The Youth Bureau has responsibility for youth policy, research and programs targeted specifically to young people.
The Bureau helps to create opportunities for and promote the engagement and greater participation of young people in community activities. We also aim to raise the profile and positive image of young people in the community; facilitate and undertake research on families and young people to inform policy and program development; and liaise with other stakeholders to improve services for young people on a range of issues affecting them including mental health, education and work. Some of our key initiatives include:
Australian Youth Forum (AYF)
The Australian Government has provided $8 million over four years to establish a new Australian Youth Forum which will serve as a formal communication channel between the Australian Government and young people, youth policy specialists and the youth sector in general. It will ensure that young people have a framework for putting forward their ideas and concerns direct to the Australian Government.
It is expected that the model adopted for the forum serves the needs of young people and the sector well. To this end, a discussion paper has been released and a national consultation process has been carried out aimed at collecting the views of stakeholders on possible approaches for the Forum. The discussion paper can be downloaded from www.thesource.gov.au.
Office for Youth
As announced in the 2008-2009 Federal Budget, the Office for Youth (OfY) is being established within DEEWR. The Office for Youth will enable a greater focus on youth affairs through the identification of key issues impacting on young Australians. The Office will play a strategic role that extends across the boundaries of any one Australian Government portfolio.
The Office for Youth will identify opportunities for better integration of policy and program settings across the Australian Government and monitor the impacts of these on young people. Through early engagement in the policy development process, it will ensure that the Government’s considerable investment in young people is evidence-based, strategic, coherent and effective.
The OfY will support the Government’s priorities including the education revolution, COAG reform and the productivity agenda through coherent and strategic policies which aim to ensure that every young Australian can reach their full potential.
The Office will concentrate its efforts on, those areas and interventions where evidence shows the greatest results – in this way it will work to increase the impact of the Australian Government’s substantial investment in young people.
The Australia 2020 Youth Summit
The Youth Summit was an opportunity for young Australians to engage in discussions about the nation’s future directions, in particular on the 10 critical areas that were to be discussed at the Australia 2020 Summit hosted by the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP.
The Youth Bureau has commenced a detailed analysis of the Youth Summit outcomes across DEEWR and further investigation will be carried out across portfolios to ensure the Australian Government is able to respond to the top 10 ideas put forward by the Youth Summit delegates by the end of 2008. As representatives of their respective topic streams, 11 delegates, along with co-Chair, Mr Hugh Evans, returned to Canberra the following weekend to attend the Australia 2020 Summit.
A copy of the Youth Summit communiqué is available at www.australian2020.gov.au/youth/index.cfm
National Youth Week (NYW)
NYW is the largest single celebration of young people on the Australian calendar and has run annually since 2000 as a joint initiative of Australian, State, Territory and Local Governments. The aim of the week is to encourage young Australians aged 12-25 to celebrate their youth, recognise the contributions they make to their communities and provide an opportunity for young Australians to voice concerns or issues relevant to them. National Youth Week 2009 will run from 28 March till 5 April. Information about NYW is available at www.youthweek.com.au.
National Youth Affairs Research Scheme (NYARS)
NYARS was established in 1985, and is a co-operative research program between the Australian Government and state/territory governments. NYARS produces nationally based research on issues and topics affecting young people (12-25 years). NYARS research reports provide governments and the youth sector with an evidence base on youth issues.
Current NYARS research projects include:
- Young people (12-17 years) and Financial Debt
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Young People and Mentoring
- Young people and Online Communication
- Diversity in Young People's Participation in Government and Community Decision-making
- Young Carers - their Characteristics and Geographical Distribution
Previous NYARS reports are available on (www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/aboutfacs/programs/youth-nyars.htm)
Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies (ACYS)
ACYS is a national resource for sourcing the most current topics, information and practices in the youth field. It is the only clearinghouse dedicated to youth issues in Australia. The main role of ACYS is to make youth information available and accessible to the community, as well as providing a networking capacity for those working in the youth field. The Australian Government provides funding for youth clearinghouse services to support the youth sector, including the youth organisations, youth workers, youth researchers and young people themselves.
There are three main ACYS products and services:
Youth Programs
The Bureau also administers a range of programs that help vulnerable young Australians to improve their level of engagement and to overcome barriers to participation with their families and the community. These programs include:
- Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA)
- YouthLinx
- Mentor Marketplace Program
YouthLinx
YouthLinx is a prevention and early intervention program that supports young people aged 11 to 16 and their families build self reliance, strengthen their family relationships and encourage community involvement. YouthLinx provides innovative and structured activities and positive peer support to young people, mainly outside school hours and during school holidays. Practical support and guidance is also provided to families. The YouthLinx allocation for 2008-09 is approximately $7 million.
The Mentor Marketplace Program
The Mentor Marketplace Program encourages the use of mentoring activities to improve outcomes for young people, particularly those at greatest risk of disconnection from their families, community, education and work. The Australian Government has provided $12 million for the Mentor Marketplace Program over four years ending 30 June 2009. The program currently has funding agreements with 26 service providers across Australia.
The Transition to Independent Living Allowances (TILA)
TILA aims to ensure that young people exiting formal/informal care are assisted to transition to independent living through enhanced access to accommodation, employment/education and the development of life skills/knowledge. TILA (The Allowance) of up to $1,000 is available to young people, aged between 15 to 25 years who are about to, or have exited, state-based care and/or informal care such as:
- Juvenile justice
- Out-of-home care; or
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Kinship care arrangements.
More information regarding this program, including the latest application form, is available at www.tila.org.au. Eligibility enquiries can also be directed to the TILA Helpdesk on 1800 624 309.
Further information on Youth Bureau Programs
For further information on Youth Bureau’s programs visit the Australian Government’s youth portal (http://www.thesource.gov.au/involve/youth_programs.asp). Thesource is a gateway to youth information, programs, services, resources and entertainment for young people between the ages 12 and 25.