ABUSEThe Review of the Safety of Children in Care in the ACT and of ACT Child Protection Management
Current information on this review can be accessed from: http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/child_protection_review/
You will find there the Vardon report -- 'The Territory as Parent -- Review
of the Safety of Children in Care in the ACT and of ACT Child Protection
Management' -- handed to the Chief Minister on 14 May 2004, as well as the
ACT Government's response to the report. For more, follow the links from:
http://tinyurl.com/3xlvc
Children, young people and sexual harm: workshops, QLD
Centacare Townsville is hosting a series of workshops on children, young
people and sexual harm on 25-27 August. They're designed for all practitioners
interested in working with children who have been sexually harmed, and/or
with children who have sexualised/sexually abusive behaviours. For costs
and reservation details, phone E. Andrew, (07) 4772 7799.
CRIME AND JUSTICEEarly intervention research on youth mentoring, diversion and youth conferencing
Some time ago, the Crime Prevention Branch of the Commonwealth Attorney-General's
Department commissioned a national audit and review of mentoring programs
for young offenders and young people identified as at risk of offending.
The aim was to provide a national profile of such program; identify models
and
good practice; identify key crime prevention outcomes from youth mentoring;
and make recommendations for a further stage of the project. The project
involved a literature review, identification of mentoring projects across
Australia,
a postal survey of the projects identified, fieldwork with seven projects
and telephone interviews. Key findings of this review were presented at
a conference in September 2002. Now, the completed review is available as
a publication
titled: 'Early intervention: Youth mentoring programs: An overview of
mentoring programs for young people at risk of offending' (ISBN 0 642 21098 5). The
study team for the report were Urbis Keys Young's Dr Ania Wilczynski and
Clare Culvenor together with Assoc. Prof. Chris Cunneen, Director of the Institute
of Criminology at the University of Sydney Law School, John Schwartzkoff,
director of Urbis Keys Young, and Kerry Reed-Gilbert, principal consultant
at Kuracca Consultancy.
A related publication is 'Early intervention: Diversion and youth conferencing:
A national profile and review of current approaches to diverting juveniles from
the criminal justice system' (ISBN
0 642 21090 X). The report, commissioned under the Australian Government's
National Crime Prevention Program, highlights the importance of developing
better ways to prevent juvenile crime and recidivism among young people.
Besides looking at approaches that are more cost-effective than incarceration,
it identifies approaches that are models of good practice in the field, and
promotes diversionary schemes that have strengthened links to family and
community. Its authors are Prof. Kenneth Polk, Assoc. Prof. Christine Adler,
Damon Muller and Katherine Rechtman, all from the University of Melbourne.
Both reports are available free of charge in hard copy by phoning the Crime
Prevention Branch of the Attorney-General's Department, toll-free number:
1800 708 777, or by downloading it as a PDF document For 'Early intervention
on youth
mentoring, follow the links from: http://tinyurl.com/2hpnw,
and for 'Diversion and youth conferencing, see: http://tinyurl.com/2xd4g
(The 2002 key findings are still online, at: http://www.aic.gov.au/conferences/crimpre/wilczynski.html )
CULTUREAustralia Council news for young people
OzCo's 'how to' guide for young creative people, 'How to, Where To'
(or H2W2) contains all the lowdown for getting a creative project up and
running, covering everything from how to turn a creative idea into a project,
how to manage a project well and how to move on to the next one. H2W2 cites
places to go for advice, and also aims to help develop one's skills as 'manager,
artistic director, negotiator, public relations guru and fundraiser'. The
publication is part of OzCo's trilogy of publications for young people, the
others being 'Getting Connected: Making your mentorship work' and 'Young
people and the arts policy'. H2W2 is available as of 27 May 2004, when it
was launched at the Next Wave Festival. More information at: http://tinyurl.com/3f8zn
