Logan City Council is getting ready to host the 2013 National Youth Week in April.

National Youth Week is the largest celebration of young people aged 12-25 years. It provides young people with the opportunity to express their ideas and views, act on issues that affect their lives and have a lot of fun. The theme for this year is Be Active. Be Happy. Be You.

The Logan City Council National Youth Week Grant Program is giving community organisations the opportunity to apply for funding to deliver activities during National Youth Week within Logan City Council boundaries.

If you are interested in applying to be apart of National Youth Week 2013, please find below the National Youth Week Application Form and Funding Guidelines.

Healthy Communities has released a discussion paper on Risk Reduction Strategies used by gay and other men who have sex with men, to guide HIV prevention efforts in Queensland.

The paper summarises the evidence of effectiveness for common Risk Reduction Strategies and outlines how Healthy Communities will approach working with gay men on this issue.

“Behavioural research shows that more gay men are sometimes having sex without condoms, but that a lot of the time they are taking other measures to reduce their risk” said Paul R Martin, Executive Director.

“Condoms remain the safest and easiest form of safe sex, especially for casual sex.  However in situations where men do not use condoms, there are still things they can do to reduce, but not eliminate risk.”

Risk reduction strategies are most effective if:

• men accurately know their current HIV status
  
• they can disclose their HIV status to partners, without stigma or discrimination
  
• men regularly test for and treat sexually transmitted infections
  
• partners openly and honestly negotiate the sex they want
  
• men have access to accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information to inform decision making
  

The discussion paper was developed in consultation with gay men and HIV service providers and uses current, reputable research.

The discussion paper can be read at www.qahc.org.au/riskreduction and people can join the conversation at www.facebook.com/RiskReductionQld  

Men interested in learning more about Risk Reduction Strategies can visit the risk reduction websites of:

ACON - www.knowtherisk.org.au
VAC/GMHC - www.top2bottom.org.au

The United Nations is in the process of preparing its 2013 World Youth Report (WYR) on Youth Migration and Development. The Report will offer a multidimensional account and/or perspective of the life experiences of young migrants and young people affected by migration. On Wednesday the 23rd January 2013 they will launch a 4 week online, interactive discussion platform aimed at bringing together young migrants and other young people (aged between 15-35) to share with them, and each other, their migration stories and experiences.

Who can participate?

For the purpose of this Report, UN DESA is inviting the participation of young people aged between 15 to 35 years - considering the UN Secretariat’s definition of youth as well as local cultural context of countries and regions across the world, the long term impact of migration on human development, and a range of life cycle issues. It is important to note that the proportion of young migrants’ peaks between the age range of 18 to 29. Additionally, representatives of youth-led organisations will be invited to share their perspectives and experiences on youth and migration.

Efforts will be made to target young people who have no or limited access to internet or online platforms to facilitate their participation in the consultative process. This will be done mainly through youth migrant networks and other relevant youth organisations.

Have you or a family member been through a migration experience? How was your journey? What are your thoughts?

Learn more about how you can participate in our consultations and input to the Report by clicking here.

SOURCE: NTYAN enews, 20/01/2013

Charities are invited to find out about the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), the new charity regulator, at free community presentations to be held around Australia in January and February 2013.

These face-to-face presentations will give you a chance to ask the ACNC questions, as well as the opportunity to participate in two consultations relevant to the not-for-profit sector: the ACNC’s regulatory approach consultation and the Government’s consultation on governance standards and reporting.

All ACNC community presentations are free to attend, however registration is required. For more information and details on how to register, visit acnc.gov.au.

Brisbane: 5 February
9.00 - 12noon and 2.00 - 5.00pm
Rendezvous Studio Hotel
103 George Street, Brisbane

Townsville: 6 February
2.00 - 5.00pm
Holiday Inn
334 Flinders Mall, Townsville

Townsville: 7 February Indigenous session
9.00 - 12noon
Holiday Inn
334 Flinders Mall, Townsville

Darwin: 11 February
2.00 - 5.00pm
Holiday Inn Esplanade
116 The Esplanade, Darwin

Darwin: 12 February Indigenous session
9.00 - 12noon
Holiday Inn Esplanade
116 The Esplanade, Darwin

Alice Springs: 13 February
9.00 - 12noon (Indigenous session) and 2.00 - 5.00pm
Crowne Plaza Hotel
82 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs

ACNC Media Contact: Lisa Zilberpriver lisa.zilberpriver@acnc.gov.au (03) 863 25019 or 0466 089 107

We've Got Issues: Children and Parents in the Age of Medication by Judith Warner

New York Times-bestselling author Judith Warner explores the storm of debate over whether we are overdiagnosing and overmedicating our children who have "issues."

We've Got Issues: Children and Parents in the Age of Medication, tackles a subject that's contentious and important: Are parents and physicians too quick to prescribe medi­cation to control our children's behavior?

Judith Warner uses extensive research and interviews with dozens of doctors, researchers, family experts, and parents to cut through the received wisdom and hysteria to bring insight and compassion to the "drugging kids" debate.

Insightful, compelling, and deeply mov­ing, We've Got Issues is for parents, doctors, and teachers-anyone who cares about the welfare of today's children.

Click here to purchase this book

Source: Peakcare enews 23/01/13

Here is the list of courses – make sure you are up to date on what’s happening. 

Courses which are FREE for ALL Jobseekers:

Construction – Trade Start Program with sooo many extras!
Certificate I in Construction
Date: Feb – TBA (8 weeks)
Days: Mon – Thurs and Fridays for Work Placement
Location: 47 Nundah St, Nundah
Funding: FREE for ALL Jobseekers – funded by Construction Skills Queensland.

