Latest news
The news items below are from the past fortnight. News from the past 3 months can be found in the Archive section. News items are also included under each of the Topics headings.
Youthbeyondblue launches ‘Surviving Year 12’ fact sheets for students and parents
With the 2015 school year kicking off for students around Australia, the Youthbeyondblue website has published ‘Surviving Year 12’ fact sheets for students and parents. These fact sheets aim to help students prepare well for the year ahead and be aware of the supports that are available in the hard times. http://bit.ly/1K1h6DH
02 Feb 2015
‘Take back dinnertime’ and support youth organisations in Fone Free Feb
Fone Free Feb is a fundraising initiative that raises money for charitable organisations while highlighting our society’s dependence on mobile devices. Everyone is invited to host a meal for friends and family during February where diners switch off their phones for the duration of the meal and make a donation to help an organisation realise a specific dream. http://www.fonefreefeb.com
02 Feb 2015
Research identifies the barriers that stop young people from achieving their goals
A new national study from ReachOut.com, Australia’s leading online mental health service for young people, shows that the majority of Aussie teenagers (81%) set short-term or long-term goals, yet more than half of them (58%) may give up before they’ve managed to achieve them. http://bit.ly/1BQDNqu
02 Feb 2015
Indigenous youth 24 times as likely to be locked up, research shows
The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services released today showed indigenous young people aged 10 to 17 were almost 24 times as likely as non-indigenous young people to be locked up in youth detention centres in 2012-13. bit.ly/1CFMNzW
30 Jan 2015
Appointment of Acting ACYS Director
Dr. Chris Rayner, Lecturer in Inclusive Education, at the University of Tasmania has been appointed as the Acting Director for the Australian Clearinghouse of Youth Studies (ACYS) following the news that Dr. Jeremy Prichard was stepping down from the role. bit.ly/1CiCDGT
30 Jan 2015
THE U-turn program for at-risk youth will not be funded beyond the end of June
Despite the Federal Government promising funding for four years a statement issued yesterday by Justice Minister Vanessa Goodwin said U-turn would be funded only for the rest of 2014-15. bit.ly/1LoKnK5
30 Jan 2015
Budget must chart a fairer path back to surplus: ACOSS
The Australian Council of Social Service today urged the Federal Government to focus on restoring revenue by addressing inefficient tax arrangements, rather than through spending cuts, and chart a fairer path back to surplus in its second Budget. In its Budget submission released today, the peak community sector body has identified more than $13 billion of potential savings in the next financial year, rising to over $18 billion in 2016-17, through measures which it says restore the integrity of Australia's progressive tax system. bit.ly/1ByZYkS
29 Jan 2015
Can’t throw, can’t catch: Australian kids are losing that sporting edge
Australians like to think themselves as sporting and fit – a concept reinforced by the success of the country’s elite athletes. But evidence is emerging that Australian kids are falling behind their international peers and are performing worse in skills such as kicking, throwing, catching and jumping than they were 30 years ago. bit.ly/1yOOpGr
29 Jan 2015
The likely cause of addiction is not what you think
The experiment... the rat is put in the cage all alone. It has nothing to do but take the drugs offered. But professor of Psychology Bruce Alexander wondered 'what would happen if we tried this differently?' ..... bit.ly/1Br25EH
29 Jan 2015
State, federal subsidy cuts spur drop in new apprentices
VICTORIA has flagged an emerging crisis over the falling number of people entering apprenticeships and traineeships. New figures reveal a collapse in the number of starts in the wake of cuts to state and federal training subsidies since 2012. Since, costs have further shifted on to employers as award wages for apprentices have risen and government programs to help cover the costs of tools and travel have also been cut. bit.ly/1wC1bTc29 Jan 2015
AIHW Summary of Child Protection Reporting
This paper, published by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW] presents and discusses a snapshot of data describing child protection activity in Australia. The data presented is a summary of the data provided in the Child Protections Australia 2012-2013 Report. For the first time, 2012-13 data is able to include unique child counts across the three areas of notification, investigation and substantiation; care and protection orders; and out-of-home care. The collection of unit record-level data substantially improves the quality of information available on child protection, and will benefit national reporting and research. It provides a more comprehensive and accurate picture of children within the Australian statutory child protection system than has been previously available bit.ly/1EnOhB9
29 Jan 2015
Link between student debt and depression
A study at the University of South Carolina in the US has found that, perhaps unsurprisingly, high levels of student debt are a major cause of stress for young adults.
