Youth Action NSW

Thank you to over 50 organisations and youth workers for joining us for our October Youth Sector Meeting yesterday. It was great to connect with everyone and hear your thoughts on the top issues of the sector and young people. Youth Action is preparing our submissions for the Inquiries on the impacts of loneliness on young people and the impacts of pornography. We received detailed feedback from the sector to assist us in informing our submissions. We also heard from the sector about their thoughts on the NSW Performance and Wellbeing Framework. We want to thank the sector for your time and input. Your feedback will inform our advocacy work over the next few months.

We are excited to announce that there will be a special performance at the Awards night this year, Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) will be performing selected songs from their upcoming new musical Converted! Converted! is a satirical disco musical about queer teenagers who just want to fall in love, but face a system that is desperate to police, politicise and discuss their identities. It’s a feel-good show about self-love, self-acceptance, and self-belief, that just so happens to be set at a conversion therapy camp. Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP)

Youth Action is excited to release the updated program for the NSW Youth Work Conference 2024. We are grateful to the over 40 speakers who will be sharing their expertise and insights with us. Read the program on our website: https://lnkd.in/gSz8FfrR

Join us and have your say for our Youth Sector Meeting on Thursday October 10 at 10am. We want to hear from the sector about the key issues you are facing, get your feedback on upcoming inquiries about loneliness, hear your views on the social media age verification policy debate and update you on developments in the juvenile justice space, Throughcare and social cohesion. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gmwMaecn

Due to the great support of the sector, we had to move to a venue to fit more people in. We will still be in Dubbo, and of course, all tickets are still valid. We are excited to announce that the NSW Youth Work Conference and Awards 2024 will be at Dubbo RSL. Look out for some exciting upcoming news about a performance at the Awards night. Tickets are open! Purchase your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/gT66sdyv

Please join us for our next Sector Session on Thursday 19 September from 10am – 11:30am with Youth Off the Streets to talk about the free workshops they are offering as part of their Taking Action and Creating Change Together project. The TACCT Project aims to transform how youth services in NSW respond to domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) experienced by unaccompanied children and young people. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eEfzzgpQ

In the words of Wear it Purple, on 30 August 2024, ‘Wear It Purple Day’ will unite LGBTQIA+ youth and allies to shine a glorious light on the thousands of schools, community organisations, universities, and workplaces that are coming together to create a more inclusive future for all Australians. By wearing purple, Australians demonstrate to rainbow young people that they are celebrated and respected, acknowledging all have the right to be proud of who they are and who they are becoming. This year’s theme is "Your Passion, Your Pride", with artwork by Nicky Tsekouras, winner of Wear It Purple’s Design Competition to create a campaign message and artwork in celebration of LGBTQIA+ people openly and visibly achieving their dreams in sport, art, science and more!

Last Thursday Youth Action was excited to be part of the launch by The Hon Rose Jackson MLC, Minister for Youth of a new report commissioned by NSW Department of Communities and Justice and researched and written by Andrew Johnson, Thrive International about the Key Tenet's of Programs That Successfully Engage Young People at the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP). Andrew was able to undertake research and program reviews to determine best practices of the youth sector with 8 Youth Action member organisations working in a diverse range of contexts with young people. The report collated interviews of CEOs, front line workers and young people. Study participants included Women's Shelter Armidale Inc, Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), Community Junction, Humanity Matters, Julia Reserve Camden Council NSW Australia, Mountains Youth Services Team (MYST), Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS), Saints Care Ltd. – Youth Rez. The report launch was followed by an engaging and insightful panel discussion and Roundtable facilitated by Andrew Johnson the report author, with 40 Government and non-government representatives about the hub model of service delivery and how youth hubs can be supported in NSW. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/g3GktDV9

Last week on Wednesday 10 July the Youth Action team supported AbSec's NAIDOC Family Fun Day event on Gadigal Country at PCYC Marrickville and NAIDOC in the City on Gadigal Country at Sydney Townhall that was hosted by Gadigal Information Service Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with the City of Sydney. We asked young people: “What change do you want to see for First Nation’s young people in a year’s time?” Some of the things young people told us include: “less racism”, “more empathy and love” and “suicide and mental health support specifically for First Nation’s young people”. Youth Action also asked young people to vote on their top three priorities from the following areas: violence, housing, mental health, cost of living, jobs and income, education and learning, environment and transport. We will be using what young people voted on and told us to inform our ongoing work and advocacy focus areas.⁠ 

Please join us for our NSW Youth Sector Session on Thursday 18 July from 10am – 11:30am on TEI Draft Program Specifications. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gabpb3dr The DCJ TEI program team are seeking input from the sector about the draft specifications. This session will be an opportunity to hear from DCJ about the key changes to the Specifications and provide your valuable feedback.