Message from Graham Martin, Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Queensland

If you know of someone who self-injures, is 18-25, lives around Brisbane, and is really serious about trying to stop their self- injury, we are offering a course of 10 free therapy sessions starting this month. Participants will be reimbursed expenses and something toward their time. We ran a trial last year, and anecdotally the results were very good, but the numbers were too small for us to make statistical sense. So we are attempting the program again, with Ethics approval from the University of Queensland.

The Eating Disorders Association resource centre are organising a photoshoot for the youth magazine "consume" and to promote Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week on Saturday the 11th of September 2010. The Youth Magazine 'Consume', will be printed in 2011 to address youth issues of body image, health, tolerance and personal responsibility. If you would like to be involved in the photoshoot please get in touch with the organisers via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone on 3394 3661. It should be lots of fun!

You can also help inform what goes into "Consume' by filling in a youth survey which closes on the 31st of August, at www.surveymonkey.com/s/consumemagazine

Australia’s first Youth Led Convention will bring together the top young leaders from Australia’s preeminent youth led organisations for the first time. Over a weekend in Canberra the attendees will develop and gain valuable skills through high quality workshops delivered by leading professionals in key knowledge areas required for running an organisation.

ZigZag is inviting young women to come together in a safe space to talk with each other about how sexual violence impacts on relationships.

Date: Friday 10th September 2010

Time: 10am—3.30pm

Venue: Zig Zag, 575 Old Cleveland Road Camp Hill

RSVP – Monday 6th September

Please advise of any special dietary needs or if childcare or transport is a problem and we can see what might be possible.

If you have any questions at all please call and have a chat with Adela or Jane on 3843 1823.

One in four young Australians aged 16–24 years had a mental disorder in 2007, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.  Anxiety disorders were the most common, affecting 15% of young people, with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder the most commonly experienced Anxiety disorder (8%).Substance Use disorders affected 13% of young people with Harmful Use of Alcohol the most common Substance Use Disorder (9%).

Come along to the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Information Session and find out how you can make a difference in a developing country. AusAID’s Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program supports skilled young Australians (18-30) who want to live, work and make a positive change in Asia, the Pacific and Africa.  To find out where your local session is and register, visit: www.ayad.com.au

The ElectionWIRE site is now live and calling on all young people to submit videos about issues that important to them! Check it out at: http://youtube.com/electionWIRE. Read the related media release here.

Young Regional Queensland Artists Receive Career Boost - Successful applicants for Starburst Regional Mentoring Program announced

Youth Arts Queensland Chief Executive Officer Julie Woodward today announced the successful applicants for Starburst Regional Mentoring Program 2010. The 22 young artists and artsworkers from regional Queensland have been accepted to develop a creative project with guidance from a mentor between July and November this year.  “Starburst provides a unique career development opportunity for young Queensland creatives in the regions,” says Woodward. “Through Starburst, they get the boost they need to create art in their local community with an industry professional or organisation by their side. This still doesn’t happen often enough and we are very excited to see what they will produce in the next few months.”

Count Me In! is an enrol to vote activity being run by UNYA and supported by the AYF. Did you know – over 1 million eligible Australians aren’t enrolled to vote? And one third of those are aged 18-24? Are you one of them? Being enrolled to vote gives you the opportunity to have a say about the direction of Australia and issues that matter to you. Once an election is called, you won’t have much time to enrol. Once election roll is closed, if you’re not on it, you can’t vote. So don’t wait! Enrol now at www.aec.gov.au/enrol

Even if you have already enrolled – are you sure your details are correct? Check your enrolment now at www.aec.gov.au/check UNYA Electoral Ambassadors will be out and about this weekend, encouraging young people to enrol to vote – find out where they will be at “Count Me In!”

ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF MHW 2010 SHORT STORY COMPETITION

Mental Health Association Queensland is delighted to announce the launch of the MHW 2010 Short Story Competition. All entries are to be based on the following theme for 2010:

Theme: "Exploring your dreams .. Living your passions"

An independent judging panel will be seeking works of short fiction that explore this theme encompassing innovative ideas and creative expression. The winning entries will best capture the theme. There are three categories, for primary school, high school, and over 18's. Download an entry form here.

Wish you could participate in a national conference specifically aimed at passionate and engaged tertiary students who want to make difference? Well look no further and make history by registering as a delegate as part of United Nations Youth Association's first, inaugural National Youth Summit!

The National Youth Summit will take place in University of Technology, Sydney from 29 September- 2 October. This four day conference will bring together around 200 of Australia's most engaged and intelligent tertiary minds, will expose students to experts in the field of Human Rights, and will allow for designated policy workshops where you will be able to discuss matters of domestic and international importance with the aim of developing a "Youth Declaration". The theme for this year's conference is Human Rights, which will be broken down into smaller focus themes including Conflict, Good Governance, Gender Equality and Minorities.

