2011 NSW Youth Work Conference
Presented by YAPA
The 2011 NSW Youth Work Conference was held across three awesome days from 24-26 August, 2011 at the Sebel in Surry Hills. Over 150 of NSW's finest youth workers, managers, coordinators, psychologists, chaplains, academics, researchers (and even some young people!) came along to see participate in some of the following highlights:
- a 'different' keynote delivered by youth work guru Peter Slattery along with 3 great young people - it was set the tone for what was to be an inspiring, moving, motivating and energising conference;
- the debut of Lou the border collie (yes IN the Hotel), as part of the BackTrack 'Paws Up' program with marginalised boys from Armidale;
- some great research from Nina Funnell adding young people's voices and views to the debate around sexting and 'online courtship', which saw her in high demand for a subsequent session;
- a packed YWCA session which started at using forum theatre to explore issues with young people, and ended in a discussion of male help-seeking and support networks - DEEP and useful!
- a much-loved (and tweeted) presentation by Jack Manning-Bancroft from the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME), outlining his awesome vision and belief in our indigenous young people;
- the musical cacophony and deep personal reflection of YAPA's 'all-in' group self care session;
- four excellent Master Classes around 'youth work at best' (Peter Slattery), ethical youth work practice (Nick Manning), getting good things done for young people on a regional or LGA scale (Maxine Kenyon), and results based accountability (Results Group Australia).
Unfortunately there won't be another NSW Youth Work conference for two years (that means 2013!!!). In the meantime, we thought we would host some of the awesome pictures, and some resources and links from the various presenters and attendees below.
Pictures
Resources
Participant notes by Meghan Quinn, from Snowy River Council, who has put together an truly amazing record of the conference, and agreed to share with everyone! Thanks Meghan!!!
Presenters' resources
(in order of appearance at the conference):
Peter Slattery
Check out Peter's work at www.peterslattery.com
Backtrack and Paws Up
Brought some of their youth workers and a dog to discuss engaging young marginalised men in rural areas. Program info at www.backtrack.org.au
Amelia Frid - The Reach Foundation
Ran a session called 'Every Heart Beats True', and run school and community-based Programs, which you can see at www.reach.org.au
Shane Cucow, Inspire Foundation
Inspire is proud to announce that we’ve recently gone live with a new online education module for youth support workers and mental health professionals. The ReachOut Pro Education Module – Connecting Our Worlds, is a professional development initiative to assist you to better engage with young people through the use of technology. The module is aimed at providing a basic understanding of the benefits of technology with some introductory “how to” exercises and practical solutions. The module is freely available to all professionals at ReachOutPro.com.au.
Nina Funnell
Researcher into young people and sexting, with some of her ideas and work at http://jmrc.arts.unsw.edu.au/postgraduate-research/jmrc-masters-and-phd-projects-/n/
YAPA's Marketing Your Youth Service
Slides from the presentation here and see www.yapa.org.au for more resources
Clive Leach - University of Sydney
Looks at 'flourishing' youth provision and positive psychology in youth work. His blog, and a download of his research are at www.openforum.com.au/content/creating-flourishing-youth-provision-what-might-really-work
Myriam Bahari - NSW Commission for Children and Young People
Free resources from the Commission at www.kids.nsw.gov.au/kids/working/safefriendly.cfm
Barbara Beccari - Need2Connect
A free download of her 'seven ways' here and see Need2Connect at www.need2connect.com.au/
YWCA
Did their fantastic presentation around using forum theatre - see the presentation here and info on what they do here
Andrew Crawford - Streetwork
Find out about Streetwork's mentoring and youth work here http://www.streetwork.org.au/
Jack Manning-Bancroft - AIME
Look at the awesome work of AIME at www.aimementoring.com/ and support their national hoodie day!
YAPA's Consulting with Young People
See Emily's session here and see www.yapa.org.au for more resources
Amrita Hobbs - The Rite Journey
For info about Rites of Passage in Youth Work, look at www.theritejourney.com.au/
Vicki Condon - Young Love Foundation
Ran a fantastic and fun session on engaging you mums - download it here and look at www.younglove.org.au/
Phil Daughtry - Tabor Adelaide
- Gave a challenging and stimulating 'frontiers' session on "If there a place for faith and values in youth work?". We hope to get the presentation up soon, but in the meantime you can have a look at Tabor's youth work degrees here www.taboradelaide.com/courses/youthwork_info.php
Terence Humphreys and Rebecca Reynolds - Twenty10
Ran a great session on engaging with GLBTIQ Young People, look at Twenty10's work at www.twenty10.org.au/
Vaughan Bowie
Ran an extremely popular session on stress and violence in youth work. I don't think that we can get his paper up here, but you can get it in the Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies' 'Doing Youth Work in Australia', which can be bought here www.acys.info/acys_books/books/doing_youth_work_in_australia
Meg Williams and Chris Zajko - Indent
This presentation about engaging young people through arts and music was one of the most anticipated sessions of the conference. Have a look at the cool stuff that Indent do at www.indent.net.au
Nick Manning
Ran the great Masterclass on ethical practice in youth work. He thinks the following links are really useful (and he would know!):
- YAPA Youth Work Ethics blog: http://youthworkethics.blogspot.com/
- Code of Ethics for Youth Work: www.yapa.org.au/youthwork/ethics/codetext.php
- Is it OK? Duty of care, law & ethics in NSW youth work (fact sheets) www.yapa.org.au/youthwork/facts/ok/index.php
Maxine Kenyon - Wyong City Council
Ran an awesome Masterclass on achieving results on a community and regional scale for Youth Development Officers. She has provided her presentation here and a project planning cheat sheet here. She also suggests links to the following:
- Wyong Shire Council Engagement Strategy (link) www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/my-community/youth/youth-engagement-strategy/
- Good examples of community indicators - NSW DLG report and Community Indicators Victoria www.communityindicators.net.au