CANBERRA: On 12 and 13 October 2026, eight young Armenian-Australians participated in the Armenian National Committee of Australia’s (ANC-AU) Youth Advocates Program, travelling to Canberra to develop their advocacy skills and engage directly with Australia’s political and policy-making institutions.
Through a series of workshops, parliamentary activities and meetings with elected representatives, participants gained practical experience in political advocacy, media engagement and Australia’s democratic processes, while advocating for issues of importance to the Armenian-Australian community.
The program commenced with an advocacy workshop facilitated by the ANC-AU, equipping participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to engage effectively with federal parliamentarians and advocate for their community.
Participants subsequently visited Parliament House, where the Member for Berowra, Mr Julian Leeser MP, hosted and moderated a mock parliamentary debate. The Youth Advocates put their debating skills to the test, examining the question of whether Australia should abandon its net zero commitments.
Following the mock debate, participants had the opportunity to observe the proceedings of the Australian Parliament during Question Time, where they received an acknowledgement from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Milton Dick MP.
The program’s central activity followed, with the Youth Advocates meeting with eight elected representatives to advocate for the Australian Government to condemn Azerbaijan’s detention of 19 Artsakh-Armenian hostages and call for their immediate and unconditional release.
These meetings contributed to a significant development in the ANC-AU’s advocacy, with the Shadow Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Armenia, Mr Tim Wilson MP, subsequently addressing the House of Representatives on the plight of the Artsakh hostages.
In his parliamentary speech, Mr Wilson called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, to take a stronger stance on the issue and press for the hostages’ release.
His speech demonstrated how direct engagement between young community advocates and elected representatives can help bring issues of international human rights to the attention of the Australian Parliament, providing an important platform for the ANC-AU’s ongoing advocacy.
The second day commenced with a media masterclass facilitated by ANC-AU Vice-Chairperson Sarine Nazarian. Participants explored Australia’s media landscape and examined how media engagement can strengthen public awareness, shape advocacy efforts and communicate community priorities effectively.
The Youth Advocates then visited the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) ACT Branch, where they met with Dr Bryce Wakefield, CEO of the AIIA; Dr Claude Rakisits, President of the AIIA ACT Branch; and Daweena Motwany, AIIA ACT Branch Councillor. The discussion provided participants with an opportunity to learn more about the AIIA’s work in international affairs and foreign policy, broadening their understanding of the institutions and perspectives that inform Australia’s engagement with the world.
Through these experiences, the Youth Advocates developed a deeper understanding of how political advocacy, media engagement and international affairs intersect, and how these disciplines can be applied to advance the priorities of the Armenian-Australian community.
Reflecting on the program, ANC-AU Political Affairs Director Sebastian Majarian said:
“Young people are not simply the future of our community’s advocacy; they are an essential part of it today. The Youth Advocates Program demonstrates what can happen when young Armenian-Australians are equipped with the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to engage directly with decision-makers.”“The fact that our participants were able to contribute to advocacy that reached the floor of Federal Parliament is a powerful reminder that every meeting, every conversation and every young voice can make a difference. We are incredibly proud of these eight participants and look forward to seeing them continue to stand up for the rights of the Armenian people and the priorities of our community.”The ANC-AU extends its sincere gratitude to the following parliamentarians for their time, support and valuable contributions to the success of the Youth Advocates Program:
- Mr Julian Leeser MP – Member for Berowra
- Mr Tim Wilson MP – Member for Goldstein
- Senator David Shoebridge – Leader of the Australian Greens & Senator for New South Wales
- Ms Anne Stanley MP – Government Whip & Member for Werriwa
- Senator Lidia Thorpe – Senator for Victoria
- Dr Sophie Scamps MP – Member for Mackellar
- Ms Allegra Spender MP – Member for Wentworth
- Senator Jessica Collins – Senator for New South Wales
- Ms Ash Ambihaipahar MP – Member for Barton