The NYW Poster Competition is now open! First Prize is $2000, and the runner up receives $1000! All the details can be found at youthweek.com, and the competition is open to young people aged 12-25.

The Queensland Youth Week team are currently looking for a young person aged 18-24 to be the next Young Member. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of an exciting initiative which brings great enjoyment to young people across Australia. The successful applicant will enjoy travelling, meeting new people, participating in promotional and media campaigns, and influencing state and federal government decisions. Position information and selection details are attached and further information about National Youth Week in Queensland can be found at www.youth.qld.gov.au/youthweek. Applications close on the 28th of June 2010.

Those interested can also get in touch with the current Young Member, Ash, via Facebook and have a chat to him about his time in the role. One person will be appointed to the role, and there will also be up to ten other young people invited to be part of the National Youth Week Queensland Advisory Group to enhance community consultation and broad promotion of the strategy in 2011.

The Media and you

What do the media say about young people? Is it mostly positive or negative? How can media organisations be influenced? Have your say and vote on the ideas already posted. Young People in the Media is open for discussion on the AYF Ideas Board.

Rock Enrol – be part of it

Make your opinion count. Enrol to vote and have your say at this year’s Federal Election. Triple J is working with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to get the message out to all young Australians – enrol to vote today!

The new Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development volunteer assignments are open for application! The AYAD Program assignments cover a diverse range of sectors including education, environment, gender, governance, health, infrastructure, rural development and trades. The Program provides support to cover the costs of volunteering overseas including pre-departure medicals, insurance, travel, in-country allowance, and the support of in-country management services. Click this link to view all the assignments.

In 2008 The Fraser Coast Youth Summit was held at the Great Hall in Hervey Bay the day involved guest speakers, youth services information and activities for young people.  The day was a huge success. The Fraser Coast Youth Summit was facilitated by Key Stakeholders from within the Fraser Coast Region.  The theme for the Summit was Young People and their Community. 

The group committed to having a “Youth Summit” bi – annually.  The Fraser Coast Council together with the Junior Council have put their hand up to facilitate the “Wide Bay Burnett Youth Summit” together with partner youth services from across the region.  This time the focus is on the young people listening, discussing and having some ownership over how the issues and the positives in the region are addressed and enhanced.

At the Drug Policy Modelling Program we are conducting the first ever study in Australia into youth attitudes to media reporting on drugs. Over 1500 young people have already helped out with our Drug Media Survey but we want to hear from more of you.

Who pushes your buttons? Someone of the same sex? Are you 14-21? Be part of the third national Australian Writing Themselves in Survey (WTi3)

Go to www.wti3.org.au and write yourself in to Australian history! This is THE survey that makes a REAL difference to policies and services; and has for over 10 years! Tell your friends, rainbow teachers and groups to support it now - before the survey closes in April 2010.

Source: the Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society

Cancer Council Queensland invites young people to participate in an exciting event... Youth Tobacco Free Day.  Youth Tobacco Free Day will occur on 19 March and is the one day of the year dedicated to encouraging young people (10 to 25 years) to quit smoking or prevent them from taking up smoking.

In 2010, the theme of Youth Tobacco Free Day is “How much is smoking REALLY costing you?”.  It aims to educate young people about the financial costs of smoking, but also the cost to their appearance, fitness and social life.

Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) has commissioned Mr Vince Callaghan to write two FREE e-guides, ASG's Get Smart Guide and ASG's Get Smart Scholarships Guide. Both guides are aimed at supporting students and their families through this important life stage. It is vital that students and their families are aware of the pending changes so that they can better understand the issues and make more informed decisions.

Applications are now being accepted for Oxfam International Youth Partnerships until the 12th February 2010.

Oxfam International Youth Partnerships (OIYP) is an Oxfam International initiative, managed by Oxfam Australia since 2000. OIYP strengthens young people’s ability to effect change in their community, and provides a base from which they can influence broader changes through engagement in a global network of over 1100 OIYP Action Partners.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Minister for Youth Kate Ellis recently launched a new national competition to stimulate fresh ideas about how young people can connect with their communities.

The annual Prime Minister’s Australian Youth Forum Challenge will start next year.

Are you aged between 12 to 24 years and have experienced physical violence, directly or indirectly, or know someone who has? Do you have a view on youth violence in your neighbourhood, town or city?

If so, please take 5 minutes to complete the Impact of Violence on Young Australians Survey at http://is.gd/4wzlL.

Statement from the Commonwealth Government

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Minister for Youth Kate Ellis today launched a nationwide discussion with young people as part of the National Strategy for young Australians.

The National Conversation was simultaneously launched by the Prime Minister during a live web chat with young people and by Minister Ellis at the first forum at Lyneham High School in Canberra.

