Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Annual Report 2009-10 by Joe Collier

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Annual Report 2010 CONTENTS Chairperson’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Chief Executive Officer's Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Who’s Who at YACVic: Secretariat & Staff . . . . . . . . 9 Organisational Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Our Vision & Guiding Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Board of Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Year in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Policy & Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Youth Participation & Sector Development . . . . . . . 24 Young Media Spokesperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 YACVic Statewide Conference:

above: YDAS LiveAccess Launch Northcote Social Club 2009

Here, Now & Next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Youth Reference Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Media & Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Youth Disability Advocacy Service . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Victorian Indigenous Youth Advisory Council . . . . . . 38 Victorian Student Representative Council . . . . . . . . 41

below: VIYAC Meeting Warrnambool 2010

Youth Referral & Independent Person Program . . . . . 44 Youth Homelessness Policy Officer (CHP) . . . . . . . . 46 Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Financial Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Thank you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Where We've Been 2009–10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, Inc. gratefully acknowledges the funding support funding support of the Office for Youth within the Department of Planning and Community Development. Level 2, 172 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 (03) 9267 3799 | fax (03) 9639 1622 | info@yacvic.org.au

At 50 years of age, YACVic still gets around with the spry step of the young people it represents. While this has been a year of significant change for YACVic, we’ve met the challenges head-on and have a lot to be proud of for the year.

Report from the Chairperson LUCAS RYAN

Of note this year has been the completion of YACVic’s new strategic plan which has been the result of a detailed consultative and participatory process. Involving the complete spectrum of YACVic’s diverse stakeholder group has been crucial to the formation of a strong strategic plan. I am delighted to report that this plan accommodates for our organisational growth through being dynamic and flexible, while keeping us focused on our core values of opportunity, justice, participation and equity. Earlier this year YACVic hosted a state-wide conference in Ballarat entitled: “Here, Now and Next.” Our first carbon-neutral conference, this event canvassed issues facing young people and the youth sector at present and provided a forum to discuss the future of the sector. It was my pleasure to chair this conference and feedback received at and after the event told that it was both enjoyable and informative for those who attended. I was particularly delighted to see so many young people attending and getting involved, as well as making some really terrific presentations. YACVic should be proud of its successful endeavours to involve young people at every

level of its organisation. That members of this organisation are willing to appoint young people to the position of chair indicates that YACVic not only holds the belief that young people have a meaningful and valuable contribution to make to their communities, but acts on it. I thank the members of YACVic’s Board for placing their trust in me as Chairperson this year. This year we welcomed to the Board Lauren Fernando, Bridie Hudson, Khan Churchill and Victoria McLure as Young Media Spokesperson. Our new members have reinforced that part of YACVic’s continued growth and success must be attributed to our capacity to attract and engage talented volunteers and staff. I congratulate our new Board members on their valued contributions to the organisation. My thanks also to our Treasurer, Toni Jenkins, Emma Crichton, Richard Hill, Tim Corney and Cassandra Devine whose continued service to the Board should also be noted. As Chair, I have undertaken to strengthen relationships between the Board of Governance and YACVic’s advisory mechanisms, the Youth Reference Group and the Policy Advisory Group. Members of the Board sit on both these groups and this year we have endeavoured to report to and receive reports from the PAG and the YRG. This has allowed the Board a more detailed insight into the operation of these groups and we were delighted to hear of the achievements of both throughout the year. A special note of thanks is owed to Richard Hill who, in his role as Deputy Chairperson, has provided YACVic and me personally with the benefit of his wisdom and experience. Richard has been a patient and insightful mentor to me

and his support during my time as chair has been invaluable. It was my pleasure to move that Richard become a life member of YACVic and I congratulate him on this tremendous achievement. His knowledge of governance as well as his methodical and considered approach to participation on our board is of great value and worth to our organisation. Finally, my thanks on behalf of the Board to our CEO, Georgie Ferrari, whose leadership has played a key role in propelling YACVic into success. Georgie is a capable leader of our organisation, a passionate advocate for young people and the youth sector and a wonderful colleague. It has been my pleasure to work alongside Georgie Ferrari as Chair and I thank her for her service to the Board and to YACVic. It has been my pleasure to chair YACVic’s Board of Governance for its golden jubilee year and I look forward to another 50 years of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria.

Lucas Ryan YACVic Board of Governance Chairperson

After eight annual reports for the same organisation it’s hard to think of something clever and original to open with. Perhaps a simple haiku can sum the work of YACVic up in the last 12 months up nicely:

Report from the C.E.O. GEORGIE FERRARI

Another year passed A lot of work done for youth Much more still to do

On a more serious note, I’m very pleased to report on the last 12 months work of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria. It’s been another busy and productive year for the team. The financial year kicked off with YACVic busy in conference preparation mode. In October the sector and young people gathered in Ballarat for two days of concerted thinking, discussing, debating and learning. Over three hundred people attended and feedback on the event was extremely positive. Putting on a conference of this scale is a time consuming effort. My thanks go to the entire YACVic team for their effort in making it a success. Particular thanks must go to Liz Leahy for her conference organising skills and attention to every little detail; and to Kate Goodrich for organising and coordinating the conference youth team so well. Once the conference was completed we were able to focus on the many other pressing tasks needing our attention. The Strategic Plan was put out to consultation. I thank all of the YACVic members who contributed to this document through providing feedback and suggestions for improvement. YACVic’s communication officer Joe Collier has worked up a great design

and layout for the plan. It is due for release any day now and will be a document that guides our work for the next five years. YACVic has continued to support the establishment of the national youth peak body, the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC). This year we assisted in appointing AYAC’s new director, Andrew Cummings to the role of leading the organisation. I sit on the Board of AYAC and am treasurer for the organisation. Jen Rose represents YACVic on AYAC’s Policy Council. Our work in advocating for rural and regional youth and youth sector issues continues. In June of this year we heard that we were successful in our bid to get an additional worker placed at YACVic who would have the role of focusing on this important aspect of YACVic’s advocacy work. The role will also have a capacity building

element to it, assisting rural youth sector workers to access training and development opportunities. Many thanks to Jen Rose for all her hard work in advocating for this role. YACVic also continues to be involved in the tertiary deferment study. This work seeks to understand the specific and unique disadvantage rural students face when it comes to gaining a tertiary qualification. Late last year we published a report on a two-year study that looked at the destination points of rural students who had originally deferred their tertiary offers. The Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development was very supportive of this work and, earlier this year, negotiated with us to fund the project for a further three years. We are delighted that this important study, a partnership with the LLENs and Melbourne University, will continue.

Sticks and Stones and Mobile Phones: Bullying in the New Millenium Youth Forum August 2009

YACVic’s projects consistently produce quality products and excellent results. George Taleporos continues to lead the Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS) team from strength to strength. We are lucky to have dedicated staff in Martin Healy and Bec Feldman as part of the YDAS team. In National Youth Week this year YDAS had the premiere of its short films at ACMI. These films, all made with the creative input of young people with disabilities, aim to break down the stereotypes of disability and show a more diverse range of representations of young people with disabilities. They are all extremely creative and powerful pieces. If you haven’t seen them, DVDs are for sale through YACVic. VicSRC started the year with a new coordinator. Kate Walsh joined the team after James Tonson left to travel and explore other opportunities. Kate had to hit the ground running, with lots of projects on the go. With a little additional funding from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development VicSRC has produced a resource that is a guide for principals entitled "Developing Student Participation, Engagement & Leadership". This great resource is available on their website. The Victorian Indigenous Youth Advisory Council (VIYAC) has also had a successful and productive year. In February we welcomed Clarisse Slater to the role of project officer with VIYAC. Clarisse and Tim Kanoa (VIYAC State coordinator) have been incredibly busy running events, holding consultations and advocating for Aboriginal young people. The Police Community Spirit Awards, held earlier this year were a great success. We were delighted that Commissioner Simon Overland presented the awards.

Looking back over the last 12 months I realise it’s been an incredibly busy one for the organisation. There’s not enough room in this report to highlight all of the things we have done. I encourage you to flick through to get more of a picture of the work of the whole organisation. I continue to be enormously proud of the work we do and the people I work with, both the paid staff and the volunteers. YACVic is a fantastic, hardworking and successful organisation because of the people we work with. Our members continue to be a strong base from which we can advocate, giving us ideas, providing us with problems to be worked out and issues to be raised. The Board are a bunch of such dedicated and talented people, it’s a privilege to be guided by them. Lucas Ryan, in his first year as Chair, has executed the role with professionalism, wit and wisdom. My thanks go to the PAG, the YRG and all of you who help make YACVic tick. YACVic celebrates 50 years of operation as an independent organisation this year. We should pause for a moment to think about the fifty years of hard work and dedication that has built this organisation. I am reminded of the African proverb “If we stand tall, it's because we stand tall on the shoulders of those who came before us”. Never more true than in this instance.

Georgie Ferrari Chief Executive Officer

ABOUT YACVic YACVic is governed by a volunteer board and managed by a paid secretariat. We are a notfor-profit, member-driven organisation with our core funding coming from the Department of Planning and Community Development through the Office for Youth. In addition, YACVic auspices and supports various projects, including the Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS), the Victorian Student Representative Council (VicSRC), the Victorian

Indigenous Youth Advisory Council (VIYAC), the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program (YRIPP), as well as the role of the Youth Policy Officer at the Council to Homeless Persons.

YACVic Secretariat

Chief Executive Officer

Youth Participation & Sector Development Manager

Finance Officer

Communications Officer

Office & Events Coordinator

Manager: Policy & Projects

GEORGIE FERRARI

KATE GOODRICH

SALLY WEST

JOE COLLIER

LIZ LEAHY

JEN ROSE

Manager

Individual Advocate

Projects Officer

State Coordinator

Projects Officer

Coordinator

DR. GEORGE TALEPOROS

MARTIN HEALEY

REBECCA FELDMAN

TIM KANOA

CLARISSE SLATER

KATE WALSH

YDAS

VIYAC

ViCSRC

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE YACVic has around 360 members comprising both individuals and organisations. These include organisations that work with young people (e.g. local council youth services), schools, community organisations, government agencies, academics and young people themselves.