Museums and young people in the UK
'Opening the Doors', a three-year program of work aimed at encouraging
young people to visit museums and galleries outside of formal education,
and to use the resources they offer, is drawing to an end, and YFX has only
just found out about it. You can find the final 'Opening the Doors' report,
which will mark the end of this three-year project, on their web site later
in May 2004. On 14 June 2004, the UK's Museums Association, in partnership
with Opening the Doors, will be running a conference, Museums and Young People:
A Vision for the 21st century'. See: http://www.openingthedoors.org
Related sites are the Museum Youth Initiative, at: http://www.irvine.org/grants_program/former/cyf/myi.shtml
Coming up Taller, at: http://www.cominguptaller.org and
Hands On! Europe (HO!E), at: http://www.hands-on-europe.net
DRUGS17th Annual Australian Winter School on Alcohol and Other Drugs,
Organised by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Queensland, this conference
takes place in Brisbane on 5-8 July 2004. Theme papers include:
* 'Alcohol issues in Indigenous communities' (Prof. Cindy Shannon,
Head of Indigenous Health in the School of Population Health at the University
of Queensland);
* 'What can we learn about Australian youth substance abuse prevention
from United States prevention science?' (John Toumbourou, Associate Professor
within the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne, and
a senior researcher at the Center for Adolescent Health within the Murdoch
Children's Research Institute;
* 'Criminal conduct and substance abuse treatment for adolescents'
(Dr Harvey Milkman, Professor of Psychology at Metropolitan State College
of Denver; founder and director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies).
For registration details, see: http://www.winterschool.info/
Research group on amphetamine use disorders
Funded by the South Australian Drug Summit which in 2002 identified
community demand for services focused on treating the use of amphetamines
among young people, the Drug and Alcohol Services Council (DASC) will be
conducting research into treatment for users of amphetamines to establish
evidence-based best practice. An outcome the project hopes to achieve is
improved access to health services for young users of amphetamines. The researchers
will develop, trial and implement effective treatment strategies suitable
for both specialist and primary health care settings, and develop innovative
models of primary and specialist care. The Amphetamine Use Disorders Research
Group can be contacted by phone: (08) 8363 8625 or email: longo.marie@saugov.sa.gov.au (Source: 'ADCA News', n.20, May 2004.)
Final results of the School Health and Alcohol Harm Reduction Project
Final results of the School Health and Alcohol Harm Reduction Project (SHAHRP)'
were published recently as an article, 'Harm minimisation in school drug
education', by Nyandra McBride, Fiona Farringdon, Richard Midford, Lynn Meuleners
and Mike Phillips ('Addiction', v.99, n.3, March 2004, pp.78-291). SHAHRP
is a longitudinal
intervention research study using evidence-based, classroom alcohol education
lessons to reduce alcohol-related harm in young people. Recently, SHAHRP
received an 'Excellence in Research Award' at the annual National Drug and
Alcohol Awards.
For a copy of this article, and its price/availability, contact your nearest
library. (If, and only if, your organisation is a member of
the Alcohol and Other Drug Council of Australia then contact ADCA for a copy.
The
email
edition of this newsletter incorrectly stated it was available free from
ADCA, but please note: that offer is only available to specific members
of ADCA).
'Work in Progress': Alcohol and drug research symposium
ADCA's annual research symposium on Friday 20 August 2004 at the Michael
Chamberlain Lecture Theatre, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne. Contact: Turning
Point, ph: (03) 8413 8413 or see: http://www.turningpoint.org.au (Source: 'ADCA News', n.20, May 2004.)
Drug Action Week 2004
Hosted annually by ADCA, Drug Action Week is on from 21-25 June 2004.
In March, ADCA distributed over a thousand Drug Action Week Kits -- for copies,
contact ADCA, ph: (02) 6281 0686; email: info@drugactionweek.org.au or see: http://www.drugactionweek.org.au (Source: 'ADCA News', n.20, May 2004.)
