This issue of Youth Field Xpress looks to the future in this issue with reports on the 2020 Youth Summit and the formation of the Australian Youth Forum, but feels it is important to look back first, to almost 20 years ago, when the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission conducted an inquiry into youth homelessness in Australia. That report, Our homeless children: Their experiences, perhaps better known as the Burdekin Report, was released in 1989. Brian Burdekin, then HREOC Commissioner and chair of that inquiry, remarked at the time on the 'lack of research' on youth homelessness. While that deficit has been addressed -- indeed, this clearinghouse has consistently published papers on youth homelessness for over twenty years -- the plight of homeless youth has not improved. The report of a new, independent inquiry into youth homelessness in Australia, released during National Youth Week, shows that urgent action on this issue is now needed:

From the preface:

The report is the result of 21 days of hearings in all states and territories, evidence from 319 individuals and 91 written submissions, including seven from state government departments. The inquiry was lead by Father Wally Dethlefs, Narelle Clay, David Eldridge (chairman of the NYC), and Assoc. Prof. David MacKenzie of RMIT. In a media statement issued in support of the NYC report, Mission Australia said youth homelessness is "a serious blight on Australian society" and expressed its support for the NYC's call for establishing a National Homelessness Strategy, saying the report "accurately exposed the scale of the problem and offered a range of solutions for moving ahead".

Mission Australia also lent its weight to the report's recommendation to roll out the successful Reconnect and HOME Advice programs, saying this was "absolutely on the money. We'd also suggest there are a range of other support services that could be introduced to complement both initiatives".

One recommendation cited by both the NYC in its report and by Mission Australia in their statement of support -- and mentioned in previous editions of this newsletter -- is for the creation of youth 'foyers' or services that offer a range of supports and life skills to young people, depending on their individual situation and need. In the UK and France, foyers are quite common and according to Mission Australia, "play a leading role, not only in providing bed-sit accommodation and other services, but also links to employment, education and training. This latter point is particularly crucial and one which Mission Australia is glad to see the NYC report picked up: that for young homeless people to truly participate in the community they must have access to employment, education or training opportunities".

The NYC report also called for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to conduct an inquiry into the number of young people leaving state care who become homeless. The report also includes specific recommendations on health, mental health and alcohol and other drugs. The National Youth Commission's report, Australia's Homeless Youth, can be downloaded from:
http://www.nyc.net.au The report is also available for download on the website for the documentary, The OASIS, mentioned in last month's edition of this newsletter. See:
http://www.theoasismovie.com.au/om/report/report.php

UPDATE: see Australia Policy Online piece by the report's authors.

Part of the NYC's inquiry involved the making of a documentary about the work of Paul Moulds, of the Salvation Army's OASIS centre in Sydney, which helps homeless youth. The documentary was screened on ABC TV on 8 April 2008, coinciding with the release of the NYC report, and with National Youth Week. Interestingly, after the screening, the ABC, scheduled extra time for an on-air forum about the documentary, facilitated by ABC TV Lateline's Tony Jones, and featuring Paul Moulds and David Eldridge from the Salvation Army, Australia's housing minister Tanya Plibersek, whose offices overlook the OASIS centre in Sydney, and some of the young people featured in the documentary whose lives have been influenced by the work of OASIS. For more on this see:
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/oasis/
and viewer responses to the documentary, at:
http://tinyurl.com/4rf6pj

A DVD of the documentary, The OASIS, is being donated to every school in Australia. The study guide that accompanies the documentary is at:
http://www.theoasismovie.com.au/om/education/studyGuide.php or get there via: http://tinyurl.com/5y3yca

If you are in the fortunate position of having to spend money from your 2007/08 budget before the end of the financial year, why not spend it on the youth sector's prime journal, Youth Studies Australia? A subscription costs $88. More at:
http://www.acys.info