Youth Reference nominate Group 6-15 positions

appoint advise Members

elect

Board of Governance Up to 10 positions including 5 young people

govern

Chief Executive Officer

advise appoint

manages

Policy Advisory nominate Group 6-15 positions

Staff

OUR VISION Our vision is for a Victorian community in which all young people are valued as active participants, have their rights recognised and are treated fairly and with respect. YACVic will work to achieve this vision by: • Listening to and working with young people, the workers and organisations who support them • Identifying issues that affect young people • Advocating on issues that affect young people • Supporting and resourcing the sector that works with young people • Supporting young people’s participation and self-advocacy. • Maintaining an independent and robust relationship with government In doing this, YACVic will maintain a focus on those in our community who are most disadvantaged and marginalised.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES Human Rights

Inclusion

Human rights are the universal rights that every human being is entitled to enjoy and have protected. YACVic will work to protect the human rights of young people.

Recognising the diversity of young people and the sector that supports them, YACVic strives to consider the needs and views of all young people and those who work with them.

Participation

Empowerment

Participation is the active involvement of young people in all aspects of decision making. YACVic will work within a youth participation framework.

YACVic assists young people in gaining the skills they need to advocate for themselves. YACVic works from a strengths-based approach, both with young people and the sector that supports them.

Collaboration Collaboration is the process of a number of people or organisations collectively working together in a way that achieves a greater result than as a single unit.

Integrity Integrity guides the way YACVic staff and volunteers conduct themselves. We are committed to honesty and ethical behaviour at all times.

Leadership As the peak body and leading youth policy advocate in Victoria, YACVic has a leadership role in the work we do with young people and the sector.

YACVic BOARD OF GOVERNANCE Lucas Ryan (Chairperson)

Lucas is an undergraduate student at the University of Melbourne, studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in political science and criminology. Having joined YACVic in 2006, Lucas has served three terms on the Youth Reference Group and has played an active role in organising their projects over the years. In 2008 Lucas was elected to be YACVic’s Young Media Spokesperson and became the Chairperson in 2009. Lucas was appointed as the National Youth Week 2008 Young Member for Victoria and the 2009 Young Member for Australia. In these roles Lucas has represented the interests of young Australians to the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments. He is also one of the Victorian Equal Opportunities and Human Rights Commission’s Human Rights Youth Ambassadors. Lucas is passionate about issues around youth participation and promoting young people’s involvement in the policy decisions that affect them.

Richard Hill

(Deputy Chairperson) Richard has worked as a youth worker, youth service manager, trainer and researcher in various guises for the last 40 years. He has worked mainly in local government (including a stint in East London), spent three years teaching on the youth work course at the former Phillip Institute (now part of RMIT), and has recently completed a variety of consultancy projects in the youth sector.

Richard now works freelance as a facilitator, lecturer and supporting quality improvement. While this work spans a variety of sectors, it is still primarily in youth work and community development. He has been involved with YACVic at various stages of its history and was president of the Victorian Youth Workers Association in the late 70s. He still has a strong interest in youth affairs and is delighted to be part of YACVic’s current resurgence and strong focus on youth participation.

Toni Jenkins

(Treasurer and Regional/Rural Representative) Toni is the Executive Officer of the South West Local Learning and Employment Network. Although she was born and bred in regional Victoria, as a young person her one aim in life was to leave the country for the ‘bright lights’ of the city. She therefore lived and worked in Melbourne for many years as well as working for a time overseas. She has worked in all sectors of the work force: private, government and community. A converted returnee she is now passionate about living and working in rural Victoria. The YACVic role, in many ways is an extension of that passion. As the regional Victoria rep Toni believes that she can bring to the table an important perspective that will add value to and strengthen YACVic’s Board of Governance.

Victoria McLure

(Young Media Spokesperson) Victoria is a 20 year old young person from the Central Goldfields in regional Victoria. Currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Youth Studies at Victoria University, Victoria hopes to break into the public policy field at the end of this year, with particular interest in policy affecting regional young people. Victoria has been involved with YACVic for the past 3 years as a Youth Reference Group member where she developed a great interest in organisational policy and strategic planning. In the role of Young Media Spokesperson, Victoria hopes to create a stronger point for communication between the Board of Goverance and Youth Reference Group, in order to broaden YACVicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity for youth participation in organisational decision making and strategic planning.

Khan Churchill Khan is a youth worker who has been working in the sector since 2002. In this time he has worked predominately in the areas of employment, education and training support with atrisk and homeless young people. Working in the Northern and Western suburbs of Melbourne he is passionate about supporting young people, with a particular focus on those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Khan is also a strong advocate for the ongoing professionalisation of youth work as a profession and currently sits on the development committee for the Youth Workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association.

Tim Corney Tim is a qualified youth worker and has worked in the youth and community sector for over twenty years as a youth worker, manager of youth services and as a consultant to community agencies, government and peak bodies. He has taught and published widely in the area of youth affairs. He is currently a member of the Youth Workers Professional Association reference group and a member of the board of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria. He recently co-authored the first draft of the Victorian youth sector's Code of Ethical Practice for the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria.

Emma Crichton Emma is the CEO of St Kilda Youth Service (SKYS), a proud and passionate organisation that works with young people who are disadvantaged and who experience complex needs. SKYS works with young people in the city of Port Phillip and young people who visit the municipality to attend the innovative community education programs that SKYS offer. Emma is a tireless networker; she works in this manner in order to achieve systemic change. Emma works with local residents, government, philanthropy, young people and the corporate sector to get the greatest possible outcomes for young people. Emma has been involved in the youth and community sector for over ten years. Emma is serving her second term on the YACVIC Board.

Cassandra Devine

Bridie Hudson

Cassandra is a Public Policy/Media and Communications graduate, and is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Social Policy. She has been an active member of the Youth Reference Group since 2004. She was a regional editor of the Office for Youth’s youthcentral website and has also conducted media skills training in Timor-Leste. Cassandra is a recipient of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and Rotary Youth Leadership Award. She also has a longstanding interest in health and wellbeing, sitting on the Community Advisory Board for Body Image and teaching yoga in her spare time.

Bridie, 24, is currently completing her Honours Degree in Psychology at The University of Melbourne. Bridie has been involved in youth advocacy since 2006, mostly through the Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS). As part of her work with YDAS, she has been an active Steering Committee member, Management Group member and chairperson of the Sector Reference Group. She has also contributed to various systemic youth disability advocacy projects and represented YDAS at various public speaking events. Bridie has also worked within the youth sector in a paid capacity, as a Project Officer for Youthlaw and Women’s Health In the North. As a newly appointed board member, Bridie hopes to bring the voice of a young woman with a disability to the board. She hopes to facilitate a link between YACVic and YDAS that will strengthen the governance of both organisations.

Lauren Fernando Lauren is a Bachelor of Arts–Youth Studies student at Victoria University, where she is also the Equity Officer at the Victoria University Student Union. She looks after student advocacy for a range of collectives. She has also previously served on the Victoria University Council. Lauren has been a representative to World Youth Day, Cologne, and was inspired to create a youth group at her parish. From 2006, she has coordinated a youth group at St. Joseph’s, Springvale, and in 2008 took a group of young people to World Youth Day, Sydney. Lauren was recently elected National Ethno Cultural Officer for the National Union of Students. She is passionate about youth participation and social inclusion.

YACVic Board of Governance members (from left to right) Victoria McLure, Lauren Fernando, Emma Crichton, Richard Hill, Cassandra Devine, Toni Jenkins, Bridie Hudson, Lucas Ryan & Tim Corney

(absent) Khan Churchill, Mike Poutney, Kimberley Flanagan, Thom Woodroofe

Board Meeting Attendance 09/10 ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND SINCE JULY 2009

ATTENDED

Toni Jenkins

Richard Hill

Victoria McLure

Elected November 2009

Bridie Hudson

Co-opted to the Board in August 2009

Khan Churchill

Elected November 2009

Cassandra Devine

Tim Corney

Emma Crichton

5

Completed 2 year term in November 2009

Kimberley Flanagan Completed 2 year term in November 2009

Thom Woodroofe Stepped down in August 2009

Lauren Fernando

Co-opted to the Board in August 2009

Lucas Ryan Mike Pountney

 3 x leave of absence

YEAR IN BRIEF It’s been a busy year at YACVic. Here is a brief summary of what we have been up to. Forums and Conferences

Reports/Policy Papers

• Here, Now & Next: YACVic’s Statewide Conference

• Sticks and Stones and Mobile phones: Bullying in the new Millennium: Outcomes of a forum on bullying and young people in Victoria

• Sticks and Stones and Mobile Phones: Bullying in the new Millennium. • Rural Youth Services forum in Ballarat (in Partnership with Victorian Rural Youth Services)

• Mapping the Middle Ground: Supporting the educational engagement of young people aged 10–14 years (in partnership with the Inner City Regional Youth Affairs Network and with the support of the Office for Youth and the City and Inner Eastern Local Learning and Employment Networks)

• Significant program reform announced by DEEWR in the area of Youth Attainment and Transitions • The Victorian Budget 2010-11: What’s in it for young people?

Submissions • Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee review of Exceptions and Exemption to the Equal Opportunity Act 1995.

• Diversifying the Mainstream (in partnership with the Youth Participation Practice Network)

• Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee Inquiry into Strategies to Reduce Crimes against the Person (in partnership with the Centre for Multicultural Youth).

• Kitted Out: tools, tips & technology for improving youth participation (in partnership with the Youth Participation Practice Network)

• Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee in rela tion to the Summary Offences and Control of Weapons Acts Amendment Bill.

VIYAC Meeting May 2010 14

Submissions (cont.)

Other publications

• Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth Inquiry into the Impact of Violence on Young Australians.

• Marginalised youth, surveillance and public space, early findings research report, published on the Victorian Privacy Commissioner’s Office website.

• Electoral Reform Secretariat within the Department of Premier and Cabinet in response to the Electoral Reform Green Paper: Strengthening Australia’s Democracy.

Key partnership projects • Victorian Rural Youth Services Network

• Treasury on priorities for investment for the 2010–11 State Budget.

• Youth Referral and Independent Persons Project

• Victorian Law Commissions Review of Child Protec tive Arrangements (in partnership with the Victorian Council of Social Service).

• Smart Justice Campaign partner (campaign led by the Federation of Community Legal Centres)

• Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s discussion paper ‘Towards a Health and Wellbeing Framework for 0-18 year olds’.

