|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Initiatives targeting Recommendation 17CommonwealthNational School Drug Education Strategy and COAG Agreed Measures for Drugs in Schools The National School Drug Education strategy aligns with the National Drug Action Plans developed under the National Drug Strategic Framework 1998-99 to 2002-03. The Strategy strengthens the provision of educational programmes and supportive environments that contribute to the goal of 'no illicit drugs in schools'. This goal is based on the belief that illicit and other unsanctioned drug use in schools is unacceptable. The focus is on educational outcomes. Assisting students with drug related problems and deterring the presence and use of unsanctioned drugs in schools is also addressed under the Strategy. Key measures under the Strategy include contracted funding to each State and Territory to enhance school drug education activities, such as:
COAG resolved in 1999 that illicit drugs have no place in our schools and that the response to drug use in schools would be strengthened. The National Framework for Protocols for Managing the Possession, Use and/or Distribution of Illicit and Other Unsanctioned Drugs in Schools (National Framework) has been developed to provide a consistent approach to dealing with drug issues in schools, developed in cooperation with the government, Catholic and independent school sectors, and agreed to and endorsed by all Australian governments. Key measures currently being progressed under this initiative include Local School-Community Drug Summits (the summits) and the School Drug Education Information (SDEI) project. The summits aim to bring school staff, parents and key community members together to encourage stronger, broader and more integrated community engagement and support in addressing illicit and unsanctioned drug use by young people. The Summits are also the key initiative for the implementation of the National Framework and strengthening prevention and early intervention activities in schools. The SDEI is developing a suite of multi-media resources that support effective drug education and management in Australian schools. The resources focus on multimedia teaching and learning activities to support classroom-based drug education activities; professional development for teachers implementing effective drug education within and beyond the classroom; and an overarching framework for strengthening a whole school approach for effective drug education strategies and management. Target group: Students, teachers, parents and school community members Coverage: Government, Catholic and independent schools. Timeframe: Over four years to June 2003 Contact details: Initiative Website address: www.dest.gov.au/schools/publications/subject.htm Responsible agency: Department of Education, Science and Training National Literacy and Numeracy Plan (NLNP) and the National Goals for Schooling The development of appropriate literacy and numeracy standards is a national issue and Governments have acted to achieve real and measurable improvements in both literacy and numeracy skills for all Australian children, which will better prepare them for the future. In April 1999, State, Territory and Commonwealth Ministers of Education met as the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) in Adelaide. At that meeting, Ministers endorsed a set of National Goals for Schooling in the Twenty-First Century. The goals are known as The Adelaide Declaration on National Goals for Schooling in the Twenty-First Century. As part of the National Goals for Schooling in the Twenty-First Century, Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers for Education have agreed on a National Literacy and Numeracy Goal that: 'students should have attained the skills of numeracy and English literacy, such that every student should be numerate, able to read, write, spell and communicate at an appropriate level'. This national goal represents community expectations for all schools in literacy and numeracy. To help support the achievement of the National Goal, all Education Ministers have endorsed a National Literacy and Numeracy Plan, which calls for a coordinated approach at the national level to improving literacy and numeracy standards and consists of the following key inter-related elements:
All government and non-government education authorities receiving Commonwealth funding must make a commitment to achieving the legislated performance measures and targets which are set out in the States Grants (Primary and Secondary Education Assistance) Act 2000. These performance measures and targets include the reporting of nationally comparable literacy and numeracy benchmarking data for years 3, 5 and 7. Target Group: All school age children with a focus on early years. Geographical Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: http://www.dest.gov.au/schools/Literacy&Numeracy/index.htm A New Apprenticeship is an apprenticeship or traineeship which offers new training flexibilities, new support service arrangements and opportunities in more industries than before. New Apprenticeships can cover full or part-time work. The part-time arrangements are also available to school students. New Apprenticeships involve a combination of paid work and structured training and must be underpinned by a training agreement which is registered with the relevant State/Territory Training Authority. New Apprenticeships Centres are a support service established by the Commonwealth Government. They provide information on New Apprenticeships to employers, New Apprentices and other interested parties. They also administer the Commonwealth incentives payments. These incentives are aimed at increasing New Apprenticeships opportunities by supporting employers in the public, private and community sectors to offer ongoing employment and structured training opportunities to New Apprentices. Target Group: Many New Apprentices are young people, some starting at school, however, adults can be trained under the New Apprenticeships programme. Geographical Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Initiative Website address: http://www.newapprenticeships.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Department of Education, Science and Training Implementation of the
