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Take back our children, say angry foster parents

Helen and Brian MacDonald believe the children they have raised for the past 6½ years are the ''best two foster kids in Australia.'' But they have decided they will not look after them any more because the state government has cut payments to foster carers of 16- and 17-year-olds, from January 1. In most cases households will be $214 a fortnight worse off… smh.com.au 2/2/12 Read more

 

Conferences could replace jail for young sex offenders

YOUNG people who commit indecent assault and admit their guilt should not face court but be dealt with through a youth justice conference, a NSW government authority says. At present, they face a maximum five years' jail for the offence when they go to court. Juvenile Justice, a division of the NSW Attorney-General's Department, also wants young offenders who commit an act (as distinct from assault) of indecency to be dealt with by way of a conference. The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years' jail when the victim is under 16; and 18 months when the victim is 16 or older. The recommendations are made in Juvenile Justice's submission to a review of the Young Offenders' Act being undertaken by the NSW government.
But Don Weatherburn, the director of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, denies that juvenile justice conferences reduce re-offending or are a serious sanction. In his submission, Dr Weatherburn cites research that shows no differences in re-offending rates between young people dealt with through a court or a conference. He wants a stronger emphasis in the legislation on rehabilitation and early intervention to prevent re-offending. He says once offenders have exhausted three formal warnings or cautions over five years, they should be referred to Juvenile Justice for a risk assessment and then to the Children's Court, which would determine what evidence-based treatment programs were needed… smh.com.au 24/1/12 Read more

 

Mental health counselling cuts hit hard

Following a $580 million cut to the Better Access program, the number of yearly counselling sessions mental health patients can claim from Medicare dropped from 18 to 10. This potentially leaves tens of thousands of people cut off from help.
Many mental health experts agree the program funding should be diverted elsewhere, arguing the cuts simply highlight desperate and widespread need. The director of Weave South Sydney Mental Health, Shane Brown, said: “Without Better Access our psychologist feels compelled to see . . . patients free of charge because they can't afford private services.”
The federal Department of Health said money saved from Better Access would be reinvested in the Access to Allied Psychological Services, Headspace and online treatments. But funding is expected to roll out over five years, leaving patients with few options in the interim.
The executive director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney, Ian Hickie, said Better Access exacerbated inequalities in care, with 2 1/2 times more services going to the highest 20 per cent of incomes compared to the lowest. “I'm not saying they don't have care needs, but doesn't anyone care about inequity any more?” Professor Hickie said the most common number of sessions used under Better Access was five, and people who needed extended treatment were often not suited to the scheme… smh.com.au 28/11/11 Read more

 

Equal pay bolstered by breakthrough for community sector

BIG pay rises for more than 150,000 community sector workers will help narrow the large pay gap between men and women in Australia after a historic equal pay decision by the workplace tribunal.

Once annual award increases are factored in, the Fair Work Australia decision is expected to boost the pay of the mostly female workforce by between 40 to 65 per cent over the next eight years, unions said. The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, welcomed the ruling as a "significant advance for equal pay for women"...

The O'Farrell government welcomed the decision yesterday, but the Finance Minister, Greg Pearce, said he wanted to know how much of $2 billion in federal funding announced in November to pay for the increases would be coming to NSW.

The decision is regarded as the most important equal pay case since 1972, when equal pay for work of equal value was formally recognised. Eighty-seven per cent of the 30,000 social and community service workers in NSW are women.

The ASU NSW branch secretary, Sally McManus, said workers were "ecstatic" about the decision and called on the Premier, Barry O'Farrell, to support the increases... smh.com.au 2/2/12 Read more

 

Should boys also be vaccinated for HPV?