• Deferring a Tertiary Offer in Victoria Longitudinal Study

• Child Rights Taskforce (in partnership with Youthlaw, VCOSS, Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare) • School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University (Surveillance Report)

• Rural and Regional Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into the extent and nature of disadvantage and ineq uity in rural and regional Victoria (in partnership with Victorian Rural Youth Services).

• Professional Association of Youth Workers

• Facilitated the bringing together of a diverse group of young people to provide direct advice to the Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth, through the hearings process for the Inquiry into the Impact of Violence on Young Australians.

• Swinburne University, Financial Literacy training

• Federal Parliamentary inquiry into Cyber Safety. A transcript of our evidence can be found at www.aph.gov.au/hansard/joint/commttee/J13186.pdf • YACVic provided advice through the reference group to the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s review of surveillance in public places.

• YACVic provided policy advice to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development on the ‘Pathways to re-engagement through flexible learning options’ directions paper and the ‘Stronger futures for all young Victorians Discussion paper on the youth transitions system’.

• Coalition for Same Sex Attracted Youth Support Funding • Step Back Think

Participation Training and workshops • Aboriginal Affairs Victoria Youth Leadership forum. • Body Image Grant Program induction (with the Office for Youth). • Youth participation/consultation strategies training events in Kerang, Benella and Penhurt and Traralgon (in partnership with the Office for Youth). • Workshops/talks to promote youth participation practice at Swinburne University, Monash Youth and Family Services, North Melbourne Institute of Technology, RMIT, Kangan Batman Tafe, Victoria University, Holmesglen Tafe and Australian Catholic University, Chisholm TAFE, Whittlesea Youth Refer ence Group, Good Sheppard Youth and Family Services.

Mapping the Middle Ground forum Supporting the educational engagement of young people aged 10–14 years May 2010

Participation Training and workshops (cont.) • Provided advice and updates to Frankston Council, Moonee Valley Youth Services Network, headspace, WIRE, Schoolies Week Interagency Steering Commit tee, Fitzroy Legal Services and the Victorian Youth Mentoring Association. • Two consultations with young people about the key consumer issues for them (with the Australian Con sumer and Competition Commission).

YACVic representation on committees and working groups

• C.O.S.T. Research Training School 2010 on Cyber Bullying • Department of Health— Children, Youth and Family Partnership Group • Human Rights Leadership Forum • Inner City Regional Youth Affairs Network • International Youth Mental Health Conference— Scientific Committee • Local Learning and Employment Networks Executive Officer’s meetings

• Australian Centre for Human Rights Education PAC.

• Lord Mayors Trust Fund advisory roundtable

• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Consumer Affairs Victoria—Young people and Consumer issues.

• Ministerial Advisory Committee on the Youth Peer Panel Project

• Australian Drug Foundation, 6th Drugs and Young People Conference Program Committee.

• Office of the Community Sector Regulatory Reform Reference Group, State-wide Workforce forum and Grant Service Group Reference Group

• Australian Youth Affairs Coalition Board and Policy Advisory Group. • Child Rights Taskforce. • Child Safety Commissioner’s Reference Group on young people and public transport.

• Ministerial roundtable on alcohol and young people

• Office for Women’s Policy—State Plan to prevent Violence Against Women • Regional Youth Affairs Network Convenors meetings • RMIT Youth Work PAC

• Same Sex Attracted Funding Coalition • Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth—young people’s experiences of violence

• Victims Support Agency Young Victims Strategy Reference Group, Department of Justice.

• State and Territory Youth Peaks

• Youth Reference Group representation on the Ministerial Youth Advisory Committee.

• SWISC—Schoolies Week Interagency Steering Committee

Other events and conferences attended

• VicSRC Committee of Management • Victims of Crime Youth Strategy Advisory Group • Victorian Council of Social Service Board of Govern ance and Finance and Risk Committee • Victorian Council of Social Service Transport and Disadvantage Reference Group • Victorian Indigenous Youth Advisory Council Reference Group • Volunteering and Participation Portal Reference Group • WIRE • Youth Participation Workers network

• Convention on the Rights of the Child Celebration Morning Tea (in partnership with the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, the Victorian Council of Social Service, Youthlaw and Reach Out for Kids).

• Department of Transport through participation in the Transport, Social Inclusion and Well-being conference in December. • YACVic Youth Reference Group members attended the C.O.S.T. International Training Seminar on Cyber Bullying in Melbourne. • Watch this space: Children, young people and privacy conference.

Youth Reference Group Induction Camp March 2010

YACVic’s policy work for the 09-10 financial year has been broadly focussed around three areas: the regulation of public space and the extension of police search and seizure powers; education and student wellbeing; increased advocacy and support for rural young people and youth services. Below is a run-down of YACVic’s policy advocacy on these issues.

Policy Update JEN ROSE Manager, Policy & Projects

The regulation of public space and extension of police search and seizure powers: An election year typically sees a focus on law and order policy and campaigning from both of the major parties on issues of public safety. This year, however, has seen a particularly strong focus on ‘youth violence’, particularly knife crime and assault, sparking parliamentary inquiries at both the State and Federal levels, and the Government’s introduction of new, broad reaching search and seizure powers for police. YACVic developed submission responses to both the Victorian Parliament’s Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee Inquiry into Strategies to Reduce Crimes against the Person (in partnership with the Centre for Multicultural Youth) and the Federal Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Youth Inquiry into the Impact of Violence on Young Australians. YACVic also worked with the Federal Committee, to ensure that young people’s voices were heard as evidence to the inquiry, bringing together a diverse group of young people to participate in the hearings process in February 2010. In November 2009, YACVic raised serious concerns to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee (SARC) regarding the Summary

Offences and Control of Weapons Acts Amendment Bill 2009. The Bill introduced new search powers for police enabling them to search any person in a designated area, without warrant, including children. The Bill also granted ‘move on’ powers to police, enabling police to give a person a direction to leave a place on grounds such as ‘the person is likely to breach the peace’. YACVic’s submission to SARC highlighted the ways in which the Bill would breach rights protected by the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities; the evidence of ‘move on’ powers being utilised in discriminatory ways in other jurisdictions and the clear way in which they breach the Rights of the Child. June 2010 saw the introduction of yet further amendments to the Act, seeking to further broaden the search capacity of police and enabling a police officer to perform the duty of an Independent Person when searches are being conducted on children. YACVic will be continuing their advocacy in this area. YACVic have also been active members of the Smart Justice Coalition led by the Federation of Community Legal Centres, promoting understanding of criminal justice policies that are effective, evidence-based and human rights compliant. YACVic has also been exploring marginalised young people’s experiences of Surveillance in the CBD. After having sat on the reference committee for the Victorian Law Reform Commissions Inquiry into Surveillance in early 2009, YACVic partnered with Monash University to explore in more detail the experiences of surveillance of young people who are marginalised or homeless. The research has involved conducting focus groups with young people from Frontyard Youth

Services and St Kilda Youth Services, and preliminary results were presented to the ‘Watch this Space: Children, Young People and Privacy’ Conference hosted by the Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner in May. The full research report will be available later in 2010. Education and student wellbeing: This year has seen a flurry of policy reform activity from within the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. YACVic submitted a response to the Departments discussion paper ‘Towards a Health and Wellbeing Framework for 0–18 year olds’. YACVic also provided the department with advice in relation to the discussion papers ‘Pathways to re-engagement through flexible learning options’ and ‘Stronger futures for all young Victorians: Discussion paper on the youth transitions system’. YACVic identified this time of reform as an opportunity to promote understanding and dialogue between the education and youth sectors, to facilitate increased collaboration in supporting young people’s wellbeing. YACVic partnered with the Inner City Regional Youth Affairs Network to host a policy forum ‘Mapping the Middle Ground: Supporting the educational engagement of young people aged 10–14.’ The forum was working towards the development of a common, crosssectoral understanding of how to best support the educational engagement and wellbeing of young people aged 10-14 through an integrated, holistic approach that engaged both schools and youth services. It brought together representatives from Government, schools, family and youth services and research, to examine the current policy and practice landscape relevant to

supporting the education engagement and wellbeing of this ‘middle years’ age group and to consider what might need to happen to strengthen supports. Rural young people YACVic continued to work in close collaboration with Victorian Rural Youth Services (VRYS), to advocate for the needs of rural young people and rural youth sector development. YACVic and VRYS collaborated on a submission to the Rural and Regional Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into the Extent and Nature of Inequity in Rural and Regional Victoria, in which we highlighted the inequities commonly experienced by rural young people in relation to health and wellbeing outcomes, access to support services, higher education, transport and other opportunities. YACVic and the VRYS were very pleased to see a strong focus on young people in the Blueprint for Regional and Rural Victoria Ready for Tomorrow, released in June. The Blueprint contained a number of strategies aimed at supporting rural young people’s access to tertiary education, improving access to transport to link to education and jobs and supporting them to have a voice and participate in local civic life. The Blueprint includes a Youth Action Strategy through which YACVic has received funding enabling the recruitment of a ‘Rural Youth Services Support and Advocacy Officer’ to work with Victorian rural Youth Services to provide a policy, advocacy and sector support focus on rural young people and youth services.

In the 2009-10 year, YACVic also produced policy responses to the: • Electoral Reform Secretariat within the De partment of Premier and Cabinet in response to the Electoral Reform Green Paper—Strength ening Australia’s Democracy. • Treasury, highlighting priorities for invest ment for the 2010–11 State Budget. • Victorian Law Reform Commission review of Child Protective Arrangements (in partner ship with VCOSS). Thank you YACVic’s policy work would not be possible without the generous input and assistance of a range of member organisations, other advocates and young people themselves. For their assistance and collaboration this last financial year, YACVic would like to give particular acknowledgement and thanks to: • Members of the Victorian Rural Youth Services Steering Committee • The Centre for Multicultural Youth • Dean Wilson and Emma Colvin from the School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University • Youth Law and the Federation for Community Legal Centres • Frontyard Youth Services • St Kilda Youth Services • The Victorian Council of Social Service • The Inner City Regional Youth Affairs Net work and the Convenor, Chrissy Singh.

