Programs
This area includes programs, initiatives, strategies and projects undertaken by all areas of the youth sector, including government, non-government, service delivery and research organisations. These can have a direct or indirect impact on young people and the people who work with them.
The programs below are also listed in each of the topic headings.
100F Foundation grants
Topic: At-risk, disadvantaged youth
The IOOF Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in June 2002 as part of the demutualisation of IOOF Ltd.
They are committed to making an ongoing contribution to the community in which we live, by providing grants that support Australian not-for-profit organisations working with disadvantaged families, disadvantaged children and youth and aged care.
Grant information: iooffoundation.org.au/apply-for-a-grant/
ABSTUDY
Topic: Indigenous youth
ABSTUDY provides a means-tested living allowance and other supplementary benefits to eligible secondary and tertiary students. Primary students living at home and aged 14 years or more on 1 January in the year of study may also be eligible for assistance. ABSTUDY is delivered by Centrelink.
www.deewr.gov.au/Indigenous/Schooling/Programs/Pages/abstudy.aspx
Adolescent Depression: Detecting and controlling depression in adolescents
Topic: Mental health
University of Sydney, Medical Foundation
The university's current program of research has moved to development of new strategies and techniques that can be applied before the onset of the full-blown mental health condition or to track the response of the young person to appropriate psychological or medical treatment. The goal is the development of diagnostic and predictive tools for individuals, particularly young people with depression.
http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/foundation/support-sydney/adolescent-depression.php
Agenda for Children and Young People (Tasmania)
Topic: Policy development
Launched in July 2011, this 10 year strategy aims to draw together the services from 3 major government portfolios - Education, Health and Police - to work on addressing the needs of children and young people in Tasmania.
Australian Government rural and remote programs
Topic: Rural and remote youth
For Australian Government Rural and remote programs, see www.regional.gov.au/regional/programs/index.aspx
Australian Youth Forum
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
The AYF is run by the Australian Government as a communication channel between the Government, young people (aged 15 – 24) and the organisations that work with, for and on behalf of young people (also known as the youth sector). The AYF engages young people through this website, and also in person at forums and community activities. www.youth.gov.au/ayf/pages/NationalConversation.htm
BushMob
Topic: At-risk, disadvantaged youth
BushMob programs are for young people who are at risk of being disengaged and marginalized. They may be subject to substance abuse, violence, unsafe living environments and disempowerment.
Change It Up
Topic: Rural and remote youth
Change It Up energises and engages young people aged 16 to 19 living in regional and rural Australia who have an interest in sparking change in their local communities. In partnership with teams of local citizens, Change It Up ignites and empowers young people to have a voice and to act on issues that are important to them and to their communities.
CMY Multicultural Sport and Recreation Program
Topic: Entertainment, sports and leisure
The CMY Multicultural Sport and Recreation Program aims to create a more responsive sports sector that is attuned to the needs of refugee and migrant young people, as well as increase their access and participation in sport and recreation.
Website: www.cmy.net.au/MulticulturalSport/MulticulturalSportHome
Common Ground
Topic: Public space
Common Ground was a pilot project to reduce fear of crime in Hobart and the satellite municipality of Glenorchy in Tasmania.
Community Integration Program (Victoria)
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
The Community Integration Program (CIP) was established to connect young people living in residential care with their local community. It involves volunteers from the community getting to know a vulnerable young person and supporting them to connect with others involved in a local activity, group or event that interests them. So far, some young people have participated in sports clubs, spent time scrapbooking, learned how to cook and taken dancing lessons, thanks to the generous support and time given by the volunteers.
Young people who are actively involved in their local communities are more likely to remain in school, get a job and lead a healthy and positive life.
