Youth Action NSW

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. 

Please join us for our next Ask for Health Topic Sector Panel: Gut health on Tuesday July 16 from 10am – 11am. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gyt4hUgG We will be joined by:  Fiona: Young Person with lived expertise Rania Omar: Young Person with lived expertise   Christine Au Yeung: Clinical Psychologist, The Children's Hospital at Westmead   Nadi Fernando: Clinical Psychologist, The Children's Hospital at Westmead

Today marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week. The 2024 NAIDOC theme ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud’ is call to honour the enduring spirit of First Nation's cultures. National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. You can support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country. The Youth Action team will be supporting AbSec's NAIDOC Family Fun Day event at PCYC Marrickville and Koori Radio & City of Sydney's NAIDOC in the CITY at Sydney Townhall on Wednesday 10 July. Learn more on their website here: https://lnkd.in/dexeVKVM

In May Youth Action's Ask for Health Project facilitated a panel on Neurodivergence in Young People. We were joined by: Jae Lalor, Registered Psychologist, Embodied Talk Alison Macrae, Positive Partnerships Charles Tran, Young Person, Ask for Health Young Person Steering Committee Member. Dominique Rose, Young Person, Ask for Health Young Person Steering Committee Member. Here are the key takeaways and resources that the panellists shared at the session.

In our consultations over the past two years, many young people especially young people doing it tough have told us that they are disproportionately impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. They are finding it difficult to make ends meet and feel they are falling behind their peers. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Youth Action's CEO Kate Munro said that commuters aged under 25 would greatly benefit from a reduction in travel costs, given they are also among the most exposed to relentless increases in living costs. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/g9QKV5Nb   Youth Action would like to see a specific focus on young people to address the cost of living crisis. Our 2024-2025 pre-budget submission includes recommendations co-designed with young people and the services that support them that are aimed at improving outcomes for young people in NSW: https://lnkd.in/gUvC9Paf

Early bird tickets close 30 June! Get your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/gT66sdyv Youth Action is excited to be hosting our first NSW Youth Work Conference and Awards regionally on Wiradjuri Country at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo. Learn more about the event here: https://lnkd.in/gSz8FfrR