YACVic’s Policy Advisory Group: The Policy Advisory Group (PAG) provides policy advice to YACVic’s staff and Board of Governance to guide the development of YACVic’s policy work. The PAG is made up of YACVic members, who meet regularly to share their particular expertise on issues relating to young people and youth services in Victoria with YACVic’s manager of Policy and Projects. In the 2009-10 financial year, the PAG provided advice to YACVic in the following key areas: • Identifying priority policy issues for YACVic’s work; • Student wellbeing and supporting young people’s educational engagement; • Priorities for advocacy in the lead up to the State and Federal Elections; • The review of YACVic’s Policy Statements.

PAG members for the 2009–10 year include: • Tiffany Overall, Youthlaw • Chrissy Singh, Stonnington Youth Services • Lauren Oliver, Berry Street • Robyn Freestone, Youth Substance Abuse Service • Deborah Lawson, Centre for Multicultural Youth • George Taleporos, YDAS • Bridie Hudson, YACVic Board • Cassandra Devine, YACVic Board • Deilia Murray, City of Casey • Jane Lazarri, Council to Homeless Persons • Katherine Ellis, YACVic member • Richard Foster, Financial and Consumer Rights Council • Tracey Carson, Hobson Bay City Council • Vu Long Tran, YACVic Youth Reference Group (Hugh Stevens and Bianca De Bortoli have also represented the Youth Reference Group).

YACVic would like to extend a sincere that you to all members of the PAG for the 2009–10 year. Your engagement, advice and expertise help ensure YACVic’s policy work is reflective of the concerns and perspectives of the sector. 21

As always the year has been both busy and varied, meaning that YACVic has been actively engaged in working across a wide number of areas and projects, in order to strengthen youth participation & sector development both within YACVic and across Victoria.

Youth Participaton & Sector Development KATE GOODRICH

YACVic has continued to convene the Youth Participation Practice Network (YPPN). The YPPN describes itself as a “community of practice” with the intention of coming together to discuss and support each other’s work in youth participation. The Network has met on a bi-monthly basis. At each meeting we bring practice questions and dilemmas to examine, dissect and improve current practice. These dilemmas have been written up and are available on the YACVic website and are of use to anyone facing similar issues in their own work. The Network has also designed and run two forums over the year with over a hundred participants attending. The forums responded to identified needs from the sector. The first forum, ‘Diversifying the Mainstream’ looked at ways and means to make youth reference groups and advisory bodies more broadly representative. The second forum ‘Kitted out’ had two components, the first was a ‘participation 101’ session followed by workshops that looked at how to successfully use current technology to enhance youth participation work.

YACVic also continued working in partnership with OFY, working as part of their training program on the Positive Body Image grants in Melbourne and Shepparton. YACVic also worked with OFY to deliver a series of regional training events, working with a wide range of youth service providers, looking at best practice in processes of youth consultation and participation. These were held in Gippsland, Kerang, Benalla and Penshurst.

Participants from the YPPN's "Kitted Out" forum

YACVic also worked with the Victorian Rural youth Services, to advocate for the needs of rural young people and rural youth sector development. For further details please see the Rural Young People section of the Policy Report on page 22. This work is primarily carried out by our CEO, Manager of Policy and Projects and the Manager of Participation and Development. This has led us to taking an active role in a diverse range of

"Here, Now & Next" conference volunteers Gabby, Pat, Nic & Victoria October 2009

topics which affect young people. We have also worked hard to get young people invited to these groups, more of which is outlined in the Youth Participation section. YACVic also provided resources, presented and delivered workshops to many student, youth and service/staff groups, including: ‘Reach Out’ Youth, Monash Youth and Family Services, Frankston Council, Moonee Valley Youth Services Network, Yarra Ranges Youth Services Network, Headspace, WIRE, youth work students at NMIT, RMIT, Kangan Batman Tafe, Holmesglen Tafe and the Australian Catholic University. Youth Participation The 2008-9 Youth Reference Group (YRG) saw out their year with a flurry of activity and were integral to the smooth running of the ‘youth volunteer team’ at the YACViC conference in October 09. The YRG and individual

members, also ran a number of workshops for the youth specific stream at the conference. The YRG were joined by other young volunteers from Ballarat for the three days and a huge thanks goes out to everyone who was involved, as so many participants commented on the helpfulness and knowledge of the young volunteer team. The 2008–9 YRG were keen to look at new ways of recruiting and retaining young people to be a part of the YRG for 2009–10. This led to a new streamlined YRG nomination form and some additional elements added to what is offered in the YRG, including an introductory camp and a meet and greet with YACVic staff. This recruitment ‘drive’ resulted in 22 applications for YRG 2009–10, of which 15 young people were appointed and 13 actually were able to take up their positions. Their names and attendance are listed over the page.

The YRG have been extremely busy in 2010; a summary of activities, projects and consultations is outlined below, and more detail can be found in Bianca de Bortoli's report on page 32. • Ballarat camp and role setting for the year • Developing a short film about who and what YACVic does, in order to appeal to young people: to be launched at the AGM in 2010 and to be put on YouTube and the YACVic website • Meeting and interviewing the Youth Minister, James Merlino

• Putting together a successful funding bid to The Prime Minister’s Australian Youth Forum Challenge (AYF) to run a political forum for young people in Bendigo. The YRG received $5,500 to run the forum prior to November 2010 • The YRG been invited to run two workshops on youth participation and ‘getting involved’ with students from the Distance Education Learning Centre and are working to put those workshops together for September 2010

YRG Meeting Attendance 09/10 MEETINGS ATTENDED SINCE JAN. 2009

ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND

Esther Ooi

Tim Ooi

Hugh Stephens

Pat Hamilton

Caitlin Hardy

Anushka Dantanarayana

Vu Long Tran

Bianca De Bortoli

Victoria McLure

Nic Kimberly

Vivek Foot

Victor Victor

Kerry Jenkins

In addition, the YRG have done two external consultations with the Victims Support Agency and the Department of Justice As individuals they have attended the following activities/groups/consultations from January 2010–June 2010:

Other YACvic youth participation work: • Consumer consultations (ACCC and CAV)

• COST Research Training School 2010 on Cyberbullying

• Supporting OFY’s MYAC (Ministerial Youth Affairs Committee)

• Advisory group on the Lord Mayors Trust Fund roundtable • Young Persons UN consultation • Attended YACVic Board and PAG meetings • Became a young representative on the advisory board for the ‘Young Victims Support Agency’ group

YRG YAK with her fans. October 2009 26

• Youthink Forum • Developing young people training days for YRG, VIYAC, YDAS and VicSRC

• Young people from a wide variety of organisations across Victoria taking part in organising and delivering sessions as part of the YACVic ‘Here, Now, Next’ Conference • Fed into Victorian Law Reform Commission review of surveillance in public places and worked with Youthlaw to hold consultation and endorsed their submission

Young Media Spokesperson VICTORIA MCLURE

Imagine a world where young people are considered capable decision makers and their opinions deemed valuable. Now stop imagining. Because YACVic opens up the doors to a world where young people are recognised as experts and are given opportunities to meaningfully participate. The role of Young Media Spokesperson is a clear indication of YACVic’s commitment to the practice of meaningful and engaging youth participation. The existence of this role communicates to outside observers that young people are in fact valuable citizens today and not just a hope for the future. This is just one role which YACVic make available for young people to feel involved and respected.

In my role as Young Media Spokesperson this year I have tried my hardest to represent YACVic within the media. Being a double election year there have been chances for me to field media questions in relation to election policies and issues, particularly in relation to young people. Leading up to the end of the financial year, I was fortunate enough to be invited to be a spokesperson for the Victorian Electoral Commission. In this role I was promoted as the Young Media Spokesperson for YACVic within print and radio media. Throughout my dealings with the media I not only strived to promote YACVic as key youth policy advocates, but also young people as key stakeholders in the issues which affect them. Within this role I have also had the opportunity to act as liaison between the Board of Governance and Youth Reference Group. My key goal for this task was to strengthen communication between the two bodies, keeping them updated on what the other is doing. Furthermore this task has not only allowed me to be involved in decision making processed within the organisation but also the chance to work with a fantastically diverse group of young people on some great projects. I would like to thank all the staff, volunteers and members of YACVic for electing me and supporting me in this role. I would also like to commend YACVic for sustaining this position and creating opportunities like it which capitalise on the strengths and abilities of young people. This year has given me faith in my capabilities to significantly contribute in society today and I now know that I am far more valuable than ‘potential’ for tomorrow.

YACVic’s 2009 Statewide Conference “Here, Now & Next” YACVic’s conference, held in Ballarat in October 2009, was a huge success. Over 300 people attended, including 70 young people. 10 young volunteers assisted YACVic staff with registrations and general organisation at the venue. The volunteers were integral in leading delegates to the five different streams of workshops, with the themes of Here, Now, Next, A closer look, Need to Know and Youth.

The conference had several focus areas including young people and alcohol, young people and new and emerging technologies and the professionalisation of the youth sector. The conference received positive feedback from many of the attendees via survey monkey, some die-hard YACVic fans reporting that it was the best YACVic conference they have ever attended!

Some of the feedback included: “I gained new info from all areas of the conference, too much to mention but I feel sure that it will support me in my role as a Youth Development Worker as I have only been in this field of work for a short time. Thank you.” “I look forward to attending more YACVic conferences in the future to build on my knowledge and to have the opportunity to network with other organisations and young people”. “Really amazing! I had such a good time!” “I would really like to commend YACVic for holding the conference in different locations each year, particularly regional locations… It’s great not to be so ‘city central’. “Just keep doing them. They are such a great opportunity for everyone working within the youth sector….But also provide another way of raising the profile of the sector as an active/ political and dynamic profession. THANKYOU!”

The induction of the new Youth Reference Group (YRG) presented a whirlwind of excitement. From every angle, ideas circulated about the upcoming year, and it wasn’t long before we were engrossed within a web of social interaction. As we were briefed on the adventures to come, excitement was definitely at an all time high. The room now filled with excited voices, brainstorms and strategic ways as to how we can tackle upcoming tasks, first on the agenda was the allocation of roles within the YRG.