This four-page snapshot, published online on 14 April 2008, brings together direct comments from around 700 young people who completed Mission Australia's National Survey of Young Australians in 2007. Commenting on a range of issues, from body image and family conflict to mental health and drugs, the young respondents help us to get an honest view of the many things that occupy their minds day-to-day. One of the biggest concerns revealed in the survey data was body image, with one 13-year-old female respondent saying, "Something really needs to be done about the image of models. I hate it how they're so skinny. They need to use some real girls/women, not sticks." These insights offer a richness which contributes to the understanding of any individual or organisation interested in the wellbeing of young people. Download the report from:
http://www.missionaustralia.com.au/document-downloads/cat_view/67-youth-surveys or get there via: http://tinyurl.com/6dmbcw
The 2007 survey was Mission Australia's sixth annual survey of young Australians. The survey is for those aged 11 to 24 years and explores what young people value, what concerns them, where they turn for advice and support, their level of engagement in the community and who they admire. (Source: Mission Australia's blog at:
http://officialmissionaustralia.blogspot.com/)

The Australia 2020 Youth Summit was held at Parliament House, Canberra, on 12-13 April. Its 100 delegates, aged 15 to 24 years, came from around the country to discuss their ideas and hopes for the future. Their task was to formulate a national vision for the year 2020 based around the following topic areas: the productivity agenda, infrastructure, Australian governance, Australia's future in the world, community and families, Indigenous Australia, sustainability and climate change, rural Australia, health, and creative Australia. The summit concluded with the presentation of a communique to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd outlining the key ideas discussed and developed at the forum. Delegates also chose 11 of their number to act as youth delegates to the main Australia 2020 Summit being held on 19-20 April. A copy of the communique from the Youth Summit will be given to each of the 1,000 delegates to the Australia 2020 Summit this weekend, to ensure that the vision and ideas of Australia's young people are represented at this important event. The communique contained two appendices: Appendix A outlines the leading proposals and the top 10 ideas that the delegation decided on, while Appendix B outlines a further 30 ideas and proposals. At a later date, a list of further ideas submitted prior to and during the summit will be released. The Australia 2020 Youth Summit Communique can be downloaded from the Australia 2020 website:
http://www.australia2020.gov.au/youth (Source: Australia 2020 Youth Summit website, viewed 16 April 2008; and email, Jamie-Lee Tobin, Media Management, Communications Branch, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 15 April 2008.)

On 17 March 2008, Australia's new Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis, announced the start of formal consultations for the new Australian Youth Forum. The Australian Youth Forum (AYF) is intended to give a broader platform for young Australians and the youth sector to communicate with Government, and the AYF is open for consultation now, until 30 May 2008, to allow young people and members of the youth sector to submit their ideas and thoughts on how the AYF should be developed. Starting this week, consultation meetings with the youth sector, academics and research organisations are being held in all capital cities. The Australian Youth Forum Discussion Paper forms the basis for consultation. It is at:
http://www.thesource.gov.au/involve/ayf.asp The consultations in capital cities are being held on the following dates:
Thursday 17 April -- Brisbane
Friday 18 April -- Sydney
Tuesday 22 April -- Hobart
Monday 28 April -- Melbourne
Friday 2 May -- Canberra
Friday 2 May -- Darwin
Monday 5 May -- Perth
Tuesday 6 May -- Adelaide
To attend one of these meetings, or for more information about the consultation process, contact Gabrielle Burrell, gabrielle.burrell[AT]deewr.gov.au (or 0417 254 766). If you are unable to attend a meeting, you can contribute an online submission through The Source website at:
http://www.thesource.gov.au/involve/ayf.asp which also has more information on the consultations. Meetings will also be held with young people across the country during April and May.

'Young offenders on community orders: Health, welfare and criminogenic needs', by Dianna Kenny and Paul Nelson. Sydney University Press, ISBN: 9780980411706. From the publisher's blurb: "Offending behaviour in childhood is a significant predictor of subsequent offending, offending in adulthood and chronic offending. Intervention provided at an early age and stage of offending is more effective than that provided later in the offending history. This research aimed to advance understanding of juvenile crime, its health and substance abuse patterns, cognitive correlates and offence trajectories, thereby facilitating effective policies and practices to reduce recidivism, improve health and create prosocial alternatives for young Australians at risk of a criminal career". Sydney University Press website is at:
http://www.sup.usyd.edu.au.

