Young People

Young People
Youth InterAct
ACT Young People's Plan
Services for Young People
Youth Connection
Adolescent Day Unit

Canberra is a city with a young population. While the proportion of young people in Canberra is forecast to continue to decrease, Canberra will continue to have a higher proportion of young people than the national average. 2001 ABS data indicates that 21.9% of the population in the ACT are aged 12-25 years (74,371) compared with 19.3% nationally (Youth (12-25yrs) (ACT & Australian data: 2001 Census))

The Office for Children, Youth and Family Support brings together a range of services and functions with the aim of developing integrated policies and programs for children, young people, their families and carers. To provide support for young people the Office funds and works in partnership with a number of services that work with young people from community organisations that include youth centres, youth support, youth development and youth representative services.

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Youth InterAct

Youth InterACT is the ACT Government youth participation initiative which encourages participation by young people in the community and government consultation and decision making. This includes advising the Minister responsible for youth affairs on the issues and concerns of young people in the ACT.

Youth InterACT comprises:
· Youth InterACT Consultation Register;
· Minister's Youth Council;
· Annual Youth Conference;
· The Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards;
· www.youth.act.gov.au ; and
· Grants and Scholarships.

To find out more, visit www.youth.act.gov.au or contact 6205 0632.

Reports on Annual Youth InterACT Conferences are available:

2002 Youth InterACT Annual Conference Report 410KB
2005 Youth InterACT Annual Conference Report (coming soon)

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ACT Young People's Plan

Strengthening Opportunities for All Young People is the ACT Government's vision for young people to be achieved through the recognition of diversity, disadvantage, young people’s families and natural communities and through the development of partnerships.

The purpose of the Young People’s Plan is to provide a flexible and responsive context for government agencies, community organisations, the ACT community and young people to support improved outcomes for young people and address changing needs and emerging priorities over the period 2004-2008.

The Young People’s Plan provides a policy context for public sector agencies when developing policy advice and initiatives relating to young people. It is also intended to be used by individuals, groups and organisations that work at all levels with young people and on issues affecting young people.

The key elements are:

ACT Young People’s Plan
The ACT Young People’s Plan provides a whole of government policy framework for ALL young people in the ACT based on four directions of Participation, Access, Transitions and Support.

Blueprint for Young People at Risk
The Blueprint outlines strategies for action for young people who may require additional support. The Blueprint is focussed around three key goals:

- Enhancing Support
- Providing more coordinated assistance
- Strengthening age specific support.

ACT Government Commitment to Young People
The ACT Government Commitment to Young People specifies key actions relation to young peoples completion of schooling and the provision of appropriate and effective training both on and off the job.

Annual Action Plan
The Action Plan sets out actions and associated milestones to be carried out by government each financial year. Actions Plans will be developed through community and stakeholder consultations each financial year and will relate to the whole policy framework.

Youth Policy Group
The Youth Policy Group will comprise of young people and relevant government and non-government representatives. The Youth Policy Group will have the role of initiating, consulting and monitoring progress on the Annual Action Plan.

To find out more visit www.youth.act.gov.au or contact 6207 1057

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Services for Young People

Information on services funded through the Youth Services Program is available:

YSP Fact Sheet 320KB

Information on services funded through the Youth Supported Accommodation Assistance Program can be found at www.dhcs.act.gov.au

The Office for Children, Youth and Family Support also manages two government youth services for young people at risk:

Youth Connection
Youth Connection Youth Work & Family Support Service is an outreach based service, which endeavours to re-engage marginalised young people into educational pathways and support their families in this process. Youth Connection is a short to medium term non-crisis service. Youth Connection addresses educationally based issues and refers complex matters to appropriate services.

The Adolescent Day Unit (ADU) provides a day program that offers intensive specialist support for adolescents between 12 and 15 years. The young people who attend have disruptive behaviours or emotional difficulties of sufficient severity to prevent attendance at school, but have the potential to work towards returning to school or attending a preparation for work program.

Search for Youth Service Information and Contact Details (www.makingcontact.net.au )

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