Youth Reference Group BIANCA De BORTOLI YRG member 2009–2010

The YRG set off on an adventure to the one and only Sovereign Hill. The weekend stay was a blast. The allocation of roles was a hot topic as members enthusiastically nominated themselves for tasks and upcoming projects. This was soon complete and the next item on the agenda was: ‘YACVic in Plain English.’ This was a mission to create a short film in order to explain who and what YACVic is, in a way that would be accessible and fun for young people. Ideas flew around the room and it wasn’t long before story boards were sketched and ready to be filmed. Over the next few months, the YRG was lucky enough to undergo training with ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) giving us the opportunity to work with media equipment as well as being exposed to an array of story boarding techniques and textual methods. In this way the YRG were well and truly ready for the mountain of work that lay ahead. Filming schedules, characters, scripting, editing- we were on the ball and we were all eager for the debut of the Yak as it entered the building in a rather secretive manner. The looks on individual’s faces were priceless, and the laughs endless as we were now involved in a whole new world. The Yak has continued to show up throughout the year, with guest appearances at a Policy Advisory Group Meeting, forums, flying down Flinders Street to post “documents of high importance,” as well as striking a pose on the steps of Parliament House. The YRG members are thrilled with the featurefilm’s progress and thanks to the technologically savvy members of the group, the editing is well under way. The film is due to be launched at the YACVic 50th Birthday celebration and AGM in September 2010.

Members of the Youth Reference Group with Minister James Merlino May 2010

This isn’t all we have been doing, we have also been involved in a whole range of consultations including: Victorian Department of Justice, Consumer Affairs Victoria and and the Lord Mayor’s Trust Foundation. In addition, we also had a meeting with James Merlino, Minister for Youth and Sport and Recreation, which allowed us to voice our concerns and gain an insight into what lay ahead for young people regarding Victorian Government initiatives. In the midst of all the hard work, we saw yet another opportunity to encourage youth participation in the shape of a youth political forum. After numerous discussions, and the grant application written, it was sent off with our fingers crossed. It was final! We had received a grant from the ‘Australian Youth Forum Challenge’ to the value of $5,500, on the ball. Now we are working to put together the whole project plan, with the forum due to happen towards the

end of September. The plan is to engage young people in and around Bendigo, so that they will have the opportunity to engage with politicians on a less formal scale in the run up to the state election, gaining knowledge on important issues that affect them, as well as hearing about various political parties. We are all looking forward to the rest of the year and the opportunities that are presented in the near future. It has been a great privilege to work with such amazing individuals and I would highly recommend youth get involved in every chance, they can to make a difference within both their community and their state. It is not often that individuals are presented with so many opportunities and I am extremely grateful for not only being able to interact with a group of ‘like-minded’ people, but also having the ability to grow and develop skills which will benefit me greatly within the future.

It seems like it was just yesterday that I was putting the finishing touches on last year's Annual Report!

Media & Communications JOE COLLIER

The year has been certainly fled by with numerous tasks for the Comms Officer. One of the major jobs of the year was putting together all the material for YACVic's conference, Here, Now and Next. Programs and t-shirts, badges and feedback forms... it was a hectic few weeks, but also a rewarding one. Our website, www.yacvic.org.au, continues to be a key destination for visitors looking for information on issues affecting young people. At time of writing, we've had over 2,000 unique visitors, with 1,500 of these hits coming from within Victoria. Over 50% of hits are from people using search engines to track down the site, with our 'Sector News' page being one of the more popular pages. Yikes! is our print newsletter which is sent out to all YACVic members on a bi-monthly basis. In the past year, we've covered a diverse range of topics, often tying in with YACVic forums and events. Announce, our email bulletin, has this year undergone an upgrade to rich-HTML styled content. This has allowed us to include hyperlinks, bookmarks and other features to increase ease of use for our readership. Our thanks goes out to all of our members who have contributed to our regular publications and website throughout the year.

YDAS began the year with news that we had been successful in our grant application to the Department of Human Services Capacity Building Initiative where we sought funding to develop a resource for young people with disabilities to assist them to actively participate in planning.

Youth Disability Advocacy Service DR. GEORGE TALAPOROS

The grant allowed us to pull together a team of young people, advocates, a film maker, writer and illustrator who developed a dynamic resource which includes short films, colourful illustrations and a guide for young people to better understand how to plan for life transitions and use their Individual Support Packages in a way that is flexible and responsive to their individual needs. Our project worker Rebecca worked tirelessly writing the guide and co-ordinating the project which is available on the new YDAS website along with a range of other projects that YDAS has delivered over the years. In other project work, the Live Access projectâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a YDAS initiative to improve access for young people with disabilities to more age-appropriate leisure options such as live music, clubs, bars and nightclubsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;reached an important milestone, by launching the www.liveaccess.org.au website. The website that was partly funded from a City of Port Phillip community grant, provides much-needed access information about venues as well as important tools for young people with disabilities to advocate for better access. The site also includes useful information and resources for venue owners to make their venues more inclusive of people with disabilities. YDAS was

successful in obtaining grant funding from the City of Melbourne to promote the Live Access project by hosting an International Day for Persons with Disabilities live music event in December. In April, the YDAS Shorts took centre stage at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image at Federation Square for National Youth Week. Our highly acclaimed short films by and about young people with disabilities were screened back to back for the first time in a full-scale cinema. The audience response was extremely positive and requests to purchase and screen the films have been coming through ever since. YDAS Shorts continue to screen in film festivals locally and around the world and we are receiving increasing reports that they are being used as a training resource and awareness raising tool. The projects, systemic advocacy and policy work that we undertake continued to be directed by the YDAS steering committee that met on ten occasions. Long-standing members Mario

Stella Young from the YDAS Short "Carbon Whore"

Filintatzis and Hannah Phillips were sadly farewelled from the steering committee. Marioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contribution over the last three years has been outstanding as he represented YDAS on a range of youth advisory groups and contributed significantly as a volunteer, especially on the Live Access project and YDAS Shorts. Hannah brought both professional and personal skills to the steering committee, particularly in the area of leisure, recreation and body image. The YDAS induction pack was initiated by Hannah and will be a lasting legacy from future committee members to benefit from. These vacancies were filled by 15-year-old Tabi Senda and 22-yearold Maysa Abouzeid who both bring a wealth of knowledge to the group, specifically in relation to issues affecting young people from a CALD background. Our individual advocacy service continued to be responsive and supportive to the needs and interests of young people with disabilities across Victoria. Access and support in the education system was the most common area of need. Our Advocacy interventions were largely directed at calling on schools and the relevant staff to implement the necessary supports, and make their schools more inclusive of students with disabilities. A significant number of complaints related to the need for planning and timely responses by the Department of Human Services and Child Protective Services for young people leaving state care. Effective case management interventions are sorely lacking which has led to young people seeking advocacy support from our service. YDAS advocate Martin Healy, continued to receive high praise from clients, with his work

Convivial patrons enjoy the inaugural â&#x20AC;&#x153;Live Accessâ&#x20AC;? event Northcote Social Club, June 2009

consistently resulting in desired outcomes for young people with disabilities. The YDAS Self Advocacy Training weekend workshop took place in March and is a regular feature on the YDAS annual workplan, a reflection of our commitment to support young people to develop strong advocacy skills for themselves and their communities. Eight young people with disabilities took part with many travelling from rural and regional areas including Sale, Mornington, Bairnsdale, Bendigo and Gippsland. This year, we received support from sponsors including DHS Rural Access and the National Disability Coordination Officer (NDCO) program to support young people with disabilities from regional areas to attend the program. YDAS continued to invest in policy reform in the interests of young people with disabilities through submission writing, participating in public hearings and consultations, and advising on relevant committees and advisory groups. YDAS continues to work closely with the Department of Human Services on systemic issues,

particularly in relation to self-directed supports, industry planning and quality services for people with disabilities. In June, YDAS received a grant from DHS to undertake consultations with young people with disabilities on the revised National Disability Standards. That month we also presented at a public hearing by the Productivity Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investigation into disability care and support. We also undertook policy work with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the Office for Disability and a range of other government and nongovernment bodies to represent the interests of young people with disabilities. The work and achievements this year were made possible by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, too many to mention in this space. I am grateful to the entire steering committee, my colleagues at the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria and the many YDAS supporters in our sector and beyond who believe in our work and our commitment to voice the interests of young people disabilities loudly and clearly.

While reflecting on the past 12 months I have a song in my head called “From Little Things Big Things Grow.” In a sense this is how I am feeling about the progression and development of the Victorian Indigenous Youth Advisory Council (VIYAC). Over the past 12 months VIYAC has been extremely busy and very proactive in advocating for Indigenous young people and raising awareness of issues they face.

Victorian Indigenous Youth Advisory Council TIM KANOA

In January 2010, VIYAC appointed Clarisse Slater the first ever VIYAC Project Officer. Clarisse is a young Yorta Yorta and Kamilaroi woman. Clarisse completed high school in 2007 and then continued on to study a Bachelor of Behavioural Science at La Trobe University. Clarisse has worked in a number of different roles including as Youth Health Promotion Officer at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) and Customer Service agent at Qantas Airways. She has had the opportunity to participate in a number of leadership courses such as Oxfam’s CHANGE Course for Indigenous young people nationwide and FaHCSIA’s Youth Leadership program. With the inclusion of a Project Officer, VIYAC has developed its capacity to enable more meaningful engagement with Indigenous young people and their communities. In the last 12 months VIYAC has visited Bendigo, Ballarat, Warrnambool, Benalla, Shepparton, Portland, Heywood, Traralgon and Swan Hill. On these visits VIYAC had the opportunity to discuss with Indigenous

young people issues that are important to them and also provide them with an opportunity to become involved with VIYAC. Our visits were also an opportunity to create dialogue with Community Controlled Organisations and others who are engaging directly with Indigenous young people. In February 2010, VIYAC hosted the ‘Community Spirit Police Award’ to promote the key importance of positive relationships between police and Indigenous young people. The Community Spirit Police Award focuses on the positive work some police members are doing with Indigenous young people. This award was the idea of the young people from VIYAC. VIYAC

wanted to ensure that those police officers who are doing great work with Indigenous young people are recognised in a positive way. The event was successful with Chief Commissioner Simon Overland attending the event to give an address on the importance of positive relationships between police and Indigenous young people.