In the March 2008 edition of 'Yikes!', Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS) coordinator Dr George Taleporos writes on unmet needs among young people with disabilities. Drawing on his own experience at YDAS, as well as figures and anecdotal evidence in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's 2001 report, 'Unmet need for disability services', Taleporos explains that this unmet need is not confined to disability services, but also exists in education, in terms of aid and equipment, and in housing. "While the Australian economy continues to produce successive budget surpluses, it is a prime opportunity to tackle the unmet need faced by young people with disabilities. It is time that people with disabilities receive the support that they need to live the lives they choose. YDAS calls on the government, both state and federal, to increase the funding of disability services to the point where all young people with disabilities can access the services that they need. We believe that access to disability services should be a right, not a privilege". (Source: 'Yikes!', v.6, n.1, 2008, p.27.)

The DrugInfo Clearinghouse has just completed the redevelopment of the drugs and driving website. It provides quality-assured information to help educate the community about the risks and harms associated with drug use and driving. For instance, it has information about:
* safer driving (information specifically aimed at young drivers, the parents of young drivers, older drivers and commercial drivers)
* the effects of different drugs on driving ability (including alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, ecstasy, heroin and other opioids, medicines and mixing drugs)
* laws (drink driving, random breath testing, drug driving and roadside drug testing)
* where to find more information (links to research, resources, alcohol and other drug support services and road safety organisations).
The site was redeveloped with support from the Transport Accident Commission. See: http://www.drugsdriving.adf.org.au

The April 2008 edition of the magazine 'Of Substance' contains a summary of a presentation entitled 'Young people and alcohol: A cultural shift?' made by Ann Roche (Director, National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction) to the Australasian Drug Strategy Conference held in October last year. As the title suggests, the presentation investigated whether or not there has been a cultural shift in young people's attitudes towards and consumption of alcohol in the past few decades. This paper outlines the risky drinking trends among 14- to 24-year-olds contained in the 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 10 key social changes that have taken place in recent decades 'that impact significantly on the social and cultural world of young people and have a powerful influence on a wide range of behaviours including drinking behaviours', as well as commenting on the role of technology and social networks, market forces and the increased availability of alcohol in young people's exposure to and consumption of alcohol. Roche concludes her paper with the following remarks: 'All things considered, yes, life for the 14- to 24-year-olds in Australian society is substantially different from comparable cohorts some decades ago. In almost every major aspect of their lives significant differences exist, not least of which is the inescapable dominance of alcohol at the level of an essential commodity, symbolic marker or social facilitator in lives focused on leisure and pleasure'. (Source: 'Of Substance', v.6, n.2, 2008, pp.14-15.)

The Australian Children's Television Foundation is running several workshops for Victorian teachers in April and May. These two-hour workshops -- 'Lockie Leonard: Text to screen' and 'Embedding visual literacy and critical thinking strategies to promote active construction of meaning with students' -- are designed to help teachers 'explore the effective use of ACTF programs and resources in the classroom'. For further information, visit the ACTF website: http://www.actf.com.au then select the Learning Centre and follow the links to Professional Development Program 2008. (Source: 'Education News', n.53, March 2008, p.3.)

An article by Steve Holden in the April 2008 edition of 'Professional Educator' discusses the importance of recognition for prior learning to assist individuals to make successful transitions between school and either work or further education, and Year 12 and equivalent VET certification. Although Holden says that figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) report 'Australian Vocational Education and Training statistics: Student outcomes' suggest that a 'healthy system of recognition for prior learning' exists in Australia, he says that another recent report, commissioned by the (then) Department of Education, Science and Training for the OECD, shows that 'there is still considerable variability in Australia regarding the way in which assessments for recognition for prior learning are conducted within and across institutions, within and across states or territories, and within and across sectors', with a lower uptake among so-called 'equity groups'. Holden highlights the need for a nationally consistent definition of recognition for prior learning and suggests that the Federal Government's new National Curriculum Board 'support recognition for prior learning and successful transitional pathways'. The report 'Recognition of non-formal and informal learning in Australia: Country background report', written by Josie Misko, Francesca Beddie and Larry Smith, is available from the DEST website:
http://tinyurl.com/4bolw4 (Source: 'Professional Educator', v.7, n.1, 2008, pp.28-29.)

