In early September in Brisbane YANQ conducted a Youth Social Policy Solutions Workshop.  The aim of the workshop was to explore possible solutions to the main challenges facing young people. In particular...

• Which solutions are the priorities?
• Are there any solutions that might address a number of the issues commonly raised with YANQ by the sector?
• Is there willingness in the sector to come together behind a common cause?

You can read the outcomes of the workshop here ( 520kb) or read on for a summary of the ideas discussed.

Download the report of outcomes from the workshop here ( 520 Kb),

All in all, participants at the workshop discussed 29 separate ideas - a lot for just a 3 hour workshop! The ideas varied, some relating to particular policies others were for new or expanded services for young people and/or families. Following is a list of the twelve most highly rated ideas that were discussed:

Half-way / transitional / stepped accommodation services for young people (including those coming out of youth Detention).

Features of such a service might include:

• Esp. for young people leaving care
• Also for young people leaving detention – provide support before returning to community of origin.
• Must provide case-management/case work.
  
  

Provide a family support service in every region.

• Prevention and early intervention focus.
• To prevent need for more detention centres

A (wrap-around) youth service in every region that can respond to whatever problems young people have.

Features of such a service might include:

• Core service eligible to all young people.
• Interventions not time-limited.
• Based on Hub-model
• Success based on social outcomes.
• Integrated into local community and can respond to local needs.
• Young people involved in managing the service and/or as mentors (paid?).
• Networked locally, regionally and nationally and able to respond to policy issues.
• Must be able to meet needs of young people with disabilities also.

Change funding models to encourage (or cover the cost of) collaboration / co-operation between services in communities.

• To reduce costs.
• Build into service agremeents & KPIs.

Audit services on their compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CROC)

• Including both government and non-government services.

Establish a support accommodation service for young people (generally) under 16 years of age

• Separate to the child protection system.

Increase funding terms (greater than 3 years)

• Need longer term thinking to allow services to plan and respond to local needs.

40% of housing to be public/social housing by 2020

• Will provide security of tenure and act as a break on the cost of private housing.

Allow greater access in mainstream schools for disability support services

• Role models for young people with a disability.
• Support with transitioning from/between school.

Develop & use common benchmarks of well-being across various sectors

• Govt. and/or universities to develop benchmarks for well-being.
• For e.g. -  like environmental movement that has quantified the dollars needed to achieve outcomes. 

Fair Pay for Youth Workers

• To help address retention issues and increase chances of services building rapport with young people.

Greater share of community service funding directed to Community Development

• To build families and communities.
• Success based on social, not just economic outcomes.
• Aim to build capacity of cultural groups.