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-01-student-loans-emotional-toll-young.html28 Jan 2015
Help for young people in distress
Child Family Community Australia has released an updated list of helplines and telephone counselling services for children, young people and parents.
https://www3.aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/helplines-and-telephone-counselling-services-children-y28 Jan 2015
Deaf advocate Drisana Levitzke-Gray named Young Australian of the Year
Being born deaf has never stopped Drisana Levitzke-Gray from being heard. The 21-year-old, from Perth, has pushed for the rights of deaf children around the world to learn Auslan, the sign language used by the Australian deaf community. On Sunday, she received a national honour for her efforts in promoting diversity and acceptance of deaf people by being named Young Australian of the Year for 2015. She joins three other women in a sweep of the Australian of the Year awards. bit.ly/15Ee4pj
27 Jan 2015
FYA wants youth ideas
THE Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) has launched a massive national campaign aimed at engaging young people across the country to reveal their best ideas for building a better Australia. FYA CEO Jan Owen said Innovation Nation - 1000 ideas for a Better Australia was a national ideas challenge for young people, starting the first youth-led conversation about innovation. FYA in collaboration with a number of not-for-profit, corporate and philanthropic partners, wants to uncover young people's innovative ideas for tackling major challenges across the nation. Those with the best ideas will have the opportunity to secure $10,000 in seed funding to turn their dream into a reality. innovationnation.fya.org.au/
27 Jan 2015
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child and Family Portal
The Knwoledge Circle, a resource that provides support to a range of professionals working across a variety of interrelated sectors. Providing information for service providers, researchers and policy-makers, who are encouraged to explore this site and to share their stories about "what works" to keep their children safe and happy. bit.ly/1L4FXba
23 Jan 2015
Uni summer program targeting disadvantaged youth
A two week university program at UTS is targeting young people from low socio-economic backgrounds with the hopes of getting more young people into university education. bit.ly/15DajBF
23 Jan 2015
Out of home care strategies 2015-2020 Community Services
Out of home care services in the ACT and around Australia are currently facing many challenges including how to respond to rising demand for out of home care places and difficulties in attracting and retaining foster carers. In addition, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are significantly over represented among care populations and life outcomes for many care leavers continue to be poor. bit.ly/15cAnCq
23 Jan 2015
National Training Complaints Hotline
Protecting students and making it easier to report complaints:
Students, apprentices and employers now have access to the National Training Complaints Hotline. A joint Commonwealth, state and territory government initiative which helps apprentices and students to lodge complaints and serves employers concerned about any aspect of the training system and directs the complaints to relevant authorities. bit.ly/1yPQ50Z
23 Jan 2015
Meet our Future Chasers
Australia Day provides an opportunity to let people of all nations learn more about the positive contribution young Australians, and an Australian education, makes to the global community. Culminating on 26 January 2015, Australia Day, the Future Chasers: Australian Experiences, Global Impact campaign profiles 19 young decision-makers helping to define the next generation’s success and influence. The campaign will tell the stories of 15 young Australians and four international alumni. bit.ly/15cAnCq
22 Jan 2015
Let unis raise fees, Xenophon tells Pyne in call for full review
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon yesterday wrote to Education Minister Christopher Pyne, proposing the government commit to a full review of higher education, with universities allowed to increase fees up to a capped level as an interim measure. bit.ly/1xBdu3r
22 Jan 2015
Welcome to the digital [r]evolution.
Join a team of young Australians designing apps that make a difference. Adappt, co-created by Samsung and the Foundation for Young Australians, want to grow a movement of young Australians designing apps that make a difference. Because we believe that our mobile devices are about more than making human life comfier. We believe that they can make human life better. www.adappt.com.au/
22 Jan 2015
First batch of students graduate from the National Indigenous Culinary Institute
A ceremony for the first seven graduates is being held on Monday at Fratelli Fresh in Bridge Street in the city. It will be attended by several high-profile industry figures and federal politicians. Two students will be awarded merit certificates at Monday's ceremony and be given opportunity to fly to London in April to work in the Michelin-starred kitchens of The Ledbury (helmed by Australia's Brett Graham) and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.