Dusseldorp Skills Forum underwent a process of reorientation in recent times, to focus intensively on the issues of youth in terms of their transition to employment and their skills. Now, DSF has joined with other key stakeholders to release a major statement on Australia's skills priorities and challenges. In a suite of succinct documents released under the banner, 'Facing up to the challenge' on 16 April 2008, just prior to the 2020 Summit, key national stakeholders have outlined ten priorities required to help shape an adaptable workforce, develop a truly innovative Australian enterprise culture, and provide the high quality vocational learning Australia needs. (
http://www.dsf.org.au/papers/200.htm ) In their joint statement, these organisations (the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Australian Education Union, Group Training Australia and Dusseldorp Skills Forum) bring together numerous research report findings and policy ideas that various stakeholders have discussed in recent years. DSF says, "It's a first step in a process that will engage industry, educators, training organisations and learners". To download their statement, see:
http://tinyurl.com/3kb87f (PDF, 360 kb). The press release is at:
http://tinyurl.com/3l7e3g (PDF, 213 kb); and the fact sheet is at:
http://tinyurl.com/4qvb7h (PDF, 361 kb).

A new nine-part teaching resource covering key climate change issues has been released by the Australia Institute. Compiled in conjunction with high school teachers and university academics, the web-based resource covers the environmental, scientific, economic, political and ethical aspects of climate change. This new interactive package is designed to provide teachers and students with accurate information that allows them to examine some of the critical issues facing Australia and the world. Each module raises questions, for example, about the impact of climate change in the future, the role played by international negotiations, responsiblity for the damage caused by climate change, policies to reduce emissions, economic costs, and many more. All the modules are available for download free of charge at:
http://www.teachingclimatechange.com.au (Source: 'Education Review', v.18, n.2, March 19, 2008, p.23.)

The Australian Youth Climate Coalition unites youth organisations to build a generation-wide movement to prevent climate catastrophe. "Our alliance combines our forces, leveraging our collective power to create change for a clean, efficient, just and renewable energy future. We inspire, educate, empower and mobilise young Australians to take action on climate change." See their site for their ideas for the 2020 summiteers: http://www.youthclimatecoalition.org

Ali Hughes from the Victorian Office for Youth has written an article containing tips for writing successful grant applications to obtain funding for youth-related programs and projects. Her tips are based on findings from a recent Office of Youth review of National Youth Week grant assessment workshops. The article highlights the importance of incorporating evidence of youth participation principles within project/program development and adequately responding to funding criteria. (Source: 'Yikes!', v.6, n.1, 2008, pp.22-23.)

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released this bulletin in April. It previews the reporting framework and key national indicators that will be the basis of the report, 'A picture of Australia's children 2009', scheduled for release in 2009. The bulletin also contains the Headline Indicators for Children's Health, Development and Wellbeing. The indicators cover a broad range of areas of children's health, development and wellbeing, including: morbidity, disability, mortality, health risk and protective factors, early learning and education, the influences of family, neighbourhood and community factors, safety and security, economic and social influences, and measures of system performance. Details: AIHW catalogue number AUS 100; available from Can Print for $10.00 (1300 889 873) or via PDF download from:
http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10561 (Source: AIHW, email, 1 April 2008.)

The NSW Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health has made DVD recordings of three of its 2007 Youth Health Forums available for purchase. These forums -- 'Getting back on track: A community focus on Aboriginal health', 'Double trouble: Understanding the impact of comorbidity in diverse settings' and 'Bullying and young people: A shared responsibility?' -- feature four to five speakers followed by a panel/open question session. Support materials are also available, enabling interested people to hold their own forums based around screenings of these DVDs. DVDs are available for $25 each, which includes GST but not postage and packaging. For further information, visit the resources page of the CAAH website: http://www.caah.chw.edu.au/resources (Source: 'YAPRap', v.18, n.4, 2008, p.9.)

Teenagers are at greater risk of abuse, infections and pregnancies due to an ad hoc approach to sex education, a forum has been told. Addressing a forum in Brisbane, Family Planning Queensland manager for research and development Holly Brennan said research indicated that less than 5 per cent of Queensland students received comprehensive sex education. "At the moment it is really up to the school's discretion of how they do it because there are no checks and balances in place." (Source: 'Education Review', v.18, n.2, March 19, 2008, p.2.)

