YOUTH ACTION ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 ABOUT YOUTH ACTION

Youth Action is the peak organisation representing young people and youth services in NSW. Our work helps build the capacity of young people, youth workers and youth services, and we advocate for positive change on issues affecting these groups.

It is the role of Youth Action to:

1. Respond to social and political agendas relating to young people and the youth service sector......

2. Provide proactive leadership and advocacy to shape the agenda on issues affecting young people and youth services......

3. Collaborate on issues that affect young people and youth workers......

4. Promote a positive profile in the media and the community of young people and youth services......

5. Build capacity for young people to speak out and take action on issues that affect them......

6. Enhance the capacity of the youth services sector to provide high quality services......

7. Ensure Youth Action’s organisational development, efficiency, effectiveness and good governance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY Youth Action acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional owners of the land, past, present and future, across NSW. We are committed to a positive future for Aboriginal young people and their communities. The Youth Action office is located upon the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and we acknowledge their traditional custodianship.

Youth Action NSW Suite 401, 52-58 William St Woolloomooloo NSW, 2011 p (02) 8354 3700 e [email protected] ABN 17 209 492 539

Designed by Camille Manley camillemanley.com.au

100 Youth Action Annual Report 2017-2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Chairperson's Report

2. CEO's Report

3. Staff and Board

4. Membership

Youth Development 5. and Sector Support

6. Youth Work Awards

7. Engaging Young People

8. Conferences

Media and 9. Communications

10. Policy and Advocacy

1 CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT

Youth Action is in a great so that youth services could demonstrate the value of place thanks to the hard the work they do with a strong evidence-base. Across work of the staff, board the year we spoke to more than a thousand young members and countless people directly and amplified their voices to hundreds of volunteers. Special thanks thousands of people through the media. go to Damian Cooper who retired as our Chair after As an organisation we always ask ourselves the question: two years helping steer Have we helped make NSW a place where young people the organisation from are engaged, valued and supported? When you look at strength to strength. all the work that has been achieved I think the answer, to some extent, is yes. We made a dint, and there is still so As the peak for young people and youth services, much more to do. Youth Action’s role is to make sure decision makers understand the reality of life for young people in NSW. I’m proud to be a part of that work and with your This year, the team spoke with more politicians than ever continuing support we can make a change together. before at every level of government, including the NSW Premier. They spoke at conferences with academics, with student bodies, with business groups and even town planners. Youth Action highlighted key issues faced by young people and the sector, like youth unemployment Tamika Worrell, and healthcare, using research and policy advice. And we Acting Chairperson even launched the NSW Youth Development Framework

CEO’S REPORT What an incredible year. We also took the time to carefully plan a strong Our goal is always to structure for the organisation. We created new positions use our time, resources with a focus on building and supporting the youth and opportunities to sector, increased our communications capacity and make sure young people strengthened our operations. We said goodbye to some and youth services great friends and have been changed by incredible new have everything they ones. Youth Action is a different organisation than the need to thrive in NSW. one I started at four years ago and I am excited to see That includes us as an where this new energy will take us to better support organisation too. The young people and services across the state. It’s been a board, staff and volunteer team have worked tirelessly wild ride and I look forward to the road ahead with our this year to achieve big things. We ran the Youth Work passionate members. Conference and then the biggest ever NSW Youth Work Awards. Six weeks later we threw the biggest What's Up West? Conference, with 250 young people attending. We started the youth health literacy project and ran consultations in six locations with 142 service Katie Acheson workers and young people. We also put out the VET CEO report, Career Guidance, NSW budget submissions and responded to numerous government inquiries. It has been a big year of getting things done.

2 Youth Action Annual Report 2017-2018 STAFF AND BOARD

CURRENT STAFF

Katie Acheson Angus Megarrity Jacqui McKenzie Chris Marcatili Krissy Stapleton Chief Executive Youth Development Policy and Advocacy Operations Manager Project Coordinator Officer Lead Manager – Western

INTERNS YOUTH ACTION This year we worked with 17 young people BOARD through our internship and student placement • Tamika Worrell programs. They worked alongside Youth (Acting Action staff and gained policy and advocacy Chairperson) experience. A huge thank you to the students • Frances Dreyer we worked with this year: (Deputy Imogen D’Souza Lara Bouris Chairperson) Courtney McCloud Lisa Huynh Kiralee Roscoe Alice Rummery • Chris Brereton Communications Administrative Monica Castillo Chantelle Vella (Treasurer) Coordinator Assistant Emma McCarthy Sophie Ho • Lakin Agnew Ismene Panaretos David Bachelor (Secretary) Sarah Yahya Katherine Stone • Peter Hope Alan Huynh Natalie Femia • Alex Long Taylor Schulz Bridey Martin • Tilly South Junyi Cui

PAST STAFF

Jake Formosa Dean Williamson Natasha Lay Rosie Swanton Shaun Brockman Project Development Sector Support Western Sydney Communications Policy and Advocacy Manager Manager Coordinator Manager Manager

Penny Lamaro Annie King Ash Ball Mena Basaly Sector Support Youth Resource Project Coordinator Conference Officer Content Creator – Health Literacy Coordinator Project 3 MEMBERSHIP

Without our members, we cannot be an effective and representative peak. We continually seek to engage our members in all the work we do and are proud to have such a diverse range of youth services, workers, and young people supporting us.

Who Our Members Are Diverse Organisations Make Up Our List

4% 2% 183 ( 6% increase) Youth Services 10% Local Councils 32% Community Services 757 ( 27% increase) Neighbourhood 25% Centres Advocacy Organisations ( 10% increase) 27% 85 Other

Where Our Members What Our Members Say Are From Youth Action has a good reputation overall 95%

Youth Action has represented the sector well 44% 94% My membership with Youth Action is good value 56% 86% I’ve had the chance to contribute to Youth Action’s work 76%

Youth Action has added to my capacity 69%

4 Youth Action Annual Report 2017-2018 YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND SECTOR SUPPORT

Supporting and building a recognised professional youth sector is core to our work. This year, Youth Action has invested in more sector support and started building toward a broad body of tools that will allow youth workers to demonstrate the evidence-base of their work.

TARGETED EARLY INTERVENTION PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS REFORMS Youth Action continues to support professional The Targeted Early Intervention (TEI) reforms are a key networks across the state. These include: area of focus for Youth Action. We are a strong advocate • Local Government and Youth Development Network. for our members in the reform, and a persistent voice Three meetings were held this year, discussing a on the valuable work of youth services in prevention and range of topics relating to the healthy development early intervention. We have worked inside the Minister’s of young people including at a local government level. office, alongside FACS, on the TEI Central Council, as well • Western Sydney Youth Sector Network. The group as at individual district levels. engaged actively this year, involving interagencies and youth workers across the Greater Western We have had great wins for our members, including Sydney region. contract rollovers and the implementation of the Sector Assistance Strategy, which provides training for services This year, the Western Sydney project also supported to prepare for contract transitions. We also fought hard the following groups and committees: for and won the public release of the Tune Report, • Multicultural NSW South West Sydney Regional which clearly shows the need for additional investment Advisory Council into prevention and early intervention. Our work • COMPACT Alliance here continues, supporting our members as the • Western Sydney Nepean Blue Mountains TEI Committee reforms progress. • South West Sydney TEI Committee.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK Critical thinking and Connection AND THE 10 ELEMENTS cognitive skills to family We were incredibly proud to launch our Youth Development Framework and the 10 Elements of Youth Development this year during Youth Week. Coping and Connection We invited 50 government officials, social sector self-management to peers CEOs, business leaders, expert practitioners, and prominent academics to hear exactly how youth workers improve the lives of young people. The Social and Caring and moral skills safe adults framework supports evidence-based practice in NSW to increase the understanding and impact of youth development across the youth sector, government, social services organisations and the community. Communication Caring community The Elements highlight the protective factors which, when developed, enhance wellbeing and self- determination. This framework will underpin a range Involvement in Positive school of practice principles, guides, training, and ongoing positive activities experience support in the year ahead.