Compact with Young Australians
Topic: Policy
At its 30 April 2009 meeting, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a Compact with Young Australians to promote young people’s participation in education and training, providing protection from the anticipated tighter labour market, and ensuring they would have the qualifications needed to take up the jobs as the economy recovered. www.deewr.gov.au/Youth/YouthAttainmentandTransitions/Pages/compact.aspx
Cross-sectional study of adolescent rural health on-line
Topic: Mental health
University of Sydney, School of Rural Health
Rural adolescents are likely to have a higher prevalence of health issues and poorer access to services, contributing to greater health disadvantages compared to their urban counterparts. This project aims to describe and quantify important health and wellbeing issues in adolescents in rural NSW in School Grades 5-8 (10 – 14 years) Quantitative health and well-being data will be collected in a representative sample of rural youth using a questionnaire. This is the Academic Department of Adolescent Medicine’s tool for a broad health and wellbeing assessment in adolescents between 10 and 18 years of age. It comes in two age group versions and uses branched question techniques around sensitive issues. This questionnaire has been used successfully under supervision but this study will be the first time that adolescents will complete it on line. Geocoding information on community facilities and resources will also be collected. There is the opportunity for a further study once the data collection and analysis are complete to take the information to focus groups for adolescents and their parents in order to establish community priorities and plan intervention studies.
http://sydney.edu.au/research/opportunities/opportunities/1265
CyberNetrix
Topic:
Designed for early teens, CyberNetrix is an engaging multimedia resource which includes interactive activities designed to simulate popular online activities, such as instant messaging. It amis to highlight age-specifi risks online and offer advise on how to avoid them. This resource includes a Teacher Guide with activity guildelines and student handouts.
Australian Communications and Media Authority
www.cybersmart.gov.au/cybernetrix/index.html
Cybersmart Schools Gateway
Topic:
The Cybersmart Schools Gateway houses a wide range of cybersafety information and teaching resources for primary and secondary schools. These accessible and engaging materials are designed to help schools develop and implement a holistic approach to cybersafety.
Australian Communications and Media Authority
www.cybersmart.gov.au/Schools.aspx
Digital Demons
Topic: Technology and communication
The Digital Demons program focuses on cyber safety, with workshops to inform schools, teachers and the community about he current digital issues facing children and young people today, and the steps they can take to bring about improvements to their e-safety strategies, programs and practices.
www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/106335/default.aspx
Disability standards for education
Topic: Disabilities
The Disability Standards for Education 2005 were formulated under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and tabled in Parliament on 17 March 2005. They came into effect in August 2005. The Standards clarify the obligations of education and training providers to ensure that students with disabilities are able to access and participate in education and training on the same basis as those without disability.
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/Programs/Pages/disabilitystandardsforeducation.aspx
Future2Make the Difference! Grants
Topic: Funding and sponsorship
Future2 Make the Difference! Grants focus on the under 25s who may be financially disadvantaged, homeless, juvenile justice offenders, drug or alcohol dependent, disabled or Indigenous. Grants are awarded to projects and programs in the areas such as financial literacy, skills training, work experience, community service or mentoring.
Governor-General’s Indigenous Student Teacher Scholarship Program
Topic: Indigenous youth
The Governor-General’s Indigenous Student Teacher Scholarship program aims to assist and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students to obtain a teaching degree.
www.deewr.gov.au/Indigenous/Schooling/Programs/Pages/IndigenousTeacherScholarships.aspx
Growing up in cities
Topic: Public space
Growing Up in Cities is a global effort to help address the issues affecting urban children and youth. It is a collaborative undertaking of the MOST Programme of UNESCO and interdisciplinary teams of municipal officials, urban professionals, and child advocates around the world, working with young people themselves to create communities that are better places in which to grow up-and therefore, better places for everyone.
