The Australian Government Office for Youth is seeking an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young person, aged 12-25 years, to be a member of the National Youth Week (NYW) 2014 National Planning Group.

The successful applicant will play an important role in providing advice to increase engagement and participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people during NYW 2014. They will have input into the planning, promotion, implementation and evaluation of NYW 2014 at a national level. 

Expressions of Interest for the 2014 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian Government Representative are now open and will close on at 11am (AEST) Friday 14 June. 

Check out the NYW website for more info http://www.youthweek.com. You can email your completed Expression of Interest to the NYW Secretariat at [email protected]

During National Youth Week 2013, the Federal Minister for Youth the Hon Peter Garrett MP launched the National Youth Awards. The initiative aims to celebrate and recognise Australia’s young people by acknowledging their outstanding achievements.

In total, there are seven awards available in different categories. Six of the awards are for individuals and one award highlights positive media focusing on young people. Each award category winner (with the exception of the Positive Media Award) will receive $2000, a trophy and certificate. The winner of the Positive Media Award will receive a trophy and a certificate.

Applications close: 11pm AEST 23 June 2013. To download the nomination form and guidelines visit http://www.youthweek.com/nya

Mission Australia have now launched their Mission Australia's Youth Survey 2013. This important tool asks young Australians aged 15-19 years what they value, where they turn for advice and support, what issues concern them, how they are involved with their community and their feelings about their future. The survey can be completed online at mayouthsurvey.com.au  or in paper form by  emailing a request [email protected] with the required quantities and the delivery address. The survey is open until Friday 28 June 2013.

Source: YACWA enews

A new magazine designed for young people entering high school for the first time has been launched in Queensland and has received a highly positive response; the magazine is now available online.

Called Consume, the magazine is designed to ‘plug a gap’ in the information provided to young people in Grade 8. It aims to promote healthy attitudes towards body image, health and sexuality, and to encourage tolerance and personal responsibility. The first issue of the Consume was actually completed in 2011 and was reprinted due to high demand in 2012. This issue is now online and can be accessed at: http://consumemagazine.com/ Currently a second issue of Consume is being prepared; the deadline for contributions is 30 November 2013.

The magazine developed out of an idea to ‘create a forum where youth workers and young people could contribute information that they thought would be beneficial’ to young Queenslanders. Topics covered range from positive body image to politics and activism to how the body changes during puberty; it will be of interest to all young Australians.

The Eating Disorders Association Inc. is responsible for compiling Consume, and funding comes from the Youth Development and Support Program (managed by DEEWR) and also some funds from the Queensland Department of Communities and the Mental Health Directorate of Queensland. It is a great resource.

Source: Youth Field Xpress, 22 May 2013

 The Australian Greens have launched a National Youth Survey to find out what 15–25-year-olds think about current issues that have an impact on young people's lives.

There are big-picture questions about Australia and its future, and a range of questions on education, safety and bullying, homophobia, social security and the environment. The results of the survey will play a crucial role in the party's policy development in the future.

‘The voice of Australia's young people is too important to ignore,’ the Greens youth spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said. ‘Today's youth are the leaders of tomorrow and it is essential that we develop policies that support them.’

The survey can be accessed at: www.nationalyouthsurvey.com

(Source: ACYS & Youth Field Xpress April 2013)

Calling all creative young innovators! Do you have an idea that could change our future?

Vibewire are putting the call out to changemakers (30 and under), who are working on or looking to launch creative projects with social impact, to apply to compete for $2, 000, an Innovation Lab Scholarship and other prizes at the Pitch the Future Event at the Vivid Festival of Ideas. See full list of prizes below.

We are accepting applications til 5pm May 15.

APPLY NOW

If your application is selected you along with 5 other young changemakers will have the opportunity to pitch your idea to Sydney’s creative and changemaker communities on May 30 at Vivid Ideas.  

The winning projects will receive:

• $2000 seed funding (audience choice only).
• 24/7 workspace at the Vibewire Innovation Lab (6 months for the winner and 3 months for the runner-up). The Lab is Sydney’s original co-working space for social innovators and is located on Harris St in Ultimo.
• Be matched with a mentor who will meet with you regularly over the next 6 months while you develop your project;
• Be profiled on Vibewire.org.
• Receive free access to all workshops and events taking place at the Innovation Lab.
• Receive a pass to Unleashed at the Opera House in November run by the Foundation for Young Australians.

See the applicant criteria on the Vibewire website. This event is being jointly produced by a collection of Australia’s leading organisations for social and creative entrepreneurs – Vivid Ideas Festival, Vibewire, the Foundation for Young Australians, the Awesome Foundation Sydney and StartSomeGood.com. The winner will be chosen by audience selection and the runner-up will be selected by judging panel.

On 5 April 2013 Minister for Youth Peter Garrett announced a new Australian Government initiative, the ‘National Youth Awards’. The Awards will be held annually in National Youth Week to celebrate, acknowledge and recognise Australia’s youth. The National Youth Awards will celebrate young people and promote the important contribution they make to the nation and will be ‘for young people by young people’. If you are aged 12-25 and would like to have your say on the details of the Awards, please complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NYA.

This survey will be open until the end of NYW. For more information see the link at http://www.youthweek.com/national-youth-awards

beyondblue, the national organisation that works to combat depression and anxiety in Australia, is holding a competition specifically for 12- to 25-year-olds as part of this year’s National Youth Week.

Young people are asked to submit a picture and caption that best reflects this year’s National Youth Week theme: ‘Be active. Be happy. Be you.’ Entrants will be in the running to win a $1,000 surfboard. The competition can be accessed on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/beyondblue?ref=ts&fref=ts)

For more competition details and ideas about how to make your Youth Week events a success, go to: http://www.youthbeyondblue.com/home/national-youth-week-2013/

(Source: Youth Field Xpress March 2013 and email from Youthbeyondblue, 12 March 2013.)

National Children’s and Youth Law Centre (NCYLC) has an exciting new project called 'Caps, Apps and other Mobile Traps' that seeks to empower young people in making informed decisions when it comes to mobile phone ownership and the financial responsibility that comes with it.

The project will see the production of materials for young people so that you can better understand your consumer rights when:
- choosing a mobile phone plan;
- reading and signing the contract;
- receiving their first bill; and
- needing to make a complaint when their rights as a consumer have been breached.

To help NCYLC with this new campaign we ask young people to please fill out this survey to spill your thoughts about the issues you are facing in relation to mobile phone ownership and your struggle to understand adult-based telecommunications jargon in making informed decisions. 

If you are under 18 please click here for the survey.

Source: AYAC newsletter 28/2/13

The Eagleby Learning College has a new round of vacancies for Term 2 - commencing 15th April 2013. These courses include:    

• Year 10 program (6 months);
• Year 11 & 12 program (12 months);
• Literacy & Numeracy program;
• Apply First Aid Certificate (3 x 3 Hours classes – 5:30pm to 8:30pm)

The College will NOT be offering Certificate I in Construction or Certificate I in Engineering for Term 2. Download the application forms below: