Section text. Section heading Section heading Section text. Section text. YOUTH ACTION ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 1 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 and 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 Suite 401, 52-58 William St Woolloomooloo NSW, 2011 Australia P (02) 8354 3700 | F (02) 8354 3720 E [email protected] ABN 17 209 492 539 TABLE OF Section text. CONTENTS 1. Chairperson and CEO’s Report 2. Staff and Board 3. Membership Youth Sector Support 4. and Development 5. District Visits Section heading Section heading Section text. Section text. 6. Engaging Young People 7. Policy & Advocacy 8. Youth Work Awards 9. Media and Communications 3 CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT The last year has been significant for Youth Action. On behalf of the Board of Governance I can say that, while there will always be considerable work to do and challenges to face, Youth Action is in a strong position to advocate on behalf of its members, the sector, and young people across NSW. I am particularly proud of the work Youth Action has done to lead the youth sector in the face of the Targeted Earlier Intervention (TEI) reforms. The Board sees these reforms as a space Youth Action must continue to be active in so that the essential work taking place in front-line services is represented and advocated for. Youth Action has attended regional information and co-design sessions across NSW and has been in the room talking with the Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) on behalf of members. This has been a big investment of time and resources in participating in every step of the TEI reforms to ensure we are advocating well for our members. The strategic focus on valued young people, promoting a professional youth sector, putting youth issues on the agenda, and making Youth Action strong and sustainable has given the organisation the targeted direction it needs to take great strides. The Board congratulates Katie Acheson and her dedicated team for another fantastic year. The Board also thanks the Department of Family and Community Services for its continued support through funding, and the many partners and members who are critical to Youth Action’s future. Damian Cooper CEO’S REPORT Building on the momentum of previous years, I am proud to say that Youth Action has tirelessly advocated for young people and youth services and achieved great things. One of our biggest accomplishments in the last year, and my personal favourite, was visiting every district in NSW during October and November. The Youth Action team went to regional and rural NSW where we had the great pleasure of meeting 141 young people and connecting with 140 youth service providers and sector members. Not only was it a perfect opportunity to hear and see the issues affecting young people in NSW, we also met with District Directors to advocate on behalf of the sector in the midst of the TEI reforms. This year we also worked hard to influence policy-makers. We put forward submissions to a number of inquiries, such as the Inquiry into Child Protection, Inquiry into Migrant Settlement Outcomes (with MYAN), and the NSW Homelessness Strategy. In partnership with national and international research bodies, we also released the first ever Australian Youth Development Index (YDI), which tracks conditions affecting young people from 2006 to 2016. The YDI is an important advocacy tool for providing a holistic view of the issues young Australians face every day. The success of this advocacy is shown in our continuing media presence, which helps put youth issues on the political agenda. There is still so much be done to make NSW a better place for young people. I am proud of the steps we have taken, and excited for the challenges still to come. I am honoured to work with such an exceptional team, strong partners, and a passionate member base. Thank you again for standing with us in this last year. Katie Acheson 4 STAFF AND BOARD CURRENT STAFF Katie Acheson Jake Formosa Natasha Lay Dean Williamson Chief Executive Officer Project Development Western Sydney Sector Support Manager Coordinator Manager Jacqui McKenzie Chris Marcatili Rosie Swanton Penny Lamaro Policy & Advocacy Operations Communications Sector Support Officer Manager Coordinator Manager (from May 2017) (from May 2017) PAST STAFF Mena Basaly Miriam Rizvi Naomi Russo Conference Coordinator Communications Communications (from May 2017) Manager Manager (to May 2017) (to September 2016) 5 YOUTH ACTION BOARD • Damian Cooper (Chairperson) • Keiran Kevans • Francis Dreyer (Deputy Chairperson) • Peter Hope • Chris Brereton (Treasurer) • Lawrence Muskitta • Lakin Agnew (Secretary) • Tilly South • Elizabeth Hill • Tamika Worrell DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES • Lincoln Peckham • Lakin Agnew • Niki Gill • Natalie Chiappazzo • Kim McLoughry • Maddy Forwood • Anthony Scerri • Valentina Angelovska • Angie McMillan INTERNS AND CADETS This year we worked with 20 young people through our internship and student placement programs. Our interns worked alongside Youth Action staff and gained valuable policy and advocacy work experience. A huge thank you to the students we worked with this year: • Joe Brophy • Andy Chalmers • Katherine Stone • Belinda West • Kathleen Herbert • Betty Nguyen • Manisha Mishra • Casey Hails • Marianne Schafer-Gardiner • Charlotte Finlayson • Megan Sturges • Danika Hardiman • Michelle Chan • Eliza Kidd • Sana Shaikh • Gabi Bowen • Sarah Hemans • Hollie Jones • Tamika Worrell • Janika Berg 6 MEMBERSHIP Our members are at the core of what we do. Representing a diverse range of young people, services, organisations, and individuals from across NSW makes us a strong and productive peak body. Who Our Members Are What Our Members Say Of our 845 members, 104 organisational and individual members and 96 young people members responded to our annual survey. Here is what they had to say: Think Youth Action has a good reputation overall. Where Our Members 98% Are From Said Youth Action had represented the 96% Youth Sector well in the last year. Said they were involved in our work 73% in the last year. Diverse organisations make up our member list: LOCAL COUNCILS 30% COMMUNITY SERVICES 27% YOUTH SERVICE 25% Said that Youth Action adds to their NEIGHBOURHOOD 72% capacity. CENTRES 13% ADVOCACY ORGANISATIONS 2% EDUCATIONAL ORGANISATIONS 2% OTHER 1% Of young people said they had been 71% involved in our work in the last year. 7 YOUTH SECTOR SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT This year we invested a huge amount of time and resources into the Targeted Early Intervention (TEI) reforms, making sure our members were always kept up-to-date, equipped, and advocated for effectively. We also undertook District Visits and maintained several professional networks to understand and respond to the needs of the sector. Targeted Earlier Intervention (TEI) Reforms Our key sector support focus continues to be the TEI reforms, which are a critical priority for our members. This reform will change the funding model to most early intervention youth services in NSW, so we have invested a large portion of our sector support resources in participating in the oversight of the state-wide rollout of the reform through a range of activities. We have spoken with members to District Representatives understand their needs in the reform process, Program advocated for improvements to reform processes and Our District Representatives are a group of tools, travelled across NSW to consult with and passionate members who help share information update our members, and provided expertise in a between Youth Action and their local regions. range of steps throughout the process. They help us strengthen our connection to the youth sector across the state, and by identifying Professional Networks local issues faced by youth services, the District In line with our strategic priorities, we support and Representatives help ensure Youth Action is facilitate a number of professional youth sector representing as many services as possible. They also networks. assist us to reflect local needs in the development of • The Local Government and Youth Development our sector training, resource material, and advocacy Network (LG&YDN) met four times this year support. to discuss a range of issues relating to youth development, particularly at a local government Western Sydney Youth level • The Practice Experts Group (PEG) provides Sector Network advice to Youth Action on a range of practice Western Sydney Youth Sector Network (WSYSN) is an issues, particularly regarding the TEI reforms and alliance of youth workers and interagencies in the submissions relating to the youth sector. Greater Western Sydney area. This year the network focused on regional advocacy, particularly for youth employment, and building stronger relationships Outcomes Training between schools and the youth sector.