[flexcoders] How to access Parent Component

[jovialrandor]

I am writing a custom component.  I need to access a function from a parent 
application.   

How can I go about implementing this?   

Here's what I've tried:

<mx:Script>
        <![CDATA[
        import mx.core.Application;
        private var ParentApp:* = Application.application;

        ]]>
</mx:Script>