Recipients of the award were:

Winner: Acting Senior Sergeant Shane Keogh Runner Up: Senior Constable Joe Clarke Acknowledgement Award: Senior Constable Mellissa Peters

Recipients of the

“Community Spirit Police Award” Senior Constable Mellissa Peters, Acting Senior Sergeant Shane Keogh & Senior Constable Joe Clarke

In April 2010, VIYAC successfully hosted a National Youth Week (NYW) event (funded by the Office for Youth) – the ‘Indigenous Young Parents Forum’. The forum was a space for Indigenous young parents to come together, network and have a conversation about being a young parent. The scene was set by a panel discussion of young parents as well as an inspirational speaker Helena Gonebale, who shared her experiences of becoming a young parent. Services available to Indigenous young parents also attended to share information and hear from the young people. From the forum, VIYAC was able to gain information that will enable us to advocate as best we can for Indigenous young parents. VIYAC has met 3 times over the last 12 months in regional locations of Victoria. These meetings are an opportunity for VIYAC to focus on our strategic planning objectives and planning our activities. VIYAC members indicated that they would like their meetings to provide opportunities to move away from the westernised style of meeting. All 3 meetings gave an opportunity to visit culturally significant sites including Framlingham Aboriginal Mission, William Rickets Sanctuary and a tour of the Melbourne Museums’ Aboriginal Artefacts collection. Our next meeting will be held in August 2010. VIYAC continues to provide meaningful advice to Government regarding Indigenous young people. The Departments and agencies VIYAC

has been involved with are DEECD, AAV, DOJ, and the Ministerial Task Force on Aboriginal Affairs. We have also begun dialogue with the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC), to provide advice on improving the enrolment of Indigenous young people to vote. We have also given advice to a number of organisations including the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC), Richmond Football Club, Indigenous Leadership Network Victoria, the Koorie Heritage Trust and the Australian Drug Foundation. A future focus for VIYAC is to work on rebranding and to allow greater engagement of Indigenous young people from regional, rural and urban areas of Victoria. We aim to utilise social media and other forms of media to enable this to happen. We will be doing more regional and rural visits giving Indigenous young people an opportunity to become involved. VIYAC will also be hosting a Statewide gathering in August for Indigenous young people. The gathering will be an opportunity for Indigenous young people to celebrate their culture and heritage, showcase their talent and be made aware of pathways that are available to them. Overall it has been a big year for VIYAC and another step in the right direction. As VIYAC continues to progress further I think we will always be reminded that “From Little Things Big Things Grow.”

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to be able to report after a year in the role as VicSRC Coordinator that the VicSRC has continued to grow and engage even greater numbers of Victorian secondary school students in our programs and networks.

Victorian Student Representative Council KATE WALSH

More schools then ever have been involved in VicSRC initiatives; through our membership, student conferences, cluster groups and our 2009 Congress meeting. Our hope is that our 2010 congress will continue this trend and we will have the highest numbers of students across the broadest range of schools in attendance. The 2009â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10 year has proven to be very busy, particularly with the Special Purpose funding grant we received from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. This grant has allowed the VicSRC to take on a number of additional projects aimed at engaging and supporting students, teachers and principals to get involved in and encourage SRC initiatives within their schools and the wider communities. We have also continued in our core business of supporting real student participation, working with schools, developing partnerships with community and working with the DEECD to achieve our outcomes within our funding agreements. Our funding agreement outcomes always reflect our major goal to increase student voice in schools and advocate for greater student involvement in decision making processes.

Some of the highlights from this past year include: The VicSRC has commissioned and produced a comprehensive SRC Resource Kit which is due to be published by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development before the end of 2010. The Kit includes topics, such as • Why have an SRC • Who should be on an SRC • Event management • Using technology effectively • Credit and recognition for work on SRCs • And much more! It will be fantastic to have such a comprehensive resource at our disposal to encourage good practice in schools with relatively new SRC and to help refine SRCs who already function at a high level. The VicSRC has held thirteen Regional Student Conferences in 2009/10 and are planning to hold six more in regional areas before the end of the year. The focus of the conferences has been on core SRC business – induction, communication, leadership, evaluating effectiveness of your SRC and increasing participation. Conferences aim to further develop participant’s leadership skills, present opportunities to exchange ideas and share information as well as practice and build specific skills and knowledge to empower students to further grow and improve their SRC’s. The conferences have been facilitated by Erin Young, a project worker employed by the VicSRC. We are very grateful to Erin for the

fantastic work she has done involving over 70 schools throughout the conference series so far! Our monthly Student Executive meetings bring together our fifteen Exec members to discuss a variety of relevant issues and concerns and provide feedback, advice and direction around the work of the VicSRC. The Student Executive is continually giving thought as to how the VicSRC can continue to grow as an organisation and work with as many students across Victoria as possible. Increasing the diversity of students we work with and support, as well as appealing to diverse groups of students through our website, resources and events will become a priority in the years ahead. The inaugural SRC Recognition awards were launched in March 2010 with the award winner’s ceremony to be held at Congress in August. The awards were established to recognise the work of successful SRCs in secondary schools around Victoria. There will be three awards offered this year—the Connect Award for Integration, the Second Strike Award for Enterprise and the VASSP Award for Informed Representation. The VicSRC, in collaboration with VASSP and DEECD, produced a resource for principals entitled “Developing Student Participation, Engagement and Leadership: A Guide for Principals". The resource is a double sided A4 brochure outlining what makes an effective SRC, why SRCs are valuable and how principals can best equip and support SRC teachers. These are just a number of the fantastic initiatives that the VicSRC have been a part of in 2009/10!

A huge thank you must go the most successful and determined Student Executive group yet! We held an election for places in the Student Executive for the first time ever at Congress in 2009. Places were highly sought after and the students who were voted on to the Executive felt very privileged to gain a place! The Exec has worked extremely hard throughout the year to achieve our many goals set at Congress and guide our numerous SRC focused projects.

Thanks also goes to our wonderful and steadfast supporters David Mould and Roger Holdsworth, YACVic for proving us with a home and ongoing support and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for committing to promoting student voice through funding the VicSRC.

Current & former VicSRC Executive members: Holly Burr, Georgie Kennelly and Tiffany Chapman 41

Imagine being woken up at 3am on a Sunday night by a call centre asking you to attend your local police station. You quickly throw on some clothes, splash some water on your face, grab your car keys and a mint, and head out the door (you can forget about the hair!).

Youth Referral & Independent Person Program VIVIANNE DIAS

After a 10 minute drive, you arrive at the police station, to a young person who has been arrested. They might not want to talk to you, they might be intoxicated, they might be angry, but underneath they’re probably pretty scared and worried about what’s happening. You’re the only one who’s there for them. This is what YRIPP’s volunteer Independent Persons do all the time—support young people through police interviews where a parent or guardian is unavailable, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are there to make sure the young person is ok, that they know what will happen during their time in police custody and what their legal rights are. They also provide an independent account of the interview, ensuring that it was fair. YRIPP volunteers also refer young people to support services to reduce their chances of future offending. Funded by the State Government and jointly managed by the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria and the Centre for Multicultural Youth, YRIPP is delivered in partnership with Community Legal Centres in metropolitan areas and UnitingCare in rural areas. Victoria Police are also key partners in the program’s implementation. YRIPP now has over 350 trained volunteers who provide support to young people in over 100 police stations across the State. Each month,

we support close to 250 young people through police interviews with around a quarter coming from diverse cultural backgrounds and another 10% from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. This year YRIPP was awarded by Parents Without Partners Australia for “distinguished service to children”. From a parent’s perspective, knowing that someone is there for your young person when you can’t be, is incredibly reassuring. This quote from a parent says it all: “I would like to sincerely thank Lachlan for his attendance at Melbourne East Police Station yesterday arvo to attend an interview with my son. I am really thankful that such a service as YRIPP exists. Thankyou!”

The YRIPP team has also been working hard to secure ongoing funding for the program, and recognition at a policy level for the contribution that YRIPP makes to early intervention and diversion approaches in the youth justice system. We remain anticipative of the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s recommendations about legislative change concerning support provided to young people in police interviews. We would once again like to thank all our partner agencies for their ongoing support. But most importantly we thank all our volunteers who continue to put the needs of vulnerable young people ahead of other things going on in their lives. We look forward to continuing to work with you in 2011.

YRIPP North Metro Co-ordinator Emma Read with volunteers Nadia and Hannah, alongside Sergeant Petey Carlton Police Station Open Day, October 2009 43

In Victoria, young people aged between 12 and 25 years number almost 7,000 according to the 2006 Census. We know this is an undercount and does not take into account the recent impact of the housing affordability crisis.

Council to Homeless Persons JANE LAZZARI Youth Policy Officer

However, at CHP we have been pleased and impressed with the recent rollout of the resource commitment to reducing homelessness, which stemmed from the federal government’s "The Road Home: A New Approach to Reducing Homelessness" framework document released in December 2008. The National Partnership Agreements in all states and territories were negotiated between the Commonwealth and state governments under the National Affordable Housing Agreement. As a result, we have seen the delivery of a number of new initiatives under the NPAs on Homelessness and Social Housing across the country. In Victoria this includes 4,500 new social and public housing properties, however it is important to note that some of these at least will not be affordable for young people on low incomes under current subsidy models. While we await the release of the new Homelessness 2020 strategy in Victoria—which builds on the Victorian Homelessness Strategy and in the youth space the Youth Homelessness Action Plan Stage 2, now extended to June 2011—Nation Building initiatives include the roll out of two new youth refuges, increased funding for youth refuges operations and entry and exit

packs, two Foyer-like supported housing models with a focus on education and employment to be located in regional centres and dual diagnosis workers located in both youth homelessness and community health centres. These new programs are most welcome and continue to build on youth homelessness responses. Under federal reforms we have also seen a review of the Supported Accommodation and Assistance Program Act and the development of a National Quality Framework. Each of these initiatives has involved comprehensive consultation and submissions processes still in progress. CHP has participated actively in these, with new CHP CEO Michelle Burrell facilitating the Victorian National Quality Framework consultation as well as CHP running consumer forums to obtain quality consumer input, on behalf of Housing and Community Building, Department of Human Services. At the organisational level, as well as getting a new CEO on board after former CEO Deb Tsorbaris accepted a position as Director of Housing Services at Department of Human Services, a new Policy and Communications team has been established. Sarah Kahn moved from Washington DC to take up the position of Manager of the PCU team. In addition, from 1st July 2010 the youth policy role will shift to a generalist policy position that has for the first time been recurrently funded by Housing and Community Building. This was a decision made by CHP in order to free up the role to take on new initiatives. I wish to reassure youth advocates that the youth focus will not be lost in this change and will form fifty per cent of the work, and is

built into the strategic plan and the work plan for the position. Subsequently, the co-auspice arrangement that has existed for seven years with YACVic will cease. However, the partnership between the two agencies remains intact. I am pleased to be a member of YACVic’s Policy Action Group, and presented at the YACVic 2009 conference in Ballarat.

