The 2012 Lord Mayor's Multicultural Business Scholarship is now open for application. To be eligible for the Scholarship program, applicants must:

• be from a migrant or refugee background;
• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
• reside in the Brisbane City Council local government region; and
• speak a language other than English (preferable).

The 2012 scholarship offers 3 programs:

• Certificate 4, Small Business Management by course work (6 months, 2 evening classes per week), delivered by Southbank Institute of Technology. Up to 15 places are being offered.

• Certificate 4, Small Business Management by business mentoring (12 month, regular meetings and contacts with a mentor), delivered by Career Employment Australia. Up to 2 places are being offered.

•Open Access to Management and Leadership Courses (12 months training calendar), delivered by Australian Institute of Management. 1 place is being offered.

Please click here for more information.

The Director of Youth Affairs Network of Queensland, Siyavash Doostkhah today criticised the 2007 Queensland State Budget, saying "this Budget contains little positive news for young people and leaves major gaps in the youth service system. The continued lack of investment in prevention and early intervention strategies will mean some young people will unnecessarily end up in crisis situations."

A model of service delivery as articulated by Deception Bay Community Youth Programs

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Nicole Wright outlines a comprehensive model of service delivery for working with young people at risk in flexible learning settings.  The model was developed by the Deception Bay Community Youth Program, a youth service situated 40 minutes to the North of Brisbane.

Back to new Transitions - Re-Engagement Edition

A joint statement by the Australian Services Union and the Youth Affairs Network of Queensland

 Download this Joint Statement as a PDF(133.47 Kb)

Young people need and deserve high quality community based youth services staffed by professional youth workers. Unfortunately one of the most pressing challenges facing youth services in Queensland is retaining and attracting good staff.

Back in March 2007, a coalition of youth and mental health services along with the QLD Alliance and YANQ hosted the 2007 Youth Mental Health Summit.

The report from the summit is now available for download:  Youth Mental Health Summit Report 1.01 Mb

During 2006, the Youth Affairs Network of Queensland noticed an increase in the number of organisations and youth workers contacting it to raise concerns about the level of support available for young people who were not involved in education or work.

In response, YANQ undertook this small research project to investigate these concerns and to assess the level and nature of support that is available for young people who are disengaged from education and work. The research focused specifically on young people aged between 12 to 18.

A summary of programs relevant to young people, 12-18, who are not participating in education or training and who are unemployed. 

The aim of this document is to give a brief overview of the range of publicly funded youth services that are particularly relevant to young people that are not participating in education, training or work.

By Kirsten McGavin 

In late February, in my capacity as YANQ's Multicultural Development Officer, I attended a meeting of the State-wide Multicultural Youth Issues Network (SMYIN) in Victoria; a meeting focused on "Being ‘In-between': Projects Engaging Second Generation Young People". Organised by the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI) - an organisation with which YANQ works closely as part of the National Multicultural Youth Issues Network (NMYIN) - the meeting was a follow up to a recent two-day symposium on a similar topic that was held in association with Deakin University.

At the "Being ‘In-between'" assembly, delegates explored and discussed the idea that "Australian-born young people whose parents or grandparents were born overseas can find themselves straddling the orientations of different cultural identities" (CMYI brochure). We also examined a selection of initiatives that assist "second generation young people in positively experiencing and expressing their identities" (CMYI brochure).

The Youth Educating Peers (YEP) Project was a two-year participatory action research project that aimed to investigate the value of peer based programs in youth sector settings for sexual health and blood borne virus education and promotion. In partnering with six WA youth agencies to trial the development of these programs, the Project also aimed to get sexual health back on the agenda for the WA youth sector.

The final report of the research is now available for download on the YACWA website http://www.yacwa.org.au/content.php?CID=117.

Limited hard copies of the report are also available. Please contact Olivia Knowles on pso@yacwa.org.au if you would like to receive a copy.

Young Carers Project Brisbane South provides practical support to young people who care for a family member or friend who have a physical disability, mental illness, drug and/or alcohol misuse or an ongoing health issue.  They have two new resources available:

• YCP has just finished a booklet about what it's like to rely on younger care-giving, written and illustrated by care-recipients.  Click here to go to the digital version (please contact Sarah Gleeson at YCP on 07 3274 3655 for a hardcopy version). 
• My Side of the Story is a collection of short films designed by young carers.  The idea to share their stories was based on a desire to let other young people, who are also carers, know they are not alone and that there is support available.  Click here to view the video.

The hidden side of antidepressants: are they putting young lives at risk?

Antidepressants double the chance of a young person making a suicide attempt. Flickr/kamera kz

In early 2009, two 16-year-old Queensland girls tragically hanged themselves within weeks of each other. The girls' lives were plagued with abuse, self-harm and illicit drug use, and their deaths raised questions about the quality of care provided for troubled teens in the state.