Funding reminder
Applications for the Australian National Council on Drugs rural and
regional alcohol and other drug study grants for 2004 close on Friday 4 June
2004. See: http://www.ancd.org.au
EDUCATIONInquiry into Commonwealth funding for schools
On 13 May 2004, the Australian Senate referred the matter of Government
funding for schools to the Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education
References Committee for inquiry. The committee is due to report by 11 August
2004. 'The committee will examine the principles of Commonwealth funding
for schools, with particular emphasis on how these principles apply in meeting
the current and future needs of government and non-government schools; and
whether they ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the allocation of school
funding. The Committee will also investigate accountability arrangements
including through the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training
and Youth Affairs.' Submissions to the inquiry are invited, with a closing
date of 25 June 2004. For full details see:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eet_ctte/schoolfunding/
EMPLOYMENTCasual employment: trends and characteristics
According to this document from the Parliamentary Library, more than
a quarter of Australia's workforce is made up of casual workers. This short
document examines the growth in casual employment since 1988 and compares
some of the characteristics of casual workers with ongoing employees. It
shows that casual workers are younger, less well-educated and more likely
to be in a job with inferior working arrangements compared with ongoing employees.
It also presents some findings which suggest that casual employment is mainly
involuntary in nature and that many casual workers would prefer to be in
an ongoing job. (Source: Parliament of Australia, 'Parliamentary Library
Research Note', n.53 2003-04, by Stephen Barber, 24 May 2004, at: http://tinyurl.com/2g55n)
ETHNIC YOUTHEthnic Communities Council of NSW: Annual youth leadership awards
In their inaugural year last year, these awards attracted young people
from many different backgrounds and local government areas. The awards celebrate
the achievements, excellence and contribution of young people of migrant
and refugee background in the arts as well as in sport, the environment and
in community service. Individuals and groups may apply; winners will receive
a grant for a community project. The award ceremony will be held at NSW Parliament
House later this year. For more information and application forms, see: http://www.eccnsw.org.au (then select 'Youth leadership awards).
FAMILIESNational Child and Family Services Conference
'Knowledge into Action!: Effective Practice for Child and Family Services'
is being hosted by the Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies (ACWA) in
conjunction with NSW Family Services Inc, the Child and Family Welfare Association
of Australia, the CREATE Foundation, the Aboriginal Child Family and Community
Care State Secretariat and the NSW Department of Community Services. Date:
2-4 August 2004; venue: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Early bird
registrations close at the end of June, contact: Sharyn Low from Matrix On
Board, email: sharyn@mob.com.au, web site: http://www.acwa.asn.au/conf2004/
The Dynamics of Low Income, Welfare Reliance, and Changes in Family Structure of Parents with Dependent Children
This is a three-year Australian Research Council Linkage project, currently
in the preliminary stages of development by the Family and Society Program
at the Australian Institute of Family Studies. It's being undertaken by the
AIFS in collaboration with the Australian Government Department of Family
and Community Services and the Australian National University, and will help
policy-makers evaluate the impacts of existing government income support
and work related programs. The AIFS Family and Society Programs focus on
the relation between the family and other social institutions -- their projects
are outlined at: http://www.aifs.org.au/institute/research/progC.html
FUTURE STUDIESYouth and the future: BCA Scenario Project, 'Aspire Australia 2025'
'The challenges of change and uncertainty continue to confront us in
this early part of the new century, but in ways that are far different from
those we have experienced in the past. ' So begins the Business Council of
Australia's Scenario Project, 'Aspire Australia 2025' at: http://www.bca.com.au/content.asp?newsid=94443
The project arose from the BCA's concern that there were very few forums
for long-term holistic strategic planning for Australia. This newsletter
reported last year on one aspect of the project, a survey of young people
under the age of 30, who were asked to comment on the challenges that face
Australia. Since then, those responses have been presented anonymously to
a workshop of business leaders, policy-makers, representatives of NGOs, vice-chancellors,
academics, scientists and a range of other people who participated in the
scenario-planning project. The module, 'Consultation of young Australians'
is at: http://www.bca.com.au/content.asp?newsID=94480, and the project itself is described at: http://www.bca.com.au/content.asp?newsid=94443
GAMBLINGMeasurement of prevalence of youth gambling in Australia
The South Australian Centre for Economic Studies has prepared this final
report on a review of the literature on this topic for the Australian Government
Department of Family and Community Services. Dated December 2003, it highlights
the need for more streamlined and up-to-date ways of collecting information
on youth gambling and the impact of new technologies on young people's gambling
behaviour. Regarding future work in this area, the researchers note in the
executive summary that 'a longitudinal study where gambling issues are integrated
into broader health issues' such as leisure, health and well-being or substance
use 'may in fact be the preferred approach' as it 'would represent a more
comprehensive approach to understanding youth gambling behaviours'. Follow
the link at: http://tinyurl.com/38dte and you will then be able to download the 41-page literature review in PDF format.