Current work in the role includes: • advocacy to government by the Youth Refuge Co-ordinators Network on access to entry points that is youth-specific and timely responses • representation on the reference group for the Young Victims Strategy, Department of Justice which specifically includes young homeless people • Victorian representation on the National Youth Coalition for Housing, with a focus on the Youth Homelessness Matters Day campaign for 2011 • More generally, cross-government advocacy on policy and service integration between homeless ness and mainstream services according to the National Partnership Agreement. I would like to thank YACVic for its ongoing commitment to recognising young people who are homeless and those who are at risk of homelessness as a specific and significant group of vulnerable young Victorians. I look forward to continuing collaborations with YACVic in the coming years.

Membership totals for 09/10 At a glance

TOTAL:

361

Membership LIZ LEAHY Office & Events Coordinator

09/10 saw an increase in memberships, up from 292 in the 08/09 financial year. The increase was predominantly in the individual concession and young person categories.

Membership totals for 09/10 Detailed membership breakdown Additional/Associate/ Reciprocal Member

Government Body

Individual Concession

Individual Member

Local Government (Regional/Rural & Metro)

Organisation C: less than 100k

Organisation D: 100k–500k

Organisation E: 500k–1M

Organisation F: 1M+

Under 25 VicSRC/VIYAC/YDAS Member

5 18 17 19 29 168 16

This financial year saw the introduction of two new categories, being Local Government Regiona/Rural and Local Government Metro. It was important that local Government youth services could become members without the whole council’s budget being taken into account.

As well as receiving our bi-monthly newsletter Yikes, our fortnightly e-bulletin Announce and our e-zine YACBITES (young members only), YACVic also have a Facebook page, Facebook fan site and can be followed on Twitter. Our aim is to keep our members informed of the goings on within YACVic and the youth sector via as many outlets as possible.

Organisational Memberships 09/10 Please note: for privacy reasons YACVic does not publish details of individual members

Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies (ACYS)

City of Greater Bendigo– Youth Services

Gippsland East Local Learning & Employment Network

Australian Red Cross Victoria

City of Greater Geelong– Youth Development Unit

Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service Inc.

City of Whittlesea

Hanover–Windsor

Barwon Youth

City of Wodonga–Youth Services

Headspace Barwon

Bass Coast Shire Council

City of Yarra

Hepburn Shire Council

Bayside City Council–Youth Services

Cobaw Community Health

Bayside Glen Eira Kingston LLEN

Connections UnitingCare

Highlands Local Learning & Employment Network Inc (LLEN)

Berry Street

Council to Homeless Persons (CHP)

beyondblue Brimbank City Council

Deptartment of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations

Brophy Family & Youth Services Inc.

DHS–Youth Justice

Brotherhood of St Laurence

Disability Professionals Victoria

Campaspe Cohuna LLEN

Domestic Violence And Incest Resource Centre

Australian Technical College Sunshine

Capital City LLEN

Hobsons Bay City Council, Social Planning and Development Homesglen Institute of TAFE Hume City Council–Youth Services Incolink Job Watch

DOXA Youth Foundation

Kildonan Uniting Care

Education Centre Gippsland

Knox Youth Services

Express Media

Latitude: Directions for Young People Inc.

Family Access Network Inc.

Latrobe City Council

Family Life

Lord Somers Camp and Power House

Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY)

Financial and Consumer Rights Council

Macedon Ranges Shire Council

Child & Family Services–Ballarat Inc

Fitzroy Adventure Playground Inc.

City of Boroondara–Youth Services

Frontyard Youth Services

City of Casey

Gateway Community Health

Carers Victoria Centacare Ballarat Central Grampians LLEN Centre for Excellence in Child & Family Welfare

Hobart City Council

MacKillop Family Services Maribyrnong City Council Maroondah City Council– Youth Services

Melboune Uni Library

South Gippsland Bass Coast LLEN

Women’s Health Goulburn North East

Merri Community Health Service

South West Local Learning and Employment Network

Word and Mouth

South West TAFE

YMCA Victoria

Mission Australia

St Kilda Youth Service Inc

Young People’s Health Service

Moonee Valley City Council

St. Lukes Family Care–Anglicare

Moorabool Shire Council

State Library of Victoria

Youth Action & Policy Association NSW (YAPA)

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council

Stonnington Youth Services

NMIT–Preston

Streetwork Outreach Service

North Central Local Learning & Employment Network

Surf Coast Shire–Youth Services

Youth Affairs Network of Queensland (YANQ)

Swinburne University of Technology

North East LLEN

Youth Coalition of the ACT

The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation

Youth Connect

Mildura Rural City Council (Youth Services)

North East Support & Action for Youth Inc

The Push Incorporated

Wyndham City Council–Youth Service

Youth Affairs Council of South Australia (YACSA)

Youth Development Australia Ltd Youth Research Centre

North Melbourne Institute of TAFE

The Salvation Army–Karinya

North Richmond Community Health Centre

UnitingCare Cutting Edge (UCCE)

Youth Substance Abuse Service (YSAS)

Northern District Community Health Service

University of Ballarat

Youthlaw

University of Melbourne–Library

NSW Association for Adolescent Health (NAAH)

UNYA Victoria

NZAAHD Quit Victoria

Victorian Applied Learning Association (VALA)

RMIT–Youth Work

Victorian Electoral Commission

Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Childcare Inc. (SNAICC)

Victorian Police Youth Affairs Unit

SHINE For Kids

Whitelion

Shire of Campaspe

Wimmera Southern Mallee LLEN Inc.

Shire of Yarra Ranges Youth Services

Wodonga Institute of TAFE

South East Local Learning & Employment Network

Wombat Housing and Support Services

Victoria University–Youth Studies

Victorian Youth Mentoring Alliance

Financial report

The 2009–10 financial year saw YACVIC report a $44,231 surplus. In line with the previous year’s $47,759 result this is a consistently healthy outcome for YACVIC and the Victorian Youth Sector. A turnover of 1.18 million was generated; an overall income increase of 23%. Government grants provided core funding of $604,813 with an additional $69,000 received to facilitate the Vic Health "Step Back Think" program. The successful (bi-annual) State Conference was held in Ballarat in October 2009 and through registrations and sponsorship raised income of $101,280. Both Interest Income and Membership Income remained steady with slight increases in both areas. Income received of $140,998 was unspent at 30th June and has been rolled over to cover projects being undertaken in 2010-11. Expenditure increased by 25% in comparison to the previous financial year, however was well under budget with savings of $71,467 (6%). Previous year comparisons show rising accommodation costs due to the hike in rental costs and associated outgoings. Communications costs rose dramatically due to the development of the YDAS Website and the upgrade of the YACVIC Server. Project Costs, along with Sector Development and Consultation costs rose in line with additional project funding. Salary and on costs rose by 18% which factored in annual salary increases, and additional project worker hours. The YACVIC Balance Sheet shows a substantial increase in equity of $66,732 from the previous year. This is in part due to the $44,231 profit for the period along with the re-allocation of the Provision for Member Services of $17,829. Note; these

funds will be utilised as part of the 50th Year Celebrations in the 2010-11 financial year. 2009–10 Copyright income of $8,000 will also contribute to funding this event. Current assets have increased marginally by $6,390 while non-current assets have decreased by $8,698 due to standard depreciation charges. Current liabilities have been reduced due to the transfer of previous year prepaid conference registrations and the redemption of the conference provision of $30,000. Annual leave, Long Service leave and Parental leave provisions have been calculated in line with current statutory requirements to accurately reflect the organisations true risk and ensure all possible future liabilities are met. This year has again seen an increase in core funding as well as more individual projects which has in turn required a more streamlined, project orientated presentation of financial reports. The 2009-10 audited figures shown in this annual report reflect a healthy organisation in a strong financial position. I declare the financial figures as a true and correct account of our year’s trade and look forward to a successful 2010-11.

Bridie Hudson Finance Sub-Committee Member

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Inc. Balance Sheet As at 30 June 2010 The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

Equity

2010 $

2009 $

Retained Earnings

228,395

163,663

Total Equity

228,395

163,663

1,998 15,319 18,568 31,440 543,250 300 - 1,007 110,492 742 -

656 90,046 14,640 29,890 519,957 300 3,820 7,476 35,350 14,593 -

723,118

716,728

78,650 67,352

73,101 55,107

11,298

17,994

Furniture & Fittings Less Accumulated Depreciation

13,795 9,362

13,795 7,360

4,433

6,435

15,731

24,429

738,849

741,157

Accounts Payable Other Creditors Provision for Conferences/Programs Provision for Annual Leave Provision for Members Services Provision for Long Service Leave Provision for Parental Leave Provision for GST Grants in Advance Memberships in Advance Conference Registration in Advance Total Liabilities

6,989 25,971 99,000 33,837 - 48,120 40,149 (7,243) 254,776 8,856 -

18,409 30,053 129,000 25,813 17,829 36,203 21,941 428 262,302 10,380 25,136

510,454

577,494

Net Assets

228,395

163,663

Represented by: Current Assets Petty Cash Cash at Bank - NAB Business Mngt Cash at Bank - NAB Cash Mngt Cash at Bank - Term Deposit Cash at Bank - Business Cash Maximiser Deposits Rental Property Bond Sundry Debtors Accounts Receivable Prepayments Provision for GST Non-Current Assets Office Furniture & Equipment Less Accumulated Depreciation

Total Assets Current Liabilities

Financial report

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Inc. Income Statement As at 30 June 2010 The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

Income Administration Charge Forums & Training Memberships Conferences Interest Received Other Income Government Grants Other Grants Profit on Sale of Non-current Assets