5 YOUTH WORK AWARDS

Our fifth annual Youth Work Awards were a spectacular celebration in 2017. We highlighted the incredible work done in the youth sector and acknowledged the passion, and commitment of youth workers in achieving better outcomes for the 1.25 million young people in NSW. With 87 nominations across 9 categories, it was our biggest awards night yet recognising contributions to the health, safety, and wellbeing of young people in NSW.

Nominees are listed NSW Youth Worker Outstanding Service or • The Glue Factory below, with winners of the Year Project with Indigenous • Lake Macquarie Junior listed in bold and highly • Amirah Amin Young People Top Blokes Mentoring commended in italics. • Natika Whyman • Maari Ma's Youth Program • Alison Becroft Health Service • Miyay Birray Youth Lifetime Achievement • Amy Sarandopoulos • Mountains Youth Services Service Award • Angela McMillan Team – Aboriginal • Project NOW Youth • Dennis Laris • Angus Megarrity Mentorship Program Congress • Charlie Coorey • Danielle Woolage • Canterbury Bankstown • Sharks Have Heart and • Glen Crump • Dennis Laris Council Workshop 526 Pty Ltd • Maggie Kuypers • Fatina Elabd • Miyay Birray Youth • Survival Skills Innovation Using Data • Fernando Drogo Service • Youth Housing to Tell Stories • Glen Crump • National Aboriginal Options Program • Maranguka Justice • Greg Watson Sporting Chance • Hayden Moore Program Outstanding Youth Reinvestment Participation Award Project • Jack Antcliff • Pacific Youth • Jodie Banasik Leadership Program • Cessnock • Inner West Youth Community and Homelessness Service • Joel Fitzhenry • Youth Justice Program • Kate Munro Youth Development NSW Youth Service of • Keira Knowles Outstanding Service Project the Year • Lana Masterson or Project with CALD • Blacktown Youth • Regional Youth • Leonard Perelini Young People Advisory Committee Support Services Inc • Melissa Semeri • MCCI Links to • Camden Council – • YCLSS (Youth • Michelle Milligan Learning Camden Shorts Community Living • Nathan Bliss • Multicultural Youth • Cronulla Sharks Support Service) • Peter Hope Affairs Network NSW • headspace Bondi Western Sydney • Philipa McGrouther • Healing Through Evan Junction – Youth • Canterbury-Bankstown • Regan Weber Yako's Drumming Reference Groups Youth Service • Rochelle Nixon • The Marrickville Souths • headspace Penrith/ • Mission Australia • Will Homer Fitness and Breakfast Mount Druitt/ Broken Hill Youth Club Parramatta/Castle Hill Services NSW Youth Work • MENtors – City of • Multicultural Youth • Miyay Birray Youth Volunteer of the Year Canterbury Bankstown Affairs Network Service • Melody Gardiner • Project 9 (MYAN NSW) • Mountains Youth • Tom Downie • Pacific Youth • Carly Lloyd Outstanding Leadership Program Services Team Partnership Award • SENTRAL Youth • May Lyn Ly • SYS Youth • Tahlia Hyde • MENtors – Canterbury- Participation Unit – Services Bankstown Council • St George Youth KIS, Compact & Other • Camden Youth At-Risk Participation Services Program • Youth Solutions • COMPACT Alliance

6 Youth Action Annual Report 2017-20186 ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE

This year we increased opportunities for young people to be involved in our work, not just through our biennial What’s Up West Conference, but also through a number of new opportunities to ensure young people have a voice in our work and in their local communities.