To help prevent cervical cancer, Australia four years ago introduced a school-based vaccination program for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for girls. But recent research shows HPV plays a role in cancers that affect both sexes, according to Marian Pitts, director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University. Professor Pitts says boys and young men are being kept in the dark about how the HPV vaccine could save their lives too… smh.com.au 15/11/11 click here / google headline for more

 

Mobile Matters

The Mobile Matters report details the findings from a year-long youth participatory action research and advocacy program that involved over 100 Melbourne students. The student researchers documented the challenges faced by them and their peers and made recommendations to industry for changes to better support young consumers.
Students have a clear message for telcos and regulators: "We want you to understand what it's like to be a young mobile consumer: we don't just use mobiles for mucking about. We use them for jobs and shifts, school, parents, and emergencies".
Youth and family debt related to mobile phone use has been a recognised problem in Australia for more than a decade. The Youth Advocates program aimed to empower young people to understand their rights and responsibilities as consumers, while fostering peer-research and self-advocacy skills. Major findings culminated in a set of recommendations calling for changes such as more straightforward product offerings and clearer language; removal of unfair charges for voicemail, late fees when there’s been no bill reminder, and charges for calling ‘free call’ (1800) or ‘local rate’ (13/1300) numbers; shorter and more appropriate contracts for young people; and targeted legislation to protect young consumers and keep telcos to their word. http://accan.org.au 4/11/11

 

Evaluation of Youth Connections project

The Brotherhood of St Laurence has released an evaluation report about the effectiveness of the Peninsula Youth Connections (PYC) program, part of a national Australian Government program aimed at supporting young people at risk of disengaging from education and training. PYC provides regular and intensive case management for up to two years for young people, ranging from those who are at high risk of disengaging from school to those who have long been disengaged. The evaluation report, called Overcoming barriers to education: Peninsula Youth Connections evaluation stage 1 report, looked at:

  • identifying the unmet needs that act as barriers to participation in education for young people;
  • the broader systemic factors that impede young people’s learning; and
  • assessing the Youth Connections model’s advantages using PYC as a case study.

Some of the key findings in these areas included a lack of personal and family support and unmet health needs as barriers to engagement in learning. Systemic barriers included the ‘excessive requirement to conform’ to school systems, and a bias towards academic pathways. The strengths of the Youth Connections model were found to be its flexible, holistic approach, and areas for improvement included improving communication with referring professionals and addressing program stability. The report and a 4 page summary: www.bsl.org.au/Research-and-Publications/Research-and-Policy-Centre/Through-school-to-work.aspx. [Source: www.acys.info]

 

Mental health big winner says Young and Well

The Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre has welcomed news that mental health has moved with Minister Butler into the cabinet, declaring it a landmark event for the mental health sector.

Launched in December with over 70 partners across the youth, mental health and community sectors, the Young and Well CRC is an Australian-based, international research centre that unites young people with researchers, practitioners and innovators to explore the role of technology in young people's lives, and how those technologies can be used to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

Associate Professor Jane Burns, Chief Executive Officer of the Young and Well CRC, said, “The youth and mental health sectors are ready for change and are committed to working together. The wellbeing of young Australians is a cross-portfolio issue, and the establishment of the Mental Health Commission and the appointment of Minister Butler to cabinet clearly reflect the community’s concerns about mental health. The government’s commitment to mental health reform could not have come at a better time.”

Based in Melbourne, the Young and Well CRC is a world first collaboration that brings young people together with world-class researchers, not-for-profit organisations, government and industry partners. During the next five years, the Young and Well CRC will conduct research to explore:

  • Cybersafety and fostering respectful relationships through social networking services like Facebook
  • Youth suicide, with a focus on gaming and the mental fitness of young men
  • Discrimination experienced by vulnerable populations and the use of mobile phone technologies to promote social inclusion
  • Eating disorders as a priority mental health issue
  • Young people living with a disability or chronic illness and the creation of virtual communities of support.

www.yawcrc.org.au 14/12/11

 

How Young People are Faring

The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) has released How Young People are Faring (HYPAF) 2011 – the latest report in an annual series on the employment and education situation of young Australians. The report shows two significant long-term trends:

  • the stability of working life for young people has steadily decreased
  • Australia’s economic prosperity is consistently not being passed on to many young people.

