annual report 2015 a YNOT annual report report annual YNOT 2015 the peak body for the youth sector in Tasmania vision A Tasmania where young people are actively engaged in community life and have contents access to the resources needed to develop their potential. Chair’s report 2 Board members 5 Sponsors and supporters 6 mission YNOT members 7 To work with young people, CEO report 8 the Tasmanian youth sector, Volunteers 9 the community and all levels of government to increase the Statewide Youth Collaborative (SYC) Group 10 participation and contribution Youth Action Priorities (YAP) 11 of young people in the state. Northern Youth Coordinating Committee (NYCC) 12 North West Action for Youth (NWAY) 13 1 Collaborations: policy, advocacy and communications 14 report annual YNOT YNOT 21st AGM and Sector Forum 17 Youth Ethics Framework for Tasmania 18 TYF Policy and Project Officer report 19 All about TYF 20 TYF Members and Volunteers 21 2015 National Youth Week 22 Youth Homelessness Matters Day 23 TYF Employment Forum 24 TYF Mental Health Matters Forum 25 Other Opportunities with TYF 26 Tasmanian Youth Conference (TYC) overview 27 TYC young person report 29 TYC working group 32 chair’s report I first became involved with YNOT through the Youth Ethics Framework for Tasmania working group and I’m pleased to say that the work that began four years ago is still going strong. It’s rare to see an initiative like this Tasmanian Youth stay alive and active, and even rarer Conference to see its results flourish and grow. Ideas come and go and it may What strikes me most about this seem that our efforts are nothing unique event is the seamless more than just activity for the mixing of young people and sector sake of being busy. The fact that workers. It just makes sense. YNOT has produced something But it’s surprisingly rare for this to so enduring and vital to the youth take place; few events nationally Ann Davie, YNOT Chair sector should not surprise anyone. or in other states provide such a worthwhile experience. The whole I’m proud of the work that this YNOT team – members past and small team has produced in the Youth Leadership 2 present – were involved in YNOT annual report report annual YNOT last year. Time and time again, the planning and producing an Resources worn out phrase ‘punching above exceptional event. This timely package informs young its weight’ is used to describe this people on how to make the most dedicated group of people. A few Tasmanian Youth Forums of leadership opportunities, build of the highlights that spring to skills and make a difference in their mind are: The recent forums on employment and mental health built on the communities. work undertaken previously in the Tasmanian Youth Suicide 2015 seminal Should I stay, or should I go? Forum. The results provide Prevention Strategy incredibly valuable insights into As I write this, it is Mental Health what matters to young people – Week in Tasmania. And I am and lessons for all of us on how pleased that public discussions to improve engagement and about mental health are open and participation across all aspects of supportive – a significant change their lives. from years past. YNOT has helped inform the strategy through the Tasmanian Youth Forums (TYF). “I’m proud of the work that this small team has produced in the last year. Time and time again, the worn out phrase ‘punching above its weight’ is used to describe this dedicated group of people” The report produced from the Joseph, Dianne Bester, Zoe Jay I can’t close without acknowledging TYF Mental Health Matters Forum and Ros Atkinson; they have each the incredible work of Joanna is invaluable and, like all YNOT contributed so much to the growth Siejka. Possibly the only one in resources, will continue to be and success of YNOT. existence with the skills, empathy, useful for years to come. knowledge and passion required to I want to acknowledge the ongoing guide this organisation, she leads I’m also proud of the work that and productive relationship a team that continues to make a the YNOT Board has overseen that YNOT has had with the difference to the lives of young in the past year. While not the Government. YNOT has benefitted 3 Tasmanians. report annual YNOT most engaging of subjects to from the support of Premier, tackle, our governance policies Hon Will Hodgman MP, who has In the Chair’s report from last and procedures are clear, recognised the contributions that year, Matt Durose quoted a Greek comprehensive and, above all, YNOT can make to informing policy philosopher who said that the only useful to the organisation. affecting young Tasmanians. constant is change. The landscape The Board has provided support I would also like to thank the of the youth sector across the and guidance to YNOT, and its Hon Guy Barnett MP for his country has changed substantially. members are some of the most support of YNOT through his role YNOT is in an enviable position to 2015 dedicated and creative people I’ve as Parliamentary Secretary. And be able to weather, and even make had the pleasure to work with. throughout the structural changes the most of, change. I would like to take this opportunity within the Department of Premier Ann Davie to thank them for their work and and Cabinet, we have continued an YNOT Chair friendship. I’d like to acknowledge excellent relationship with those in outgoing board members Mark Communities, Sport and Recreation. 