All seven graduates have been offered full-time positions in the kitchens they're currently stationed in. bit.ly/1E3RXYp
22 Jan 2015
Sydney community meets to discuss ways forward with radicalisation of youth
A forum organised by young Iraqi people and attended by more than 150 community members has sought to find ways to counter the ways in which extremist groups are using propaganda to draw in young people. http://ab.co/1Eoaz2G
21 Jan 2015
Australian judges want changes to sexting laws to help protect young people
Judges in South Australia have said that the laws around sexting are unclear and need to be updated so that young people in consensual relationships do not end up on the child sex offenders list. http://yhoo.it/15sMRWT
21 Jan 2015
Tackling obesity: Aussies want change
New research has revealed that 79% of Australians polled believe if we don’t do more to lower the intake of fatty sugary and salty foods/drinks, our children will live shorter lives than their parents. 85% of people polled said unhealthy eating habits are now a major problem for Australian children. bit.ly/1yG0i1q
20 Jan 2015
Young people with asthma at higher risk of preventable mental illness
The Young and Well national survey of 533 young people with asthma aged 12 to 25 years found more than half the participants were likely to have a mental health issue, compared to one in four in the general population. Results indicate that the majority of young people rely on symptom relief as opposed to engaging in preventative measures, and uncontrolled asthma reduced participation in school and social events bit.ly/1ujvrlT
20 Jan 2015
Young Asians at greater skin cancer risk in Australia
New research from the University of Adelaide shows that young Asian Australians could be placing themselves at greater risk of developing skin cancer by engaging in ‘dangerous’ sun behaviour. http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news75742.html
19 Jan 2015
Happy birthday, triple j!
Today marks forty years since the first broadcast of 2 Double J, the radio station that became triple j, the ABC’s youth radio network. Over its lifetime, triple j has been and remains an important conduit for Australian youth culture, particularly when it extended its broadcasts into regional areas.
The ABC is marking the day across all its platforms with special broadcasts, including a documentary to be screened on ABC TV this evening.
This ABC News online piece looks at the ways in which triple j has influenced Australian music, arts and youth culture in the last four decades: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-19/40-ways-triple-j-changed-the-australian-landscape/6021220
19 Jan 2015
Youthbeyondblue launches ‘Surviving Year 12’ fact sheets for students and parents
With the 2015 school year kicking off for students around Australia, the Youthbeyondblue website has published ‘Surviving Year 12’ fact sheets for students and parents. These fact sheets aim to help students prepare well for the year ahead and be aware of the supports that are available in the hard times. http://bit.ly/1K1h6DH
02 Feb 2015
‘Take back dinnertime’ and support youth organisations in Fone Free Feb
Fone Free Feb is a fundraising initiative that raises money for charitable organisations while highlighting our society’s dependence on mobile devices. Everyone is invited to host a meal for friends and family during February where diners switch off their phones for the duration of the meal and make a donation to help an organisation realise a specific dream. http://www.fonefreefeb.com
02 Feb 2015
Research identifies the barriers that stop young people from achieving their goals
A new national study from ReachOut.com, Australia’s leading online mental health service for young people, shows that the majority of Aussie teenagers (81%) set short-term or long-term goals, yet more than half of them (58%) may give up before they’ve managed to achieve them. http://bit.ly/1BQDNqu
02 Feb 2015
Indigenous youth 24 times as likely to be locked up, research shows
The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services released today showed indigenous young people aged 10 to 17 were almost 24 times as likely as non-indigenous young people to be locked up in youth detention centres in 2012-13. bit.ly/1CFMNzW
30 Jan 2015
Appointment of Acting ACYS Director
Dr. Chris Rayner, Lecturer in Inclusive Education, at the University of Tasmania has been appointed as the Acting Director for the Australian Clearinghouse of Youth Studies (ACYS) following the news that Dr. Jeremy Prichard was stepping down from the role. bit.ly/1CiCDGT
30 Jan 2015