Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Election Platform 2014 by YAC Vic

The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria

Election Platform 2014

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) Level 2, 180 Flinders Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Ph: (03) 9267 3799 Fax: (03) 9639 1622 www.yacvic.org.au info@yacvic.org.au Further copies of this publication are available by contacting YACVic: info@yacvic.org.au PDF versions can be downloaded from www.yacvic.org.au ÂŠ Youth Affairs Council of Victoria 2014

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) is the peak body representing the youth sector in Victoria. YACVic provides a means through which the youth sector and young people can voice their opinions and concerns in regards to policy issues affecting them. YACVic works with and makes representations to government and serves as an advocate for the interests of young people, workers with young people, and organisations that provide direct services to young people. YACVic also promotes and supports the participation of young people in debate and policy development areas that most affect them. YACVicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resources are primarily directed towards policy analysis and development, research and consultation, and to meeting the information, networking, education and training needs of our constituency.

We have arrived at our recommendations and estimated figures through as much consultation and research as we were able to undertake in the time available. However, the funding of individual projects and services is a complex process, anticipated to require further local scoping and planning. As such, the figures given in our recommendations must be taken as approximate. Additionally, while the information provided was current at the time of going to press, we acknowledge that further issues may have come to light since, and new undertakings made. We are happy to discuss any of these matters for further clarification.

Contents

Introduction 6

Housing

Mental Health

Employment and training

Diverting young people away from the justice system

Strengthening students in their school communities

Equal access for young people in rural Victoria

Building a strong sector to support young people

A strong voice for Koorie young people

Supporting young people through mentoring

Equal access for young people with disabilities

Engaging young people in their communities

Supporting children in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;middle yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Introduction

Investing in young people

Georgie Ferrari, CEO I am very pleased to present YACVic’s State Election Platform, 2014. Election years provide an opportunity for organisations like ours—peak advocacy bodies—to put on record the initiatives and programs we think will make a real difference in the lives of the Victorians we represent. This year’s platform has been put together after a lot of consultation with our members, other peak bodies, young people and the sector that supports them more broadly. YACVic’s election platform is an opportunity for us as a sector to put our requests out to all political parties—regardless of persuasion—and to say these are the things we think will improve the lives of young Victorians. As always there are a lot more ‘asks’ we could have made. In the interests of being concise and getting our message across we’ve prioritised a number of key requests concerning some vital issues for young people. Our choice of priority areas was based on the data and feedback from the sector compiled through:

zz Our 2013 survey with the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) of 213 youth service providers, and the subsequent report Building

the Scaffolding: Strengthening support for young people in Victoria. zz Our 2013 member survey of youth services and young members. zz The 2013 forum YOUth Untitled, hosted by YACVic’s Youth Reference Group, which brought together 80 young people from around Victoria. zz Indicators of inequality of various cohorts of young people identified through the Victorian Government’s DEECD State of Victoria’s Children reports, the On Track data, and the Adolescent Community Profiles, as well as the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission’s 2012 Held Back report, and ABS data.

z z A scope of the number, capacity and longevity of Victorian mentoring programs and their support needs. zz The evidence base around the value of diverting young people from the criminal justice system, compiled by the Smart Justice for Young People coalition, a network of community legal services, youth services and peak bodies. zz Numerous consultations, discussions and one-onone conversations we’ve had with members and the broader sector over the last 12 months.

I hope we’ve reflected your concerns and solutions adequately in this document. I urge you to use it in your own advocacy in the lead-up to the state election in November 2014. Take it along to meetings you’ve organised with your local MP or to a ‘meet the candidates’ forum. Quote freely from it in letters you might write, or in press releases you might develop over the next few months. If we are to be successful in getting all or some of these vital requests implemented post-election we need you to work with us to see it done! Georgie Ferrari

Housing Youth Foyers • Leaving care • Cross-sector innovation • Social housing • Housing Growth Fund

All Victorians need a safe, secure and appropriate place to live. Without a decent home, it is hard to stay healthy and safe, access education and employment, or play a positive part in your community. The public costs of homelessness are high; lifetime institutional costs, such as health, policing and justice, can reach millions of dollars for a single person. At a time of unprecedented demand for housing in Victoria, and exceptionally high housing costs, we must ensure adequate housing for young people.

Young people are disproportionately vulnerable to homelessness, and being homeless when young increases the risk of long-term homelessness later in life. The most common reasons for a young person to seek help from a homelessness service are housing crises, poor living conditions, family breakdown and domestic violence. A young person’s vulnerability is increased by poor mental health, a history of living in out-of-home care, and disengagement from school, training or work. Young people find it harder than older age groups to access the private rental market, as they tend to have lower incomes and cannot always demonstrate a prior rental history.

Key facts zz On census night 2011, there were 6,130 young people aged 12-24 counted as homeless in Victoria. They made up 27% of Victoria’s recorded homeless population. The Australian Bureau of Statistics cautions that youth homelessness is undercounted; real numbers are higher. zz The homelessness rate has been growing faster among young people than in the general population. Between 2006-11 the youth homelessness rate in Victoria increased by 33% amongst 19-24 year olds, and by 24% amongst 12-18 year olds. zz In a 2013 survey of 213 service providers across Victoria, YACVic and the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) asked these services to nominate the most critical support gaps for young people. The most common responses were crisis accommodation (nominated by 61% of respondents) and transitional housing and support (52%). zz In 2012, the mean housing cost per week for tenants in Victoria was $308. Some groups of young people are especially vulnerable. For example, young people from refugee backgrounds are 6–10 times more likely to be at risk of homelessness than Australian-born young people. zz In March 2014, there were 35,027 applicants on Victoria’s waiting list for public housing.1

What is needed

zz Expand the ‘Youth Foyer’ model, which provides young people with accommodation while supporting them back into education and employment. (The Victorian Government recently funded the construction and operation of foyers in Broadmeadows, Glen Waverley and Shepparton.) New investment of $30 million over four years to expand the youth foyer model (replicating investment levels in the above three, 40-bed foyers). zz Establish a ‘Leaving Care Housing Guarantee Fund’ for young people leaving out-of-home care, to combat their high risk of homelessness. A flexible fund could support young people to access and sustain private tenancies, supplementing their rental costs (where needed). New investment of $16.6 million over four years (modelling by the Council to Homeless Persons, 2014). zz Adopt a target for the growth of social housing— for example, that social housing reach 5% of all Victorian housing by 2030, as recommended by a 2010 parliamentary inquiry2.

“Housing is always an issue. A generation of teenage couch surfers has appeared”.

Responses to a 2013 survey of 213 youth service providers around Victoria.

zz Support innovative, cross-sector initiatives which have demonstrated success in bringing together services, schools and local government to ensure safe, sustainable housing for vulnerable young people, while also reducing school disengagement and addressing mental health problems. (One example is the Geelong Project, currently seeking support to continue and extend their work.) zz Establish a Housing Growth Fund to increase the availability of affordable rental properties. This could combine mechanisms such as housing bond schemes or revolving loan facilities, with broader changes around planning, land release and taxation.

“I do not believe there is enough accommodation for youth that are not ready to live on their own yet but cannot stay in residential care due to their age”.

“We see young Indigenous youth all the time that have been impacted by lack of housing. This group has either come from a broken family, overcrowded housing or lack of family support. There is a high demand for crisis accommodation due to them not feeling comfortable approaching mainstream organisations”. 7

Mental health Community-based services • Generalist youth support • School-service partnerships • Rural outreach • HEY Project

Good mental health is vital to a person’s wellbeing and their ability to study, work, maintain friendships, and contribute to their community. When Mission Australia surveyed young Australians in 2013, two-thirds of them ranked physical and mental health as very important or extremely important. Young women voted mental health as the third most important issue facing the nation3. Unfortunately, young people are especially vulnerable to poor mental health, and they rarely access professional help early on. Sometimes (especially in rural areas) there may not be any local services. In 2013, YACVic and VCOSS surveyed 213 youth service providers across Victoria, asking them about critical gaps in youth support: after homelessness and housing, mental health support came in third4.

One group of young people at particular risk of poor mental health outcomes are same sex attracted and gender-diverse young people, due to their high vulnerability to bullying, violence and discrimination. Supportive schools and communities make a crucial difference to keeping these young people safe. In 2011, the Victorian Government funded the HEY Project: $4 million over four years for programs to improve the mental health and wellbeing of same sex attracted and sex/gender diverse young people. The project has been very well received, with strong demand for its grants program and substantial progress made by all partners. This good work should be continued.

Key facts zz Poor mental health accounts for 70% of the disease burden in young people. zz In 2007, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that one in four young Australians aged 16-24 had had a mental health disorder in the past year. zz Three quarters of people who experience a mental health disorder will develop it before the age of 25. zz In 2007, less than a quarter of young people with a mental health disorder had accessed a health service for support in the past year. zz In a recent study of 3134 young people who were same-sex attracted or gender diverse, researchers at La Trobe University found that 61% of them had experienced homophobic verbal abuse, 18% reported physical abuse, and 69% reported other forms of discrimination. Homophobic abuse was strongly associated with feeling unsafe, drug use and self-harm, as well as poor educational outcomes. zz Between 2011-13, 25 projects were funded through the HEY grants round, as part of the HEY Project funded by the Victorian Government Department of Health. Projects ranged from youth support groups to arts activities, same-sex ‘formals’, and a human rights summit. Demand was very high; only 23% of applications could be funded, and 18% of requested funds delivered5.

What is needed

zz Continue and increase funding to the HEY Project, funded by the Department of Health and administered through the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria. New and renewed investment of $8 million over four years (increase the previous funding levels to expand the program to five additional place-based sites). zz Strengthen community-based mental health services for young people in underserviced areas. zz In partnership with local government, invest resources to create more generalist youth support to provide age-appropriate early intervention for young people at risk of mental illness. zz Secure funding for School Focused Youth Services, beyond their current term, to support partnerships between schools and services to assist young people at risk of mental illness. zz Build an explicit component of rural outreach into all youth mental health services funded in regional centres.

“Mental health crisis services are not offered for anyone under 18 in my region. It creates logistical nightmares for kids and teens in need”. “We have one counsellor to 14,000 young people”. Responses to a 2013 survey of 213 youth service providers around Victoria.

“If gay people weren’t so victimised by modern day society, I’d feel a lot better”. (Matthew, 17 years) Young person who responded to a 2010 survey by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (La Trobe University).

Employment and training Local Learning and Employment Networks • Work-ready and re-engagement programs • VET equity

As Victoria’s population ages, it is becoming more important than ever to foster a strong, productive young workforce. To protect their wellbeing and our

very vulnerable to unemployment, whose engagement in VET seems to have decreased recently6.

community’s prosperity, young Victorians must have strong opportunities to begin their careers.

Victoria’s Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) play a crucial role in supporting young people into training and employment. The LLENs bring together business, trainers, schools and communities to design collaborative local solutions to youth employment issues. They work with about 5000 organisations and businesses across the state, and are widely recognised as the main partnership brokerage bodies in this space. Unfortunately it appears the LLENs have no funding secured beyond December 2014.

However, with a tight job market, tough new federal restrictions on income support, and employers expecting higher levels of qualification and experience than ever before, many young people struggle to take that first step into a secure and meaningful job. For those who did not finish Year 12, especially, the risk of unemployment is high. This places a young person in danger of long-term poverty and marginalisation, and makes it more likely that they will experience poor employment and health outcomes when they are older. One way to support improved employment outcomes for young people is through a strong vocational education and training (VET) sector. This should include appropriate support for young people aged 15-19 who left school without completing Year 12 or equivalent—a group

Prior to June 2013, an employment program funded by the Department worked with hundreds of Victoria’s most vulnerable young people to help them to become ‘work ready’ and find and keep jobs. This program was run by reputable youth organisations. The lapsing of that funding left a significant gap in support for young people who need it most. On top of this, the recent federal budget will made it near-impossible for

Key facts zz In February 2014, the unemployment rate for young Victorians aged 15-24 was 12.4%. This was almost twice the general unemployment rate of 6.4%. zz In 2013, a quarter of young Victorians did not feel that there were sufficient opportunities for further study, training and employment where they lived. zz Young Victorians are much more likely to be unemployed 6 months after leaving school if they did not finish Year 12 or equivalent (17.4%) than if they did (4.8%). zz Some groups of young people are disproportionately vulnerable to unemployment. For example, young people from refugee backgrounds can face language barriers and problems of trauma, inadequate schooling, low incomes and racism. zz In 2012, 26.6% of young Victorians who had graduated from higher education and were available for fulltime employment were still not employed full-time8. 10

young people to access income support, and has cut funding to the Youth Connections program that helped 74,000 vulnerable young Australians to re-engage with study and work since 20107. In light of this, Victorian initiatives to help young people into the workforce will be more important than ever.

What is needed

zz Renew funding for the Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs). Renewed investment of $48 million over four years (indexed),continuing the LLENs’ funding at approx. current levels. zz Fund a ‘work ready’ pre-employment and training program to provide intensive, case-managed support to vulnerable young people aged 17–24 who face significant barriers to employment. New investment of $8 million over four years, to deliver training and employment outcomes for 360 young people p.a. zz Create a ‘VET equity engagement fund’ to resource vocational programs that can demonstrate they will achieve improved educational, personal and employment outcomes for students aged 15–19 years who have left school without attaining Year 12 or equivalent. zz Fund a program in the style of Youth Connections, to provide flexible, responsive and individualised support to young people aged 12 to 17 who are disengaged from education, to help them make successful transitions into education, training or employment. This program should be aligned with Victoria’s 17 Area Partnerships. Repurposed Investment of Student Resource Packages for 5,000 disengaged young people per annum, redirecting existing funds.

“I am amazed at the scope of what you do with very little money”.

“...many organisations provide services to refugees and migrants but GMLLEN has a different role… as a unique organisation that works to improve our chances of success. An African proverb says ‘it is [more] important to teach people how to fish rather than to provide a fish to people’. This is what the GMLLEN does—teaches us how to fish”. Rashidi Sumaili, parent from Shepparton (Goulburn Murray LLEN, The Building a New Generation Youth Leadership Program 1 & 2, 2012 – 2014, 2014, p.4).

“Evidence clearly shows the importance of place-based solutions to local needs. In order for local communities to work together to support all people there must be a well communicated and coordinated approach. Links must be built, renewed and strengthened. LLEN has played a crucial role in this and has the potential to be one of the key drivers of place based reform”. Steve Rogers, principal, Mooroopna Primary School and executive chair, Shepparton Central Network (Goulburn Murray LLEN, Goulburn Murray LLEN Response: How the LLEN relate to and can support Area Partnerships, April 28th 2014, p.13).

Retired managing director of Boston Consulting, who is helping a LLEN pro bono.

Diverting young people away from the justice system Youth diversion • Youth Referral and Independent Person Program • Reduced fines

Historically, Victoria has had a low rate of detention of young people under 18, compared to the national average. Our state’s preference for community-based supervision is widely seen as delivering better results in the long term. With general prisoner numbers growing and a justice system under strain, it makes sense to support interventions which are cost-effective and efficient in diverting young people from crime and reducing re-offending.

Diversion programs address the causes of youth offending—which can include mental illness, intellectual disability, or substance abuse—to keep young people out of cycles of crime and imprisonment. Diversion requires young people to address their behaviour through supports such as drug and alcohol treatment, education and training, counselling and family therapy. Diversion options range from informal warnings by police to court-referred programs which, if completed successfully, can reduce a young person’s sentence.

Key facts zz In 2012-13, 13% of young Victorians under supervision in the justice system were in detention; the rest were in community-based supervision. This detention rate is lower than the national average. zz After different interventions, the rates of young people NOT reoffending after two years are: • Ropes (1 day course for first offenders): 88% • Right Step (8 week case-managed program): 61% • Youth Justice Group Conferencing, pre-sentence: 80% • Community-based supervision, including probation: 57% • Detention: 43% zz In different justice interventions, the cost per young person for three months is: • Right Step: $3,000 • Youth Justice Group Conferencing: $5,022 • Community-based supervision: $4,775 • Detention: $48,221 zz Youth crime rates have been decreasing in Melbourne since 2006, but rising in rural/regional Victoria. zz In 2012-13, 3163 young people aged 10-18 were assisted by the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program, in 130 police stations around Victoria9.

While Victoria has some excellent diversion programs, there is no legislative framework for youth diversion. Nor are diversion programs funded equally in all parts of the state—there are particular shortages in rural and regional areas. We need a range of embedded programs to divert young people from crime at every point on the justice continuum, from first contact with the police through to attending court.

Legal Centres, UnitingCare and Victoria Police. YRIPP coordinates adult volunteers (‘Independent Persons’) to attend police interviews with young people when a parent or guardian is unavailable. YRIPP helps divert young people from re-offending, provides telephone advice through Legal Aid, trains volunteers to understand young people’s cultural backgrounds, and links police and parents to youth support services.

Another important intervention is the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program (YRIPP), an initiative of the Centre for Multicultural Youth and YACVic, delivered in partnership with Community

What is needed zz Provide recurrent funding for the Youth Referral and Independent Person’s Program. Continued investment of $5.2 million over four years (at current funding level of $1.3 million p.a.). zz Legislate to require that diversion options be considered for all young people from the point of first police contact through to the Children’s Court. zz Invest in a continuum of interventions, all around Victoria, that divert young people away from crime at the earliest opportunity, are proportionate to the offence committed, and empower local communities to address the underlying causes of their young people’s offending. zz Act on the recommendations of the Sentencing Advisory Council (2014) that police and public transport fines for people aged under 18 or experiencing financial hardship be cut by 50%. If well administered, this should help to make the fines system more effective, ensuring that people are not placed in unreasonable hardship, and that fines are not simply left unpaid10.

“Victoria Police would struggle to meet the challenges without the incredible support provided by many volunteers who act as Independent Persons during police interviews”. Victoria Police member.

“You have helped me more in 15 minutes than all the workers I have ever had, thank you!” 15 year old supported by a YRIPP Independent Person.

Strengthening students in their school communities VicSRC ‘Teach the Teacher’ • Flexible learning • Homework clubs

The Victorian community has an obligation to ensure that all young people have access to an education. However, too many young people are still missing out on the supports they need to complete their schooling. As early school leaving is associated with lower incomes and poorer life outcomes, it is vital that our school system respond to the different needs of different students. In a 2013 survey of youth service providers around Victoria, YACVic and VCOSS found a great demand for flexible learning options. When asked to nominate the most significant service gaps in their local government areas, ‘education’ was the fourth most common response11. More work is needed to develop learning environments, both in mainstream schools and alternative settings, in which young people needing additional support are identified early and supported appropriately. Ongoing support is also needed for homework clubs, which provide quality tuition and learning support to young people facing educational challenges such as language barriers, disrupted education, trauma and limited study assistance at home. Since 2008, the Victorian Government has supported the Centre for Multicultural Youth to deliver the Learning Beyond the Bell (LBB) program, which supports over 250 clubs around Victoria. More than 1800 trained volunteers provide support to over 6,000 young people to improve their educational outcomes. 75% of these young people have English as an additional language. The program is funded until December 2015.12

Many benefits also result from young people playing a strong role in their school communities. Active student engagement helps improve young people’s educational outcomes, boosts their wellbeing, builds their skills, and strengthens relationships between students and teachers. The body supporting student representation is the Victorian Student Representative Council (VicSRC). VicSRC is Victoria’s peak body representing secondary students. It is student-run and student-led, bringing together students across the state to make their voices heard in decision making. The organisation is built on a democratic network of SRCs and overseen by an elected student executive, with policy directions set by an annual student Congress, and policy and program development overseen by an elected student executive. VicSRC enables students to be active, informed participants in their learning and communities. VicSRC has developed excellent working relationships with schools, students and the Victorian Government. Recent work by the VicSRC includes: zz Running an annual Congress for secondary students, attended by the Minister for Education. zz Developing resource kits to support student engagement, for students, teachers and principals. zz Running regional student conferences around Victoria, enabling over 700 students to network across schools and work together on common interests.

zz Providing regular policy advice to the Victorian Government. zz Presenting awards to recognise SRCs that are making valuable contributions to student voice. zz Maintaining online forums for students and bulletins for teachers. From 2012, VicSRC has also produced an exciting professional development program: ‘Teach the Teacher’. This program was developed by students to enhance dialogues within their schools. Designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs of different schools, the program brings students and teachers together to engage in open, respectful and evaluative discussion about learning and teaching. It helps strengthen student-teacher relationships and student engagement, improves classroom processes, and provides schools with a tool for seeking and using student feedback. ‘Teach the Teacher’ has been piloted in 10 schools with support from the Victorian Government. Initial feedback has been overwhelmingly successful. VicSRC is seeking support to incorporate ‘Teach the Teacher’ into their organisation’s core work from 2014-17, to support schools to develop and extend the program.

