Generation Asia Report | Championing our Talent
Supporting Asia-engaged youth, growing Asia interest


This report explores the ways in which the Asia-related diversity and talent of young people who live, study and work in Australia can be celebrated and championed. We test the key findings of our research with Australia-Asia youth leaders and present recommendations that span our research partnership.
Recommendations
These have been formulated throughout this research project, across all three reports, with a focus on innovation.
Monitoring trends
- Recommendation 1: Expand the Australia-Asia Pacific Youth Engagement Indicators, as explored in Keeping Connected, to develop and implement an annual Australia-Asia Pacific Youth Engagement Index.
- Recommendation 2: Identify data sources and collect participation data regarding Australia-Asia Pacific youth volunteering, at least on an annual basis, in partnership with stakeholders such as education institutions, not-for-profit organisations and government bodies.
- Recommendation 3: Research the views of Australian employers, and specifically their human resources teams, to better understand workplace demand in Australia for Asia literacy, particularly for graduate, entry-level and early career positions.
Policy advocacy
- Recommendation 4: Advocate for a broader definition of Asia literacy which
- encompasses the diversity of young people in Australia as well as Asia-related
- experiential learning programs, youth dialogues, internships, volunteering opportunities,
- paid work, digital exposure and other informal experiences.
- Recommendation 5: Advocate for multi-year, multilateral funding sources to support the work of Australia-Asia youth-led organisations, to foster collaboration between these organisations and to seed other youth-focused initiatives.
- Recommendation 6: Advocate for comprehensive employer education to be included in the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan to build greater awareness of this initiative within Australia’s business community.
- Recommendation 7: Advocate for immigration settings which facilitate international students from across Asia and the Pacific to stay and settle in Australia post-graduation, in line with published skills shortages, and to access meaningful work and career opportunities.
Program innovation
- Recommendation 8: Create an Asia literacy credential or ‘badge’ to be used by the following groups:
- Young people who live, study and work in Australia as they navigate their early careers.
- Australian-based employers who value Asia literacy within their staff; seek Asia literacy in their talent attraction programs and for entry-level and early career positions; and offer professional development opportunities to build, develop and deepen Asia literacy.
- Recommendation 9: Develop programs which support life-long Asia-related learning opportunities beyond formal education, post-graduation and targeted at the early career stage of young people in Australia.
- Recommendation 10: Pilot a ‘reverse mentoring’ program through which Asia-literate young people can influence middle and senior management levels in Australian organisations.
This research venture is presented in partnership with


Acknowledgements
This project is co-led by Eloise Dolan, Program Manager and Generation Asia Lead, Asia Society Australia, and Dr Kirrilee Hughes, Research Manager, International Education Association of Australia.
This project is overseen by an esteemed steering group chaired by Professor Ren Yi, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), University of Southern Queensland and IEAA Board Member, and comprising:
- Rebecca Hall, Commissioner for Victoria to South East Asia
- Professor Ly Tran, Melbourne Asia Game Changer Awardee and School of Education, Deakin University
- Dr Davina Potts, Director Future Students, The University of Melbourne
- Jon Chew, Head of Strategic Insights and Analytics, Navitas
- Rebecca Cozens, PhD Candidate, Griffith University and representing IEAA Young Professionals
- Philipp Ivanov, CEO, Asia Society Australia