Framework for VET in Schools The Commonwealth is working with all Education Ministers through the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) to implement a new Framework for vocational education in schools. The Framework promotes a broad view of Vocational Education in order to prepare students for work. This is integrated into the school curriculum at all levels, not just the post-compulsory years. The Framework encompasses career information and guidance, as well as both general and dual-accredited VET courses, including school-based New Apprenticeships. Target group: School students Coverage: National Timeframe: 2001 - 2004 Responsible Agency: State, Territory and Commonwealth education and training authorities VET in Schools programmes One element of the Framework for VET in Schools is the continuing work to expand Vocational Education and Training (VET) in the post-compulsory years including part-time, school-based New Apprenticeships. VET in Schools programmes provide credit towards the senior secondary certificate and a national industry-recognised vocational qualification. Vocational Education programmes may involve on-the-job training with local businesses, giving students valuable exposure to the workplace and development of work-related skills. Target group: School students (senior secondary) Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Responsible Agency: Commonwealth, State and Territory education and training authorities, non-government education authorities and the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) The purpose of the Career Counselling Programme is to help people establish or redefine their employment, education and training goals and develop career management, research and decision making skills, against a background of self knowledge and a realistic understanding of the world of work. Job seekers who are having trouble deciding what they want in a career and needing direction--whether it is deciding on a course of study, upgrading their existing skills or just finding the right job--can receive assistance through Career Counselling. Career counselling involves attending a group counselling session and/or an individual counselling session with professional counsellors, informed about labour market opportunities, taking a pro-active approach in assisting unemployed people through a range of activities which can include:
Target Group:
Geographical Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Initiative Website address: http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/services/career_counselling.htm Responsible Agency: Department of Education, Science and Training Language, Literacy and Numeracy Programme (LLNP) The objective of the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Programme is to improve job seekers' English language, literacy and numeracy skills to assist them in securing sustainable employment or to participate in further education and training. Gains in language, literacy and numeracy skills also improve the quality of participants' daily lives. The LLNP provides basic English language, literacy and numeracy training and advanced English language training. Face to face training is available from over 330 locations around Australia. For those job seekers with carer responsibilities or who are unable to access a face to face provider, training can be undertaken anywhere in Australia by distance education. For job seekers subject to Mutual Obligation arrangements, participation in the LLNP satisfies Mutual Obligation requirements. Training can be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis, between 6 and 20 hours a week. Job seekers are allocated up to 400 hours of training, some of which can be undertaken on a one-to-one basis or in groups of two or three people. Target Group: Job seekers aged 15 to 64 years who are in one of the eligible categories below and whose language, literacy and numeracy skills are below the level considered necessary to gain a job. Job seekers aged 15 to 20 can access this assistance if they are registered with Centrelink as looking for work - there is no need to be in receipt of a payment from Centrelink. Job seekers over 21 need to be in receipt of Youth Allowance, Newstart Allowance, Disability Support Pension or Parenting Payment or participating in a Community Development Employment Project to access the assistance. Migrants who are subject to the two year waiting period or holders of one of the temporary or provisional visa subclasses: 309, 310, 445, 450, 820, 826, 850, 437, 781, 783 and 784 can access basic English language training. In addition, job seekers whose first language is not English and who are citizens or permanent residents or holders of any of the above visa subclasses can access advanced English language training, irrespective of whether they are on income support. Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: https://llnp.dest.gov.au Mentoring of Year 8, 9 and 10 Indigenous students Formation of one-on-one relationships between a mentor and student with the view to fostering a caring and supportive relationship; encouraging students to achieve their fullest potential; and helping students develop their own individual vision for the future. Target Group: Indigenous students in Years 8, 9 and 10 Coverage: National. Timeframe: January 2000 to June 2003 Contact: Branch Manager Responsible Agency: Department of Education, Science and Training National Indigenous English Literacy and Numeracy Programme (NIELNS) The objective of the National Indigenous English Literacy and Numeracy Strategy is to achieve English literacy and numeracy for Indigenous students at levels comparable to those achieved by other young Australians. The strategy acknowledges that extra effort is required by education providers for Indigenous students to be successful and aims to address six key elements:
Under the NIELNS, DEST funds a range of projects that provide personalised support, community learning environments, and vocational learning experiences to young Indigenous people who are at risk of disconnection or who have become disconnected. Some initiatives focus specifically on the issue of literacy and/or numeracy whilst others seek to improve educational outcomes via other means such as increasing attendance rates, involving parents and the community, addressing health issues and mentoring. Target Group: Indigenous Young People Coverage: National Timeframe: 2000 to 2004 Contact: Branch Manager Website: www.dest.gov.au/schools/indigenous/nielns.htm ECEF - WADU Indigenous Youth Partnerships Initiatives The Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) has provided funding to the Enterprise and Career Education Foundation (ECEF) to manage and deliver the Wadu Indigenous Youth Partnership Initiative (IYIP) from June 2000 to the end of 2002. IYPI builds onto ECEF's existing Wadu strategy. Wadu IYPI is addressing young Indigenous people's relative disadvantage in education, training and employment. This involves a 'whole of community' approach to supporting Indigenous youth to remain at or return to school, and provides a reliable pathway from schooling to training and employment and onto independence. IYPI complements and forms part of the broader Federal Government's National Indigenous English Literacy and Numeracy Strategy. To May 2002, twenty IYPI projects had been run nation-wide with the two most recent additions being in the Cape York and Newcastle regions under a model of collaboration between ECEF, DEST, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), Family and Community Services (FaCS) and the Department of Health and Ageing. Target Group: Indigenous Young People Coverage: National Timeframe: June 2000 - December 2002 Contact: Branch Manager Website: http://www.ecef.com.au/web/km/kmgateway.nsf/ECEF/WADU_Resource4ZLA3B Responsible Agency: Department of Education, Science and Training through the Enterprise and Career Education Foundation Australians Working Together - Indigenous Education and Training Under Australians Working Together, DEST will consult with ECEF regarding the development of projects to encourage increased vocational learning opportunities for Indigenous secondary school students. Target Group: Indigenous Young People Coverage: National Timeframe: Contact: Branch Manager Responsible Agency: Department of Education, Science and Training Australians Working Together - Working Together for Indigenous Youth Under the Commonwealth Government's Australians Working Together package funding has been allocated to the Working Together for Indigenous Youth initiative to provide specific support for Indigenous students to stay on to complete year 12 or move into further education, training or paid employment. Working Together for Indigenous Youth provides a national framework for the promotion and ongoing operations of local partnerships between key stakeholders in Indigenous education. The overarching goals and guiding principles for this initiative are encompassed in the following five key elements:
Target Group: Indigenous people Coverage: National Timeframe: 2002 to 2004 Contact: Branch Manager Website: http://www.together.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Department of Education, Science and Training Indigenous Ambassadors Programme Under the National Indigenous English Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, the Indigenous Ambassadors Programme promotes the importance of education, literacy and numeracy to Indigenous students, their parents and teachers. Ambassadors are involved in a range of targeted activities, across all sectors of education and community groups, to impart knowledge and understanding of the issues facing Indigenous students and the barriers to their education. Target Group: Indigenous Young People Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact: Branch Manager Website: www.dest.gov.au/schools/indigenous/ambassadors.htm Responsible Agency: Department of Education, Science and Training Career and Transition (CATS) Pilots During the 2002 school year, twenty three Career and Transition Pilot (CATS) projects across Australia are exploring methodologies for and testing ways to enhance career and transition support to young people aged 13-19 years. The pilot projects will offer improved career and transition information, support, guidance and advice and will include the development of individual learning pathways plans focusing on young peoples transitions through school and from school to further education, training and work, prepared with the support of dedicated Transition Advisors. Local partnerships between schools, the community, government and industry as well as links with families are an integral part of these projects. The CAT projects have been developed as part of the Government's response to the Youth Pathways Action Plan Taskforce's Report Footprints to the Future, in particular to recommendations 4,5 and 6. The Career and Transition (CAT) Pilots contain four major components:
Target Group: Young people aged 13-19 Geographical Coverage: 23 projects will operate across a variety if setting in metropolitan, regional and remote areas of Australia. Timeframe: 12 months from April 2002 Contact details: Responsible Agency: Department of Education, Science and Training Stronger Families and Communities Strategy The Stronger Families and Communities Strategy is a program intended to strengthen local communities and families through a range of linked initiatives. Youth are targeted under the Strategy, particularly through the following measures:
53 projects directly benefit young people. These projects have been funded under the Potential Leaders initiative (19 projects), the Local Solutions initiative (16 projects) and Early Intervention Parenting and Family Relationship Support (11 projects). The 53 projects also include 6 projects of national significance. Target Group: Families and communities generally; youth are targeted as described above. Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au/sfcs/index.htm Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services Youth Allowance is a payment for young Australians who are studying, undertaking training, looking for work, or who are temporarily incapacitated. Youth Allowance allows young people to move between job seeking, undertaking full or part-time training, or combining part-time study with job search-without having to change to a different payment. Young people who claim the Independent rate of Youth Allowance on the basis that it is unreasonable to live at home, are assessed by Centrelink Social Workers. Where necessary, the Social Workers provide ongoing assistance and referrals to other support programs such as Reconnect and JPET as well as assistance in formulating appropriate Preparing for Work Agreements. Target Group: Full and part-time students and job seekers aged 15-24 Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au/yae/index.html Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services 'Reconnect' (formerly Youth Homelessness Early Intervention Program) Reconnect provides early intervention support to young people aged 12 to 18 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and their families. The objectives of Reconnect is to improve the level of engagement of homeless young people, or those at risk of homelessness, with family, work, education, training and the community. As at March 2002, 93 Reconnect services are operating nationally and a further 7 are being established through community development processes. This will bring the total number of Reconnect services to 100. Six Reconnect services specifically focus on Indigenous young people, their families and communities. The Department is working with an additional seven Indigenous communities in remote, rural and metropolitan areas to establish specific services to address the needs of local young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families Target Group: Young people aged 12 to 18 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and their families Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services Youth Activities Services Program The Youth Activities Services Program consists of Youth Activities Services (YAS) and YAS Family Liaison Workers (FLW.) The YAS provide activities, generally after school, to adolescents living in disadvantaged areas. The YAS program supports young people and their families through offering positive peer support and creative and challenging alternatives to activities that place young people at risk. The program helps to prevent young people from developing and continuing with patterns of behaviour that place them at risk of disconnecting from their families and community and which may have long term effects on their family relationships, schooling and labour force participation. The FLW program supports young people and their families by helping them deal with issues affecting their well being as a family through offering positive practical support and guidance. The FLW fills an identified service gap between YAS and other intensive support and counselling services currently available. Target Group: Young people aged 11-16 years living in disadvantaged areas, who still live at home and attend school. 19 YAS/FLW services identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people as their target group. Coverage: There are 90 YAS and 83 FLWs across Australia Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/aboutfacs/programs/youth-yas_flw_good_practice.htm Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services Supported Accommodation
Assistance Program (SAAP) SAAP is a joint Commonwealth and State/Territory program. 477 of its 1,238 services across Australia are tailored to supporting young people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, providing transitional accommodation and/or related support services, aiming to achieve the maximum possible degree of self-reliance and independence. In 2000-01, approximately 37% of SAAP clients were aged 25 years and under. The most common reason given by young people (under 25) for seeking assistance was relationship/family breakdown. Children also enter SAAP services accompanying an adult. Target Group: People who are homeless or at risk of being homeless Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/aboutfacs/programs/house-saap_nav.htm Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services National Homelessness Strategy - Demonstration Projects The National Homelessness Strategy provides approximately three million dollars over three years for demonstration projects that will prevent, reduce and respond to homelessness. The following projects specific to young people have been developed:
Target Group: Families in housing distress, homeless people, young people, young people who have been in care; and people exiting institutional care. Coverage: Findings from projects will be disseminated nationally. Timeframe: Three years to 2004 Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/aboutfacs/programs/house-nat_homeless_strat.htm Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) In recognition of the difficulties young people leaving care face when establishing independent living, the Commonwealth announced the Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) in the 2001-02 Budget. TILA will be a one-off payment designed to assist young people leaving care with costs associated with the transition to independent living. TILA will not be subject to repayment. It is anticipated that States and Territories will administer TILA on the Commonwealth's behalf as part of a transition plan that will include access to a mentor. The Community Services Ministers' Advisory Council (CSMAC) Youth Working Group (YWG) was established to guide the future development of this initiative. The Commonwealth and the States and Territories are currently discussing administration and service delivery arrangements. Target Group: Young people leaving state care Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing from March 2003 Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services Redevelopment of the Youth Protocol The Protocol for the Case Management of Unsupported Young People (the Youth Protocol) has been in place since 1994. Since its inception, the Youth Protocol has helped to clarify the responsibilities of Commonwealth and State/Welfare agencies in relation to homeless young people. FaCS initiated the Youth Protocol re-examination process following agreement about the need to review the Youth Protocol at a meeting between Commonwealth and State/Territory Welfare departments on adolescents in state care, held in May 2000. 1363 protocol referrals were made during the period of January 2000 to December 2000.