This year’s report shows a disturbing trend that the warning signs are not being heeded. “It is clear from HYPAF 2011 that young adults are more vulnerable than the rest of the population to economic instability. They are suffering from the decline in full-time job prospects and the move to more flexible working arrangements. While there are some positive developments in young people’s participation in learning and earning, we need to pay attention to the warning signs that highlight how vulnerable young people continue to be in these troubled economic times,” Jan Owen, FYA’s CEO, said.

Key HYPAF 2011 findings include:

  • more than one quarter of all long-term unemployed Australians are now aged 15 to 24
  • since 2008, the percentage of young Australians without a job for a year or longer has almost doubled
  • despite Australia’s relative economic buoyancy, teenagers in Australia have higher rates of long-term unemployment than in many other OECD countries.

Dr Lucas Walsh, FYA’s Director of Research and Evaluation, said that the overriding dilemma is the “pronounced and ongoing economic vulnerability” of Australia’s young people. “Young people are the first to be disadvantaged by an economic downturn, and among the last to recover,” Dr Walsh said. “The percentage of school leavers who are not studying or working is as high as it was during the recession of the early 1990s – this is an important warning sign for us,” Dr Walsh remarked. “We need to continue to focus on educational attainment, as well as developing effective interventions to improve student engagement. At the same time, we need to strengthen transition pathways, including VET in schools, and provide support for re-engagement and recovery, especially for those who are being left behind.” Ms Owen said, “We must take action to ensure that Australia’s prosperity is passed on to our young people. They deserve stable employment and access to a prosperous future.” www.fya.org.au/research/how-young-people-are-faring-2011

 

Community to have say on Aboriginal affairs policy

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Victor Dominello MP has opened community consultation for the development of a new Aboriginal affairs strategy for NSW. To help the public get involved in developing the strategy, Community Discussion Papers on service delivery, education and employment have been released, as has a schedule of public community meetings across NSW.

“The Ministerial Taskforce on Aboriginal Affairs – including seven Ministers and senior Aboriginal representatives – is determined to involve Aboriginal communities and other stakeholders in fostering great futures for Aboriginal people through improved educational and employment opportunity, and better performance by Government,” Minister Dominello said. “Our Taskforce wants to hear directly from the Aboriginal community, Aboriginal parents, the non-government sector, corporate Australia, educators and other "opportunity creators" about what's working on the ground and how we can build on these initiatives for the benefit of Aboriginal kids.

Our Taskforce seeks ideas that create generational change and will see more Aboriginal kids having real opportunity, real choices and real careers. With more than 35 per cent of the NSW Aboriginal population estimated to be under the age of 15, the NSW Government is determined to help today's Aboriginal kids have great tomorrows through choice, responsibility and opportunity."

To access the Community Discussion Papers and for further information including venues and times, see the Ministerial Taskforce webpage: www.daa.nsw.gov.au/taskforce/ or phone the Taskforce Secretariat on (02) 9219 0702. 14/12/11

 

Flawed system harming a new generation of forgotten children

In 2009, the Federal Parliament apologised to the forgotten Australians who were physically, sexually, and emotionally abused in state and charitable-run orphanages between the 1920s and '70s. The apology was accompanied by solemn pledges to never again allow child abuse to go unchecked. It followed the closing in the 1980s and '90s of virtually all large-scale orphanages because of the detrimental impact of institutionalised care on children. Yet 30 years later, state governments are quietly re-opening institutions to house children who are again being abused by the system that should protect them…
The standard policy and practice in all states is to keep vulnerable children with their families, and work with dysfunctional parents to try to fix problems such as substance abuse, mental illness and domestic violence. For many children, efforts to prevent maltreatment, including extensive contact with early intervention and other support services, does more harm than good because removal from the family home as a last resort occurs too late. Hence, most of the nearly 36,000 children in out-of-home care have serious emotional, psychological and behavioural problems… smh.com.au 3/11/11 click here / google headline for more

 

Is 13 too young to be a model?

