see also What's on - for youth workers
Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW
Justice James Wood has been commissioned by the NSW Government to "conduct an inquiry to determine what changes within the child protection system are required to cope with future levels of demand once the current reforms to that system are completed". Any person or group interested in making a submission to this inquiry have been asked to do so by Monday, 11 February 2008 to: Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW, PO Box K1026, HAYMARKET NSW 1240. For more info: Freecall: 1800 442 819,
02 9377 5400
Email: cps_inquiry@agd.nsw.gov.au Website: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/cpsinquiry 1/08
Barriers to Service Delivery for Young Pregnant Women & Mothers
Barriers occur in complex relationships with each other that can become self-perpetuating. The more barriers a young woman faces, and/or the more vulnerabilities that she experiences, the more difficult it is for her to access services, and the more difficult it will be for service providers to accommodate her needs. 7/07
www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/aboutfacs/programs/youth-young_pregnant.htm
Cheap computer gear from DonorTec
DonorTec aims to assist charities and nonprofit organisations with Income Tax Exempt status by providing software and hardware for very low or discounted fees, as well as by supporting you to make the most of your ICT purchases and infrastructure. www.donortec.com.au 5/07
NSW Centre for Advancement of Adolescent Health (NSW CAAH)
NSW CAAH's role as a technical support agency is to build the confidence and capacity of partner agencies in responding to youth health issues, through developing/disseminating information and resources, delivering professional education and training, undertaking applied research and promoting good practices, and contributing to advocacy and policy development.
www.caah.chw.edu.au 5/07
Youth Work Practice: 2000 Games, Devotions and Ideas
Over 2000 (indoor & outdoor) group games, devotions and themes, ideas and "know how" for youth workers to prepare group meetings, camps or club events. This website is for all parents, youth workers, youth leaders, social workers, teachers, youth pastors, or in short: all who work with children and youth. www.youthwork-practice.com
Detecting signs of suicide?
Youth counsellors fail to detect suicide signs: School counsellors and youth workers are failing to detect children at risk of suicide or ensure vulnerable youths are properly treated smh.com.au 7/11/06 * Read the report kids.nsw.gov.au 11/06
Got rid of any computers lately? Did you wipe the drive first?
When you sell or give away an old computer, you must first remove all sensitive information such as personal details of clients and employees. This is more complicated than deleting the files. Read this article... then do what has to be done to protect your data. Second-hand drives hold your secrets smh.com.au 17/8/06
YAPA can't vouch for this but it was mentioned in the Sydney Herald: Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction. http://dban.sourceforge.net/
National School Chaplaincy Program
Macarthur Youth Services Network asks the Federal Government to ensure that the National School Chaplaincy Program allows high school communities the choice of hiring either a chaplain or a suitably trained youth worker... more
Of Substance magazine - special youth issue
- Of Substance: national, quarterly free magazine on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs - October 2006 - special youth issue - to view the PDF and/or to subscribe to free, printed copies www.ofsubstance.org.au
Care in early teen years
Outside school hours care programs - before- and after-school care and vacation care - cater for children until they finish primary school. Once children start high school they're on their own. Care in early teen years is essential, too smh.com.au 26/7/06
Tobacco Control and Social Equity Strategy
A collaborative project initiated by the Cancer Council NSW in cooperation with social service agencies: Most of us would say we are aware of the health impact of smoking - we've seen the posters and watched the ads. And many may think that smoking is a personal issue. But as we understand more about the relationship between smoking and disadvantage it becomes clear that this is a fundamental social justice issue. > more on Tobacco Control and Social Equity Strategy
Cultural Diversity Calendar
Produced in collaboration with Community Relations Commission for multicultural NSW, covers 600 events from 150 communities with exceptional photography and information.
Plan your events with culture in mind. www.citynations.com/calendar/articles/000260.cfm
Powerhouse Youth Theatre
Why youth theatre has this would-be wrestler in a headlock: Claudia Chidiac gets the 2006 Young Leaders Award for her role as artistic director of Powerhouse Youth Theatre in south-west Sydney. smh.com.au 18/10/06
Strong bonds
for workers supporting young people with complex needs
When you work with young people who have complex needs, it can be a challenge to work out the best way to support them and their family. Strong Bonds has lots of easy-to-use information to help you support young people and families:
- Working with young people - how can workers talk to young people about family issues, without losing the focus on the young person as the client?
- Working with families - how can you effectively communicate with family about a young person's health issues and obtain their support?
- Understanding families - what role do families play in young people's development?
- Worker issues - how do you deal with professional issues, such as confidentiality and privacy laws?
- Tips, help sheets and links to other useful websites
By Jesuit Social Services (JSS) and funded by the Federal Government of Health and Ageing and the William Buckland Foundation. For printed information sheets - phone 03 9415 8700. www.strongbonds.jss.org.au 8/06
dance party
No booze, no groping and the youngsters love it: The DJs are altar boys and girls. There are voice-recognition security checks, rules against lingering kisses... But somehow, north Sydney's junior high school dance party, Lav, has done well for nine years. smh.com.au 26/8/06
Save a Mate (SAM)
Save a Mate (SAM) is a training program designed to promote successful outcomes to emergencies resulting from alcohol and other drug (AOD) use.
surf youthwork
Board-rider sees God at the end of a pipeline: a full-time surf youth worker at Cronulla Baptist Church. smh.com.au 6/5/06
Hepatitis C
Multilingual hep C booklet is now available. www.multiculturalhivhepc.net.au
Our Place
Our Place is a booklet for youth workers containing tips and case studies related to Aboriginal Young People and issues such as grief & loss, AOD issues, school, racism, housing, networking, support. A useful guide to increase your understanding on how to work with Aboriginal young people more effectively. $15 incl. GST & postage. South Sydney Youth Services: 02 9318 0539
Doing New Work
Doing New Work is a new resource to support work around sexual diversity and with GLBTi young people and that provides potentially powerful teaching tools.
Getting off the referral roundabout: effective legal referral
Kingsford Legal Centre has produced an essential DVD resource for anyone who works with clients experiencing legal problems. Making an effective referral is a challenging task that not only requires strong interpersonal skills but also an up-to-date knowledge of the diverse range of available services. Training staff and volunteers in making referrals is essential to avoid clients being sent from agency to agency, never finding the one that can assist them with their problem.
The Getting off the Referral Roundabout DVD covers issues such as: valuing and respecting a client, communicating effectively, participating in and knowing about your own agency, identifying a client’s information and referral needs, knowledge of service providers, making effective referrals, basic knowledge required about the law, legal system and legal service providers, preparing a client for an interview with a lawyer, finding plain language legal information online. Getting off the Referral Roundabout: Effective legal referral: $30 DVD, & free workbook.