“…there aren’t many opportunities for these discussions; therefore students end up having very little contribution; that’s why ‘Teach the Teacher’ was so good”. Student who took part in one of the pilot ‘Teach the Teacher’ sessions.

What is needed zz Increase funding to VicSRC for three years, to enable VicSRC to retain and extend their successful ‘Teach and Teacher’ program, recruit an extra project officer (0.6FTE) to deliver the program, and foster long-term relationships with philanthropic and corporate partners to make the program selfsustaining. New investment of $144,000 over three years (increasing the current annual funding from $125,000 to $172,842 p.a). zz Resource Learning Beyond the Bell to continue its support for homework clubs beyond 2015. Renewed investment of $4 million over four years (replicating current funding models). zz Work with community sector organisations and schools to develop and resource more flexible models of education across Victoria. These should build on the findings and successes of Youth Partnerships.

“The program has enormous potential to break down barriers and build rapport amongst staff and students”. Teacher who took part in one of the pilot ‘Teach the Teacher’ sessions.

“…the staff have been very interested in the feedback from students presented to them in this formal setting... This has been an incredibly empowering experience for students, to have their ‘voice’ listened to and respected”. Principal who took part in one of the pilot ‘Teach the Teacher’ sessions. 15

Equal access for young people in rural Victoria Generalist youth support • Youth bushfire response • Rural advocacy • Public transport

A quarter of young Victorians aged 12-25 live outside of Melbourne. While growing up in rural Victoria has many advantages, rural young people are more likely to face barriers to accessing education and training, health and support services, and social and cultural opportunities. Services that support rural young people face their own difficulties. The smaller population of rural areas means a smaller rate base, making less funding available for local government service provision. Rural workers struggle with the need to support populations over large areas, and raise concerns about services being

‘swallowed’ into regional centres and Melbourne. Attracting qualified staff can be an additional challenge13. Rural services also appear to struggle more than their metropolitan colleagues with short-term or precarious funding. A recent survey of YACVic’s members showed that rural youth services nominated their biggest organisational challenge as “The time frames of funding and service agreements make it difficult to plan for long term change (e.g. 12 month funding cycles)”. As the funding delivered to some communities after the 2009 bushfires runs out, some services are reporting that their capacity to support young people is shrinking again.

Key facts zz Only 56% of young people in rural Victoria report having access to public transport, compared to 81% in metropolitan Victoria. zz Young people aged 12-17 in rural areas are more likely than their metro peers to have engaged in recent binge drinking. zz Rates of sexually transmitted infections amongst young people are growing faster in rural than metro areas, and the teenage birth rate is twice as high in rural areas as in metro ones. zz A 2011 study found that rural local governments spent far less than metropolitan ones on youth services. All the 34 councils whose expenditure on youth services fell into the lowest bracket ($0-$250,000 p.a.) were rural ones. Rural councils were much less likely than metropolitan ones to provide generalist youth support or outreach, or diverse programs for young people such as harm minimisation, school engagement, or counselling. zz Between 2011-14, the Victorian Rural Youth Services initiative (VRYS) has run 42 professional development sessions for youth support workers and young people in 25 rural/regional communities, assisting 981 young people and 412 workers. The VRYS has produced detailed policy advice to government on 9 different topics, released 23 information bulletins to a rural network of over 470 people, and ensured a strong rural presence in YACVic’s work14.

Recently the Victorian Government has supported the rural youth sector to access improved professional support and information through the Victorian Rural Youth Services (VRYS) initiative. This project, based at the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, promotes research, training and policy development to support youth services and young people in rural/regional communities. Since 2011, the VRYS has provided advice to the Victorian Government on topics including out-of-home care, mental health, flexible learning, sexual health, regional growth, as well as providing training and networking support for the sector.

“…services need to be funded in local areas rather than expecting young people to access geographically distant services”. Response to a 2013 survey of 213 youth service providers around Victoria.

“...met all my expectations and more. Research and knowledge shared was excellent”. “Glad you came all the way to SW Victoria—out in the country ”.

What is needed zz In partnership with local government, invest resources to create more generalist youth support positions in rural and regional Victoria. zz Collate and assess the key learnings from the Youth Bushfire Response Gift (funding allocated to fire-affected communities in 2009), and use the findings to design timely, effective service delivery to support young people in disaster-affected communities in the future.

“...great to have local high quality PD for us Geelong/surf coast people”. “...great to have this locally and great topic”. Participants in 2014 rural/regional training workshops, run by the VRYS initiative with Maree Crabbe, ‘Eroticising Inequality: Pornography, young people and sexuality’.

zz Increase public transport to under-serviced areas of Victoria, including exploring options for utilising school bus networks more efficiently during ‘down times’. zz Renew funding for a rural support and advocacy position within the state peak body for the youth sector, the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, to connect, train and strengthen the rural youth sector and provide policy advice on key rural issues. Renewed investment of $480,000 over four years (based on current funding levels). 17

Building a strong sector to support young people YACVic core funding • Rural advocacy

To ensure that young Victorians can play an active, positive part in their communities and enjoy a good standard of wellbeing, a strong support sector is vital. It’s important that the services assisting young people are supported to deliver best practice, that government and the community are well informed about youth

issues, and that young people have opportunities to build their skills and have a voice on the topics that matter to them. In Victoria, the peak body representing young people and the youth sector is the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic).

