Dear Future Forum member,

Youth Affairs Network Queensland (YANQ) is calling for unity amongst NGOs across Queensland and is proposing an MOU that could be signed committing organisations to collaboration and rejecting the competitive business model of relationships amongst NGOs.

Whilst YANQ recognizes that members of the Futures Forum have a need to develop working relationships with the government, there is also a role for members to take up its leadership role and speak as a collective, giving a voice to marginalized members of our communities. This is why YANQ initially proposed this MOU at a meeting with a number of peak bodies, after the LNP assumed power in Queensland earlier this year. At the time, there had been no budget cuts announced and the need for such an MOU was seen by majority of the peaks present at that meeting as premature.

The comments below are a selection from our petition online at http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/campbell-newman-restore-funding-to-the-youth-affairs-network-queensland. We have received literally thousands of supportive comments, emails, letters and calls. Thanks everyone who is supporting YANQ. 

Ashleigh Carrington
Australia
YANQ is a peak body and advocate for the work I do in the youth sector. They have been a leading exapmle of practice, sharing wisdom, educating our sector and advocating for rights of young poeple and workers. WE NEED YANQ!

Julianne Conway
Wynnum, Australia
YANQ provide wonderful support to the youth sector. They are very constructive. How will government operate without this expertise and independent voice?

Georgina Walton
Australia
As a practising social worker I have first hand knowledge and experience of how vital YANQ is to the sector. Do not withdraw funding they play an integral role for all youth services in Queensland.

The LNP is moving to silence non-government community services at the same time as dismantling critical service infrastructure across the state. First, the new government defunded policy and advocacy services. Then, it developed service agreements which prevent organisations undertaking advocacy. Now it is defunding key sector peak bodies. The Youth Affairs Network of Queensland (YANQ) received advice last week that it will no longer be funded by the state government as the youth sector's peak body. With sector support, however, YANQ is intending to continue our work as the representative peak body for the youth sector and a voice for marginalised young people in Queensland.

In spite of this, the Government has appointed QCOSS, apparently without QCOSS's knowledge, to fill the role of peak body for the youth sector. YANQ is deeply concerned that QCOSS cannot adequately represent the interests of the youth sector - or, in fact, fulfil all the roles of a peak body for the entire non-government community services.

The LNP is moving to silence non-government community services. First, the new government defunded policy and advocacy services. Then, it developed service agreements which prevent services undertaking advocacy. Now it is defunding key sector peak bodies. The Youth Affairs Network of Queensland (YANQ) received advice this week that it will no longer be funded by the state government to represent the views of young people and the youth sector in Queensland.

How you can help

1. Petition the Minister for Communities, Tracy Davis and Premier Campbell Newman to reinstate funding for YANQ

Click here to sign our petition on www.change.org

2. Write and call Tracy Davis and Campbell Newman

While petitioning is good, writing a personal letter is even better, and phone calls are the best. So we can keep track of the support for YANQ, please cc us ( admin@yanq.org.au) into any email or let us know of any correspondance you have.

Download a draft letter to Tracy Davis here

Download a draft letter to Campbell Newman here

Details

Hon Tracy Davis MP

Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

HonTracy Davis MP Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

GPO Box 806, Brisbane, QLD 4001

Phone: 3235 4280

Fax: 3012 7704

Email: communities@ministerial.qld.gov.au or ccsds@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Hon Campbell Newman MP

The Premier of Queensland

PO Box 15185, City East

Queensland 4002

Phone: 07 3224 4500

Email: thepremier@premiers.qld.gov.au

Information that will come in handy - why is YANQ important? Over the past 23 years, YANQ has developed a statewide network of youth services to support policy development and workforce development, with active regional participation throughout Queensland. In particular, YANQ has established relationships with small community organisations, and developed strong networks of services in rural and remote areas including many Aboriginal communities. YANQ offers a sophisticated, up-to-date understanding of young people's culture, issues and needs. YANQ has the capacity to provide informed, evidence-based advice to government about what does and doesn't work in youth service provision - in urban, rural and remote Queensland, and for different groups of young people. YANQ's sound understanding of priority issues and needs across the youth sector is derived from many years of listening to youth organisations, workers and young people themselves. YANQ is the only mechanism to respond to local, state and federal youth policy issues.

3. Complete our survey on the effects of defunding youth services

We're currently gathering information on the impacts of government defunding on services and young people. Please assist us by completing the survey embedded below.