4 YNOT annual report 2015 board members Ann Davie, Chair Matt Durose, Vice Chair Mark Joseph, Treasurer Miranda Ashby Australian Clearinghouse Mission Australia City of Hobart Flourish Mental Health for Youth Studies 5 YNOT annual report report annual YNOT Ros Atkinson Kate Cross Troy O’Konnah Griffin Blizzard Youth, Family and Rural Health National Job Link TYF Member Community Connections 2015 Collective members Karinya Young Women’s Service Zoe Jay Dianne Bester UN Youth Tasmania/ Individual member TYF Member sponsors and supporters Special thanks to Communities, Sport and Recreation, in the Department of Premier and Cabinet, as the major funding body for YNOT, TYF and the Tasmanian Youth Conference. Adriana Taylor MLC Jacquie Petrusma MP New Things Now Andrew Wilkie MP Jeremy Rockliff MP Nick McKim MP Ashgrove Cheese Julie Collins MP Northern Youth Coordinating Committee Beacon Foundation Lara Giddings MP Noetic Group Bianca Welsh Launceston City Council Officeworks Hobart Bryan Green MP Leonie Hiscutt MLC Rebecca White MP Cassy O’Connor MP Lions Club of Brighton Red Herring Surf Launceston 6 Coal River Coaches and Love Lions Club of Deloraine YNOT annual report report annual YNOT Tasmania Tours Roger Jaensch MP Lions Club of Forth Valley Colony 47 Rosemary Armitage MLC Lions Club of Kentish Cornerstone Youth Health Rotary Club of Bellerive Lions Club of Kingborough Services Inc Rotary Club of Hobart Lions Club of Kings Meadows Digital Ink Rotary Club of Ulverstone Lions Club of Wynyard Elise Archer MP 2015 Ruth Forrest MLC Lush Australia Glenorchy City Council Scott Bacon MP Matthew Groom MP Greg Hall MLC Senator Lisa Singh Mayor Kristie Johnston The Link Youth Health Service (Mayor of GCC) Southern Midlands Council Headspace Launceston May Shaw Health Vanessa Goodwin MLC House of Anvers Michelle O’Byrne MP Waratah Wynyard Council In Esse Mike Gaffney MLC Youth, Family and Community Ivan Dean MLC Connections Inc National Job Link ynot members 10 12 15 34 reciprocal individual associate organisational Amanda Street Hobart City Council Richard Muir Wilson Andrew Verdouw Jonathon O’Neill Rural Health Tasmania Ann Davie Julie Collins MP Ruth Forrest MLC Annie Kenney Young Womens Karinya Young Women’s Service Save the Children Australia Emergency Accommodation Kentish Council Scott Bacon MP Service Kingborough Council Senator Carol Brown Australian Red Cross Latrobe Council Senator Christine Milne Baptcare FACS Launceston City Council Senator David Bushby Beacon Foundation 7 LAUNCH Youth Sorell Council report annual YNOT Burnie City Council Legal Aid Commission Southern Midlands Council Circular Head Council of Tasmania Tasmanian Academy - Don College Colony 47 Inc Lisa Amerikanos Tenants Union of Tasmania Inc Communities, Sport and Matthew Groom MP Recreation, Department of The Link Youth Health Service Premier and Cabinet Migrant Resource Centre (North) Theresa Moore 2015 Cornerstone Youth Health Mike Gaffney MLC Troy O’Konnah Services Inc Mission Australia Unions Tasmania Derwent Valley Council Mission Australia (TYSS) West Tamar Council Devonport City Council Peer Support Foundation Ltd Working It Out Dianne Bester Peter Gutwein MHA Youth Futures Flourish Mental Health Pulse Youth Health Youth, Family and Community Glenorchy City Council Rebecca White MP Connections Inc Griffin Blizzard Relationships Australia Tasmania Zoe Jay Healthy House ceo report In the past year, YNOT has had to step up and advocate for young people’s needs on issues, and in areas, where previously we had funded federal peaks to lead the way. Considerable change has happened • working to support the first at the federal level and YNOT has Tasmania Youth Suicide Prevention been part of these discussions. Strategy As a result, YNOT has been active • holding Tasmanian Youth on issues ranging from income Forums and producing reports: protection, education, homelessness Employment and Mental Health and employment at the federal level, Matters drawing upon our work with young Tasmanians in doing so. This work • developing numerous submissions has paid off, with some of our asks and media releases, and consulting Joanna Siejka, CEO being picked up in the federal Youth widely with the sector Employment Strategy. • contributing to many forums, Much of this past year was spent committees and advisory groups 8 preparing for the Tasmanian Youth YNOT annual report report annual YNOT • presenting to a wide variety of interns, as well as benefited from the Conference.