Michael Sgro, chief executive officer of a Victoria-based community organisation called the Self-Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC), has written an article in the March 2008 edition of 'Yikes!' highlighting the negative impacts of the Victorian Government's Housing Provider Framework (HPF) lease on 18- to 20-year-olds in need of supported community housing. Mr Sgro says that the HPF is 'significantly impacting on the ability of community housing providers, such as SHARC, to deliver ongoing services to young people in need'. He explains that the HPF 'governs the funding, administrative and contractual arrangements that exist in community housing programs, such as rental housing cooperatives, disability housing initiatives and rental support services', but that it 'establishes guidelines that do not harmonise with youth allowance and rent assistance policies, adversely affecting service delivery to 18- to 20-year-old users receiving youth allowance'. According to Mr Sgro, 'these issues have existed under the HPF for the last three years without any formal response or agenda to specifically address this problem'. Further information on the Housing Provider Framework is available from the Victorian Government Department of Human Services' Office of Housing website:
http://tinyurl.com/5acnxe (Source: 'Yikes!', v.6, n.1, 2008, p.26.)

There are more teachers and Indigenous students at Australian schools now than there were 10 years ago, according to results from the 2007 Schools Census, recently released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The schools snapshot found that there were more than 3.4 million school students in August 2007, up from 3.2 million in August 1997. The number of Indigenous students has risen from 96,807 a decade ago to 147,000 in 2007. The retention rates for students proceeding to Year 12 has increased from 72 per cent in 1997 to 74 per cent in 2007. However, in the past decade, the total number of schools has dropped by 28, and the overall number of schools providing primary education has fallen by 2.9 percent since 1997. (Source: 'Education Review', v.18, n.2, March 19, 2008, p.2.)

Entries for this festival, which forms part of the 2008 Refugee Awareness Week in June, close on 4 May 2008. The festival is to be held at Pitt Street Congregation Uniting Church in Sydney, and has two key aims: to provide a space for refugees to tell their stories through film, and to expose all communities to refugee issues through film. The festival organisers invite people to submit films on refugee themes or to volunteer to help host the festival. Details at:
http://www.triumphant.org.au/, or contact Jose Argueta at Triumphant International, email: filmfestival[AT]triumphant.org.au, ph: (02) 8006 0756.

Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace, launched its new web site during National Youth Week. The new-look site was developed in consultation with young people, key community members and clinicians. It's youth-friendly, colourful and easy to navigate. The website aims to be a leading point of information on mental health for young people, their families and the community. The site has sections for family members and carers --
http://www.headspace.org.au/default.aspx?page=26 -- and for service providers and researchers interested in evidence-based practice --
http://www.headspace.org.au/default.aspx?page=27 Its information sections are thorough, offering fact sheets on multiple issues, useful contact details and an 'ask an expert' interactive real-time forum; information and videos featuring young people talking about getting help; interactive maps and service finders to locate nearby headspace and other services; real life stories (in both written and video formats) from young people talking about their experiences; news and events details to enable young people to get involved in activities in their areas; and information to help parents and carers. See:
http://www.headspace.org.au (Source: viewed 14 April 2008,
http://www.headspace.org.au/_uploads/documents/2008%20media%20releases/websitemediarelease.pdf or get there via: http://tinyurl.com/53kfky)

The National Mental Health Report 2007

This report shows there is a nationwide shortage of mental health workers, and points to differences in the percentage spent on mental health in Australia's states and territories. The report warns of increasing inefficiencies as growth in expenditure on mental health outstrips the supply of qualified workers and services bought by that money. SANE Australia director Barbara Hocking said the report was "an interesting historical document", as it uses three-year-old data. Releasing the report today, the federal government is expected to commit $15 million to training for mental health workers for the troubled sector. (Source: The Age, 18 April 2008, http://www.theage.com.au/ (use http://tinyurl.com/676smr to get to the story); viewed 18 April 2008.)

