SANYC Conference

Sudanese Australian National Youth Conference (SANYC) 

Engaging young Sudanese Australians in decision making processes

October 29–31 2010

University of Western Sydney

Parramatta Campus

Sir Ian and Nancy Turbott’s Auditorium (Building EE)

Objectives of the Conference

The annual Sudanese Australian National Youth Conference (SANYC) brings together the Sudanese Australian community, not-for-profit representatives, government and businesses to hear the experiences of young Sudanese Australian people and discuss the challenges and opportunities for their successful integration into Australian society. 

The conference aims to provide an opportunity for young Sudanese people, service providers and professional to:

• Discuss issues affecting the integration of young Sudanese Australians into the Australian mainstream society and share experiences of resettlement
• Learn new skills through participation in workshops
• Hear inspirational speakers and panels of interests from sources such as the police, health professionals, DoCS, and academics 
• Hear about activities of young people in different states and Territories
• Improve understanding of support services available
• Provide feedback to service providers, policy makers and researchers about the challenges of integration and resettlement as a whole.
• Improve understanding of possible dangers posed by drugs & alcoholism from these workshops
• Participate in social and sporting activities. 

Goals of the Conference

To bring together young Sudanese Australians within all tribal groups of Sudan, the Australian community, government and service providers to find solutions to the challenges faced by Sudanese young people to successful integration into Australia.  These challenges include: lack of knowledge among service providers and government institutions on how best to communicate and liaise with young Sudanese Australians, lack of appropriate culturally sensitive programs and information on topics such as alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, the law and education. 

Background information

The annual youth conference was initiated by the Sudanese young people themselves over the issues facing them. A task force and steering committee was created to coordinate the planning, implementation and to provide feedback to service providers and researchers of possible genuine outcomes. Accordingly, the responsibility for addressing these fundamental issues and its associated effects on the Sudanese community lies with the Sudanese youth body, UWS or private institutions that could provide welfare assistance to service it. In addition, we believe that this conference will benefit the Youth forum, in a way that it increases awareness and experience of working out, some serious concerns of young people themselves. The SANYC as a result will provide a depth in understanding of the  issues faced by young individuals and to the measures and strategies required to address them effectively.

The workshop activities

Concurrent workshops will be conducted on Saturday 30 October, around the following themes: 

• Education
• Immigration
• Law and order 
• Health
• Racism
• Financial matters
• Mental Health

Sudanese youth reps from NSW and other states and territories will make presentations at these workshops to share their experiences around the various topics being addressed.

There will also be a workshop for mainstream service providers to discuss strategies and tools to better engage Sudanese Australian youth with mainstream services and programs.

The last day of the conference Sunday 31 October, will be mostly devoted to entertainments through activities such as African dance “The beauty of my culture”. The Sudanese Australian Annual Interstate Basketball Tournament (SAAIBT) will also be part of the forum through its evening indoors games.