Key facts zz Since its launch in April 2014, Yerp (YACVic’s youth engagement toolkit) has received almost 500 views per week, and its blog received over 3000 views from 35 different countries. zz YACVic has 312 members, almost half of them young people. zz Over 1750 people receive our monthly e-bulletin Announce. zz In a 2013 survey of 102 of our members, YACVic found that the top training priorities for the sector continued to be youth participation and engagement. YACVic would be very well placed to deliver more professional support in this space, with adequate resourcing. In 2012-13: zz YACVic and its auspice bodies held 60 events and presentations across Victoria, including in Mildura, Castlemaine, Bairnsdale, Shepparton, Horsham, Leongatha, Dandenong and Pakenham. zz 149 young people and 242 youth, community and local government sector representatives contributed their ideas to Yerp (the youth engagement resources project). zz YACVic produced 9 policy submissions, 4 reports and 6 strategic briefing papers. zz YACVic had 946 Facebook followers and 1,455 Twitter followers. The website had 27,093 visitors and 81,519 page views. zz In 2011-12, YACVic’s annual core funding was reduced from $418,000 to $321,000, lessening our capacity to support young people and the sector. zz In 2014, the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (the national peak) lost its funding, increasing the pressure on state peaks to support best practice in the youth sector and keep young people’s issues on the public agenda. 18

An independent, member-driven body, YACVic has been around since 1960. Half of our governance board are young people, and our work is guided by our Youth Reference Group of 15 young people. YACVic provides professional support for services assisting young people, policy advice to the Victorian Government and community, and opportunities for young people to take the lead on issues of importance to them. YACVic is funded primarily by the Victorian Government. Recently, our work has included: zz A highly popular youth engagement toolkit, Yerp (2014), which gives young people tips about stepping up and making change in their communities, and advises older people and organisations about youth engagement and how to make it happen. zz YOUth Untitled (2013): a forum run by and for young people, led by YACVic’s Youth Reference Group (YRG), which brought together 80 delegates from around Victoria to discuss the big issues in their communities and plan for the future. zz Cop That (2013): a peer-led research piece by the YRG, with Youthlaw, designed to improve relationships between young people and police. Follow-up discussions were held with the Office for the Minister of Police and Emergency services, and the report has been used for officer development by Central Victoria Police.

zz A 2013 report commissioned for the Department of Planning and Community Development and Capire Consulting Group, capturing young people’s thoughts on urban planning, to inform the Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Strategy. zz ‘What makes you tweet?’ (2013), a research piece asking young people how government and community organisations should use social media to communicate with them. This work was highly popular. For example, in 2013 it was the 5th most-downloaded research publication on Australia Policy Online, downloaded 970 times. zz Building the Scaffolding: Strengthening support for young people in Victoria (2013): a detailed research piece undertaken with the Victorian Council of Social Service. Using data from 213 community, education and government services from around Victoria, it analysed the support delivered to young people, and how to strengthen policy, planning and service delivery. zz Connect For: improved outcomes for Victoria’s vulnerable young people (2012): a conference for government, local government, schools and community services, to discuss young people’s barriers to accessing learning and development.

zz Two way street: Young people informing

improvements to schools and youth services (2012): a consultation with young people struggling to engage with mainstream schooling, to inform the Victorian Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Youth Partnerships Secretariat. zz Volunteering is Catching (2011): a report designed to improve Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Volunteering Portal and help organisations work better with young volunteers. YACVic also supports the youth sector to improve their work, notably through the Code of Ethical Practice for the Victorian youth sector. This document, produced by YACVic, is considered the cornerstone of good practice in youth service delivery in Victoria and is taught in youth work courses around the state. Several smaller youth-led organisations and services rely on YACVic for auspice support, to enable them to keeping assisting and empowering young people. They are the Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS), Victorian Student Representative Council (VicSRC), the Koorie Youth Council (KYC), and the Victorian Youth Mentoring Alliance (VYMA). YACVic also hosts a rural officer through the Victorian Rural Youth Services initiative, to provide support and advocacy for the rural youth sector and young people.

What is needed

zz Reinstate core funding to the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria at equivalent to 2010 levels. Renewed investment of $1,680,000 over four years, recurrent (restoring 2011 funding levels with slight rise to reflect CPI). zz Renew funding for a rural support and advocacy position within YACVic, to connect, train and strengthen the rural youth sector and provide policy advice on rural issues. Renewed investment of $480,000 over four years (based on current funding levels).

“I am totally in awe of your online advocacy toolkit—it’s superb” Mia Cox, UNICEF Australia, Youth Engagement Officer.

“Why am I on the YRG [Youth Reference Group]? Because we are an amazing group of young people who are passionate about being a part, and being constructors of social change. I come back every month because I am inspired by each person I work alongside and inspired by the work we do together—and how this is helping mould social change within the youth sector”. Morgan, current YRG member.

“Having ready access to the policy and practice expertise that YACVic brings together is a vital ingredient in our work— it makes a difference to what can be achieved in supporting young people to reach their full potential”. Sandie de Wolf, CEO, Berry Street.

A strong voice for Koorie young people Koorie Youth Council • Closing the gap • Raising awareness • Culturally specific services

Key facts zz In 2011, 27% of Victoria’s Indigenous population were aged 12-24, compared to around 17% of the nonIndigenous population. zz As the Victorian Indigenous birth rate is higher than the total Victorian birth rate (2.6 babies per woman, compared to 1.9), there will be unusually high numbers of Koorie young people in the near future. zz A 2009 study by the Victorian Government found that the majority of young Aboriginal people (around two-thirds) thought Aboriginal values—respect for elders, cultural tradition, and connection to country and lore—were important, and around half had participated in cultural activities in the last 12 months. zz In 2009, Victorian Aboriginal young people were twice as likely to be victims of assault as their nonAboriginal peers, and were 10 times more likely to be in the justice system. zz In a 2011 survey of 755 Aboriginal Victorians, 97% had experienced racism, and 70% had been through more than eight racist incidents. zz Since 2011, the KYC’s work has included: • Running a successful and popular youth summit, bringing together 140 Indigenous young people from across Victoria, to network, take part in professional development and personal growth, and put their views to government. • Producing a research report: VIYAC voices telling it like it is: Aboriginal young people on education. Based on interviews with Aboriginal young people, this put forward ideas for schools and community to develop a more inclusive education system. • Representing the views of Koorie young people to government on issues including the overrepresentation of Indigenous young people in the criminal justice system and out-of-home care, the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll, and the Whole of Government Alcohol and Drug Strategy. • Working with the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council and the National Trust to hold a youth-specific Koorie cultural heritage forum for over 40 young people. zz The KYC is currently funded until June 201615.

While the general Victorian population is ageing over time, Victoria’s Koorie community is young and growing. This represents a wealth of talent and positive contributions to community. However, unfortunately Koorie young people are also disproportionately vulnerable to harmful life outcomes, and need further support. To achieve this, young Koories themselves must be fully engaged and empowered to play a leading role in their own lives and communities. The Koorie Youth Council (KYC, formerly the Victorian Indigenous Youth Advisory Council) is the leading voice for Aboriginal young people in Victoria. The KYC was established in 2003 and is funded by the Victorian Government and auspiced by the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria. A Koorie-led organisation, KYC advocates to government and the community on the issues that matter to Koorie young people, strengthens the capacity of young Koories, encourages their participation in the community, provides opportunities for young people to share culture and experiences, and builds the capacity of government and community organisations around youth participation.

