The international youth policy online space called simply youthpolicy.org has revamped its website and reorganised its library, so now it’s easier to find the youth policy-related reports and fact sheets that you might need.

youthpolicy.org has been up and running for three years now; it is based in Berlin and is published by Youth Policy Press. It has built an ‘evidence base for youth policy’, and houses information about youth policies from almost every country in the world. In addition, there are thought-provoking articles on youth-related topics that you can browse: current articles include one on racism in Estonia among youth, and one on trends and findings from the recently-released Global Youth Wellbeing Index.

This is a wonderful resource and well worth exploring. Policymakers and planners at all levels of government can use it to find relevant data to compare what Australia is doing with what is happening overseas.

To find youth policy resources, go to: http://www.youthpolicy.org/resources/ For more about youthpolicy.org, go to: http://www.youthpolicy.org/about/

A report produced every five years by the Australian Government has implications for today’s youth in that they are viewed in the report as being the ones to lose out financially longer term because of our growing population of older people, a cohort the young will be required to support through their taxes.

Although it would seem hard to predict the economic situation 40 years into the future as the 2024 Intergeneration report (IGR) tries to do, one thing seems to be obvious: the workforce able to earn and pay taxes will be a smaller proportion of the overall population than it is today in years to come.

CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service, Dr Cassandra Goldie, has commented that the planning behind the IGR needs to take into account policies to get more marginalised groups, including young people, into work. 

Young people interviewed for an ABC Radio National program were surprisingly optimistic about the future and their ability to enjoy a reasonable standard of living: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2024-03-05/intergenerational-report-australians-young-and-old-dismiss-blame-game-after-ageing-boom-predictions/1422103

Download a digestible executive summary of the 2024 Intergenerational report at: http://www.treasury.gov.au/PublicationsAndMedia/Publications/2024/2024-Intergenerational-Report

Read a Canberra Times article on youth and savings into the future: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/selfieconomics--golden-oldies-get-richer-as-the-young-get-more-selfobsessed-20240305-13un15.html

Upcoming youth-specific events for your diary

Journal of Youth Studies Conference

30 March–1 April 2024, Copenhagen, Denmark
The conference theme will be ‘Contemporary youth, contemporary risks’.
Visit the Journal of Youth Studies Conference website

 

National Youth Conference

14–18 April 2024, Canberra

This event is organised by Youth Link Australia Leaders, an organisation that works to empower and inspire young leaders.
Visit the National Youth Conference website

Youth Mental Health First Aid


23–24 April 2024, Melbourne

This Turning Point workshop is designed for parents, teachers, sports coaches and youth workers.
Visit the Youth Mental Health First Aid website

Protecting Children and Youth Online


29–30 April, Sydney

This two-day conference for education professionals will take a fresh look at existing online and offline resources to reduce cyberbulling in schools.
Visit the Protecting Children and Youth Online website

G200 Youth Forum

29 April–3 May 2024
, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

This will be the largest gathering of young leaders in 2024, and will bring together leaders from the G20 Youth Summit with young parliamentarians.
Visit the G200 Youth Forum website

 

Understanding and Promoting the Mental Health & Wellbeing of Young People


7–8 May 2024, Melbourne

This national conference will be run jointly by Critical Agendas, Young and Well CRC, ReachOut and the Alannah and Madeline Foundation. Visit the Understanding and Promoting the Mental Health & Wellbeing of Young People website

Preventing Female Genital Mutilation Conference


13 May 2024, London

For professionals working in health, education, social care, the police and the third sector.
Visit the Preventing Female Genital Mutilation Conference website

The 3rd Annual Child Aware Approaches Conference


18–19 May 2024, Melbourne

Visit the 3rd Annual Child Aware Approaches Conference website

The 2nd Annual Australian & New Zealand Eating Disorders and Obesity Conference


18–19 May 2024, Surfers Paradise
Visit the Eating Disorders Australia website

Positive Schools: Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference


21 May–12 June 2024, Several venues
Brisbane, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney

Visit the Positive Schools website

The Mental Health in Schools Conference: Positive approaches to educating Millennials