Growing Up with Cancer
Topic: Health and wellbeing,Transition
University of Sydney, Centre for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine
The Growing Up with Cancer project is a 3 year ARC Linkage project developed by researchers at the centre for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine and CanTeen, the organization for young people living with cancer. It is exploring the impact of cancer on young people's transition from adolescence to adulthood. Young people (in and out of treatment) will participate in a research interviews and surveys, and produce a self portrait with the support of a digital media artist. Qualitative methods will be used to examine the perspectives of parents, health care professionals, and healthy young people. In addition to disseminating project findings via peer-reviewed journals, the program will hold an exhibition of young people's self portraits and produce a range of educational materials. The project will develop multimedia resources for training and education, and inform the design and delivery of cancer services for young people.
http://agile-prod.ucc.usyd.edu.au/research/opportunities/opportunities/1168?faculty=id11
Healthwize
Topic: Health, wellbeing and development
HealthWize - health literacy teaching resource for refugee and other ESL students (2004)
This teaching resource aims to develop life skills, health awareness, emotional and health literacy, and skills in using formal and informal sources of health care and support.
www.foundationhouse.org.au/service_innovation_program/working_with_schools/resources.htm
Hello Sunday Morning
Topic: Alcohol and other drugs
No two people drink for exactly the same reason. Just like no one solution is going to work for two different people. What HSM are creating is a platform of communication that is self-learning, self-regulating and self-perpetuating. The more people that gradually get involved, the more solutions and ideas that become available from one young person to another young person. From our research so far, we have identified that there are three core reasons why this model is effective with people that want to change their drinking behaviour.
Heywire
Topic: Rural and remote youth
A platform for young people from rural and regional Australia to express their stories, ideas adn opinions with the broader Australian community.
How to Hear Me: A Resource kit for Counsellors and Other Professionals working with people with Intellectual Disability
Topic: Disabilities
A resource book and accompanying DVD that together form an important tool for building the capacity of victim support agencies, counsellors and therapists to work effectively with people with an intellectual disability who have become victims of crime.
2012
WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Association Inc. Disability Training Program – Victims of Crime
IMPACT
Topic: Indigenous youth
The IMPACT program aims to build a community of young Indigenous students to help foster their skills in leadership, contribution to community and future pathways. IMPACT encourages the development of confident, self-aware and resilient young people who contribute in positive ways to their communities. IMPACT is run by the Foundation for Young Australians in partnership with the NT Department of Education and Children’s Services.
In The Bin Film Festival
Topic: Arts, music and culture
The festival is complemented by an extensive national tour of workshops that brings equipment and training to schools, community groups and councils to help them develop film-making skills.
‘In the Bin’ can help young people to create, shoot and edit their own short film.Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP)
Topic: Indigenous youth
The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) is helping to close the gaps in Indigenous educational disadvantage through creating greater access to additional education choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, particularly those from remote and very remote areas of the country. It aims to promote educational excellence and cultural inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
http://www.deewr.gov.au/indigenous/Schooling/Programs/IYLP/Pages/IYLP.aspx
Indigenous Youth Leadership Program 2011
Topic: Indigenous youth
The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program is a 5-day residential forum held in Brisbane from 27 June to 1 July 2011. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a new program focusing on developing leadership skills as well as being introduced to Queensland Parliament’s democratic processes. They will also have the opportunity to meet with guest speakers, workshop presenters, facilitators, government representatives and members of parliament.
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Topic: Indigenous youth
The program helps young Indigenous people move away from home to gain the skills they need to get a job in their community or elsewhere. Indigenous people aged 16 to 24 from remote areas can relocate to an IYMP host location to undertake post secondary education and training options. Training options include Australian Apprenticeships, Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Higher Education that leads to qualifications in nursing, teaching, business administration and accounting, to name but a few possibilities.
www.deewr.gov.au/Indigenous/Schooling/Programs/YouthMobilityProgram/Pages/ProgramSummary.aspx
Investing in Australia's Young People
Topic: Policy
The report was produced by the Office for Youth and is a stocktake of Australian Government activities for young people aged between 12 and 25. It highlights the wide range of programs, payments and services for young people in Australia. www.youth.gov.au/news.html#younginvest
Investing in Youth Studentship 2011 program
Topic: Rural and remote youth
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation offers undergraduate students with financial support and a mentor who to provide valuable career advice. Under the program they will also offer relevant industry placements to gain experience in a chosen field of study.
