Despite being defunded by the Queensland Government in late 2012, the peak body of the Queensland youth sector, Youth Affairs Network of Queensland (YANQ), last week brought together its regional CPLAN representatives for a three day gathering in Boonah.
“The gathering clearly shows that collective action by Youth Workers in Queensland will not be sidelined or ignored by Government,” said Siyavash Doostkhah, Director of YANQ.
“CPLAN, or the Communities of Practice Leadership Action Network, has been an initiative of YANQ for the past few years.
“It is a model for a peak body to be more representative of its members across Queensland. Historically in the youth sector, all decisions were informed and made by people in the south east corner,” said Mr Doostkhah.
YANQ has invested in the CPLAN model as it puts the focus back on each region of Queensland. It ensures who-ever is most effected by a decision has the most say on that issue.
“CPLAN ensures that we don't go down the easy path of one size fits all,” said Mr Doostkhah.
“While there are similar issues across the state, young people and youth workers in each part of state have their own unique challenges as well as resources to respond to the challenges.”
For the past 2 years, YANQ has provided training to its regional workers on community/policy development and workforce planning. From this investment, each CPLAN representative is now able to lead these processes at a regional level. CPLAN also produces reports on the work the sector is and has achieved to inform youth organisations and Government.
There has been much interest in the CPLAN model within the youth sector, from other peaks and also from Government. The CPLAN is a regional infrastructure for the youth sector that complements the regionalisation strategy of Queensland Government.
The CPLAN representatives have been supported by Queensland University of Technology and the Metro South Institute of TAFE. All members of parliament have been briefed on the work of CPLAN. The benefits of operating cost effective structures such as CPLAN have been documented and communicated to government decision makers.
“The gathering clearly shows that collective action by Youth Workers in Queensland will not be sidelined or ignored by Government,” said Siyavash Doostkhah, Director of YANQ.
“CPLAN, or the Communities of Practice Leadership Action Network, has been an initiative of YANQ for the past few years.
“It is a model for a peak body to be more representative of its members across Queensland. Historically in the youth sector, all decisions were informed and made by people in the south east corner,” said Mr Doostkhah.
YANQ has invested in the CPLAN model as it puts the focus back on each region of Queensland. It ensures who-ever is most effected by a decision has the most say on that issue.
“CPLAN ensures that we don't go down the easy path of one size fits all,” said Mr Doostkhah.
“While there are similar issues across the state, young people and youth workers in each part of state have their own unique challenges as well as resources to respond to the challenges.”
For the past 2 years, YANQ has provided training to its regional workers on community/policy development and workforce planning. From this investment, each CPLAN representative is now able to lead these processes at a regional level. CPLAN also produces reports on the work the sector is and has achieved to inform youth organisations and Government.
There has been much interest in the CPLAN model within the youth sector, from other peaks and also from Government. The CPLAN is a regional infrastructure for the youth sector that complements the regionalisation strategy of Queensland Government.
The CPLAN representatives have been supported by Queensland University of Technology and the Metro South Institute of TAFE. All members of parliament have been briefed on the work of CPLAN. The benefits of operating cost effective structures such as CPLAN have been documented and communicated to government decision makers.
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