young people YOUTH HEALTH LITERACY PROJECT 643 engaged consultations in Bourke, Broken Hill, Dubbo, Nowra, Sydney and Wilcannia. young person members 14 involved in our work 73% (according to our young people consulted members' survey) 83 sector professionals 59 consulted OUTBURST There are many barriers young people face to Outburst! Western Sydney Youth Action Group takes achieving the health outcomes they want or need. action on issues that affect young people in Greater Some of these are institutional or structural, but Western Sydney. It’s a group of passionate young people equipped with the right information and empowered active in their local communities and who are committed to make their own decisions, young people are able to making Western Sydney a better place for young to gain healthcare outcomes. The Ministry of Health people. Membership is for young people aged 12 to 25 has funded Youth Action to develop a toolkit to years who live, work, or study in . improve the health literacy of young people across Outburst! Is made up of 27 fantastic young people and NSW so that they are better able to determine their three volunteers who participated in ten meetings own access to the healthcare system. This is a huge throughout the year. project and one we are very excited to be leading. TRAININGS AND YOUTH This year the project was in its early development PARTICIPATION stage. We ran six consultations around NSW to Across the year there were a number meet with young people and find out about their of opportunities for young people experiences and challenges with the health system. to be involved in our work and we Our project’s next steps will be to develop an online partnered with a range of other platform young people can use to go into the health organisations to increase youth system equipped with the knowledge they need to engagement in local communities. get the outcomes they want. These include:

• Youth advocacy trainings in St Johns Park High School and Blacktown Youth Advisory Council • What’s Up West? Youth Conference • Internship and student placement program • Media training and the opportunity to speak to media on key issues • Internal Youth Action operational involvement, such as sitting on the board, recruitment and judging panels, and policy development. 7 CAPE PROJECT COWRA YOUTH FORUM The CAPE project seeks to create social cohesion We were excited to be invited to help run the by engaging young people at risk of participating Central West’s first ever youth forum in Cowra. in far-right extremism. Building on previous work The Cowra Information and Neighbourhood done by All Together Now, the project is funded Centre recognised that the best way to support by Multicultural NSW and over the next four young people is to get them involved in finding years will build the capacity of young people in solutions to the issues they face, and they called a youth volunteer network to interact directly on us to help develop and run the day. We also with hate speech online to challenge white reported back and talked about the outcomes nationalist activity across the state. Youth Action of the forum, with local service providers, co-facilitates trainings, which were attended media, government departments, and by 15 youth volunteers across three training school leadership. sessions. We also help recruit youth volunteers and advise on how to support young people involved in the program. 40 young people attended

BUILDING ARMIDALE’S YOUNG SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS CONFERENCE Armidale’s Young Social Entrepreneurs Conference was a one-day conference hosted in partnership between Youth Action, the FRANK Team and the Armidale Regional Council. The event brought together 58 young people as well as local entrepreneurs, business leaders and the local council to foster innovative solutions to local issues. After their training, young people were given the opportunity to pitch ideas to local businesses that would help make Armidale a better place for young people. The conference focused on building skills in areas like business planning, idea development, and 58 also had a focus on building connections between young people young people within the local community. attended

8 Youth Action Annual Report 2017-2018 CONFERENCES YOUTH WORK CONFERENCE 2017 The NSW Youth Work Conference supports the youth sector to deliver the best outcomes for young people every two years. We bring together youth workers, youth service managers, and youth work experts from across NSW to engage around critical topics in youth work and for young people. 176 This year we supported services with TEI reforms attendees by laying foundations for services to navigate TEI over 2 days transitions, supporting workers and services to demonstrate their value, creating a platform to engage OVER in issues that young people face from a practice and policy perspective, and creating opportunities for 14 workers to learn from other parts of the sector. 90% sessions From practical training on systems changes to higher reported their level change management strategies, we created a conference agenda that responded to the needs work had improved 23 our members wanted met. as a result guest speakers

250 young people over two days. 87% of young people said they had a great time

WHAT’S UP WEST? YOUTH CONFERENCE Many young people in the Greater Western Sydney 37 workshop 87% region have a positive relationship with their area sessions were and want Western Sydney to be a valuable part of said they picked the city’s future. What’s Up West? is Youth Action’s delivered by up a new skill biennial conference for young people in Western more than they would use Sydney. This year we brought together 250 young 20 organisations people from across the region over two days. expert speakers The focus of this year’s conference was to: 55% 41 and presenters said they’d • Equip young people with the skills and pathways they need to create real change in work to make a their communities. 20 community change in their • Connect them with stakeholders in the region organisations community so they can be involved in the creation of the after leaving future of Western Sydney. showcasing • Consult with young people on how key issues opportunities for in Western Sydney impact them and what they young people to would like to see change in their community. get involved

9 MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS

A clear, powerful voice is essential to making changes that benefit youth services and young people in NSW. Through our media and communications Youth Action reaches a broad audience to show NSW how much still needs to change to benefit young people.