2010 $

2009 $

75,484 12,693 25,832 101,288 25,350 135,839 604,813 207,587 -

68,155 3,993 25,371 22,685 220,610 556,609 66,000 -

Expenditure Accommodation Administration Communication Depreciation Equipment Purchase & Maintenance Leave Provisions Other Staff Costs Publications & Printing Prof. Development & Training Project Costs Salaries Sector Dev. & Consultation Superannuation Contributions Workcover

1,188,886

963,423

86,836 131,183 34,702 14,246 1,185 3,728 2,058 15,350 11,985 119,595 585,182 83,173 49,662 5,770

75,561 137,204 15,407 16,211 1,335 18,798 3,692 7,127 15,946 67,718 492,798 12,512 44,798 6,557

1,144,655

915,664

44,231

47,759

2010 $ Retained Earnings at the beginning of the financial year 163,663 Profit (Loss) attributable to members 44,231 Rollovers - Provision for Members Services Write-back 17,829 Prior Year Adjustments 2,672

2009 $

Operating Profit

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Inc. Statement of Changes in Equity For the Year ended June 2010 The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

Retained Earnings At 30 June 2010

228,395

170,155 47,759 (54,251) 163,663

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Inc. Statement of Cash Flows For the Year ended June 2010 The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

2010 2009 $ $ Cash Flow from Operating Activities Receipts from operating grants 604,813 665,748 Receipts from members 24,308 32,271 Interest received 25,350 22,685 Other Receipts 427,705 246,817 Payments to suppliers and employees (1,121,241) (860,562) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (Note 2)

(39,065)

106,959

Cash Flow from Investing Activities Proceeds from (payments for) property, plant and equipment

(5,549)

(1,212)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

(5,549)

(1,212)

Cash Flow from Financing Activities Repayment of Borrowings

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

(44,614) 655,189

105,747 549,442

610,575

655,189

Net increase (decrease) in cash held Cash at beginning of year Cash at end of reporting period

(Note 1)

Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows NOTE 1. Reconciliation of Cash For the purposes of the statement of the cash flows, cash includes cash on hand and in at call deposits with banks or financial institutions, investments in money market instruments maturing within less than two months, net of bank overdrafts. (a) Reconciliation of Cash Cash at the end of the reporting period as shown in the statement of cash flows is reconciled to the related items in the balance sheet as follows: Cash at Bank

610,575 655,189

NOTE 2. Reconciliation Of Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities To Operating Profit Operating Profit(Loss) after income tax 44,231 47,759 Depreciation 14,246 16,210 Provisions 8,149 824 Movements in Reserves 2,670 (54,251) (Increase)/decrease in debtors (72,524) (6,560) (Increase)/decrease in other current assets 13,851 (35,771) Increase/(decrease) in creditors (15,502) 28,645 Increase/(decrease) in membership received in advance (1,524) 6,900 Increase/(decrease) in grants in advance (7,526) 78,067 Increase/(decrease) in registration in advance (25,136) 25,136

(39,065) 106,959

Financial report

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Inc. otes to and forming part of the Financial Statements N For the Year ended 30th June 2010 NOTE 1: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES This financial report has been prepared for the use by the members of the Association and is a special purpose financial report. It has been prepared in order to satisfy the financial reporting requirements of the Associations Incorporations Act 1981 (Vic). The Board of Governance has determined that the Association is not a reporting entity. The financial report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 (Vic) and the following Australian Accounting Standards: AAS 1 AAS 4 AAS 5 AAS 6 AAS 8 AAS 28 AAS 36

Income Statement Depreciation on Non-Current Assets Materiality Accounting policies Events Occurring after Reporting Date Statement of Cash Flows Balance Sheet

No other applicable Australian Accounting Standards, Urgent Issues Group Consensus Views or other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board have been applied. The financial report has also been prepared on an accruals basis and is based on historical costs and does not take into account changing money values or, except where specifically stated, current valuations of non-current assets. The following specific accounting policies, which are consistent with the previous period, unless otherwise stated, have been adopted in the preparation of this report.

Fixed Assets Each Class of Fixed Assets is carried at cost less, where applicable, any accumulated depreciation. All fixed assets are depreciated over their useful lives to the association commencing from the time the asset is held ready for use. Employee Entitlements Provision is made for payments to employees for their pro rata entitlement to annual leave. Funding Grants General operating support grants from the Department of Victorian Communities are made on an annual basis and are fully brought to account during the financial year. Specific project grants, generally made on a non profit or loss basis, are brought to account over the duration of the project, on the basis of actual costs incurred. Unexpended grants at year end, are carried forward in the balance sheet, as a liability to be matched against expenses in future periods. Where the project period extends beyond year end, an assessment is made at year end as to the financial progress of projects by comparing actual year to date costs against budgeted year to date costs. Where a significant cost overrun has been incurred, a provision for overrun is raised in the accounts to ensure that any significant losses are recognised in the period to which they relate. Income Tax T he Association is specifically exempt from tax . under s(50)10 of the Income Tax Assessment Act, and in accordance with the restrictions imposed by exempt status, no asset or income of the Association may be transferred to any member of the Association. .oods and Services Tax (GST) G Revenues, expenses and assets are recognized net . of the amount of GST, except where the amount of the GST incurred is not recoverable from the Australian Taxation Office. In these circumstances the GST is recognized as part of the cost of the acquisition of the asset or as part of an item of the expense. Receivables and payables in the Balance Sheet are shown inclusive of GST.

The Board of Governance has determined that the association is not a reporting entity and therefore, there is no requirement to apply Australian Accounting Standards and other mandatory professional reporting requirements in the preparation of these financial statements. The Board has determined that this special purpose financial report should be prepared in accordance with the accounting policies outlined in Note 1 to the financial statements.

This statement is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Governance and is signed for and on behalf of the Board by

Lucas Ryan (Chairperson)

a) Presents a true & fair view of the associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financial position as at 30 June 2008 and its performance for the financial year ended on that date.

(pp) Toni Jenkins (Treasurer)

b) At the date of this statement there are reasonable grounds to believe that the association will be able to meet its debts as and when they fall due.

Dated this 13TH day of SEPTEMBER 2010

In the opinion of the Board the financial report as set out:

Alison Romeril, Disability Services Division, Department of Human Services Andrew Cummings and the AYAC team Andrew Chia, MAPS Adolescent Intensive Management Team, Austin Health Ariel Couchman, Tiffany Overall and the Youthlaw Team Alex Markham Bernie Geary and the Child Safety Commission Team Brendan Klimek, Office of the Public Advocate Bronwyn Evans Carmel Guerra and the CMY Team Cassandra Di Censo, Child and Adolescent area Mental Health Services Cath Smith and the VCOSS Team Cherry Grimwade, City of Melbourne Chrissy Singh, Stonnington Youth Services Create Foundation Christa Momot and the Reichstein team Dr Lynette Buoy and the Team at the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare Dr. Barbara Spears David Mould and the Second Strike team Dean Wilson and Emma Colvin, Monash University Michelle Burrell, Jane Lazzari and the CHP Team Deferment study partners Dina Guest, Helen Clarke, Nicole Koomen Gary Shaw, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Dustin Feneley Eden Parris, CAUS Emma Buckley Emma Cashen, Victorian Law Reform Commission Erin Young Frances Ford, Rural Access Program Frontyard Youth Services Gail McHardy & Parent Victoria Gavan Thompson SFYS and the steering group of the Victorian Rural Youth Service Hayden Raysmith and Trudy Wise, Melbourne Community Foundation Louisa Ellum, Fiona Waugh and the BGK LLEN team Heather Inglis, Disability Services Commission Hugh de Kretser and the Federation of Community Legal Centres Individual Advocacy Peer Support Group Inner City Regional Youth Affairs Network Inner Eastern LLEN Capital City LLEN Live Access Reference Group: Kathryn Kernohan, Alexius Pepper (City of Port Philip), Tasia Karlis (City of Melbourne), Jane Trengrove (Arts Access) Kerryn O’Rourke, VicHealth Andrew Jackomos, Department of Justice Kate Gillick Kati Krsevan and the Office for Youth team James Tonson Jerri Nelson and the team at the North Central LLEN Johanna Wyn, Ani Weiringa and the Australian Youth Research Centre team Judith Bessant, RMIT University Julie Phillips, Disability Discrimination Legal Service Justin Finigan and Geoff Adsett, Finrea Computers Kevin Stone, VALID Kim Stadtmiller, Ruth Groves & the Whittlesea Youth Commitment Kwik Kopy North Melbourne Lucas Ryan Luke Bo’sher Marion Heale and VASSP

VIYAC acknowledges all Elders past and present and thanks them for the hard work they have done for future generations.

YACVic gratefully acknowledges the support given by its members and participants of those events, including their permission for YACVic to use any associated images. YACVic gratefully acknowledges the funding support of the Office for Youth within the Department of Planning and Community Development.

Included in this publication are images taken from various events organised or facilitated by YACVic.

THANKS! Marie Hapke, Ian Hamm and Geoff Gook at Aboriginal Affairs Victoria Mario Filintatzis, YDAS volunteer Mark Tomney & the Doxa Youth Foundation MAV National Disability Coordination Officer Program Paul Kotz, Small Studio Peter Newling Planning Your Way Reference Group Printmode Rob Ball, YDAS Shorts producer Robyn Broadbent, VUT Roger Holdsworth Fran Linardi and Vicki Cooper, City of Whittlesea Melbourne Citymission Sam Wallman Sarah Barton, Fertile Films Shane Kerosec, Bang On IT Sharon Fisher, Melbourne Citymission St Kilda Youth Services Stella Young The Code of Ethical Practice Working Group The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust The YRIPP steering committee, local auspice agencies and partners Tracey Carson, City of Hobson’s Bay Troy Macris, Springvale Dandenong SFYS YACVic Youth Reference Group YDAS steering committee members: Bridie Hudson, Jess Evans, Luke Nelson, Fiona Sanders, Stuart Minotti, Thomas Banks, Milly Burrows, Samantha Peterson, Liz Ellis, Hannah Philips, Mario Filintatzis, Ariane Garner Williams , Maysa Abouzeid, Nthabi Senda, Charles McDonald, VicSRC Student Executive Victorian Aboriginal Communities Victoria Legal Aid Vin Noom Youth Affairs Unit, Victoria Police VIYAC members VIYAC Reference Group members Youth Collaboration Partners Youth Participation Workers Network

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