Keep Them Safe
Topic: Care and protection
Keep Them Safe: A shared approach to child wellbeing is the NSW Government’s five-year plan to fundamentally change the way children and families are supported and protected. Its aim is to improve the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all children and young people in New South Wales.
Website: www.keepthemsafe.nsw.gov.au
Klassroom Kaleidoscope
Topic: Cultural and linguistic diversity
Klassroom Kaleidoscope A program to facilitate connectedness and well-being in the culturally diverse classroom (2007)
Ten lesson unit adapted from the Kaleidoscope Program for the mainstream classroom of both refugee and non-refugee students.
www.foundationhouse.org.au/service_innovation_program/working_with_schools/resources.htm
Management of Social Transformations (MOST) Programme
Topic: Research
The MOST Programme's primary purpose is to transfer relevant Social Sciences research findings and data to decision-makers and other stakeholders. MOST focuses on building efficient bridges between research, policy and practice. The programme promotes a culture of evidence-based policy-making – nationally, regionally and internationally. As the only UNESCO programme that fosters and promotes social science research, it is placed in a pivotal position in the overall promotion of UNESCO's goals.
www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/social-transformations/most-programme/
Max e Grants
Topic: Funding and sponsorship
Max e Grants is an initiative from Barnardos Australia and OfficeMax®. It is a small grants program designed to help children get the most out of their education through better participation.
The Max e Grants program provides small grants of up to $5,000.00 per grant to:
- Community groups
- Schools
- Kindergartens
- Day care centres
Modelling Vocational Excellence (MoVE)
Topic: Education and training
MoVE International, a Survey of Competitors and Experts at the WorldSkills International Competition in London, 2011 aims to provide an evidence base for all WorldSkills Members on the benefits of Competition and ideas for improving the WorldSkills Experience for everyone.
myfuture
Topic: Employment and careers
myfuture is a career information & exploration service and a joint initiative of Australian, state and territory governments. It provides career information, articles and links to thousands of resources to assist young people with investigating career options and opportunities.
Website: www.myfuture.edu.au
NAB Schools First
Topic: Funding and sponsorship
Launched in October 2008, NAB Schools First is a national awards program pledging $15 million over three years.
The program provides:
- financial recognition of success in establishing effective
school-community partnerships; and - financial support to build stronger school-community partnerships.
National Strategy for Young Australians
Topic: Policy
The Strategy, also referred to as the National Youth Strategy, will be used as a guide for future Government action to encourage and help young people take charge of their own lives. www.deewr.gov.au/Youth/OfficeForYouth/YouthPrograms/Pages/NationalStrategy.aspx
National Youth Science Forum
Topic: Education and training
The National Youth Science Forum is a twelve day program for students moving into Year 12 who are thinking about a career in science, engineering and technology. The NYSF introduces them to research and researchers, encourages the achievement of excellence in all their undertakings, and helps to develop their communication and interpersonal skills.
Website: www.nysf.edu.au
NRGize Workshop
Topic: Mentoring
A cooperative effort between the Dusseldorp Skills Forum and The Smith Family to provide training and resources to those involved in youth mentoring programs.
private i - your ultimate privacy survival guide
Topic: Technology and communication
From the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, this publication private i will inform youth on what some of the privacy issues are that they may face, some of the pitfalls to avoid, and who to turn to for help if their privacy has been affected.
Queensland Youth Forum
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
The Queensland Youth Forum is a new program that brings together young people from across the state to share their views on key issues for young people and their communities.
ReachOut Pro Educational Module - Connecting Our Worlds
Topic: Mental health
The ReachOut Pro Educational Module - Connecting Our Worlds, is an initiative to assist healthcare practitioners, youth workers, and those working in health promotion to better engage with young people through the use of technology. It is aimed at providing a basic understanding of the benefits of technology with some introductory "how to" exercises and practical solutions.
