19. PARTICIPATION
Current members of the National Youth Roundtable are listed by State or Territory at:
http://www.thesource.gov.au/involve/NYR/2007/2007_members_by_state.asp
http://www.thesource.gov.au/involve/NYR/2007/2007_members_by_state.asp
The Internet and youth political participation
This article in 'First Monday', v.12, n.8, 2007, by Mark E. Kann, Jeff Berry, Connor Gant and Phil Zager, looks at the contributions of American youth to online worlds, and how that participation functions as possible gateways to increased political participation. Involvement in three online worlds (participatory culture, political consumerism and civic engagement) would seem to suggest that the Internet creates opportunities for an involvement in politics, and that those worlds provide a measure of motivation, facilitation and invitation for that involvement, but the authors suggest it remains an open question as to whether or not full use of these opportunities will be made. See: http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue12_8/kann/index.htmlviewed 14 August 2007. ('First Monday' is an online peer-reviewed journal edited by Edward Valauskas; ISSN 1396–0466, published through the University of Illinois at Chicago Library.)
Youth parliament goes APEC
At this year's recently concluded Youth Parliament sessions, young Australians took the lead on addressing some of the top issues for the 2007 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum ahead of the APEC Leaders Meeting in Sydney on 3-9 September. Through the Youth Parliament APEC motion, the Youth Parliaments from New South Wales and Queensland discussed how free trade affects Australia, how to support a cooperative regional climate change policy and many of the other key issues that are on the table for discussion by world leaders at the APEC Summit. For links for the Youth Parliament, and the APEC summit as cited by thesource Youth Bulletin, August 2007, go to: http://www.thesource.gov.au/news/youth_bulletin.asp, viewed 13 August 2007.
20. PUBLIC SPACE
Young people and shopping centres
Garner Clancey wrote a series of articles on shopping centres and security guards for the Youth Action and Policy Association newsletter that readers may remember. He works for the group, CHD Partners, which has just released a series of fact sheets on youth and shopping centres. The two-page fact sheets are:
- Why are shopping centres important to young people?
- What do young people think of security guards?
- Developing a shopping centre youth plan
Download them from: http://www.chdpartners.com.au/resources/factsheets.asp
21. RESEARCH
Australian Social Trends, 2007
This Australian Bureau of Statistics report presents statistical analysis and commentary on a wide range of current social issues. Its articles are arranged by chapter, each addressing a broad area of interest (population; family and community; health; education and training; work; economic resources; and housing) as well as other areas of social concern. Each chapter is supported by summary tables of key social indicators that give an overview of social change over the past decade. They also show how social conditions differ from state to state in Australia. A set of international tables compares Australia with 17 other nations. This annual series will provide a very valuable historical perspective on social change in Australia. See: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4102.0?OpenDocument
Research on the social and economic impact of bereavement on families
Families normally struggle socially, economically, as well as emotionally and in many other ways following the death of a child. Researching this impact, a research report has just been released by Jon Stebbins and Tervour Batrouney of Compassionate Friends Victoria Inc. 'Beyond the death of a child: Social impacts and economic costs of the death of a child' is useful for bereaved parents as well as governments, community agencies and business organisations. It puts forward 20 recommendations to foster an understanding of grief and improve support, including a plea that bereavement research be made a priority by research funding agencies, and that questions relating to the impact of the death of family members on children be included in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children and in other research projects. Get to the PDF summary of the report via: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yslmzc
22. RIGHTS
Putting youth at the top of the agenda
Rallying under the banner of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), many high profile organisations have pledged their support for a national program and communication strategy to raise the image of children and young people and promote child wellbeing. Launching the group, the Commitment to Young Australians, Prof. Fiona Stanley stated that, while "Australia is booming economically, our young people are experiencing unprecedented rates of many chronic diseases such as obesity, rising rates of behavioural problems, violent crime, mental health issues and substance abuse". (Source: 'Exchange', the newsletter of the NSW Commission for Children and Young People, n.30, Winter 2007, p.1.)
Talking of the NSW Commission for Children and Young People, their website and newsletter have taken on a new vigour, with more content and news items than in previous years. See: http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au
Talking of the NSW Commission for Children and Young People, their website and newsletter have taken on a new vigour, with more content and news items than in previous years. See: http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au
23. RURAL YOUTH
Reminder about Heywire: giving regional and rural youth a say
Heywire wish to remind you that their annual competition, for youth aged 16 to 22 from regional and rural Australia, closes soon. The competition gives youth a chance to describe their lives and have their entry (text, audio, pictures or moving images) broadcast on national ABC Radio, ABC Online, ABC2 or ABC TV. In addition to production help, each winner will be invited to attend the Heywire Youth Issues Forum at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in February 2008. Full details at: http://www.abc.net.au/heywireor ph: 1800 26 26 46 (Source: email, ABC Heywire, 11 July 2007.)
24. SUICIDE PREVENTION
Suicide Prevention Australia's annual LiFe Awards are prestigious national annual events that acknowledge the vital work that is being undertaken in the prevention of suicide across Australia, and this year the award is coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September 2007. The closing date for nominations is Thursday 23 August. See: http://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/Awards.aspx
25. VOLUNTEERING
Youth Challenge Australia volunteers in Central Australia
In recent years, there's been a steady stream of young non-Indigenous Australians travelling to remote Aboriginal communities to volunteer to address Indigenous issues, through the Youth Challenge Australia program. This non-profit organisation has been involved in international community development for 15 years and, seeing a need to expand their work "into their own backyard", now provides "a bridge of engagement between Aboriginal and other young Australians who volunteer to serve the community and to build an understanding of Australian Indigenous cultures". The positive impact of Youth Challenge volunteers has been recognised over time by other communities who have since requested Youth Challenge's involvement in their own community. For more details, ph: (02) 9514 5512, email: yca [AT] uts.edu.au
26. YOUTH WORK
The NSW Youth Work Conference 2007 is coming up soon on 19-21 September 2007. Details at:
http://www.yapa.org.au/yapa/events/conference/index.php
Applications for the second and final round of funding under the National School Chaplaincy Programme are open. The voluntary program aims to help school communities to support the spiritual wellbeing of their students, including strengthening values, provide greater pastoral care and enhance engagement with the broader community. Details at: http://preview.tinyurl.com/y8rnbaThe application deadlines are different for each state, and are outlined at:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/33w5m5
http://www.yapa.org.au/yapa/events/conference/index.php
Applications for the second and final round of funding under the National School Chaplaincy Programme are open. The voluntary program aims to help school communities to support the spiritual wellbeing of their students, including strengthening values, provide greater pastoral care and enhance engagement with the broader community. Details at: http://preview.tinyurl.com/y8rnbaThe application deadlines are different for each state, and are outlined at:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/33w5m5
27. CORRECTION
The May 2007 edition of YFX incorrectly labelled LSAY Research Report n.51 by the wrong number. Our item on 'Completing university: Characteristics and outcomes of completing and non-completing students', LSAY Research Report n.51 by Gary N. Marks, March 2007, Australian Council for Educational Research, has been corrected in the online edition on our website, at: http://www.acys.info/publications/newsletter/archived_editions/129