A model agency says age 16 is seen as ‘‘too old’’ in the modelling world. Four experts debate the question:

  • The Commentator Libbi Gorr
  • The Model Alexandra Agostan
  • The Agent Dragon Dimovsky
  • The Politician Peter Garrett

smh.com.au 19/11/11 click here / google headline for more

 

Wear the 'F' label with pride

Today's young women still face a fight for equality with men, writes Judy King. "Embrace the F-word." It's probably not the phrase students, parents and teachers expect to hear from a former principal and guest speaker at their year 12 graduation evening. But the word ''feminism'' has been so misconstrued and misused, I feel compelled to urge my listeners not only to use it but to reclaim all it represents with passion and pride… smh.com.au 7/11/11 click here / google headline for more

 

Highly successful youth theatre performer recognised

The Australia Council for the Arts has awarded the $50,000 Ros Bower Award to a theatre performer who has achieved astonishing results with disadvantaged youth. Kharen Harper was presented with the prestigious award recently at the 2011 Australia Council Community Arts and Cultural Development Awards. Using the Highwater Theatre program, Kharen has worked with physically or emotionally damaged young people from the Albury/Wodonga area for a decade. These young people have reached the point where they are not attending school. But using her ‘infectious energy, compassion and artistic skills’ Kharen has had a phenomenal success rate in getting these young people back into school – around 80% of them have either returned to school or commenced their VCE or taken up apprenticeships. Learn more about Highwater Theatre program at: www.gatewaycommunityhealth.org.au/Services/YoungPeople/HighwaterTheatre.aspx and an evaluation of the program. [Source: www.acys.info]

 

Listen up: this rapper's the Dylan of his day

Do today's youth have their own Bob Dylan or John Lennon, someone who inspires an interest in the English language and its potency? The answer, for the Nobel laureate poet Seamus Heaney, is Eminem. ''He has created a sense,'' Heaney said, ''of what is possible.'' Arguably the English-speaking world's finest living poet praising the ''verbal energy'' of a rapper: how things have changed… smh.com.au 28/11/11 Read more

 

NSW Australian of the Year 2012 - Father Chris Riley

Twenty years ago, Father Chris Riley founded Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) with a single food van delivering meals to young homeless people in Kings Cross. Today it is a major agency assisting young people aged 12 to 21 who are homeless, face drug and alcohol dependency, exclusion from school, neglect and abuse. Chris estimates the organisation has helped over 50,000 young people with accommodation, education, psychological services and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. And it is his determination, unstinting hard work and respect for both the clients and his 250 staff, that has guaranteed the success and effectiveness of YOTS. Chris believes there is no such thing as ‘a child born bad’ but that they become vulnerable in unsafe environments and circumstances. But with intervention and education, lives can be turned around. In 1997 he opened Key College, an independent high school pioneering a flexible education model to help young homeless people return to school. YOTS now operates Key College on three separate campuses with a fourth school in the Southern Highlands. Twice the winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence, and the winner of the Human Rights Medal. Chris continues to help disadvantaged Australians with selfless dedication, respect and good humour. www.australianoftheyear.org.au

 

NSW Senior Australian of the Year 2012 - Barbara Holborow

Barbara Holborow’s philosophy is that ‘every child is everybody’s responsibility.’ The retired Children’s Court magistrate has long been a tireless champion for better judicial outcomes for children. Living with diabetes since she was 13, Barbara fought the odds as a single mother to establish a career for herself as a lawyer, working during the day and studying at night first for her Leaving Certificate, and then for her law degree, graduating at the age of 40. As a magistrate, Barbara was instrumental in setting up free legal aid for children in NSW, a care court to deal with cases of neglect, and a special jail for first-time offenders aged 18 to 25. She allowed television cameras into her court, believing that an open and transparent process would help reform the system. Since her retirement from the bench in 1994 she has continued to defend the rights of children. Over the years, many foster children have come under her care and while working at a refuge she met a young Aboriginal boy named Jacob who she later adopted. She has written three books on her experiences with children and, at the age of 81, continues her fearless crusading, lobbying government and garnering media attention. www.australianoftheyear.org.au

 

Surge in number of child killings linked to peers

THE number of children in NSW thought to be killed by their peers rose alarmingly last year, according to a report... Of the 13 children who died as a result of fatal assaults, seven were teenagers allegedly killed by their peers… Since 1996, the mortality rate for children has fallen by about 36 per cent, with decreases in deaths from drowning, transport and a big decrease in suicides… Fourteen children, aged 14 to 17, died as a result of suicide. More than half had stated their intent at some time to a friend or family member… smh.com.au 27/10/11 Read more

 

Should boys also be vaccinated for HPV?

