and #entrepreneurship.

It IS a fact. People of colour do have to work twice as hard to get half as far. We have to be:

• Twice as efficient

• Twice as dependable

• and twice as noticeable

... just so we can keep up with our counterparts.

This discourages our youth.

I recall a statement by Federal MP Tim Watts where he said at a #communitylevel we are very efficient and #inclusive to #peopleofcolour, but when it comes to breaking the glass sealing, we still have work to do. The cohort that’s above the sealing does not reflect the general population - they are mostly caucasian.

Think CEO’s, parliamentarians, board members, directors and even TV presenters (news reporters and actors)

This, discourages our youth.

It was inspiring to hear from these speakers as they encouraged us to continue to grow in the world of work, get involved in our local community and help each other along the way and repeat the process for the next person.

Also thanking Athanas ZivaveVictoria T. ZivaveDr Godwin MasukaBianca Ushe and the Zimbabwe Family Well-being Australia (ZiFWA) for their support.

Let's talk about migration

My name is Kevin Dumisani Kapeke. I was born and raised in Zimbabwe and I migrated to Australia just as I completed primary school.

I come in peace!

Recently, my local member of parliament, Maria Vamvakinou, Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, challenged me and a few other students to create the Calwell Youth Committee. This committee would be responsible for reaching out to migrant communities that are under-represented within our electorate. The first country we chose was Zimbabwe. Migrants from Zimbabwe currently make up less than 1% of the electorate's population, however this is changing as development continues in the north of the electorate. We organised a forum where migrants got the chance to tell their stories of migration, upbringing and settlement in Australia. The speakers ranged in age, experience and upbringing and we all effective in relaying a case for why Zimbabweans are good for Australia.

Maria makes an important point about how we haven't won the case for immigration. sometimes we get close, then we lose it and the cycle repeats again.