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Young People
Youth InterACT
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Services for Young People
Youth Connection
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Youth interACT Grants and Scholarships
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.
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
Services for Young People
Information on services funded through the Youth Services Program is available:
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
Supporting marginalized young people to access and utilize the education and training opportunities they require for a successful future. The Youth Connection program is an outreach case management service for young people between the ages of 11 to 18. The service provides short to medium term support focusing on overcoming the issues that have caused the young person to disengage while assisting them to succeed in education, training, or employment.
Youth InterAct
Youth InterACT is the ACT Government youth participation strategy which encourages participation by young people in the community and to provide opportunities for young people to contribute to discussions on youth issues, to participate in Government policies and programs on matters concerning young people. This includes advising the Minister for Children and Young People, on the issues and concerns of young people in the ACT.
Youth InterACT comprises:
- Youth InterACT Consultation Register;
- Youth Advisory Council;
- Annual Youth InterACT Conference;
- The Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards;
- Youth InterACT website www.youth.act.gov.au
;
- Youth InterACT Grants; and
- Youth InterACT Scholarships.
To find out more, visit www.youth.act.gov.au or contact 6205 0632.
Youth interACT Grants and Scholarships
Applications have closed.
For further details, application forms and guidelines contact Youth InterACT on (02) 6205 0632 or visit www.youth.act.gov.au 
The Youth InterACT Grants round for 2012 is now open and aims to provide young people aged 12 to 25 years of age, with funding to organise projects, events, activities and programs that benefit other young people in the ACT. Funding amounts up to $1,500 for each project are available.
Youth InterACT Grants can be provided for:
- Projects which encourage young people to get involved in their local community and develop skills;
- Innovative, creative ideas, which provide safe, smoke, alcohol and drug free entertainment and recreational opportunities for young people in the ACT;
- Projects which involve young people at all levels of organisation and operation;
- Projects which are supported by and involve the local community; or
- Organisations that can support the projects identified and led by young people.