“I am black and I am proud! No more shame for me. Thanks KYS”.

What is needed

zz Recurrent funding to the Koorie Youth Council. Renewed investment of $180,000 p.a. (indexed, based on current levels). zz Continue to work on ‘close the gap’ actions tackling Aboriginal disadvantage. zz Increase funding to Aboriginal communitycontrolled organisations to expand culturally specific services. zz Conduct an awareness-raising campaign in schools, workplaces and the community about racial vilification laws.

“Thanks so much for providing us with a common ground to share a passion and improve our culture”. “I will be walking away today feeling inspired about being involved with my mob”. “It was inspiring. Made me want to go out and help more people”. Young people who took part in the KYC’s Koorie Youth Summit 2014. 23

Supporting young people through mentoring Victorian Youth Mentoring Alliance • Evaluation tools • Engage! grants • Long-term programs

One key approach to improving resilience, relationships and life outcomes for young people is youth mentoring. Youth mentoring brings young people together with caring individuals in a structured, safe relationship, where they can access guidance, support and positive role modelling. These connections empower young people to reach their potential. In order to get the best results for young people, youth mentoring programs need planning, evaluation, strong governance and solid operational procedures. For a large, diverse sector which relies heavily on volunteers, quality assurance and capacity building are vital. The body which provides this at a state level is the Victorian Youth Mentoring Alliance (VYMA).

The VYMA provides tools, advice, resources and professional development to support youth mentoring programs. They help to reduce the isolation of mentoring coordinators (who are often running small programs without much in-house support), and minimise the risks attached to youth mentoring by promoting best practice. They aid mentoring programs to assess their work and become sustainable. Since 2012 the VYMA has operated under the auspice of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, with some philanthropic support. At present, they have no resourcing from the Victorian Government, and without core funding will cease operations in 2014.

Key facts zz There are now over 240 youth mentoring programs in Victoria, a number which has tripled since 2005. Victoria has the highest number of mentoring programs in Australia. zz Victorian youth mentoring programs work with an estimated 7000 young people and 6000 volunteer mentors. zz Mentoring programs are often small and run by one coordinator, who takes on significant responsibility. New programs require 6 to 9 months of ‘set-up’ time. zz The majority of programs in Victoria rely on the Victorian Government for core funding. zz 20% to 30% percent of youth mentoring programs close each year due to lack of funding. zz Between 2012-13, 24 youth mentoring programs took part in VYMA’s intensive Quality Assurance Project, to assess their work against national standards and assist them to implement quality improvement measures. 17 completed the Project (the others withdrew due to major changes in resourcing). Evaluation surveys found that 80% of respondents reported their programs had improved as a direct result of the QA Project, and 100% continued to engage with the action plans developed16.

What is needed zz Support the Victorian Youth Mentoring Alliance to provide accessible, comprehensive resources and advice to the youth mentoring sector and continuation for the Quality Assurance Project, under the auspice of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria. New investment of $340,328 (staffing and on-costs) over four years. zz Build an evaluation framework and tool set for mentoring organisations to evaluate their own programs and demonstrate their value. New investment of $175,000. zz Renew and increase funding for the ‘Engage!’ grants, which support a number of Victorian youth mentoring initiatives Renewed and increased investment of $18 million over three years (from previous funding of $12.3 million over three years). zz Redirect support for mentoring into longterm programs with a three-year funding cycle and potential for recurrent funding, guided by evaluation and quality improvement measures.

“The Quality Assurance pilot delivered by the VYMA was an incredibly valuable exercise ... It enabled us to validate our current processes and feel confident we were delivering best practice while helping us to identify our limitations and to develop action plans for improving these into the future”. Mentoring program coordinator who took part in the VYMA’s Quality Assurance Project.

“It’s comforting to have an umbrella organisation [VYMA] governing and supporting similar programs … that central reference point is important to help contextualise individual program operations and offer a bigger picture point of view” Response to VYMA ‘Future Directions’ survey of the youth mentoring sector (2014).

“I run the mentoring program solo here… so VYMA have been an excellent resource and support for me over the past two years and I hope that this continues” Mentoring program coordinator who took part in the VYMA’s Quality Assurance Project

Equal access for young people with disabilities Youth Disability Advocacy Service • Individual Support Packages • Equity in education and training • Public transport

Many young people with disabilities continue to miss out on key milestones of young adulthood, such as finishing school, continuing to higher education, getting a job, travelling, and developing a sexual identity and new friendships. This is due largely to systems which are inaccessible and marginalising, forcing young people with disabilities into prolonged dependence on their families.

To ensure fairer outcomes, it is vital to listen to young people with disabilities, recognising them as the experts on their lives. The key body representing young Victorians with disabilities is the Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS). YDAS is the only advocacy service in Australia which works specifically on issues of concern to young people with disabilities, rais ing awareness of their

Key facts zz In 2012, only 38% of young Australians with a disability aged 15-24 were fully engaged in study and/or work. Of those who were not fully engaged, more than two-thirds reported that they were not studying or working at all. zz In 2009, the workforce participation rate for people with a disability was 50%, compared to 77% of the population without a disability. zz In December 2013, there were 4,239 people on the waiting list for Individual Support Packages in Victoria, funding which enables people to live independently through disability supports or supported accommodation. zz Between the third quarters of 2012 and 2013, enrolments of Victorians with a disability in vocational education and training (VET) showed a 7% drop in certificate III-IV courses and a 25% drop in courses at a diploma level and above. zz In their 2013 survey of the Victorian youth sector, YACVic and VCOSS found that 30% of services identified support gaps for young people with disabilities. Respondents also noted that young people with disabilities wanted greater access to mainstream services, and to take part in their communities as young people, rather than focusing only on their disability. Unfortunately many face barriers of inaccessible infrastructure, transport shortages, and ‘mainstream’ programs which are not funded or designed to be accessible to everyone. zz In their 2012 report Held Back: The experiences of students with disabilities in Victorian schools, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission found that students with disabilities continued to experience barriers to accessing an equal standard of schooling17.

rights and supporting them to achieve their goals. The organisation offers individual advocacy to people aged 12-25 who have a disability, as well as systemic advocacy on issues of importance to them. The work of YDAS is directed by a steering committee of young people with disabilities from across Victoria. YDAS is a service of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, funded by the Victorian Government Office for Disability. While the Victorian Government has reached an agreement with the Commonwealth on the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), this will not be available state-wide for many years. Local action is needed now to ensure all Victorians can live with independence and dignity.