MEDIA SOCIAL MEDIA Our relationship with the media in Australia allows It would be impossible to communicate effectively us to amplify the voices of services and young with young people and youth services without a people that work with us. This platform has been strong social media presence. This year, as well as critical in raising awareness of the work we do and building on the foundations we already have, we the broader issues that need to be addressed. In were more strategic in our approach to platforms like recent years we have not only seen our access to YouTube. a huge audience increase, we have also leveraged our media platform to contribute to real change. 938 Instagram followers 43% increase on previous year

media 3,325 mentions Facebook likes 149 20% increase on previous year Televised interviews 31 3,400 Twitter followers 7% increase on previous year

READERSHIP STATISTICS Yaprap 93% of members say 2 ,1 0 7 our communications recipients keep them informed about the developments in the sector.

Website visits Website page 53,571 views 106,267

10 Youth Action Annual Report 2017-2018 POLICY AND ADVOCACY

The effectiveness of our advocacy work has significantly increased in the last year as we continue to push for changes that improve the lives of young people. Our meetings with elected representatives, both state and federal, increased by four times compared to the previous year, and our involvement in a range of committees, panels and with other decision- makers also increased considerably. 9 86 Major reports, policy One-off participation in papers and submissions committees, panels, conferences and working groups 43 67 Meetings with Ministers, Ongoing participation MPs and Departments with partner organisations and groups

POLICY PAPERS AND SUBMISSIONS MEETINGS WITH MINISTERS, MPS AND • Career Guidance: The Missing Link in School DEPARTMENTS to Work Transitions • Premier • NSW Pre-Budget Submission • Deputy Premier , Minister for Regional • Submission to Department of Family and Development, Minister for Small Business and Community Services Shaping a Better Child Minister for Skills Protection System Commissioning Division • MP, Treasurer • Submission to Department of Justice • MP, Minister for Western Sydney Strengthening Child Sexual Abuse Laws • Minister , Minister for Mental Health, Discussion Paper Minister for Women and Minister for Ageing • Submission to Inquiry into the Prevention of • Minister , Minister for Family and Youth Suicide Community Services and Minister for Social Housing • Submission to Inquiry into Youth Diversionary • Minister , Minister for Tourism and Programs in NSW Major Events and Assistant Minister for Skills • Vocational Education and Training in NSW: • Minister , Minister for Early Childhood Report into Access and Outcomes for Young Education, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Assistant People Experiencing Disadvantage Minister for Education • What’s Up West? Youth Conference Report • Minister , Minister for Education • Youth Unemployment in Western Sydney

