By Melissa Lucashenko (Yugambeh)

During 2009 YANQ conducted research into youth work in Queensland. The Murri part of the research asked youth workers, managers and volunteers (both Murri and Migaloo) what they thought were the key values for doing this kind of work well. The researchers were told that some of the important values underlying Murri youth work were:

1. Relevant cultural identity and life-experience of the youth worker
2. Respect, open mindedness, and listening
3. Patience, tolerance and compassion
4. Working from the grassroots and walking alongside young people
5. Providing leadership and role models
6. Passion
7. Honesty

This Discussion Paper is about what youth work actually means in Murri culture, why values are important, and what difference it makes to youth work to have these Murri values in mind. Download the Paper here.

We look forward to receiving your feedback on this discussion paper. Please send your response to director at yanq dot org dot au.

In response to the Queensland Government Multicultural Policy Review process, YANQ made the following submission on behalf of the Multicultural Youth Network of Queensland (MYNQ): response

In response to the recent State Budget 2009/10, YANQ has highlighted a few key areas for comment.  We acknowledge that not everyone can win when it comes to State funding, but there are some areas of particular concern to us.  Additionally, we have commented on the new funding for increased wages in the community sector, and where this funding will be directed.  To download the report, click here

Click here to download YANQ's Draft Submission to the National Human Rights Consultations.

The Commonwealth Government is conducting an Inquiry into human rights in Australia through a National Human Rights Consultation. YANQ's submission is now available. Thank you to our members who provided comment.

Download YANQ's Submission here ( 390.65 Kb)

Young people should be able to trust in the protection of adults.Young people have a right to trust that adults will fulfil their responsibility to provide opportunities for them - opportunities to learn, to play, to make decisions for themselves, take risks, to have fun and to participate in community decision making, among others.

Queensland's Police Move-on powers are in breach of that trust.

By Dr Kirsten McGavin

Sports is very much part of the Australian culture. Although sports itself is a universal activity, it is also a uniquely Australian affair shaped by what is often referred to as the Australian lifestyle.  Yet sports and recreational activities in Australia are not always entirely inclusive, particularly for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups such as Muslim young women. Physical, cultural, social, economic and religious barriers may limit Muslim young women’s participation in sports and recreation.

By Suzi Quixley for the  Coalition Against Inappropriate Remand (CAIR)

Inappropriately detaining young people in custody puts community safety at risk - repeated studies indicate that the younger a person is when they are first detained in custody, the greater the likelihood that they will go onto re-offend and end up in adult prison.  74% of the young people in custody in Queensland Youth Detention Centres on 30 June 2006 were on remand - i.e. they were being held in custody before a finding of guilt had been made or before their sentence had been finalised.  This is largely unnecessary and jeopardises both the safety of the community and the future chances of success in life for the young people detained.

By the Youth Affairs Network of Queensland. 

Download this paper: Multiculturalism - From Myth to Reality 99.23 Kb  

In a global context, recent events around the world and at home necessitate an open public debate on multiculturalism and to form effective strategies for community engagement with this issue. Oft times, even within the Community Services Sector, many organisations are increasingly regarding ‘multiculturalism' as being solely related to issues regarding non-English speaking migrants and refugees. This interpretation and use of ‘multiculturalism' not only denies the role of English speaking migrants, residents and citizens, but also fails to acknowledge the important contributions that Indigenous peoples play in the construction of effective multiculturalism. Indeed, alienating English speakers and Indigenous peoples by denying them a place within concepts of multiculturalism, may serve instead to reinforce the ‘us and them' mentality amongst some members of the wider community, in which the somewhat ignorant ideologies of assimilation and total conformity to mainstream ‘Anglo' culture is a goal.

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).

Making decisions in groups (such as interagencies or networks) can sometimes be a very difficult process.  If a group you are involved in find making decisions difficult you might find the following documents and links useful.  YANQ has published the first two documents to help interagencies that participate in the Youth Consultative Network, though they may be useful to other groups in other situations as well.

On October 19, 2007 YANQ submitted its response to the Review of the Juvenile Justice Act 1992.

• Cover Letter to YANQ's Submission ( 20.25 Kb).
• Full Submission ( 309.92 Kb). 

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.

By Daniel Allert

The Youth Affairs Network Queensland believes it is necessary to reframe debates about young people's services (such as education, housing, employment support etc) by asserting young people's rights, as opposed to their ‘needs’. It is important to differentiate between these two terms.  This is because of the negative impact which the current term ‘needs’ is having on young people in our society by reinforcing negative connotations. Instead, Australia must adopt a “rights culture^"1.