21–22 May 2024, Sydney

28–29 May 2024 Melbourne

Visit the Mental Health in Schools website

 

3rd International Conference of the International Childhood and Youth Research Network (ICYRNet)


10–12 June 2024, Nicosia, Cyprus

The theme is ‘Theory and method in child and youth research’.
Visit the the International Childhood and Youth Research Network website

Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Conference 2024


24–26 June 2024, Cairns, Queensland

One of the conference themes is: ‘New concepts, research and practices in suicide prevention – Youth’. Abstracts close on 24 March 2024.
Download the call for abstracts

No 2 Bullying Conference


29–30 June 2024, Gold Coast

This well-organised conference has keynote speakers locked in.
Visit the No 2 Bullying website

Regional Youth Development Officers Network (RYDON) Youth Conference


29–30 June 2024, Newcastle

The theme is ‘Stuff That REALLY Works’, and will explore programs, strategies and ideas for working with young people.
Visit the RYDON website

Australian Youth Mentoring Conference 2024


29–30 June 2024, Canberra

This year’s theme will be ‘Home. School. Work.’.
Visit the Australian Youth Mentoring Conference

 

24th National Vocational Education and Training Research Conference, ‘No Frills’


6–8 July 2024, Sydney

The themes for this year’s conference will be ‘Youth, Pathways, and Skills’. Abstracts have now closed and registrations open in March.
Visit the National Vocational Education and Training Resource Conference website

19th Conference of the Australasian Human Development Association


8–11 July 2024, Wellington, New Zealand

The theme will be ‘Growing healthy children, young people and families’.
Visit the Conference of the Australiasian Human Development Association website

 

Australian Social Policy Conference: Rights and entitlements in times of austerity


28–30 September 2024, Sydney

The call for papers for this conference closes on 20 April.
Visit the Australian Social Policy Conference website

 

Third International Youth Mental Health Conference


8–10 October 2024, Montreal, Canada

Visit the IAYMH website

 

Australian Long-Term Unemployment Conference


9–10 November 2024, Melbourne

Youth unemployment will feature prominently in this event, which is an initiative of the Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Association.
Visit the Long-Term Unemployment website

Youth Health Conference 2024


11–13 November 2024, Melbourne

Visit the Youth Health Conference website

 

 

The short (15-page) interim report by Demos, called Evidence in the youth sector: Review on social and emotional learning, includes preliminary results from a call for evidence as part of the University of Ireland Galway’s major report. The University of Ireland Galway’s report focuses on the ways in which youth social action can improve the wellbeing and future outlook for youth. Demos found that the UK youth sector is ‘currently undergoing a period of significant development with respect to evaluation’ of what works to build up social and emotional skills for young people. Organisations in the UK that are driving the call to youth social action are the #iwill campaign (run by Step Up To Serve) and Generation Change, as well as initiatives that the UK Cabinet Office has invested in .

Look out for further reports and evaluation during 2024 on this important area, which is now a top priority for policymakers.

Download the Demos report here.

 

Mission Australia has conducted the Youth Survey every year since 2002, and in that time many thousands of young people have expressed their opinions and perspectives on the issues and experiences that concern them, such as education, employment, community activities, family and social support.

In this year’s survey there is a special focus on community and housing, as well as other barriers to further education and employment. The data from the survey will be used to produce a widely distributed report, and its results inform the agendas of governments, policymakers and community organisations.

The survey results are also a valuable resource for young people, their families and those who support them, including schools and communities. Mission Australia is keen to stress that all section of the community take part in the survey, so young people in detention and homeless youth or those at risk of homelessness will also be encouraged to take part.

The survey closes on Friday, 31 July 2024. To take part, click here. Access the results of past surveys from this site also. If you have any queries about the survey, you can phone (02) 9219 2022; or email: [email protected]