11 • Minister Ray Williams, Minister for Multiculturalism ONE-OFF PARTICIPATION IN COMMITTEES, and Minister for Disability Services PANELS, CONFERENCES AND • Senator , Federal Minister for WORKING GROUPS Employment • 1scope • Senator Simon Birmingham, Federal Minister for • ACWA Transitions to Independence Forum (TIF) Education • Advocate for Children and Young People – Youth • Senator Deborah O’Neill Forum • Senator Jordan Steele-John • Australian Competition and Consumer Commission • Stuart Ayres MP, Minister for Western Sydney (ACCC) – Consumer Consultative Committee Meeting • MP, Shadow Minister for Skills and Shadow • Australian Government Parliamentary Mental Health Minister for Education Roundtable • MP • Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW, Board Endorsed Alternative Education Programs • MP, Shadow Minister for Education Panel • Dr. Mike Freelander MP • Campbelltown City Council • Paul Joseph Hugh McDermott MP • Child Rights Taskforce • Cathy McGowan MP • Child Safe Organisations – Joint Workshops • Julie Owens MP, Member for Parramatta • Child Safety Organisations Project – Consumer • Michelle Rowland MP Advocacy Advisory Group • Rebekha Sharkie MP • Child, Young People and Families Peak Agencies • Susan Templeman MP Working Group • Assistant General Secretary, Labor Party • Children’s Rights Report 2017 Launch • Advisor to Deputy Premier Barilaro • Committee for Sydney • Advisor to Minister Dominic Perrotet • Communities of Change • Advisor to Minister , Attorney-General • COMPACT Alliance Quarterly Meeting • Advisor to Minister Pru Goward • CORE Community Services • Advisor to Minister Stokes • Forum of Non-Government Agencies (FONGA) • Advisor to Minister Tanya Davies • Greater Sydney Commission Stakeholder Group • Advisor to Shadow Minister Tanya Plibersek • Hawkesbury City Council • Commonwealth Ombudsman • Hills Youth Interagency • Council of Australian Governments (COAG) • Human Services Managers Meeting • NSW Department of Education • Joint Protocol Out-Of-Home-Care Steering Committee • NSW Department of Families and Community • Just Reinvest NSW Strategic Committee Services (FACS) • Koori Council • NSW Department of Health • Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN) • NSW Department of Industry • Meet Your Neighbour • NSW Department of Justice • MYSN Patherways to Partnerships • NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet • National Growth Areas Alliance • NSW Department of Social Services • National Respectful Relationships Education Expert Group Meeting • NCOSS Children, Young People and Families Alliance • NCOSS Post-Budget Breakfast • NSW Budget Lock-Up

12 Youth Action Annual Report 2017-2018 • NSW Business Chamber Education Forum • ARDT • NSW Department of Family and Community Services • ASIC – CCC Joint Committee Budget Briefing • Australia and New Zealand Youth Peaks Meeting • NSW Ombudsman Joint Protocol Steering Committee • Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP) Quarterly Meeting • Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA) • NSW Skills Board Industry Reference Group • Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) • NSW Women's Alliance Committee • Australian Government Department of Employment • NSW Youth Week Advisory Committee • Australian Youth Affairs (AYAC) • NSW/ACT Young Achiever Award - Judging • Centre for Western Sydney, Western Sydney • Oaktree University • Parramatta Community Fund • Child and Family Campaign Meeting • Safety and Permanency Executive Group • CREATE NSW • School Yard Collaboration Roundtable • Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW) • Sector Development Recommendations Workshop • FAMS • StartSomeGood • Local Community Services Association (LCSA) • Strategies to End Youth Homelessness – Lessons from • Local Government Youth Development Network Ireland, Denmark and Finland (Youth Action led) • Sustainable Development Goals – Australian • Mission Australia Government Community Sector Forum • MYAN • Sydney Alliance • National Centre Against Bullying (NCAB) • Targeted Earlier Intervention Reform Central Council • NSW Business Chamber • Their Futures Matter – Cross-Agency Participatory • NSW Secondary Principals’ Council Inc. Workshop • NSW Teachers Federation • Urbis • Ryde City Council • VET Consultative Forum • TAFE NSW • Western Sydney Living Lab • Targeted Early Intervention Strategic Planning • YMCA Youth Parliament Sessions • Young People ‘Politics in the Park’ – University of • Targeted Early Intervention Sydney Working Groups Western Australia and Reform Council • Youth Affairs Council Western Australia • The Benevolent Society • Youth Diversionary Programs Inquiry Testimonial • UNICEF • Youth Health Literacy Reference Group • UnitingCare Australia • Youth Homelessness Matters Day • Weave Youth and Community Services • Youth Justice Coalition • Western Sydney Health District ONGOING PARTICIPATION WITH PARTNER • WESTIR ORGANISATIONS AND GROUPS • Year 13 • Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State • YFoundations Secretariat (ABSEC NSW) • YMCA NSW • ACOSS CEO Teleconference • Youth Connections • ACOSS Members – Closing the Gap • Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) • ACOSS Roundtable – New Employment Services System • YWCA NSW • Advocate for Children and Young People (ACYP)

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