New contact details for the WA Office for Youth: Department for Communities, Level 7, 2 Havelock Street, West Perth, WA 6005; ph: (08) 6217 8422; fax: (08) 9481 3074; freecall: 1800 281 116; email: youngpeople[AT]communities.wa.gov.au
Web:
http://www.childrenandyouth.wa.gov.au

Following the 2007 Federal Election and consequent machinery of government changes, the Youth Bureau has now officially been transferred to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). Their new contact details as of close of business on 18 April 2008 are:
Youth Bureau
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
GPO Box 9880, Canberra, ACT 2601
Ph: (02) 6240 5682; Fax: (02) 6240 5710
Email: alice.tindall[AT]deewr.gov.au
http://www.deewr.gov.au/deewr/Education/
Also see:
http://www.facsia.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/youth/nav.htm
Note: Until close of business on 18 April 2008, contact them on their "old" phone and fax numbers:
Ph: (02) 6212 9093; fax: (02) 6212 9451.

During National Youth Week, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) took the opportunity of encouraging all young Australians to enrol to vote and to make sure their enrolment is up to date. You can check that your address details are up to date on either the AEC website,
http://www.aec.gov.au/ or by calling the AEC on 13 23 26. To update your details, fill out an enrolment form and return it to the AEC. Enrolment forms can be downloaded from the AEC website and are also available at any Australia Post outlet, Medicare, Centrelink, or Australian Tax Office and selected Rural Transaction Centres, in addition to any AEC office. (Source: Phil Diak Director, Media, Australian Electoral Commission, AEC website,
http://www.aec.gov.au/about_aec/media_releases/2008/04_07.htm viewed 9 April 2008.)

The FReeZA program is a Victorian Government-funded initiative that encourages young people to engage in community life by organising and participating in all-ages, drug- and alcohol-free music and cultural events. In February, the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) met with local FReeZA program providers from across Victoria to discuss their concerns about the program's ongoing financial viability. Writing in the March 2008 edition of 'Yikes!', Macedon Ranges Shire Council community development manager Angie Laussel said that '[D]espite increasing costs to deliver the successful program, the State Government has not increased funding in the last five years'. YACVic and the Municipal Association of Victoria are to lead an advocacy campaign that will lobby the government for a revision of FReeZA funding. YACVic is also involved in a wider campaign to ensure the proper indexation of all government-funded programs. (Source: 'Yikes!', v.6, n.1, 2008, p.6.)

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing has launched a nationwide Suicide Helpline Call Back Service (SHL CBS) to provide counselling, information and referral to isolated, unsupported clients who are at risk of suicide. The SHL CBS, which has been funded for three years and is managed by crisis support services, aims to reduce national suicide rates and related hospital admissions by filling 'the gaps in service delivery that exist post emergency admission and post incarceration'. For further information, call the SHL CBS: 1300 659 467. (Source: 'Partyline', newsletter of the National Rural Health Alliance, n.32, March 2008, p.25.)

In October 2007, the Victorian Government announced a comprehensive review of the state's transport legislation. The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) has made a submission to this review, highlighting 'the capacity of public transport to adequately service the needs of all young people'. They argued that the Victorian transport system should 'adopt a rights-based approach in its planning', emphasising the role of public transport in enabling young people to realise rights such as freedom of movement, health, education, recreation and work. The submission also discussed transport-related issues faced by young people such as safety, accessibility and affordability. YACVic, along with Youthlaw and a number of other youth and welfare groups, is also lobbying for the creation of a travel concession scheme for young people experiencing homelessness. YACVic's submission to the transport legislation review can be viewed at: http://www.yacvic.org.au/pages/policy/submissions.htm (Source: 'Yikes!', v.6, n.1, 2008, pp.10-11.)

The April 2008 edition of 'Professional Educator' contains a feature article on cyber violence. The article answers the questions, 'What is cyber violence?', 'How much cyber violence is out there?', 'Where does cyber violence occur?', Why is cyber violence happening?' and 'What are the main cyber violence issues?', as well as looking at existing cyber safety initiatives and ways to improve cyber safety. The author suggests that 'current initiatives to address cyber violence and cyber safety are well intended but we need to make a more concerted and systematic effort, based on further research, if we are to tackle the problem through policy and practice on the national and global level'. (Source: 'Professional Educator, v.7, n.1, 2008, pp.34-39.)