TO HELP prevent cervical cancer, Australia four years ago introduced a school-based vaccination program for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for girls. But recent research shows HPV plays a role in cancers that affect both sexes, according to Marian Pitts, director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University. Professor Pitts says boys and young men are being kept in the dark about how the HPV vaccine could save their lives too… smh.com.au 15/11/11 Read more

 

New headspace centres

The establishment of 15 new headspace centres around Australia will give thousands more young Australians the help they need to overcome anxiety, depression and other conditions affecting their mental wellbeing. To inform the placement of centres, extensive investigations have been done to identify the areas of greatest need across Australia.
The locations are:

  • NSW: Tamworth, Lower Hunter, Port Macquarie, Sydney Outer West and Blue Mountains (Penrith), Northern Suburbs of Sydney
  • Victoria - Shepparton, South East (Dandenong), Outer East (Ringwood/Knox), Ballarat
  • Queensland - Mackay, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast
  • Western Australia - Bunbury, Perth North East
  • South Australia - Upper Spencer Gulf
  • In addition, two outpost services, overseen by existing headspace centres, will be established at Mt Isa (QLD) and Burnie/Devonport (TAS).

The new headspace centres will open in 2013 and will bring the total number of headspace centres to 55. The new centres are part of the $197 million funding commitment for headspace announced in the May Federal Budget. There are currently 30 headspace centres operating across Australia with a further 10 to open in early 2012.
www.headspace.org.au

 

Zero Tolerance

When a small group of Blue Mountains residents delivered a case of books to State Parliament in October, they left Macquarie Street hoping the reading material might just change government policy on graffiti. "The state's current zero tolerance strategy has been soberingly unsuccessful in relation to young people" said book co-author and youth worker Jarrod Wheatley. The book, Zero Tolerance, puts the case for a different strategy that places the emphasis on working with graffiti artists to provide legal avenues for their work. It examines the work of the Blue Mountains Street Art Collaborative (BMSAC), an artists' collective founded in 2008 by Mountains Youth Services Team to engage young street artists and graffiti writers in large scale public and private artworks. [Blue Mountains Review Oct 2011] More:

 

Teens start sexting as a way to fit in, says study

Teenagers are feeling pressure to send sexual images of themselves and others by mobile phone in what is becoming a potentially pervasive practice of ''sexting'', according to government-funded research. Young people are experiencing pressure not only from each other but also from the "insidious" influence of a sexualised media culture that pressured them to be involved in sexting in order to fit in, Melbourne University researcher Shelley Walker says. Ms Walker told the Australasian Sexual Health Conference in Canberra yesterday young men were made to feel their masculinity was in question if they were not into sexting. Women also felt pressure to participate when they saw sexted images of their friends.

Another speaker said candid early sex education would not only result in Australian teenagers having their first sexual experience later but also reduce unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Researcher Alan McKee said the more relaxed and open approach to sex education in the Netherlands had delivered a significantly better result for young people, contradicting the grim warnings of child sexualisation voiced in Australia. Professor McKee, who heads a sexuality development research project at Queensland University of Technology, said the campaign by those claiming early sex education prompts "sexualisation of children" was counterproductive and resulted in Australian teenagers having first sex, on average, 18 months earlier than Dutch teens. He said there was a significantly more open and relaxed approach to discussion of sexuality by Dutch youth and their parents, where the average age of first sex relationships was 17½ compared with 16 in Australia. The Netherlands also had a significantly lower rate of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies among young people. Professor McKee said early comprehensive sex education did not encourage early sex but did prevent ignorant sex… smh.com.au 30/9/11 Read more

 

It's not all easy street on north shore

Youth homelessness on the affluent north shore might be a hidden problem, but it is one that some councils say appears to be getting worse. Family conflict and drug and alcohol abuse - the leading causes of youth homelessness - aren't limited to the inner city.

