Sharing What Works - Snapshots

Recommendation 19

SPINACH, City of Adelaide website for young people - Commonwealth The winner of the 2001 National Awards for Local Government - Youth Services Category, SPINACH, is believed to be the first stand-alone youth website produced by any local government authority in Australia. The site has proved to be an exciting and successful way to provide information to young people on facilities, services, activities and programmes in the city and to involve young people in council activities. Young people are involved in developing and promoting the SPINACH website to ensure it remains dynamic and interesting. Special features have been incorporated to ensure the site is relevant to the young, among them a web cam that allows the young people to view the conditions of the City Skate Park and a virtual gallery where people can display their artwork, poems and stories. New features are constantly being developed and added. For further information, including details on the target group and responsible agency, follow the link to Initiatives targeting Recommendation 19.

Careering Ahead, Building a Future - Commonwealth Michelle is 22 and has completed a number of TAFE courses and done some part-time work: "I've made a few bad decisions about my career and thought it was time to get some help. I really want to find out what my strengths are and what sort of career I should pursue. Career Counselling is helping me find out about myself - which occupations suit my interests, personality and skills." An unemployed brickie was very angry that he had worked for a number of years in a job that he didn't like but had to earn a living. What he wanted to do was to become a doctor. Through the programme it was found that he was well suited to helping people, The Career Counsellor suggested the Cert IV in Health (Nursing) at the local TAFE. Fourteen months later he was working in a local nursing home. He had successfully completed the course and gained a job that he was loving: "I got heaps out of my time with the Career Counsellor - opened my mind to the boundaries I had placed in my own mindset - i.e. job opportunities, resume set up. Really important to have this sort of thing - it motivates people and makes getting employment seem more obtainable and within reach. That the odds are not insurmountable" For further information, including details on the target group and responsible agency, follow the link to Initiatives targeting Recommendation 19.