Livewire: online communities for families affected by a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability.

The Office of the Private Commissioner has released private i, a privacy survival guide for young people, on topics including:

• online social networking
• identity theft
• scanning of ID documents at pubs and clubs
• ‘blacklists'
• online shopping
• dealing with telemarketers
• responding to requests for personal information.

It also discusses the pitfalls to avoid, and where to get help if your privacy has been affected.

For more information visit http://www.privacy.gov.au/topics/youth/index.html.

Source: CommunityNet

The Job Guide helps young people explore career options and make subject choices. It provides information about a wide range of occupations and the education and training pathways that lead to them. It also includes useful information on the job search process, provides details of available government assistance and suggests where to go for further information.

A version specifically designed for mobile phone interfaces is available at http://www.mobile.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au/ (phone charges may apply when accessing this from your mobile phone/pda).

Source: CommunityNet.

'Youthcentral', the Victorian Government's website for young people aged 12-25, has launched a new web-based resource called Do-it-yourself Democracy.

Registration for the ROCKhampton351 music camp from 26th to 29th June 2009 are open. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information and flyers.

Get Out There (www.getoutthere.qld.gov.au/) is a website that provides information to help you in buying your first car, keeping your money under control, renting your own place, going to university, making smart choices as a consumer and getting set for Schoolies.

The website is published by the Queensland Government.

Unite, the Union of Fast-Food and Retail workers in Victoria has accused the 7-Eleven franchise in that State of underpaying workers by up to 45% below the minimum wage and of forcing staff to work long hours without breaks (see the video below for details ).

In April, federal Workplace Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson launched a new fact sheet to inform young people about their workplace rights. The fact sheet, covers topics such as workplace agreements, correct rates of pay, holiday entitlements and tips on what to expect when finishing up with an employer.

You can download the fact sheet from the Workplace Ombudsman's website at: http://tinyurl.com/4scd4n.

Young workers in Queensland can get advice and help about workplace matters from the Young Workers Advisory Service - http://www.ywas.org.

Mission Australia has launched the 2008 Survey of Young Australians - the largest survey of young people around the country.  They are calling on all people, from all areas of the country, aged 11 to 24 years to participate in the survey. In its 7th year, the survey aims to identify what matters to young people, who they admire and where they turn for advice.

If you, or someone you know, would like to complete the survey either

• log onto www.missionaustralia.com.au/youthsurvey or;
•  Download, print out and fax/post back this PDF version.

By Malcolm King.
First Posted at On Line Opinion , Friday, 2 November 2007

Do you want to study at a university or TAFE next year?  To paraphrase former American President John F. Kennedy, then ask not what you can do for your university, but what your university can do for you.

In this article I have listed 10 'must ask' questions, which will help prospective tertiary students decide which university, or TAFE is right for them.

Legal Aid Queensland is the largest legal service provider in Queensland providing legal information, advice and representation (or going to court) for children and young people.  Below you will find more information about the services they provide and how to access their online resources.

Ignite is a free, monthly e-newsletter for enterprising young people. Each edition includes information about opportunities, contacts and inspiration to help you build your business and career.  You can find the latest edition (and sign up for future ones) at http://www.frankteam.com.au/ignite/

Ignite is published by the FRANK Team.  The FRANK Team provide skills training, guest speakers and resources in entrepreneurship and career passion for young people and corporates.

The following list of Career information services was compiled by Diana Cogill from UQ Student Services.

In November 2006, a group of young people representing 35 youth organisations from around Australia formed the Australian Youth Climate Coalition , a non-partisan group which aims to educate young people about the environmental impacts of climate change and mobilise young people to take action to stop climate change and create a 'clean energy future'.  For more information about the group and its campaigns, visit the AYCC website: http://www.youthclimatecoalition.org.

Source: Youth Field Xpress, newsletter of the Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies.

Children by Choice has received funding for a project to improve young Queensland women’s access to information, support and education regarding their sexual and reproductive health, in particular for issues relating to unplanned pregnancy. The project aims to

1. Identify the unmet information and support needs of young women and the health professionals and youth and community workers who work with them, in the area of sexual and reproductive health;
2. Identify, develop and implement strategies to improve young women’s access to these services;
3. Develop collaborative partnerships with relevant agencies such as Family Planning QLD to plan, develop and deliver information, education and support activities;
4. Develop training resources and information for adults and peer leaders involved in sexual health education, including training workshops, class activities, information sheets and articles.

If you would like to know more about this project or become involved, please contact the Project Officer on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 3357 5377.

Education Queensland has developed three Queensland Academies that are the first of their kind in Australia:

1. Queensland Academy for Creative Industries 
2. Queensland Academy for Health Sciences
3. The Queensland Academy for Health Sciences