Young Aussies and The Push have joined forces to unveil a National Plan for Young Australians and Music at Parliament House, where they called for stronger national infrastructure to support young people with dreams of making and participating in music.
The Push and young Australians co-designed the presentation alongside artists, educators, industry and government. The National Plan is a milestone 10-year roadmap that advocates for music to be treated as a necessity, rather than as a hobby only accessible to the wealthy.
Last year, The Push consulted with YouGov to conduct essential research that informed the National Plan for Young Australians and Music.
The results of the studies? 28% of young Aussies create music, a powerful statistic considering that 33% of Australian secondary students don’t currently have access to any school music education.
The studies also discovered that 68% of Aussies aged 16-25 would like to discover more homegrown music, while 66% of participants aged 15-24 attend live music events, and 63% of those surveyed between the ages of 16-25 agree that attending music events is important.
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Perhaps the most striking statistic is that 72% of young people believe access to live music is essential for staying connected amid the federal government’s crackdown on social media for under-16s, which removes them from pathways to music, community and culture.
Representing the National Plan for Young Australians and Music were 30 delegates of young people aged 16-25 across Australia. Along with presenting the plan, The Push submitted a $13.4 million budget request to the Australian Government to continue delivering all-ages live music experiences nationwide.
Kate Duncan, CEO of The Push, explained in a press release, “For too long, access to music for young Australians has been left to chance - we build consistent national pathways in sport, so let’s back music with the same level of clarity and coordination.”
Former mentee of The Push, Marcke De Vera, added, “Access to music and awareness of the music industry is often unattainable to young people, especially those not already embedded in creative circles or without personal connections.
“The Push’s National Plan is a necessity in bridging that gap, by providing young people not just with insight, but with the direction and real-world experience to turn their passion into a career.”
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said, “The Push’s new National Plan provides a clear message: your age, background, where you live or where you go to school, should not dictate your ability to access and participate in music.
“Music was like oxygen for me growing up - it is a core connector for young people to express themselves and find their place in the world.”
