The Australia China Youth Association operates along three pillars – careers, education, and people-to-people exchange. ACYA is steered by the National Executive which helps to co-ordinate ACYA’s website, social media presence, numerous publications, as well as relations with strategic partners and sponsors.

Structure

ACYA’s chapter network sits underneath the ACYA National Executive, with 4 regional Chinese chapters in:

• Beijing
• Shanghai
• Nanjing
• Hong Kong

In addition to 14 separate university chapters in Australia, namely:

• University of Queensland
• Queensland University of Technology
• Macquarie University
• University of Sydney
• University of New South Wales
• Australian National University
• University of Melbourne
• Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
• Monash University
• University of Adelaide
• University of Technology Sydney
• University of Newcastle
• University of South Australia
• University of Western Australia

It is an extensive and enviable network of young people interested in Australia and China. ACYA chapters host a variety of events, including language classes, sport days, BBQs, lecture series, dinners, karaoke sessions, beach trips, balls and many other activities designed to promote friendships across cultural divides. Many Chapters host weekly ‘Australia-China Exchange Space’ event, as well as other major events throughout the semester. Between them, the chapters host over 100 events over the year.

ACYA is also a terrific platform to gain leadership experience and develop your professional network as a volunteer of a Chapter or National Executive. The national elections are held annually in December and positions are held for 12 months. Individual Chapters also hold elections at the end of the academic year but they typically take on new executive members on a rolling basis. If your university in Australia or city in China does not yet have an ACYA presence and you are keen to set up a Chapter, you should first content the national ACYA body. To find out more about ACYA click here.