Target Group: Unsupported young people under the age of 18 who are:
Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services The Mentor Marketplace The goal of Mentor Marketplace is to assist young people realise their full potential by:
The Mentor Marketplace will complement existing programs being run primarily by the community sector (often in cooperation with business and only sometimes with government funding) and will consist of two elements:
On a service delivery level, the Commonwealth will work with key non-government organisations to implement this initiative. As part of this process, a consultative seminar was held in August 2001 with a number of non government agencies involved in mentoring, such as Dusseldorp, The Smith Family, BigHart, The Salvation Army, Bank of Ideas, to name only a few. It resulted in a range of ideas on what works well in mentoring and suggestions on the role the Government could most usefully play in delivering the Mentor Marketplace program. Similar meetings with business are planned to be held over the coming months to forge closer cooperation with business in relation to youth issues and stimulate interest within business around mentoring in general and the Mentor Marketplace initiative in particular. Target Group: Young people (The Mentor Marketplace aims to involve young people who need assistance to stay connected to family, education, training and the workplace.) Coverage: National Timeframe: 2002/03 Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services Adolescent Mediation and Family Therapy (AMFT) Programme AMFT works with adolescents and their families or caregivers who are experiencing various levels of conflict and complex family difficulties that may lead to family breakdown and possibly youth homelessness. AMFT services are funded through the Family Relationships Services Program in Sydney; Wollongong; Wodonga, Vic; Melbourne; Gold Coast, Qld, Cairns, Qld; Brisbane, Qld; Adelaide, SA; Perth, WA, Hobart, Tas; Darwin, NT and ACT. Target Group: Young people aged 11-25 years Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/family/frsp-main_types_frsp_services.htm Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services Collaborative Youth Services Trials The Collaborative Youth Services Trials focus on service delivery to disconnected young people or those at risk of becoming disconnected. The purpose is to test the processes by which local needs are identified and collaborative approaches to the provision of existing, or new, services can be developed to meet those needs effectively. Target Group: The target group is generally 12-25 years who are disconnected young people or those at risk of becoming disconnected. Individuals supported through these trials will be drawn from the following groups:
Coverage: The localities involved are:
Timeframe: 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services Innovative and Collaborative Youth Servicing Pilots (ICYS) The ICYS Pilot Projects will promote more effective collaboration among service providers at the local community level and encourage greater ownership and accountability by communities for initiatives designed to assist young people. Projects will be required to test avenues of cooperation between and across Commonwealth/State/local government policies and programmes and community initiatives in order to deliver more effective services and improved outcomes for young people. Target Group: Young people aged 12-25 are the target group for the pilots, although variation to the age range will be considered in response to local conditions. Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au Coverage: Around 25 pilots in a variety of urban, rural and remote locations will be funded across Australia. Timeframe: Pilots are planned to commence in May/June 2002 Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services Job Placement, Employment and Training Programme (JPET) JPET provides a holistic approach to assisting young people overcome problems preventing them from maintaining stable accommodation and entering into full-time education, training or employment. JPET offers ongoing support and referral services to young people to help them overcome a range of problems, including housing, substance abuse, family difficulties, sexual or other abuse, lack of self esteem, income support, and other barriers to employment, education or training. The most common strategies implemented across all target groups were personal support, job search assistance and training assistance. Income advocacy and financial assistance were also common strategies; Target Group: JPET assists students and unemployed young people between 15-21 years who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless (with priority to be given to those aged 15-19 and to homeless young people). Assistance is also provided to young people who are/or have been wards of the State, are refugees or have been in the juvenile justice system. Coverage: 136 agencies are contracted to deliver services throughout Australia Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: http://jpet.facs.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services Specialised Domestic Violence Services From 2001 eight Specialised Domestic Violence Services are being funded within the Family Relationships Services Programme, based on a pilot (introduced in 1995-96) of preventive approaches for relationships at risk of becoming violent, and intervention and referral models where violence is already occurring. Evaluation of the pilot projects indicated that many clients want to stay in their relationship but want the violence to stop. One service is being established in each capital city and will provide integrated, whole-of-family interventions to families (men, women and children) affected by domestic violence. The services will offer support to victims of domestic violence, assist perpetrators to take responsibility for their violent behaviours, and support children who have been abused or have witnessed domestic violence. Target Group: Families affected by domestic violence (men, women, adolescents and children) Coverage: Capital cities Timeframe: 2001 - Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/family/frsp-main_types_frsp_services.htm Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services Personal Support Programme The Personal Support Programme will provide funding to assist people who have multiple barriers to employment. The new programme will replace and expand the Community