“I want for young people with disabilities what I want for all young people—to be empowered, engaged, supported, and valued. I would like all young people with disabilities to have the supports that they need to participate and control their own life, whatever that means for them”. Young people with disabilities who contributed to the YDAS campaign for the establishment of a youth-led National Youth Disability Council.

What is needed

zz Increase recurrent funding to the Youth Disability Advocacy Service. New and renewed investment of $200,000 p.a. (building on current funding levels of $173,169 p.a. to cope with rising demand). zz Continue to increase the number of Individual Support Packages (ISPs) in Victoria. zz Implement the recommendations of the VEOHRC’s Held Back report. zz Invest in additional support for students with disabilities in the VET system, to ensure they can enrol in, and complete, courses with good opportunities for employment. zz Provide an appropriate increase in resources to meet the milestones for the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002, under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, which requires the public transport system to reach 90% compliance for most services and infrastructure by December 2017.

“Young people with disabilities… are often overlooked when it comes to making decisions about what they want and need, when they are perfectly capable of doing so… We are the experts in this, and should be treated as such”.

Engaging young people in their communities Engage! • FReeZA

Young people take part in their communities in many ways. Around half of them volunteer, over half take part in arts, cultural or music activities, and 70% play a sport. Over 40% take part in student leadership activities, around 30% are involved in youth groups, 28% in religious groups, and a quarter are involved in environmental activities18. However, young people’s engagement in civic life is declining. Their rate of participation in ‘civil and political groups’ is the second lowest in Australia, and they are much less likely than older people to be enrolled to vote. It is important to ensure young people do not miss out on opportunities to build their skills and confidence, make decisions, and have a positive impact on their communities19. The Victorian Government funds the ‘Engage!’ grants, which resource local governments and community organisations to support young people around leadership, volunteering, mentoring, community education and peer support.

Through these activities, young people contribute to their communities, and build skills, pathways and networks. This includes young people who are from Indigenous or refugee backgrounds, GLBTI, with a disability, or living in rural areas. The Victorian Government plays a vital role in this space; most philanthropic foundations (the other main source of grants) tend to be seriously oversubscribed, and rarely fund projects about youth civic engagement or community leadership. Young people’s community engagement is also supported by the FReeZA grants. Funded by the Victorian Government and hosted by local governments and community organisations, FReeZA enables young people to organise and attend affordable, accessible music and cultural events, in settings that are supervised and free of drugs, alcohol and smoking. Committees of young people organise these events, building their skills and creating opportunities for local young artists.

Key facts zz During 2012-14, the Victorian Government committed $12.3M to the ‘Engage!’ grants program, and boosted FReeZA funding to $7.2 million over four years. zz Every year around 400 FReeZA events are staged around Victoria, with over 130,000 young people attending. zz Currently, regional FReeZA providers can apply for $35,235 to run 6 events (attendance 1,350) or $73,500 for 15 events (attendance 4200). Metropolitan providers can apply for $34,635 for 6 events (attendance 2250) or $72,000 for 15 events (attendance 6600)20.

However, some young people face barriers to getting involved. While rural LGAs can access higher funds for FReeZA gigs and show lower numbers of attendees, this is not the case for Melbourne’s interface LGAs, which are classed as ‘metropolitan’ despite including some rural towns. Without responsive funding, and in areas where public transport is poor, it can be hard for organisers to involve young people from local rural communities.

What is needed

zz Renew and increase funding for the ‘Engage!’ grants. Renewed and increased investment of $18 million over three years (from previous funding of $12.3 million over three years). zz Revise FReeZA funding for Melbourne’s 10 interface LGAs to support them to engage young people in rural communities within the LGAs, through increased funding and smaller minimum attendance for events held outside urban centres.

Supporting children in the ‘middle years’ Policy framework • Transition planning • Research and service partnership

In a 2013 survey of 213 service providers from every local government area in Victoria, YACVic and VCOSS found a need for stronger policies and services to support children aged 8-12 (the ‘middle years’). Too old for early childhood services and too young for youth support, children of this age often go without specialist help during crucial transition points in their lives. Children in the middle years may need a variety of supports, ranging from social and cultural activities, to help with the transition from primary to secondary school (a common problem area). Some may also need assistance with mental health, disability, trauma, aggressive behaviour, and diversion from the justice system. Service providers observe that some children are exhibiting issues more akin to those of vulnerable adolescents. Services also note the need to engage with culturally diverse communities, where young people are often required to care for their younger siblings and bring them along to ‘youth’ events.

Due to a lack of targeted support for this age group, a number of youth services end up working with children aged 8-12. 59% of the services that responded to YACVic and VCOSS’s survey were supporting this age group, despite not always having funding to do so21. This poses difficulties for the youth sector, many of whom feel that their services are not necessarily appropriate for children, but who also recognise the value of early intervention. More support is needed for targeted programs which address the needs of this age group in a developmentally appropriate way.

Key facts zz In 2013, just under half the local governments surveyed by VCOSS and YACVic had initiatives for children aged 8-12. Two thirds indicated this was an area where more work was needed. zz 67% of the services that responded to the YACVic/VCOSS survey said there was a need for support for children in the middle years in their LGA which was not currently being filled22. 30

What is needed

zz Develop a policy framework for the ‘middle years’—8 to 12 years—which incorporates new programs and specific funding for services to support children in this age group. zz Develop transition planning for children moving between primary and secondary schools. zz Resource a partnership between the early years, family services, youth and academic sectors to address workforce skills and development in relation to the middle years.

“They are too old for children’s services and too young for youth services”. “Transition period between grade 6 and year 7 (is) critical. (There) should be more attention focused in this area to ensure young people don’t fall through the gaps”. “Often if the younger siblings can’t attend [events] then older young people, particularly young women from refugee and CALD communities, are unable to participate in youth activities”. Responses to a 2013 survey of 213 youth service providers around Victoria.

