The Southern Cross | June 2023

Young social justice advocates have banded together to form a Vinnies youth conference, with the aim of making a difference to the lives of those doing it tough.

The core group of 10 members is now meeting regularly at Vinnies headquarters, Ozanam House, and is drawing inspiration from 20-year-old Frederic Ozanam, who founded the St Vincent de Paul Society in 1833.

One of the first events staged by the conference was a forum held during Anti-Poverty Week last year, where guest speakers described the challenges facing young people to engage with education and ‘general life’ when struggling with poverty.

This year the Vinnies youth conference is focusing on two main areas – finding ways to get more young people aged 18-35 to volunteer with the Society; and looking at ways to increase outreach to young people needing Vinnies services.

Hannah Yates, who is a youth representative on Vinnies State Council, and her sister Mary said they joined the conference as a way of supporting young people in the northern suburbs.

“We grew up with our parents running Fred’s Van in Elizabeth and it was hard going through high school and seeing my friends either being homeless or their family struggling with food and clothing,” Mary said.

“It’s quite rewarding now to be able to support my friends through my involvement with Vinnies. I can tell them where they can go if they need assistance and I feel like I’m making a difference. It feels very connected for me.”

Hannah added while it could be overwhelming for young people seeing all the “negative things” about the state of the world on social media, by volunteering with Vinnies they were able to “physically do something” and “focus on social justice issues”.

“Often we find school students and older people think Vinnies is just Fred’s Van and Op shops. We want them to know there are so many ways they can volunteer, and the services they can access,” Hannah said.

“We are definitely seeing growing demand from young people and we just have to work out how we can best be there for them. The biggest need is housing, but also accessing food and clothing so they can be warm during winter.

“A lot of the time we are finding that by having a chat we are providing much needed emotional support…and we’re having different conversations with them because we’re similar in age. That’s helping young people to open up about their circumstances and needs because they are talking to someone their age.”

In addition to supporting young people by directing them to Vinnies services, members of the youth conference are assisting other conferences around the State.

Member Maddi Papantoniou said they were helping the Adelaide conference with home visits, as well undertaking phone calls and setting up appointments with companions for the northern and southern conferences.

“We’ve been really welcomed by the more experienced members of the conferences…and we’re learning from their knowledge and expertise,” she said.

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Picture: Some of the members of the Vinnies youth conference, from left, Abbey Hilton, Hannah and Mary Yates and Maddi Papantoniou with Vinnies Youth and Community Engagement officer Umes Acharya.