Youth workers networks have the potential to be strong, dynamic groups which have a real impact on addressing youth issues at a local area.
If your network is becoming boring or unproductive then its time to get some new ideas and strategies. This fact sheet provides an overview of the value of networking and strategies for improving your local youth network.
Finding your local youth network
You can find local youth networks across NSW listed at http://www.yapa.org.au/youthwork/facts/networkslist.php
Networks provide
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Forum for information exchange. This will assist you in developing your knowledge of what other community services provide in your area and help you provide appropriate referrals to young people you work with.
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Co-ordination for provision of service for young people to avoid duplication in service provision and work on developing joint programs and strategies with other youth services.
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Support for youth workers. This is particularly important for solo and isolated workers. Networking is a way to gain and offer support, debriefing and ideas to other youth workers.
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Information on new funding such as Area Assistance Scheme, Youth Arts and Skills Festival, Capital Assistance Program and lots more funding you may not hear about if you don't attend.
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Information on government decisions and an opportunity to find out about new government policies impacting on young people, such as the Youth Allowance, law and order, immigration etc.
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Lobbying and political power. Twenty voices are better than one! Networks provide an excellent opportunity to get together as a group and lobby local, state and federal governments to consider the needs of young people.
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Networks have great potential in achieving positive change for young people.
How can you improve your network?
Clear goals/aims and direction
Networks need to have a clear aim and direction, otherwise they can function as an information share only and achieve little else. Take time out each year to set a limited number of clear goals which everyone can work towards. Don't take on too many tasks at once. Having achievable goals helps members to feel that there is a real purpose and outcome to the meetings.
Consider holding a planning day facilitated by an independent person to develop goals and develop this into a basic work plan for your network which indicates WHO will do WHAT and WHEN. Monitor this regularly.
Having a clear vision will help your group stay focused on what you want to achieve.
Shared ownership
Ownership of the network should be shared equally amongst the group. Having an executive group should not mean that they get to make all the decisions. If ownership remains in the hands of a few, other members may not feel confident in speaking up and suggesting ideas and are more likely to lose motivation or drop out as a result.
Shared workload
Everyone needs to have an understanding of what their role is within the group and contribute equally to the workload. For example you could have a rotating position for chairing, taking minutes, bringing morning tea for each meeting.
Good chairing
Networks commonly suffer from bad time management where an information share can seem to last for hours! Your chairperson must be efficient at setting a specific time for each section of your agenda and stop anyone who starts to ramble on (be kind but firm). If people start talking about something which only concerns a small number in the group or seem to get off track ask them to continue the discussion in the break or set up a different meeting time.
Good chairing also involves ensuring that everyone gets to have their say on decisions, not just the vocal minority.
Convenient times for meetings
Consult with all your members on the most convenient time to attend network meetings and set this as a regular time. Don't set your meeting times for Friday mornings if the direct service workers need to work late on Friday nights.
Plenty of notice for upcoming meetings
You could develop a calendar of meeting dates for the year. Don't forget to send a reminder notice though, a week before the meeting. If you need to have several meetings with other youth workers for a range of different committees you could try and schedule 2 or 3 meetings one after the after.
Focus on direct service workers
The network should focus on addressing local youth issues so it is really important that direct service workers participate and have ownership of the network. While it can be useful to have reps from government departments attending, they should not be setting the direction of the network.
Include speakers and trainers
Many networks set aside a time at the start or end of their meetings for a short training session or a guest speaker on a topic that has been identified by the group as important. This can help attract people to your meetings .
Get to know people in your network
Make a time for everyone to get together socially as a network or have a long morning tea break at your meetings. This will help you get to know and work with each other better. Some networks go out for dinner every few months, have basketball comps or occasionally have network meetings in coffee shops.
Inform peak groups
... such as YAPA about what is happening in your area and network. Many peaks have formal mechanisms set up to consult with networks and this in turn informs the work they do in addressing issues at a state or federal level. Case studies, in particular, really help peaks to argue for policy change. Perhaps you can set aside time in your agenda to briefly discuss examples of how government policies are impacting on the young people you work with.
Recognise the importance of networking
... and include it in your work plan and reports to your management committee and Annual General Meeting.
Info share
Info share can be productive if chaired well and if each member is given a limited time to speak. Try handing out info share sheets for members to write down details of their info share – this will help your minute taker to record details accurately. Encourage members will lots of information to bring handouts and only speak about the main points.
Use information share to identify current or emerging youth issues and plan to take action as a group in addressing these issues.
Recruit members
Make sure you have an exciting project to work on before you try and recruit new members, not the other way around! People will attend meetings if they can see that it has a clear purpose and outcome.
Evaluate your network
... regularly and examine the current strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities.
Gain consensus
... on area priorities, new developments, social plans etc and maintain a consistent and united front. This can be useful for funding processes such as the Area Assistance Scheme or for upcoming elections.
Email announcements and useful info
Some youth networks have a short email announcements to members once a week or once a month with information about training opportunities, government policy announcements etc. Others forward flyers they receive about upcoming events. Make sure you don't swamp members with too many emails though. Also make sure that anyone who asks to be removed from your list is removed promptly.
When sending email announcements make sure you use the BCC field, rather than the TO field. This will provide some protection to your members from viruses and spam.
Some youth networks have set up bulletin board systems over the internet.
Joint school holiday programs
Combined school holiday programs are a great way for understaffed services to offer fully supervised activities and have someone to discuss and debrief with during activities. Some networks produce a joint school holiday booklet containing all activities within the local area. The tasks for publicising activities, such as visiting schools and distributing flyers can then be greatly reduced by dividing tasks equally between workers.
Delegation to meet with local Councillors on a regular basis
Contact the Councillors in your local area and request a quarterly briefing session where they can update you on Council's progress on youth issues. This is an opportunity to hold Councillors to the promises they made in the lead up to their election to local Council. Keeping in contact with Councillors may ensure that they are more likely to inform or consult with you in the future about major Council decisions impacting on young people.
Media watch
Get your network active in promoting positive stories about young people in your local newspaper or radio station. Perhaps you can get media training as a group during one of your network meetings. Put media on the agenda for each of your meetings.
Orientation for new members
When you hear that a worker has left a position in the area, organise for one of your members to meet the new worker and talk about local services and your youth network.