Red Aware
Topic: Sexual health
Organised by YEAH (Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS), this program seeks to promote HIV/AIDS and sexual health awareness in their communities. Red Aware is giving 20 people aged 15 to 29 the opportunity to run their own awareness event.
RMIT Industry and community engagement
Topic: Youth work
Part of the RMIT Youth Work program, this service offers the chance for industry and community organisations to tap into the expertise and enthusiasm of those studying Youth Work at RMIT.
School’s In for Refugees
Topic: Migrant and refugee youth
School's In for Refugees: Whole-School Guide to Refugee Readiness (Updated 2007)
This guide aims to strengthen the capacity of school communities to promote a supportive school environment for students from refugee backgrounds and their families.
www.foundationhouse.org.au/service_innovation_program/working_with_schools/resources.htm
Social Policy Research Centre - Postgraduate study
Topic: Research
SPRC is currently offering top-up scholarships to eligible students enrolled in the SPRC PhD program. The scholarships, valued at $5,000 - $10,000, will be awarded on a competititve basis to students holding an Australian Postgraduate Award, Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry) or International Postgraduate Award. For further details email study.sprc@unsw.edu.au
Talk’s In
Topic: Migrant and refugee youth,Education and training
Talk’s In. Families of refugee background and schools in dialogue (2009).
A resource to strengthen the capacity of school communities to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for families of refugee backgrounds. The resource includes background information, practical suggestions and resources for workshops with school staff and families.
www.foundationhouse.org.au/service_innovation_program/working_with_schools/resources.htm
Tasmanian Youth Parliament
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
The Tasmanian Youth Parliament is part of a national youth development program, supported by the Tasmanian Government and YMCA Australia to provide young people with a forum to express ideas, concerns and expectations regarding the future of their state.
www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/cdd/ocya/tasmanian_youth_parliament
The Gatehouse Project
Topic: Health, wellbeing and development
The Gatehouse Project researched ways of promoting the emotional well-being of students in Victorian secondary schools, between 1996 and 2002. This website has been developed to make research results and experiences from the Gatehouse Project available to a wide range of interested groups in the community.
The intervention is designed to make changes in the social and learning environments of the school as well as promoting change at the individual level. It provides schools with strategies to:
- increase the connectedness of students to school
- increase students' skills and knowledge for dealing with the everyday life challenges.
Volunteers In Community Engagement (VoICE) program
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
Youth Challenge Australia's (YCA) exciting new Volunteers In Community Engagement (VoICE) program offers skilled young Australians the opportunity to volunteer on short term professional placements.
This is an opportunity to gain experience working alongside YCA's partner organisations, local counterparts, and local communities to build the capacity and strengthen the sustainability of local development initiatives.
w.comm
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
w.comm is a forum for women from all Commonwealth governments to become involved in politics.
WorkOut
Topic: Mental health
WorkOut is an online program for young men to develop skills for life. A joint project between the Inspire Foundation and The Brain and Mind Research Institute, WorkOut enables the young user to tackle their thoughts and attitudes, one activity at a time.
Through comprehensive results and recommendations, this program aims to de-stigmatise the idea of getting help and lay the foundations of good mental health.
Young Parents Program
Topic: Families, parenting and carers
The Young Parents Program from Red Cross NSW offers a three-phased accommodation, support and education program for young women who are pregnant or have a child, and are homeless or require intensive support.
Young People and Democracy
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
Young People Imagining a New Democracy is a collaborative project between the Whitlam Institute and the UWS Office of University Engagement, which has been made possible with the generous support of the Foundation for Young Australians.
www.whitlam.org/the_program/young_people_imagining_a_new_democracy
Young people and the law
Topic: Rights and legal issues
Produced by Victoria Legal Aid, Young people and the law is a learning resource with fact sheets and classroom activities relevant for 14-16 year olds.
Young People without Borders
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
An initiative from the Foundation for Young Australians that provides the opportunity for young people to become involved in volunteering experiences abroad.
