Policy
YAPA will seek to address the disadvantages faced by rural young people and rural youth services.
We will seek the views and active involvement of rural young people and services in YAPA.
For the purposes of this policy "regional, rural and remote" means those areas in NSW outside of the Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong metropolitan areas.
Procedure
Our Rural Strategy will include, but not be limited to, the following key commitments -
Advocacy work
YAPA will consider the particular needs of rural young people and youth services in each major campaign and response to Government policy.
YAPA will raise an awareness of the disadvantages faced by rural young people and services, particularly in relation to the distribution of funding and government services.
Forums, Events & Training
YAPA will hold a Rural Youth Issues Forum each year to showcase rural youth service initiatives.
YAPA will facilitate at least one Survival course each year in a rural area.
YAPA will ensure a proportion of State Conferences is dedicated to the specific needs of rural services and young people.
YAPA will encourage and advocate to other training providers to provide training in rural areas.
Travel subsidies
YAPA will provide travel subsidies, from an allocated budget, for rural organisational members to attend YAPA forums and training events such as Survival & New Coordinators course.
YAPA will allocate and seek additional funding to allow for rural subsidies to be provided for State Youth Work and Young People's conferences.
YAPRap
Rural youth and youth work issues and perspectives will be included in YAPRap editions. YAPA will ensure that at least one YAPRap per year focuses on rural youth issues.
Consultation
YAPA will ensure that major consultations such as the NSW Youth Services Census and ACTivate actively involve and give an equitable voice & weighting to the views of rural young people and youth services.
YAPA will ensure that steering committees and one-off consultations provide an opportunity for rural members to participate through mechanisms such as web based forms, fax back forms and email discussion groups.
Website & Egroups
YAPA will work to improve our mechanisms for communicating with rural young people and youth services such as our website, e-lists and YAPA Latest email. These mechanisms will aim to decrease the disadvantages faced by rural young people and youth services in accessing information, resources and support.
Networks
YAPA will seek to be involved in major regional and rural youth networks and conferences such as those held in the Hunter, Illawarra and Mid North Coast regions.
Regional offices
YAPA will investigate the establishment of regional YAPA offices, to provide intensive on the ground support for young people and youth workers. As a priority we will seek to establish offices in the Hunter and Illawarra regions.
Board participation
YAPA will reimburse costs for rural members participating in the Board of Management and investigate other strategies for improving rural representation on the Board of Management.
Review
The Regional, Rural & Remote Strategy will be reviewed annually in line with the YAPA Strategic Plan.
Date adopted by the Board of Management |
23 May 2005 |
Date reviewed |
1 June 2005 |
