The new manager of Sine Cera Rainforest Retreat in Cougal, in the Northern Rivers area of NSW, has contacted YANQ and wants to put the word out that the venue is suitable to conduct everything from short term programs to training, workshops and organisational retreats, to longer term live-in youth programs.

"We take group bookings only and are able to sleep very comfortably, up 100 people, have 200 acres of stunning sub- tropical rainforest are not for profit and therefore priced very affordably. We are auspiced by Morningside C.A.R.E. which also owns Georgina Hostel which is an ATSI Aged Care facility in Brisbane and conducts ICDP (International Children’s Development Program).

Applicants for the funding grant Youth Development & Support Program for example;  Should you require or even become aware of the need for such accommodation as ours, please let me know as The Board of Directors and myself are keen to see the property used either short or long term by youth organisations or programs.

Please take a just a moment to look at our website, listed below, together with my contact details.

Lyndal Hose
Manager
6 Main Creek Road
Cougal NSW 2474
www.sinecera.org.au
02 6636 6176
0401 615 240"

The sometimes-controversial practice of Income Management by the Federal Government has been extended to include some young people receiving government benefits.

Young people can now be placed on Income Management if they are judged by a Centrelink social worker to be vulnerable or at risk (using the Vulnerable Welfare Payment Recipient measure – see the FaHCSIA website below for more on this). If this happens, then 50% of their income support and family assistance payments will be income-managed and available to be spent only in certain outlets. The change came into effect on 1 July 2013.

Income Management, which has been operating in the Northern Territory for some time, is now being extended to some young people in the following areas: Bankstown (NSW), Playford and APY Lands (SA), Greater Shepparton (VIC), and Logan and Rockhampton (QLD).

Some community sector organisations have already expressed concern that these changes are inflexible and do not take into account the actual needs of the young people concerned. Furthermore, they say that there is very little evidence to suggest that such schemes have positive outcomes for the people whose income is being managed.

Further details about Income Management are available on the FaHCSIA website.

For an article by the Victorian Council of Social Service, see: http://vcoss.org.au/blog/income-management-now-targeting-vulnerable-young-people/

(Source: Youth Field Xpress July 2013)

An annual survey by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has found that youth services are among those services experiencing the highest demand in the community sector.

The ACOSS Australian community sector survey 2013 findings use data from a survey conducted earlier this year that cover the period of the financial year 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012. More than 530 organisations took part in the survey, which paints a damning picture of a community service sector struggling to cope with ever-increasing demands.

Youth services were listed among the top three categories that were unable to meet demand among its own client group, and with the second-highest turn-away rate of 17% across all groups surveyed. The section on youth services in this report (see p. 36 of the report) draws on the results of the recent Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) survey of youth workers, which listed the issues of most concern to young people as: education, mental health, behaviour management, income support, drugs, housing, and alcohol issues. (See the item about the AYAC survey under ‘Youth work’ in this issue of YFX.)

Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine, ACOSS Deputy CEO, said that urgent action was needed to ‘address these issues, along with a plan to increase the abysmally low income support allowances payments like Newstart’.

Talking on the ABC’s The World Today program, Ray Reodica, Acting Executive Director of AYAC, said that young people on Youth Allowance are having to live on $29 a day ‘so these are the young people who are going to services to try and get that additional support and help them through this situation’.

Read more from ACOSS: http://acoss.org.au/media/release/australias_community_services_unable_to_meet_growing_demand and download the report: http://acoss.org.au/papers/australian_community_sector_survey_20131 And see or listen to The World Today at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-01/welfare-providers-unable-to-meet-growing-demand/4791734?section=business

(Source: Youth Field Xpress Ju;y 2013)

The 2013-14 funding round for the Youth Development and Support Program (YDSP) is now open. The Australian Government established the YDSP to provide funding for development opportunities for young people in Australia.

$500,000 will be available in the 2013-14 YDSP funding round to fund initiatives that inspire and encourage young people to engage with government and their community, and help them develop skills and connections within their communities.

This year YDSP will focus funding on projects under the theme ‘Building a safe and supportive culture’. Applications should demonstrate how the Projects will develop Young People’s skills to engage in positive non-violent/non-bullying behaviours in their community. These Projects will:
• enhance wellbeing and build young people’s resilience and ability to cope with stress; and/or
• assist Young People to engage with their community and encourage leadership.

In order to be eligible to apply for YDSP funding, an organisation must be:
• a non-government organisation; and
• not-for-profit; and
• a company or an incorporated association.

Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations are strongly encouraged. Applications for funding must be submitted by 5.00 pm AEST on 23 August 2013. Information about the grants process, including Program Guidelines and how to apply for funding, are available at www.youth.gov.au. For all enquiries, call 1300 363 079 Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm (AEST), TTY users call 133 677 then ask for 1300 363 079, or email [email protected]

The Safe and Well Online Study is part of an Australian Government supported initiative called the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre. A key goal of this work is to find the best ways to use online environments, including social media, to positively influence safe and well practices in young people and promote respect and positive attitudes and behaviours online. Have your say to inform policy and practice. Will you register to complete 2 surveys? You can then enter into a prize draw to WIN an iPad.

Click on this link for more information and to register. Or contact Dr Barbara Spears on (08) 830 24500 and [email protected]; Dr Carmel Taddeo on (08) 830 24012 and [email protected].

Source: YACWA enews 26/7/13

ACU has just released new Research to Practice Issues!

The quarterly ICPS Research to Practice Series links the findings of research undertaken by ICPS, to the development of policy and practice in the area of child, youth and family welfare.

The issues they have looked at are:

• Interventions and practice principles for supporting young people who are homeless
• Identity and meaning in the lives of vulnerable young people

For all the info check out this link: http://www.acu.edu.au/566948

Source: AYAC enews July 2013

Nominations are now open for the Styleprint Youth Leadership Award!

To nominate or find out more information, click on the image below:

 

The Queensland Government is offering sponsorship funding to assist community groups and organisations who host events during 2014 Queensland Week, from 30 May to 8 June.

Sponsorship funding of up to $8000 (excl GST) for a limited number of events is available, with successful applicants forming part of the Queensland Government’s 2014 Queensland Week celebrations.

Queensland Week is a time when all Queenslanders can get together and celebrate the proud histories and traditions that make Queensland the great state it is today.  All communities across the state are encouraged to put together their best Queensland celebration.  It could be a street parade, barbeque, concert or festival or anything that is special to your community.

Download the program guidelines and application form or phone 07 3405 5215 for more information.

Applications close COB Friday 30 August 2013.

Are you a social enterprise that has been operating for less than 3 years?
Do you have?

• A well thought out business idea or a documented business plan
• The passion to follow it
• Evidence of trading history or financial forecasts

Foresters has finance options tailored for early stage social enterprise to grow and develop.

• $300,000 is available for a variety of loans including commercialisation of Intellectual Property, business purchase, business development, equipment, marketing, website development, program delivery, human resources and any other worthwhile purpose.

 
Application Criteria
Organisations must meet the following criteria in order to be considered:

• Be a social enterprise
• Demonstrate an ability to service a loan
• Be seeking loan finance for business development purposes

Apply Online
Applications are open until 16 August 2013. Please complete the online loan application form by following the below link and return your supporting documentation to express your interest.

http://www.foresters.org.au/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=GROW_app

Please be advised that the following Brisbane City Council grant programs are open for application:-
Full program details, guidelines and application forms are available online via www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/grants

Community Development and Capacity Building Grants Program
Provides funds to community organisations to improve and develop services that respond to local and city-wide issues in Brisbane, including – increasing community identity and connections; increasing social inclusion and reducing isolation. 
Applicants can apply for an amount between $2,000 and $10,000
Closing Date: 2 September 2013
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/community/grants-and-awards/community-groups-and-non-profit/community-development-and-capacity-building-grants/index.htm

Healthy and Physical Activity Grants Program
Provides funds to community organisations for projects to increase participation in community sport, recreation and physical activity in Brisbane. 
Applicants can apply for an amount between $5,000 and $20,000
Closing Date: 2 September 2013
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/community/grants-and-awards/community-groups-and-non-profit/healthy-and-physical-activity-grants/index.htm

Community Support Funding Program
Provides financial assistance to:
-          Community groups facing financial hardships
-          Providers of affordable housing in Brisbane 
Eligible applicant groups must have paid General Rates on properties they owned or administered during the 2012/13 financial year.  Successful community groups and service providers are credited a percentage of the annual general rates paid.
Closing Date: 2 September 2013
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/community/grants-and-awards/community-groups-and-non-profit/community-support-funding-program/index.htm

Suburban Crime Prevention Grants
Provides funds to suburban businesses and not-for-profit community groups and sporting clubs for projects or services that will help deter crime and improve community safety in their local suburb and community. 
Applicants can apply for an amount between $1,000 and $10,000
Closing Date: 25 November 2013
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/community/grants-and-awards/suburban-crime-prevention-grant/index.htm

Please contact Brisbane City Council via 3403 8888 if you have any questions about these programs or desire advice on developing an application.