Young Social Pioneers
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
The year-long program directed by the Foundation for Young Australians invests in and supports eighteen inspired change makers aged 18 to 29. It provides mentoring, rigorous peer learning, skills development, leadership inquiry and international connections so that they can make a greater impact. Through start-up style projects, the Pioneers work in areas as diverse as education, the environment, health, human rights, the arts and technology.
Youth Advisory Committees SA
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
The South Australian Office for Youth has information for young people on becoming involved in Youth Advisory Committees.
www.officeforyouth.sa.gov.au/Programs/YouthAdvisoryCommittees/tabid/200/Default.aspx
Youth Advisory Council ACT
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
The Youth Advisory Council of the ACT comprises of 15 young people aged between 12 and 25 years (inclusive) at the time of their appointment. Council members are appointed as individuals, not as representatives of a particular constituency or network.
Youth Advisory Councils WA
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
The Western Australian Office for Youth has information for young people on opportunities in WA Youth Advisory Councils.
Youth Advisory Group on Cyber-Safety
Topic:
The Australian Government committed in 2008 to $125.8 million over four years to a comprehensive cybersafety plan to combat online risks and help parents and educators protect children from inappropriate material. Measures include increased funding towards cybersafety education and awareness raising activities, content filtering and law enforcement and the establishment of the Youth Advisory Group on Cyber Safety.
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
www.dbcde.gov.au/online_safety_and_security/cybersafety_plan
Youth Educating Peers
Topic: Sexual health
Funded by the Department of Health, Western Australia, the Youth Educating Peers (YEP) Project aims to increase the WA youth sector’s capacity to identify and respond to young people’s sexual health and blood borne virus (SHBBV) education and support needs.
www.yacwa.org.au/content.php?CID=57
A final research report details the results of the six trial SHBBV peer based programs, including critical enablers and barriers for effective program delivery and impact of the programs on young people's social, emotional and sexual health and wellbeing.
Youth in Focus
Topic: Statistics
The Youth in Focus (YIF) project is about the experiences of young people in Australia. The aim is to get a more accurate picture of how well young people are doing and how they achieve economic and social independence. The project looks at young people from a wide range of different backgrounds and with different childhood experiences. The study is based on information provided by young people and their parents in a survey as well as information from Centrelink's administrative records.
Website: youthinfocus.anu.edu.au
Youth Parliament Australia
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
The YMCA runs Youth Parliament programs in all states and territories (with the exception of the ACT).
Youth Support Through Arts, Resources and Training (YSTART)
Topic: Participation, citizenship and volunteering
The YSTART Program in Tasmania is a multi-faceted initiative delivered in the Kingborough municipality which provides early intervention and diversionary programs to re-engage young people in the community aged from 12 to 25.
A number of initiatives are offered in the YSTART Program such as open access to Council’s youth centre YSPACE, a creative arts program and two streams of training in construction and café operations.
Engaging young people in the development of a National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
This report prepared by the Young and Well CRC and Batyr for the Mental Health Commission engaged young people to discuss their mental health and wellbeing needs and how a report card could be used to deliver programs and services. Original article
24 May 2013
Australian crime: Facts & figures: 2012
The Australian Institute of Criminology’s annual compendium of crime statistics provides an overview of crime and justice statistics, including information about crimes affecting young people, young offenders and the youth justice system. Original article
24 May 2013
Meet the millennials
Fairfax Media looks into the lives and experiences of those born at the turn of the century who are now entering adolescence. Original article
24 May 2013
The Australian Temperament Project: The first 30 years
This report published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies highlights some key learnings about human development from the Australian Temperament Project (ATP) - a groundbreaking longitudinal study that, to date, has followed a large group of Victorians from their birth to age 30 years. Original article
24 May 2013
Homelessness and the next generation
This report from Wesley Mission looks at existing studies into homelessness, as well as the experiences of those using Wesley Mission services, and focuses on the issues facing children and young people. Original article
24 May 2013