Tim Sheerman is a youth caseworker at StreetWork on the north shore. ''Fifty per cent of all homeless people are young people. It's not like you find 100 homeless kids sleeping in the park. The majority … sleep at each other's houses and couch surf and probably wouldn't be able to tell you where home is. The number of young people in the area doing this is immeasurable.''

''It's hard to get accurate statistics on local youth homelessness because the problem often goes unreported,'' the Ku-ring-gai mayor, Jennifer Anderson, said. ''Our staff report that the number of young homeless people in Ku-ring-gai has risen significantly in recent years. Our area certainly isn't immune to the impacts of issues such as family breakdown and drug and alcohol abuse.''

James Fry, a counsellor at Mission Australia's family support service in Hornsby, said there had been a notable increase recently in legal conflicts between teenagers and their parents - a leading cause of youth homelessness. ''I have certainly seen a jump at the courts in the amount of matters being heard regarding conflict between teenagers and their parents. For example, at tomorrow's children's court there will be approximately 15 child-parent AVO matters,'' he said.

Dominic van Gestel, an area manager for juvenile justice, said the number of northern beaches teenagers entering the system in recent months was far higher than usual. A total 6 per cent of teenagers were homeless when they entered the system and more than a quarter had moved more than twice in the past six months. Mr Van Gestel, who regularly refers young people to StreetWork's mentoring program, said there were very few services for at-risk youth on the north shore. ''There's almost a social view that it's such an affluent area there's no need for those services,'' he said. ''I'd suggest … it's actually quite the opposite.''… smh.com.au 9/9/11 Read more

 

Locked up on the wrong bail information?

Have you been locked up on the wrong bail information? Until it is fixed young people will continue to pay the price. Young people in NSW are suffering ongoing and systemic injustice. The NSW Police are arresting and detaining young people unlawfully. This is because police are relying on incorrect bail information.

We are launching a class action and you should register for this legal action if you live in NSW and have been:

  • locked up by NSW Police;
  • for breach of a bail condition/s that were not current at the time; and
  • the alleged breach of bail related to offences being heard in the Children's Court of NSW.

Maurice Blackburn lawyers has launched a class action with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre to represent young people who have been unlawfully detained or arrested. The O'Farrell Government promised to fix this problem if elected. They must be held to their promise.

Young people suffer terribly by being imprisoned, their families and friends hate it and the police and government look stupid. This does not need to happen. As a result many young people suffer psychological and physical injuries because of the unlawful detention. And this breakdown is damaging the reputation of NSW Police and the state's justice system.

More information:

 

Children of migrants outclassing the locals at school

AUSTRALIA is one of three countries where the children of migrants perform better at school than their local classmates. While the experience around the world is that students from migrant backgrounds tend to do less well at school, a report says the exceptions are Australia, Canada and Hungary. Students born in Australia to foreign-born parents score much higher on an international reading test than other Australian-born students, by about half a year of school.

The report, Education at a Glance, says first-generation students, who have migrated to Australia, score a little higher than other students. The difference persists even after accounting for the social background of students, with first- and second-generation migrant students scoring 11 points higher… theaustralian.com.au 14/9/11
www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/education/children-of-migrants-outclassing-the-locals-at-school/story-fn59nlz9-1226136191182

 

Have your say about multicultural youth issues in NSW!

If you work with young people from refugee backgrounds, newly arrived or from CALD backgrounds, now is your opportunity to tell the MYAN NSW what we should be working on. Answer the 4 questions and let the MYAN NSW know what are the main issues affecting multicultural young people in NSW. This consultation is for anyone working with multicultural young people, so please take 2 minutes of your time to tell us what you think www.surveymonkey.com/s/JHPKRSL

Contact: Anne-Marie Taylor, State Coordinator, Multicultural Youth Affairs Network (MYAN) NSW at YAPA: myan@yapa.org.au or 9281 5522 ext 6 if you have any questions.