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.

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

Written by Suzi Quixley

“You get the best policy out of an argument.”
(Martin Ferguson, Sunday, Channel 9, 2 April 2006)

This paper looks at the variety of influences on government policy making, in order to see the role of peak bodies in the broader social context. Firstly, at the macro level it briefly outlines current approaches to government policy development. Then it explores the micro level – how the community services industry tries to influence policy development through peak bodies and the pressures on the sector to change the role and functions of peak bodies.  It ultimately concludes that peaks must reclaim their rightful place in Australian democracy.

Download the full document:  What is a Peak Body? 213.73 Kb or
Download the abridged version:  What is a Peak Body? (Abridged Version) 87.93 Kb

Written by Suzi Quixley and Siyavash Doostkhah, in consultation with youth workers in Queensland.

Recent debate over whether, or not, to adopt a Code of Ethics for youth work has been characterised by an uncritical assumption that having a code is a good thing …that it will automatically produce more ethical practice or protect against unethical practice.  This paper challenges these assumptions and puts an alternate point of view about how ethical practice can be achieved in work with young people.

Download the Full Paper:  Conservatising Youth Work 318.86 Kb

This is YANQ's policy position on inhalant use. It can be downloaded from our website here:  sniffingpolicy.pdf 199.41 Kb

This is YANQ's submission to the Department of Communities regarding their strategic plan for 2006-2010.

Download the submission:  sbmssn_-_doc_strategic_plan_2006-2010_0906 256.00 Kb

This discussion paper aims to encourage public debate and discussion on the topic of racism and housing.

This paper was written in the lead up to the 4^th state-wide Eracism forum held in Toowomba on October 20, 2006.

 No Place for Racism Discussion Paper 176.48 Kb

This is YANQ's submission to the Draft Community Services Bill.  The Submission was made in May 2006.

 Submission in response to the Draft Community Services Bill 255.17 Kb

YANQ's submission to the QLD Parliament's Legal, Administrative and Constitutional Review Committee regarding their inquiry into the participation of young people in democracy.

This document is YANQ's response to the Office of Fair Trading's consultation paper on the review of the Security Providers Act (1993).

Download the submission:   sbmssn_-_security_providers_act_0305 284.54 Kb

During 2003-2004 members of the Multicultural Youth Network Qld (MYNQ) repeatedly reported complaints by their young Sudanese clients and friends of being harassed by police and other groups and individuals when in public places. YANQ approached the Sudanese Youth Association of Queensland (SYAQ) to partner in a deeper investigation of the issues. 

 New Kids on the Block (Jan-Oct 2005) 462.36 Kb

  UPDATE: May 2006 - Public Space Needs of Sudanese Young People in QLD 105.67 Kb

Tis submission was made on October 28, 2005 by YANQ to the Brisbane City Council, opposing their application to grant move-on powers to Police in King George Square, Kurilpa Point and New Farm Park.

 Submission to BCC Opposing Move on Powers 238.65 Kb

P.S. June 2006.  The State Government has since passed legislation giving move-on powers to police in all public spaces in Queensland.

The report below details the findings from the Women's Sector Community Engagement Project.  This project was a joint initiative of the Queensland women's sector.

Final Report - WSCEP 318.16 Kb

This discussion paper has been written to get people talking more about schools and education.  What would you like to see happen in Queensland schools?  Are schools 'working'?

 Download: What are Schools for 282.31 Kb

To ask if Queensland schools are ‘working’, we have to be clear what our schools are for in the first place.  Schools serve a wide range of needs in Queensland.

This is YANQ's Refugee Policy.  It was launched at the State Youth Affairs Conference held April 2003.

 Refugee Policy 87.93 Kb

Submission to Engaging Queensland: A Queensland Government Draft Policy and Discussion Paper on Volunteering.

Download now:  Volunteering Policy Response 152.40 Kb

YANQ welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council (RRAC) Refugee Youth Strategy Paper. Various youth sector programs, networks, organisations and individuals have given direct and indirect input to YANQ as the youth sector Peak Body through the Non-English Speaking Background Youth Issues Network (NYIN) in regards to this submission response.

Download now:  RRAC Refugee Youth Response 200.32 Kb

In this submission YANQ argued that the junior rates of pay should be replaced with alternatives that do not discriminate on the basis of age.

 Submission to the AIRC re Junior Rates of Pay 321.63 Kb