A recent article in The Australian newspaper asked whether the antidepressant drugs prescribed to these girls may have contributed to their deaths.

This certainly isn’t the first time antidepressants have been linked to suicide. Think of Columbine’s Eric Harris, Australian newsreader Charmaine Dragun, and Daniel Smith, the son of celebrity Anna-Nicole Smith – all were likely harmed rather than helped by their antidepressant medication.

The issue of whether antidepressant use can trigger suicide, self-harm and violence in young people has been vigorously debated in recent years, but the argument has often generated more heat than light.

Let’s take a look at the evidence.

The AYCC National Grassroots team is currently looking for two incredible individuals to become the next *Queensland State Coordinators*. These are a senior leadership roles within the AYCC, responsible for
leading our volunteer team in Queensland and building the youth climate movement in Queensland. With Power Shift 2011 being held in Brisbane in October 2011, the opportunity to become Queensland State Coordinator is an unprecedented chance to take ownership over a rapidly growing branch of AYCC, with significant personal and professional development opportunities.  For information on how to apply, please click here.

The Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC) has decided it is time to re-launch our Campaign on the 17yr old issue. We are calling it the Castaway Campaign – because 17 years olds are the castaways of the legal system in QLD. They are denied the rights of youth in the Criminal Law, yet they do not have the rights of adults in the other areas of the law.

We have some really exciting ideas around the campaign and we are looking to see who would be interested in supporting us.

At this stage we need:

• Names and contact details of anyone keen to stay updated on the campaign. We will send regular emails to let you know what is going on and how you can support us.
• A group of young people that may be interested in the issue and are willing to work with us for 1-2 hours on a creative project. This could be a pre-established group or even done at a drop-in
• Anyone with creative skills that wants to help out!

Please email or call Chelsea Leach (Community Legal Education Officer) on Ph: 07 3356 1002 M: 0407 628 074 E:Chelsea@yac.net.au  if you want to stay in the loop or if you can help out with the creative workshop and young people.

*Queenslanders who are 17 years old are dealt with in the adult criminal justice system, in contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.***

*Queensland is the only Australian state or territory where this happens.***

*For ways you can help, please check the YAC website at www.yac.net.au***

The Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) produces information and resources that can help students and families prepare for schoolies week. The ADF's DrugInfo Clearinghouse offers many free resources about teenage parties, many of which can be downloaded from the DrugInfo website at http://tinyurl.com/6d5yem.

The Australian Youth Affairs Coalition is investigating the welfare changes made by the last federal budget – with specific focus on cuts to 21 year old unemployed people and single teenage mothers (see below):

• From July 2012, 21 year old unemployed people would lose access to Newstart Allowance and switch to/remain on the lower Youth Allowance. Youth Allowance for singles living away from home is $194pw, Newstart is $237pw, so this is a STRAIGHT CUT IN PAYMENTS OF $43pw.  Further, the Youth Allowance parental income test will also now apply to 21 year old unemployed people.
• From July 2012, social security payments for teenage parents will be cut if they refuse to go back to school to finish Year 12 when their baby turns one. It will start as a trial and initially cover about 4000 of 11,000 of the nation's teen parents, more than half of whom are on the single parent pension.

If you know of any youth workers or services who specifically work with these people, or better still, if you personally know any 20-21 year olds living away from home on Newstart who will be willing to share their stories with us, please contact Natalie Lammas, Policy and Projects Officer (Young People), AYAC: T: 02 9212 0500 / M: 0413 279 957 / F: 02 80796166 / E: natalie@ayac.org.au 

The Australian Democrats are conducting their annual Youth Poll.  This is the single biggest survey that questions young people aged between 15-20 in a variety of areas and has been conducted for 20 years.  One young person will also receive an iPod touch 32GB. Watch a presentation on the Youth Poll here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahM3ji_QnRs 

The survey can be found at www.youthpoll.org.au and will close 31 January 2012, with results released 20 February 2012.  Contact Tim Neal, Deputy National President of Australian Democrats, on 0413 535 502 or tim.neal@youthpoll.org.au

Project Yellow is an initiative of Relationships Australia Queensland (RAQ), which aims to raise awareness around the social and emotional wellbeing of young people and promote acceptance of difference as key factors in the development of safe, respectful and inclusive school communities and relationships. The project will take place between October 10th (first day of National Mental Health Week) and November 5th of this year and whilst it is a pilot at this stage, RAQ are keen to connect with organisations that they have either collaborated with in the past or with whom Project Yellow might find resonance.