 

Secular workers added to school chaplain program

SCHOOLS can hire youth workers instead of chaplains under changes to the national chaplaincy program, while minimum qualifications for chaplains will be introduced. All new chaplains and welfare workers must hold at least a Certificate IV in youth work or pastoral care. Chaplains who do not meet the new criteria will receive government help to obtain the necessary qualifications in making referrals and working in mental health. With 2700 schools taking part, the government has provided $222 million to expand the program to another 1000 schools next year… smh.com.au 8/9/11 Read more

 

Lessons to cope with trauma

Proactive programs are helping young refugees to learn and thrive. Young refugees must overcome numerous challenges before obtaining a secure footing in Australia and once they do, the focus of many shifts to regaining lost years of schooling. But simply having the right to an education is not always enough for those who are dealing with past trauma and the need to adapt to a new life… smh.com.au 8/8/11 Read more

 

Pause in pot prevents progress to other drugs

Cannabis is often regarded as a 'gateway' to taking a range of illicit substances. But a wide ranging study into cannabis use by Victorian teenagers has found that it's a two-way street and that giving up marijuana can lower the uptake of other drugs like amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy… abc.net.au/worldtoday 19/7/11 Read full story or Listen to MP3

 

Is the “alcopops” tax working? Probably yes but there is a bigger picture

The Australian Government’s decision to raise taxes on ready-to-drink spirit-based beverages (RTDs; “alcopops”) in 2008 caused great controversy. Interest groups have selectively cited evidence to support their points of view. The alcohol industry cited Victorian data from the Australian Secondary Students’ Alcohol and Drug Survey (ASSADS) as evidence that the tax had failed, but closer examination of the data suggests that fewer students are drinking, and fewer are drinking at risky or high-risk levels. Excise data from the first full year after the tax came into effect showed a more than 30% reduction in RTD sales and a 1.5% reduction in total pure alcohol sold in Australia. Although understanding the impact of the alcopops tax will require critical analysis of a range of evidence, sales and ASSADS data suggest that the tax has resulted in reduced consumption of RTDs and total alcohol. The most effective and cost-effective measures for reducing consumption and harm are a comprehensive graduated volumetric alcohol taxation system, a minimum price per standard drink, and special measures for particular products that may cause disproportionate harm. While welcoming the alcopops tax, public health advocates have consistently argued for a comprehensive package of reform that covers pricing, availability and promotion of alcohol, as well as education and treatment services… www.mja.com.au 18/7/11 Full article

 

Suicide recommendations must be taken seriously, “before it’s too late”

The "Before it's too late" report on early intervention programs aimed at preventing youth suicide is an important step towards to tackling one of the most serious issues facing young Australians today, CEO of headspace, Mr Chris Tanti, said. The report by the Federal Parliament Standing Committee for Health and Ageing makes 10 recommendations aimed at creating a more aligned and structured national approach to suicide prevention and early intervention, raising awareness about the issue and building a coherent and true picture of what's happening in our communities… headspace.org.au 4/7/11 Read full media release or read the report

 

Charity work to be used to pay fines

PEOPLE too poor to pay their fines will be allowed to work off their debts by volunteering with charities. NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith will expand a program that allows low-income earners to work with church and community groups instead of paying their speeding, red-light camera and fare evasion fines. The Work Development Orders (WDO) pilot program has processed 700 people who racked up massive debts. The pilot program members, including homeless youth, people with mental illnesses and poor families, reduced their fine debt by a combined $294,000. About 80% of the participants did not incur another fine after entering the program. Youth Off The Streets CEO Father Chris Riley said the program would allow the disadvantaged youth on the street to shake off debts and have a "new start". "These fines can add up to thousands of dollars and eventually the fine becomes so big, they just throw their hands in the air and say, 'Look, I can't ever fix this, so I'm just going to keep going with getting fines on trains'," Father Riley said. A doctor involved with the pilot program said it was a proactive approach to early crime intervention. "When I say I could help you get your licence back, all of a sudden we've got engagement,"... www.dailytelegraph.com.au 1/7/11 Read more

 

Counting homeless young people for the 2011 Census

The next Census of Population & Housing is on 9 August 2011. The Census aims to count everyone in Australia on Census night, including people experiencing homelessness. It is important to count people who are homeless because Census data can be used when forming policy, allocating resources and providing services.