Courses which are FREE for Jobseekers with a disability (see cost if not eligible for free course):

Business is Back!!!
We did not run a business course towards the end of last year, but it is back for 2013!!
Date: 18/2 – 10/4
Days: Mon – Wed
Location: 47 Nundah St, Nundah
Cost/Funding: $650 / FREE for jobseekers with a disability

Automotive – Rolling Starts!
Certificate II in Automotive Vehicle Servicing
START NOW
Days: Mon – Fri
Location: 47 Nundah St, Nundah – Have you seen our awesome workshop??
Cost/Funding: $950 / FREE for Jobseekers with a  disability.

Courses which are full cost only:

Aged Care Workshop – New Course!  
Date: 29/1 – 11/2
Days: Mon – Fri
Location: 47 Nundah St, Nundah
Cost: $1,100


For any enquiries or enrolments please contact us on 3260 6411

All courses free for jobseekers with a disability are funded by the Department of Employment, Training and Education.         

The Australian Parliament is asking for submissions to their inquiry into the value of a justice reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia. 

Justice reinvestment diverts some of the money spent on locking people up and puts it into communities where there is a high concentration of young offenders, reinvesting the funds into education, programs and services that address the underlying causes of crime in these communities.

The inquiry will look at a number of issues, including:

• the economic and social costs of imprisonment,
• the over-representation of disadvantaged groups within Australian prisons, and
• the cost, availability and effectiveness of alternatives to imprisonment, including prevention, early intervention, diversionary and rehabilitation measures.

If you know of any great prevention and early intervention services that work with young people, their families and their communities to achieve better outcomes and lower crime rates, then make their stories and successes known! You can make your own submission  by 15 March 2013 via the website below, or get in touch with Jacqui here at AYAC to be part of our joint submission with youth peak bodies around Australia.

For more information on the inquiry, go here - http://tinyurl.com/ay69kgd

To be part of the AYAC submission, contact Jacqui (jacqui@ayac.org.au) as soonas you can (and no later than Friday, 15th February 2013).

Source: AYAC enews 31/1/13   

Featuring special guest His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Young Minds 2013 is an exciting forum exploring the vital issues facing our youth today. Be engaged and motivated by a summit of 40+ leading thinkers.

15% DISCOUNT FOR MY CONTACTS – THE EARLIER YOU BOOK, THE MORE YOU SAVE!
Book before 21 December and save $200 on the 2 day conference and $340 on the gold pass!

PLUS given I am presenting, my contacts are entitled to a further 15% discount off the full conference fees. Register online using promotion code PJFS or call (02) 8719 5118 and mention my name. Save up to $565 off the full gold pass fee!

50% DISCOUNT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 21!

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Spend a full morning session with one of the world’s most revered spiritual leaders, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Explore how to grow a good person with leading educators and childhood advocates including Reggio Children visionary Carla Rinaldi.
  

• Hear an insightful exploration of the impact of mindsets on learning and achievement with motivation expert Carol Dweck, and discover how to encourage our children’s natural curiosity with pioneering researcher Todd Kashdan.
  

• Acclaimed parenting expert Wendy Mogel explains why a skinned knee is a blessing in disguise, and leading Slow Movement proponent Carl Honoré asks whether we’re micromanaging our children.
  

• Explore the challenges facing teachers, parents and young people in achieving “digital wisdom” with tech savvy educator Marc Prensky, and Australia’s most popular blogger Mia Freedman.
  

• Be inspired by Young Australian of the Year Marita Cheng who built a global organisation supporting technical education for girls and myself, Young Queenslander of the Year Yassmin Abdel-Magied who founded Youth Without Borders.
  

• Be moved and uplifted by the courage and determination shown by champion Paralympic swimmer Matthew Cowdrey and by mental health advocate Bronte O’Brien.
  

• Be entertained by humourist and well-known media personality Gretel Killeen as she explores how to be your true, imperfect self and by spoken word poet Bravo Child.
  

40+ SPEAKERS 1000+ DELEGATES

www.youngminds.org.au 

The Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council is reviewing both the qualifications and competency standards for a number of sectors, including children and youth services. AYAC has been a core part of the industry reference group to the review, and the subject matter expert groups.

Draft 1 of the revised components was released in November last year for public review and feedback and is available here - http://tinyurl.com/admd4ve

The Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council have commenced development of Draft 2, following on from public feedback and consultation.

Draft 2 will be made available for public review and feedback on 11 February 2013 for a limited time here - http://tinyurl.com/admd4ve

AYAC encourages all our interested members to check in and provide feedback to review of Cert IV in Youth Work and Diploma in Youth Work.

Source: AYAC enews 31/1/13

The Young and Well CRC would like to invite Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander young people aged 12 to 25 to form a new advisory group to support Young and Well CRC projects seeking to understand and improve the mental health and wellbeing of young Indigenous Australians. 

The advisory group's role will be to ensure that Young and Well CRC research projects engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in meaningful ways by advising and collaborating with project teams. 

If you identify as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and would like to  volunteer a few hours per month either online or on the phone, then I'd love to hear from you. If you know anyone else that might be interested, please forward this email on to them.

Please register your interest below by completing the online form, or by contacting me (Kris Gesling, Youth Participation and Technology Officer, Young and Well CRC) by emailing kris@yawcrc.org.au or calling on 0401 438 789. Nominations close on Friday the 8th of February.

Register your interest!