Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies

A set of old honey-coloured wood-type with strips of blue in different tones.

Lessons learned in developing intervention programs

The US developers of Making Choices and Strong Families, Mark Fraser and Maeda Galinsky, intervention programs have identified 5 five steps for the design and development of other programs. Original article

17 May 2012

New program for young people with a a parent or caregiver with cancer

CanTeen Australia will be trialling an 8 week face-to-face group support program called Truce. More information

17 May 2012

Towards an agenda for children in the middle years in NSW

This discussion paper from the NSW Commission for Children and Young people was prepared for a Roundtable on the Middle Years of Childhood held on 24 April 2012 with non-government organisations to share developments and explore future directions and opportunities for collaboration. Original article

17 May 2012

Siblings Australia Surveys

For 13 years Siblings Australia has developed services and resources for siblings of children and adults with disability or chronic illness. Recently, they have been concerned about one particular challenge – the incidence of aggression toward siblings by the child/young person with disability. In order to understand the nature and extent of the problem they have established a short (10 question) anonymous survey. Siblings Australia hopes to hear from parents, providers and siblings themselves. Original article

17 May 2012

Partnerships between schools and the professional arts sector: evaluation of impact on student outcomes

This two part report, commissioned by Arts Victoria and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD), considers the impact of school-arts partnerships on student engagement, student voice, social learning, creative skills and arts-related knowledge and skills. Original article

17 May 2012

National Families Week 2012

The theme of this year's celebration is "Families make all the difference - helping kids to grow and learn". To find out about what's happening around the country, go to the Families Australia website.

16 May 2012

Doing well: helping young people achieve their potential

This summary from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research looks at data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) and focuses on research which gauges how concepts such as wellbeing and social capital are measured for students, as well as pathways from school to work, ‘at risk’ youth, and the effect of combining school and part-time work. Original article

16 May 2012

Age-old question: when should children be responsible for their crimes?

Thomas Crofts, Associate Professor, Sydney Law School at University of Sydney looks at what age children and young people are deemed to be criminally responsible, both internationally and in Australia. Original article

16 May 2012

Alcohol warning labels - do they work?

This background note from the Australian Parliamentary Library provides a brief overview of the context for the proposed labeling reforms and a summary of some of the research evidence on the effectiveness of alcohol health warning labels. Original article

16 May 2012

The University of Life - now open for all young Australians

In this article in Online Opinon, Foundation for Young Australians CEO, Jan Owen, discusses the importance of developing a new 'right of passage' for young Australians. Original article

16 May 2012

Tasmanian youth speak up on health issues

The Tasmanian Youth Forum (TYF) will today launch their communiqué on Health and Wellbeing with the Minister for Community Development, Cassy O’Connor MP. The TYF communiqué on health and wellbeing, written by TYF member Caitlin Frost, details the results of the day-long statewide Hey Good Lookin’ Forum, held on International World Aids Day in December last year. TYF website

15 May 2012

Young people of African descent feeling increasingly marginalised

Young people of African descent are feeling increasingly marginalised and subject to harassment, writes Denise Ryan in The Age. Original article

15 May 2012

Guardianship: Final report

The Victorian Law Reform Commission is charged with preparing a review of current the guardianship system to ensure that guardianship and administration law in Victoria is responsive to the needs of people with an impaired decision making capacity, and advances, promotes and protects the rights of people with an impaired decision making capacity. Original article

15 May 2012

Social demography of alcohol-related harm to children in Australia

Published in the latest issue of Addiction, this study seeks to establish the prevalence alcohol-related harms to children (ARHC) that occur because of others' drinking in the general population and examine how this varies by who was reported to have harmed the child and socio-demographic factors. Original article

15 May 2012

Generic interventions “just as effective” as the brand

In the US, many children's services are branded or associated with a brand name. This study looks at whether branding services delivers expected outcomes. Original article

11 May 2012

Commissioner calls for continued debate on better responses for young offenders

The Commissioner has stated that the juvenile justice system needs a complete rethink, based on data released in the Commission’s online databook, A picture of NSW children, which shows that in NSW almost 80 per cent of 10–17 year olds convicted of an offence in 1994 were reconvicted of another offence within the next 15 years. Original article

11 May 2012

Presentations from the Sector Development Fourm on Multicultural Young People and Homelessness

Multicultural Youth Affairs Network (MYAN) NSW held a forum on 20 March on homelessness among migrant and refugee youth. Original article

10 May 2012

Young entrepreneur calls for help to attend G20 Youth Summit

A young Australian entrepreneur has urged the Federal Government and corporations to urgently get behind plans to send a full delegation to the G20 Youth Entrepreneur Summit in Mexico next month. Original article

10 May 2012

'Just staying at a mates', a series about couch surfing: Couchsurfing in Modern Australia

From the YFoundation's blog, this article by Dr David Farrugia looks at the difficulties in providing support to young people who couch surf. Original article

10 May 2012

Adolescent violence in the home

Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) has updated information on research into family violence involving adolescents. Original article

10 May 2012

Back to school to sleep

High schools have been urged to offer sleep education after a Melbourne study found many secondary students were missing vital shut-eye. Original article

10 May 2012

Can a universal, community-wide prevention system deliver big benefits?