Endnotes 1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), ‘2049.0 – Census of Population and Housing: Estimating homelessness, 2011,’ http://bit.ly/1mLot5K; ABS, ‘4130.0 – Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2011-12’, http://bit.ly/1hTlbul; ABS, ‘FACTSHEET: Youth homelessness’, 2011, http://bit.ly/1oPVVwF; Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) and YACVic, Building the Scaffolding: Strengthening support for young people in Victoria, Melbourne, 2013, p.53; Victorian Government Department of Human Services, ‘Total Number of Applicants on the Public Housing Waiting List as at March 2014’, http://bit.ly/1iNp1W3; Centre for Multicultural Youth, Finding Home in Victoria: Refugee and migrant young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, Carlton, 2010, p.7. 2. Family and Community Development Committee, Inquiry into the Adequacy and Future Directions of Public Housing in Victoria, September 2010, p.60. 3. Mission Australia, Youth Survey 2013, Sydney, 2013, pp.4-15. 4. VCOSS and YACVic, Building the Scaffolding, p.54. 5. ABS, ‘4841.0 – Facts at your Fingertips: Health, 2011: Mental Health Of Young People, 2007’, http://bit. ly/1ubpUPi; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Young Australians: their health and wellbeing 2011, Canberra, 2011, p.26; Lynne Hillier, Tiffany Jones, Marisa Monagle, Naomi Overton, Luke Gahan, Jennifer Blackman, Anne Mitchell, Writing Themselves In 3 (WTi3): The third national study on the sexual health and wellbeing of same sex attracted and gender questioning young people, Melbourne, La Trobe University, 2010, pp.IX-XI, 39, 49, 79; Patrick D. McGorry, Rosemary Purcell, Ian B. Hickie and Anthony F. Jorm, ‘Investing in Youth Mental Health is the Best Buy’, Medical Journal of Australia, vol.187, no.7, 1 October 2007, p.S5; Victorian Government Department of Health, Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2011-2015, Melbourne, 2011, p.78; Youth Affairs Council of Victoria and State Government of Victoria, ‘Hey Grants Rounds 1-3 Successful Grant Recipients,’ www.yacvic.org.au/sector-info/funding-opportunities/hey-grants. 6. Victorian Government (DEECD), Victorian Training Market Quarterly Report Q1 2013, Melbourne, 2013, p.47; DEECD, Victorian Training Market Quarterly Report Q2 2013, Melbourne, 2013, p.38; DEECD, Victorian Training Market Quarterly Report, Q3 2013, Melbourne 2013, p.42. 7. Australian Council of Social Service, ‘Focus on jobs not penalising people,’ May 28, 2014, www.acoss.org.au/ media/releases. Council of Australian Governments, National Partnership Agreement on Youth Attainment and Transitions, 2009, p.18, http://bit.ly/1iL0iHO. For more about the LLENs, see Goulburn Murray LLEN, How the LLEN relate to and can support Area Partnerships, April 28th 2014, p.5. 8. ABS, Labour Force 6202.0 March 2014 p.9 www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6202.0; Brotherhood of St Laurence, ‘Appendix A: Youth Unemployment Maps,’ 2014, www.bsl.org.au/pdfs/myChanceOurFuture_ appendixA_maps_Feb2014.pdf; Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), How Young People Are Faring 2013: Supporting Tables, 2013, http://bit.ly/S02ZYS p.27; Mission Australia, Youth Survey 2013, p.126; Victorian Government (DEECD), The On Track Survey 2013: The Destinations of School Leavers in Victoria – Statewide Report, Melbourne, November 2013, pp.6, 31; Centre for Multicultural Youth and Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Facilitating the Transition to Employment for Refugee Young People, Carlton, 2014, pp.5-12. 9. AIHW, ‘Victoria: youth justice supervision in 2012–13’, Youth justice fact sheet no. 24, http://bit.ly/1m71RLi; Smart Justice for Young People, ‘Diversion factsheet’, 2014, smartjusticeforyoungpeople.wordpress.com/youthdiversion-video-launch-media-pack; Victorian Government (DEECD), The state of Victoria’s children report 2011: A report on how children and young people in rural and regional Victoria are faring, Melbourne, 2013, 33

pp.90-91; Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, Annual Report 2012-2013, p.32. 10. Sentencing Advisory Council, The Imposition and Enforcement of Court Fines and Infringement Penalties in Victoria: Report, Melbourne, 2014, pp.xxvii, xxix. 11. VCOSS and YACVic, Building the Scaffolding, p.53. 12. Centre for Multicultural Youth, ‘Submission to the Victorian Parliament Education and Training committee: Inquiry into the approaches to homework in Victorian schools’, 2014, http://bit.ly/UEQAfe 13. VCOSS and YACVic, Building the Scaffolding, pp.56, 59, 63-64. 14. DEECD, The state of Victoria’s children report 2011, pp.47-52, 124; DEECD and Municipal Association of Victoria, Victorian Local Government Support for Children, Young People and Their Families, Melbourne, 2011, pp.14, 59-63. 15. ABS, ‘Victoria: 2011 Census Community Profiles’, http://bit.ly/1p2tkle; ABS, ‘3301.0 – Births, Australia, 2012’, http://bit.ly/T8HHtg; Victorian Government (DEECD), The state of Victoria’s children 2009: Aboriginal children and young people in Victoria, Melbourne, 2009, pp.46-47, 196; VicHealth, Mental health impacts of racial discrimination in Victorian Aboriginal communities, Carlton, November 2012, p.2. 16. Australian Youth Mentoring Network, ‘Australian Mentoring Programs’, www.youthmentoring.org.au/ program_listings.php; Victorian Youth Mentoring Alliance (VYMA), ‘Find Program,’ www.youthmentoringvic.org. au/youth-mentoring/133/; VYMA, ‘Quality Assurance Project: 2013/2014 Report,’ http://bit.ly/1mqnb1t; VYMA, Realising their Potential: A survey of young people in youth mentoring, Melbourne, 2011, p.4. 17. ABS, ‘4102.0 – Australian Social Trends, March Quarter 2012: Disability and work’, http://bit.ly/1m727tK; Australian Social Inclusion Board (Australian Government), Social Inclusion in Australia: How Australia is faring, 2nd Edition, Canberra 2012, p.38; DEECD, Victorian Training Market Quarterly Report: Q3 2013, p.39; VCOSS and YACVic, Building the Scaffolding, pp.8, 11, 55-58, 69, 108; Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Held back: The experiences of students with disabilities in Victorian schools, Melbourne, 2012; Victorian Government (DHS), ‘Disability Support Register 2013’, www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/ disability/start-here/disability-support-register. 18. YACVic, Yerp, 2014, www.yerp.yacvic.org.au. 19. ABS, ‘1370.0 Measures of Australia’s Progress, 2013 – Progress Indicators for Participation’, http://bit. ly/1iNseF9; Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), ‘AEC and Rock Enrol at ‘Splendour in the Grass’ this weekend’, 26 July 2013, www.aec.gov.au/media/media-releases/2013/07-26.htm. 20. Victorian Government, ‘$2.4 million in FReeZA grants to get the party started’, media release 21 November 2012; Victorian Government, Engage, Involve, Create: Youth Statement, Melbourne, 2012, p.14; Victorian Government (DHS), ‘FReeZA 2013-15 Grant Guidelines’, 2013, http://bit.ly/1h1JgE1; Youth Central, ‘FReeZA’, http://bit.ly/1m72d4L. 21. VCOSS and YACVic, Building the Scaffolding, p.66-69. 22. VCOSS and YACVic, Building the Scaffolding, p.67.

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) Level 2, 180 Flinders Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Ph: (03) 9267 3799 Fax: (03) 9639 1622 www.yacvic.org.au | info@yacvic.org.au