INDIGENOUS YOUTHAthletes as Role Models Tours
The National Aboriginal Sports Corporation Australia has received funding
to lead a group of organisations that will work together to improve Indigenous
education outcomes. Athletes as Role Models Tours or ARMtour is a new project
aims to help Indigenous youth in remote communities attend school and so
improve their literacy and numeracy. The group includes the Australian Government
Department of Education, Science and Training, the Northern Territory Government,
the Australian Principals Association Professional Development Council's
'Dare to Lead' program along with major groups from corporate Australia such
as Vodafone, Nike and the Macquarie Bank.
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVESLaunch of the European Youth Portal
The European Youth Portal, a gateway to citizenship and mobility for
young people in Europe, was launched yesterday. It was developed as a direct
result of the European Commission's 2001 white paper, 'A new impetus for
European youth' -- see: http://europa.eu.int/youth (Source: 'Young Researchers in VET', an online European discussion forum.)
'YES' in Mexico
The next Youth Employment Summit (YES) is to be held in Veracruz, Mexico,
on 4-7 October 2004. Organised by the Federal Government of Mexico and the
YES Campaign, Mexico's Institute of Youth will work in partnership with the
US-based YES Campaign to invite 1,000 youth development practitioners, government
officials, business leaders, youth leaders and NGOs to Veracruz. Major issues
on the agenda will include entrepreneurship, renewable energy, HIV/AIDS and
youth participation in civic affairs. For more details, contact YES via email:
info@yesweb.org or see the YES Mexico 2004 web site at: http://www.yesweb.org/mexico (Source: 'IAAH Newsletter', v.15, n.3, March 2004.)
International Youth Parliament, Sydney
In Sydney on 5-12 July 2004, 250 young people, activists, organisers,
students and representatives from across the world will be delegates to the
second session of the International Youth Parliament. For details, contact
the registration desk at email: info@iyp.oxfam.org or see: http://www.iyp.oxfam.org/ (Source: 'IAAH Newsletter', v.15, n.3, March 2004.)
USA trends
The USA 'Child Trends' service recently released data that shows that
the percentage of Year 10 students who say religion is very important to
them has increased from 32 percent in 2001 to 35 percent in 2002 (the latest
year for which data are available). Similarly, the percentage of Year 10
students who say they regularly attend religious services increased from
40 percent to 42 percent in those years. However their participation in school-based
activities such as athletics, music and other performing arts declined modestly
during this time. These and other indicators (on television watching, dating,
volunteering, and parental depression) are on the Child Trends DataBank at:
http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/ (Source: 'Child Trends E-Newsletter', 21 May 2004).
International Youth Day -- 12 August 2004
This UN-inspired day's theme is: 'Youth and Intergenerational Relations:
Young people and the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the
Family'
MEDIA
Photographic competition
The annual Commonwealth
Photographic Awards theme this year is 'youth'. These prestigous awards
are open to any Commonwealth resident, with different prizes for different
age groups. The main prize (for those over 18) is UK sterling 2,000. The
deadline is 18 June 2004. In addition to the 'The Young Snappers Prize' for
12- to 18-year-olds, the 'Dan Eldon Prize' will be awarded to an 18- to 30-year-old
who uses his or her work for social or humanitarian purposes. The winning
photographs will be exhibited in London and other Commonwealth cities. For
details, see: http://www.cba.org.uk/photographic04.htm
noise festival
It seems only a few issues ago that this newsletter mentioned the Noise
Festival. Well it's on again this year, the premier event for young artists
aged 25 and under active in all mediums. There are competitions with generous
prizes for arts practitioners in music, fashion design, photography, film,
video, animation, industrial design, painting, graphics, illustration and
more. Competition winners also win a mentorship with a prominent artist.