A Communities that Care program trial in the US found that it delivered on youth outcomes: it reduced the rate at which early teens started cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and delinquency. Original article

09 May 2012

A sporting chance to improve education outcomes for Indigenous students

The Sporting Chance program aims to encourage improved educational outcomes for Indigenous Australian students – both boys and girls – through sport and recreation. Original article

09 May 2012

Young-adults who get parental support do better at study and work

Research from the University of Melbourne demonstrates how support from parents can play an important role in ensuring that young people make a successful transition into adult roles. Original article

09 May 2012

Tips from young people

Tips from young people for health care professionals is available from ReachOut Pro and provides insights for those working with young people on how to best deliver services. Original article

09 May 2012

Text Messaging and Teenagers: A Review of the Literature

This report from the Digital Education Research Network (DERN) looks at how and why teenagers use texting in preference to other methods of communication, and finds that texting is done largely for practical reasons and foremost for maintaining friendships. Original article

08 May 2012

Youth Development and Support Program 2012-13 application round is now open

In 2012-13 the Youth Development and Support Program will focus on funding projects under the theme ‘Ready for further study and work’. Applications close Friday 1 June 2012. Original article

08 May 2012

The Couch Project is an event aimed at combatting youth homelessness

Of 32,000 homeless young Australians (12 – 25 years of age) 14,000 live on the couches of friends, dealers and worse. It's hidden homelessness and it's a downward spiral of instability. Through the Couch Project, the Salvation Army's Oasis Youth Support Network (Oasis) hopes to raise awareness of and combat youth homelessness. Original article

08 May 2012

Widening world of digital counseling; treating depression in children and adolescents

A trial was conducted in New Zealand to help children and young people manage depression through an online treatment program called SPARX. Original article Research report

08 May 2012

Online training for suicide prevention professionals

The training is mandatory for allied health professionals engaged to deliver services under the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) Suicide Prevention Service initiative and is provided free of charge for these providers. Original article

07 May 2012

Schools workforce: Productivity Commission Research Report

This report from the Productivity Commission looks at the current status of the Australian education system. The report also looks at the inequities in education opportunities for young people who are Indigenous, from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with disabilities or other special needs. Original article

07 May 2012

Generation XXX - SBS Insight

SBS's Insight program on 8 May will look at the effects that watching porn has on young people and whether discussions about pornography should be included in school curriculum. Original article

07 May 2012

New plan for juvenile sex offenders

A WA Law Reform Commission report has recommended changes to WA laws which would scrap the mandatory registration of juvenile sex offenders. Original article

07 May 2012

Moves to encourage young people to study agriculture

The NSW Farmers Association is pushing to include agriculture studies as part of the state's curriculum in order to encourage young people to enter into farming and address the state's aging farming population. Original article

07 May 2012

15 more headspace centres set to open

headspace has announced it will open another 15 centres in metropolitan and regional areas across the country, bringing the total number of centres to 55. Original article

04 May 2012

Videogame addiction – fact or fantasy?

Commentary from The Conversation on whether or not people can become addicted to videogames and what happens if the term 'addict' is applied to those who, in the eyes of some, may play games excessively. Original article

04 May 2012

Protecting children online teachers’ perspectives on eSafety

With Privacy Awareness Week coming to a close, this report from the UK looks at the role that teachers play in helping young people establish and protect their online identities. Original article

04 May 2012

Justice reinvestment campaign for Aboriginal young people launched in NSW

The launch of the campaign highlights that prevention, early intervention, and diversion are the keys to building safe communities, and to reducing over-representation by Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system. Original article

04 May 2012

Young Australians say a resounding ‘YES’ to more and better aid

Australia’s newest voters are strongly supportive of the Australian government increasing its aid spending a new survey from UNICEF Australia has shown. Original article

04 May 2012

'Let's talk about sex' - National survey

Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS (YEAH) and the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) are conducting a national survey of young people on sex and sexual health education. Original article

03 May 2012

New webinar series for the youth sector

The Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) and the Youth Research Centre from the University of Melbourne will be co-presenting a webinar series, Open Space, looking at issues important to the youth sector. The first webinar entitiled Promoting young people’s wellbeing in communities will be held on 6 June at 2:30pm. Presenter Andrew Cummings from AYAC is joined by researcher, Richard Eckersley, Young and Well's Michelle Blanchard and other practitioners discussing the importance of community to the wellbeing of young people. Registration information

03 May 2012