Project Yellow aims to raise awareness around the social and emotional wellbeing of young people and promote acceptance of difference as a key factor in the development of safe, respectful and inclusive school communities. This will be done through a series of sixty-minute presentations at twenty seven high schools and primary schools between Ipswich and Roma, using interactive (Forum) theatre to engage young people in a dynamic exploration of protective behaviours and strategies.  Click here to visit the Project Yellow website for more information.

What's in your wheelie bin?  I'm guessing it's not a laptop, digital camera and speakers... it probably doesn't have its own Wi-Fi either.   The iStreet Lab is an innovative multimedia project that operates from a humble wheelie bin.  Community arts and technology activist, mervin Jarman, created the iStreet Lab project as a way of working with disadvantaged youth from urban and rural indigenous communities.  mervin Jarman and the iStreet Lab, through the iStreet Skills xChange program, are running events throughout Queensland.  Watch The Edge Digital Cultural Centre website for information on upcoming events. 

Kids Under Cover is a not-for-profit organisation established in Victoria in 1989.  Their focus is raising funds to construct purpose built, quality homes for homeless and at-risk young people.  The service is not available in Queensland, but the model might be something local organisations may wish to investigate further.

ByUS4Us books have been designed and written by a group of young people (aged 12 to 16 years) at Centre Education Programme in Logan, Brisbane.  The books have been written for young people who struggle with reading but want to read something that is of interest to them.

CHD Partners, has made available a series of fact sheets on youth and shopping centres (prepared by Garner Clancey). The two-page fact sheets can be downloaded (as PDFs) below:

• Why are shopping centres important to young people?
• What do young people think of security guards?
• Developing a Shopping Centre Youth Plan.

Source: LGAQ's Youth Policy Project Officer

Healthy Vibes is a website with information on health issues for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This guide, published by the Child Safety Commissioner, Victoria has been written to help professionals, carers and others understand the needs of children and young people who have been affected by trauma through abuse and neglect.

The guide includes a section on strategies for dealing with particular issues; and effective ways of working with young people, taking into account the impact of the negative experiences they have had in their lives.

Download the guide from http://is.gd/882mT (PDF).

The 2009 National Survey of Young Australians, conducted by Mission Australia, tested the views of close to 48,000 young people – the biggest group since the survey began in 2002 – between the ages of 11-24 (97.9 per cent aged 11-19).

Drugs, suicide and body image were the most common concerns raised by young people in the survey.

This report looks at the impact of the potentially competing demands of study and part‐time or casual employment on youth.

The report makes 13 recommendations including:

Racism against young Australian-Sudanese people prevents them from moving freely in the community and limits their access to services, employment and education, according to a report launched recently by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

Registration for the ROCKhampton351 music camp from 26th to 29th June 2009 are open. Email info@mmad.org.au for more information and flyers.

The Hon Kate Ellis MP Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth released The State of Australia's Young People: a report on the social, economic, health and family lives of young people.

Young people provide a unique and essential perspective on how our child protection and other human services are functioning. This new report presents the latest findings of an ongoing study investigating the experiences and perspectives of young people in residential care in Queensland.

By Barney Langford. First published at On Line Opinion ,  Monday, 17 August 2009

I’ve spent most of my life working with young people as teacher, artist, mentor and administrator. The most remarkable aspect of my nearly 40 years working with young people is the consistency with which each ensuing generation is labelled by their elders as moronic, indolent, uncaring and barely able to put a coherent thought/sentence/idea together. Because of their various outrageous behaviours it seems that young people will inevitably be the cause of the decline and ultimate demise of cultured society.

Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian, Queensland

In this report, young people provide a unique and much needed perspective on how our youth justice and other human services are functioning.

Drawing on labour force data and previous research findings, this report explores poor labour force attachment among young people. It focuses particularly on the ‘not fully engaged’ (NFE) group of young people and its changing composition over the past decade. Alternative indicators that may better capture labour market disadvantage among young people are canvassed.

The report also summarises previous research into a range of possible risk factors for poor labour force attachment, such as early school leaving, young motherhood, disability, being Indigenous and having a language background other than English.

The report is published by the Australian Fair Pay Commission. You can download it from  http://apo.org.au/node/17893.

Source: Australian Policy Online.

The Parliamentary Library produces a Monthly statistical bulletin (ISSN 1835-6389), updated each month by the Parliamentary Library's Statistics and Mapping Section at http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/MSB/. It contains a selection of the latest economic and social statistics and is issued during the first week of each month. It contains statistics available on or before the day of release. All figures are original data unless otherwise noted. Section 1.5 of the bulletin provides an overview of youth unemployment: see: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/MSB/15.htm.

Source: Youth Field Xpress, Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies

by Kylie Hillman, Sheldon Rothman, October 2008. (LSAY research report n.53)

This report is part of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth analytical program. The report examines young people's use of career advice activities while at school and their perceptions of the usefulness of that advice. The data are from the 2003 15-year-old cohort of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY).