EMPOWERING FUTURE POLICY LEADERS TO REDEFINE SECURITY
A new national security strategy led by our youth
The Youth National Security Strategy is a next-gen, alternative vision for Australian security — backed by a concrete policy agenda. It is the culmination of a months-long process of workshopping, research, and policy development. Forty-two young leaders led the charge, with seventy experts advising along the way. Every state and territory was represented in this truly national endeavour. Scroll to learn more about the process.
SELECTION
10 MAY — 30 June 2021
Over 600 bright, passionate young Australians applied to be part of the YNSS. After a competitive, multi-round selection process, forty-two emerged as our Representatives — the contributors who shaped the strategy.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
30 AUGUST — 3 NOVEMBER 2021
The mainstay of the strategy-making process involved a ten-week series of policy workshops. In each workshop, an eminent keynote speaker would address the full cohort of Reps, broadly framing the issues falling under that session’s theme. Our Reps would then break off into six parallel working groups, with each assigned a sub-topic and a leading expert to advise their deliberations. In total, the working groups produced sixty sets of detailed policy recommendations.
SYMPOSIUM
6 — 9 DECEMBER 2021
The focal point of the experience was a weeklong, digital Symposium - based at ANU. Here, our Representatives united as a full cohort, developing the strategic framework that would accommodate and drive their policy agenda. They also had chance to benefit from networking, development, and career-advice sessions.
PRODUCTION
JANUARY — JUNE 2022
Following the Symposium, the strategy itself began to come to life. The Representatives’ ideas and policy proposals were drafted into a cohesive text, which was then reborn as an interactive experience.
LAUNCH
23 JUNE 2022
The strategy was launched at a gala dinner at Old Parliament House, which brought together the initiative’s Representatives, sponsors, and supporters. We are now presenting the strategy and its innovative policy agenda to think tanks, academics, and government.
REDEFINING SECURITY
This ground-breaking initiative does more than admire the problems Australia faces. The strategy provides a vision, of course - but also a robust, workable policy agenda that can deliver it. Read it, share it, and advocate for change.
OUR SPONSORS
Principal Academic Partner
Principal Industry Partner
Design Partner
Sponsors
The YNSS Acknowledges the ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians of the lands we work On.
We pay our respects to their elders past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to all First Nations people across Australia.