The April 2008 edition of 'YAPRap', the newsletter of the Youth Action and Policy Association NSW, contains a succinct piece outlining the structure and aims of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC). It also explains how interested individuals can become involved in AYAC. For further information, contact AYAC: (02) 6247 3540; email: ayac[AT]ayac.org.au; website: http://www.ayac.org.au (Source: 'YAPRap', v.18, n.4, 2008, pp.15-16.)

This event takes place every two years, and is taking place in Paris on 19-22 November 2008 at the Fondation des Etats Unis, Cite Internationale Universitaire. It is being organised by Innovations in Civic Participation (ICP) in association with the (US) Association for Voluntary Service Organisations. For more information, contact ICP, email ianys[AT]icicp.org or see: http://www.icicp.org/ianys ICP is a Washington-based think tank that plays a leading role in coordinating research on civic service initiatives around the world.

Susan Dewey (Visiting Scholar, University of the South Pacific (Fiji) and Research Associate, DePauw University) is organising a panel on "Making modernities in youth cultures" for the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association next year, and is also in the process of helping to edit a book on the subject. She invites those interested in contributing a book chapter to contact her: susandewey[AT]depauw.edu

The International Childhood and Youth Research Network is planning its first general assembly, to be held at the European University Cyprus in Nicosia, Cyprus on 30 May 2008, and on the following day, it is holding its first international conference: Child and youth research in the 21st Century: A critical appraisal. The General Assembly will discuss the network's constitution, a fee structure, new membership requests, communication issues and ideas for collaborative projects, and will decide on office bearers. Christos Chrysanthou is coordinator of the ICYRNet, email: christos[AT]cycollege.ac.cy; website:
http://www.icyrnet.net/

The Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Statistical Service is responsible for the development of this portal. A free, nationwide seminar to demonstrate the portal was held in early April, using the "access grid technology" provided by ARACY (the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth). The portal is still in its pilot phase, has the potential to help identify useful resources held across Australia at different sites, and makes them easy to discover through an innovative web-based interface which is in fact a secure, distributed network formed by collaborating organisations. A powerpoint presentation of the seminar is available for download from:
http://tinyurl.com/5285gs
Look out for more on this topic in future editions of this newsletter.

The International Society for Child Indicators is also holding a conference in Sydney. For details, see: http://www.childindicators.org The ISCI also recently launched the first edition of their new journal, 'Child Indicators Research', in March 2008. See:
http://www.springer.com/12187

The Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies maintains a list of scholarly journals of interest to youth studies at:
http://www.acys.info/resources/biblio/journals/scholarly_journals, and a list of conferences and other events of interest to researchers and youth workers at:
http://www.acys.info/events

In the final edition of their newsletter last year ('Yikes!', v.5, n.5, December 2007), the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) invited youth work practitioners to share their thoughts on the current and future roles of youth work in the state of Victoria, posing questions such as: What is youth work? Why do you do youth work? Should educational qualifications, in an increasingly professional society, be an important part of defining youth work? The March 2008 edition of 'Yikes!' contains excerpts from some of the responses to these questions received by YACVic over the past few months. The full text of these responses is available from the YACVic website:
http://www.yacvic.org.au (Source: 'Yikes!', v.6, n.1, 2008, pp.16-17.)

The StreetWork organisation has been helping at-risk young people in Sydney's north shore and northern beaches areas since 1982. One of the programs offered by StreetWork is Kickstart -- an intensive, long-term case management plan for young people with multiple high-risk needs (such as housing, drug abuse, anger management, juvenile justices/probation). The program, which operates as both an early intervention program and a post-release program for prior offenders, entails pairing clients with a mentor who meets with them regularly (up to twice weekly) to help them through their issues and provide them with access to qualified and experienced professionals. For further information on StreetWork or the Kickstart program, contact: (02) 9419 7559; website: http://www.streetwork.org.au (Source: 'YAPRap, v.18, n.4, 2008, p.11.)

"The Street University is a place where the young people from these suburbs can simply walk in off the street and enrol in vocational and tertiary-style courses. With a cafe that will be run by the young people and their families, a basketball court, classrooms, counselling and other services - the space will be the resource the community desperately needed. The hope is not that the space becomes a welfare outpost, but that it invites great thinkers from around the country to visit and explore new ideas and initiatives with the young people from the area." Find out more at:
http://www.noffs.org.au/news/news22.shtm