Entry details are at: http://www.noise.net.au, or phone noise for a guidebook: 1800 080 826.
MENTAL HEALTHPublic forum: 'Generating real responses to the hidden epidemic of youth mental health problems in Australia'
This public forum is taking place on Tuesday 29 June 2004 at 6:30 p.m.-8:30
p.m. at the Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne Victoria. Mental
illness affects one in four young people or 160,000 young Victorians. 'So
far the response to this crisis has been totally inadequate. If someone in
your family or someone you know becomes unwell they probably will not receive
treatment. This issue can no longer be ignored. Come, be heard and get involved.'
So reads the flyer for this forum, supported by Orygen Youth Health, Mental
Health Council of Australia, Sane Australia, beyondblue, VicHealth, ourcommunity.com.au,
Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of
Australia and Mental Illness Fellowship Australia. For more details, ph:
(03) 9342 2938; media inquiries: Alison Barnard, ph: (03) 8346 8210.
MENTORINGNew report: 'Young People and mentoring: towards a national strategy'
A group of leading Australian youth policy and practice organisations
has released a seven-point plan to provide governments with a 'how to' of
youth mentoring. The initiative is the result of a unique collaboration between
The Smith Family, Dusseldorp Skills Forum and Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia.
The report, 'Young People and mentoring: towards a national strategy' was
written by Robyn Hartley, a former Senior Fellow with the Australian Institute
of Family Studies and resulted from consultation with over 30 programs around
Australia. It is designed to establish a 'mentoring culture' in Australia
that is embraced by governments, the business world, schools and communities.
The Smith Family's strategic research and social policy manager Dr Rob Simons
said a 'robust, government-endorsed national strategy is vital to support
organisations and individuals working in the field and to promote "best practice"
so that mentors, young people and their communities alike can reap the best
possible personal and social outcomes. The strategy will result in more satisfying
and supportive relationships with adults, stronger connections to education,
training and work, and better pathways to economic and social participation.
It has considerable potential to contribute to better understanding and stronger
bonds between generations'. Publication details: 'Young People and mentoring:
towards a national strategy: A Report prepared for Big Brothers Big Sisters
Australia, Dusseldorp Skills Forum and The Smith Family' by Robyn Hartley,
published by The Smith Family, May 2004, ISBN: 1 876833 33 5) It is available
on the Dusseldorp Skills Forum web site: http://www.dsf.org.au/papers/150.htm as well as from The Smith Family and Big Brother Big Sister web sites, at: http://www.smithfamily.com.au and http://www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au
More on mentoring
See Crime and justice above for news of the report, 'Early
intervention research on youth mentoring, diversion and youth conferencing' from
the Crime Prevention Branch of the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department.
The 'I Have a Dream' mentoring program in the USA
For more than 23 years, the USA 'I Have a Dream' program has helped
thousands of at-risk youth by giving them an education, a career and a future.
'I Have a Dream' helps young people from low-income areas to reach their
education and career goals by providing them with a long-term program of
mentoring, tutoring, and enrichment with an assured opportunity for higher
education. Local projects 'adopt' an entire grade from an elementary school,
or an entire age group from a public housing development, and then work with
this group of 'Dreamers' and their families year-round from their elementary
school years through to university. Many who go on to tertiary studies are
the first members of their families to do so. See: http://www.ihad.org/ (Source: Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, JUVJUST list, 22 May 2004.)
MOVEMENTS, CHANGES, MILESTONESNSW'S new 'Communities Division'
The NSW Office of Children and Young People, which manages programs
such as Families First, Better Futures, the Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family
Strategy, as well as youth policy and program work, is to be moved by the
NSW Government from the Cabinet Office into the newly created Communities
Division within the Department of Community Services or 'DOCS'. A range of
other youth-related programs formerly in the Premiers Department will also
be transferred to the new DOCS division. (Source: 'YAPRap', newsletter of
the Youth Action and Policy Association, May/June 2004, p.7.)
Continued in Part 2 (Participation: the youth
vote, and more)
Last modified:
2 June, 2004 10:53 AM
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