OMG! Totes time for young peeps to shine

If you felt like the young’uns had taken over last month it was because National Youth Week was launched at Southbank, with fanfare and excitement from a group of young Australians.

To signify who the week was all about, the standard opening speeches were hijacked by a flash mob, with some street-style dancing.

The event revealed art installations to be placed all over the city, featuring a blackboard with the saying “Happiness is …” which invited youths from all walks of life to complete the saying.

The Minister for Youth Affairs, Ryan Smith, didn’t seem to mind being interrupted, and said the week was of great importance to all young people in Victoria.

“The theme of National Youth Week this year is ‘Be active, be happy, be you’, and in keeping with this sentiment there is a major focus on youth mental health,” Mr Smith said.

“The events have been organised by young people, for young people and are focused on providing opportunities to share stories and experiences, to participate in community activities and to talk about issues that are important to them.”

Melbourne Citymission’s CEO, Rick Holland, said the Southbank area was particularly important in his organisation’s work.

“It was here at Southbank, when it was a tent community, that Melbourne Citymission started its work, way back over 150 years ago,” Mr Holland said.

“It’s a privilege to be part of today’s event and we will be responding to the issues raised by the ‘Happiness is …’ campaign.”

National Youth Week ran fromApril 6 through to April 14.