One of the most challenging groups of homeless people to count is young people without a usual address and staying with friends or relatives (aka 'couch surfers)'. These challenges exist for a number of reasons, including:

  • The young person may not realise they are homeless, or they do not identify as homeless and so do not state this on the Census form
  • The young person may be unsure how to state they are homeless on the Census form
  • The young person and / or their host may fear they will get into trouble with their landlord or another official body if they are listed on the Census form
  • The young person and/ or their host may not know that the ABS does not share personal information with anyone else, including Housing NSW and Centrelink and so do not list additional people in the household.

Consequently, you can play a crucial role in helping the ABS to meet these challenges by promoting these messages via your own networks so that young homeless people are informed about how to take part in the 2011 Census. It is important that young homeless people know not only what to state on the Census form, but that it is safe to do so as the ABS does not share personal information with any other 3rd party.

If you would like to know more about the count of people who are homeless for the 2011 Census, please contact Dougie Wells, National Homeless Operational Planner, Census Management Unit, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 02 9268 4242 or dougie.wells@abs.gov.au

 

New blood to the rescue of troubled students

Young people will be recruited to help schools cope with a critical shortage of school counsellors. From next year student support officers will be employed to allow overworked counsellors to concentrate on children most in need of clinical attention. The support officers will be closer in age to students and their duties will include helping children deal with family disputes and cyber bullying. Unlike counsellors, they will not require a psychology degree. The Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli, said 50 people would be recruited to pilot the $13 million four-year-program and it was likely the student support officers would have training in social welfare... smh.com.au 17/5/11 Read more

 

When push comes to shove, tearaways can be tamed: Allan Brahminy

Some of Australia's worst teenage offenders will soon be forced to participate in a controversial treatment program on a semi-arid desert property in NSW. Allan Brahminy says teenagers sent to the program he plans to run on a 42-hectare property north of Bourke will be pushed to breaking point within weeks of arriving. "These kids are angry. They are traumatised. They push and push. Everyone else they have come across has fallen over or got out of their way," says Brahminy, whose programs have prompted a rethink about the way juvenile offenders are handled. "But we show them enough is enough. It's about respect. If they come here and make demands on staff and threaten, it's not going to work," …
Outback Kids 3 part documentary: watch now
Audio current affairs story abc.net.au/rn 19/5/2011 download audio or listen now
News article smh.com.au 19/3/11 read full story
Audio current affairs story abc.net.au/am 12/3/2011 – read transcript, download audio or listen now

 

Girls and bullying

Ostracism is rife. Girls operate in shifting alliances and those alliances are wonderful when they're great and powerfully painful when they're not. But where does this mean girl mentality come from? Science is exposing the hidden underbelly of female aggression. And it starts disturbingly young... ABC TV Catalyst 7/4/11 watch now or read transcript

 

Indigenous young in the justice system

The House of Representatives recently held a series of hearings looking into the high levels of involvement of Indigenous juveniles and young adults in the criminal justice system. AYAC’s Executive Director, Andrew Cummings, spoke about the need for greater investment in youth work programs that offer prevention and early intervention programs for young people, and an end to the horrific rise in detention rates amongst young people, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. 2MB PDF: www.ayac.org.au/wp-content/Quotes.pdf

 

NSW has a new Youth Health Policy

The NSW Government has launched the NSW Youth Health Policy 2011–2016: Healthy bodies, healthy minds, vibrant futures, to identify priorities, guide program development and promote better health outcomes for young people aged 12–24. The policy aims to ensure that young people experience the health system as positive, respectful, supportive and empowering… www.acys.info/yfx/issues/number_174/news/nsw_has_a_new_youth_health_policy

 


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