Support Programme (CSP) that is administered through the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The Personal Support Programme will provide assistance to the most vulnerable job seekers, including people with barriers such as homelessness, drug and alcohol problems, psychological disorders and domestic violence problems. Centrelink will refer people with significant non-vocational employment barriers to service providers funded under the programme. Service providers will provide them with assistance or link them to other government or community organisations that provide the sorts of help they need. By 2004-2005 the new programme will be assisting 45,000 people. The new programme will help people to stabilise their circumstances and enable them to achieve outcomes that match their abilities and capacity. These will include social as well as economic outcomes. Participants will have up to two years of support and assistance in the Personal Support Programme. For many participants, an appropriate outcome will be to transfer to Intensive Assistance to get help to find work. Others will undertake study or training or volunteer activities. For others with more severe barriers, the Personal Support Programme will help them to address their personal barriers (e.g., find stable accommodation, attend drug or alcohol or other counselling services) and increase their involvement in the community. Target Group: People with non-vocational barriers to employment such as homelessness, drug and alcohol problems, psychological disorders and domestic violence problems. Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.together.gov.au/PSP/Default.asp Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services, Centrelink Australians Working Together Australians Working Together - Helping people to move forward is a major package of initiatives offering significant support and services to help people to help themselves. Young job seekers will benefit from many Australians Working Together (AWT) initiatives announced in the 2001-02 Budget. Young people will also benefit from the improvements to employment services under AWT. AWT builds on the Government's employment assistance and mutual obligation policies that have attracted widespread support amongst participants and the broader community. The new system is providing improved personalised assessment and service, more opportunities for training and work experience, better incentives, and reasonable requirements for people to find work, increase their earnings or contribute to their communities. Centrelink will be the gateway to the new system. Centrelink Personal Advisers will provide a high level of service to people needing additional help to overcome personal or other barriers. Under AWT young people will have access to more places in Literacy and Numeracy Training, Job Search Training, and Work for the Dole and can earn Training Credits by participating in Work for the Dole and Community Work. Vulnerable and at risk young people will benefit from the better assessment processes in Intensive Assistance and the linkages between Intensive Assistance and other programmes. Young people will also benefit from other initiatives such as the Working Credit (which encourages people on income support to take up full-time, substantial part-time or casual work) and the new Personal Support Programme (designed to help people with problems such as homelessness, and drug and alcohol addiction) that replaces the Community Support Programme. Coverage: National Timeframe: July 2001 - June 2005 Contact details: together@dewrsb.gov.au Initiative Website address: http://www.together.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Shared policy responsibility between Family and Community Services, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, and Department of Education, Science and Training Parent Liaison Service The Parent Liaison Service is a service provided by Centrelink that allows parents to speak to a Centrelink Social Worker about any concerns or issues they may have about their son or daughter leaving home and claiming the independent rate (unreasonable to live at home) of Youth Allowance. Where appropriate, parents of young people who claim that it is unreasonable for them to live at home, are sent a brochure advising them of the Parent Liaison Service. The service is provided by Centrelink's Call Centre Social Workers through a 13 number. Target Group: Parents Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.centrelink.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services, Centrelink A Youth Servicing Strategy for Centrelink The Youth Servicing Strategy for Centrelink has been developed in partnership with the Department of Education, Science and Training; Department of Family and Community Services, Department of Workplace Relations and Centrelink as part of the Government's response to the Footprints to the Future report. The Strategy will respond to: the need for holistic outcomes for young people; breaching; increased participation in education and training; welfare dependency through early intervention strategies; adequate support for youth at risk; and fostering collaborative partnerships within the youth service sector. system. Elements of the Strategy are already being progressed but it is expected that the national implementation of the Strategy will be rolled out to the network from 1 July 2002. Target Group: Youth Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: National Manager Website: www.centrelink.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Centrelink Centrelink National Student Services Partnership Group The Centrelink National Student Services Partnership Group seeks to facilitate key stakeholders from the education and community sectors, as well as the student population, to work together in partnership to improve service delivery for students. Its role is to provide advice to, and work together with, Centrelink on all aspects of service to student customers, including:
Target Group: Service providers, youth and educational institutions Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing (bi-annual meetings) Contact details: Website: www.centrelink.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Centrelink Centrelink National Partnership Group for Young Job Seekers and At Risk Young People With similar terms of reference as the Partnership Group on Student Services this group comprises key national and state service providers/stakeholders who have a keen interest in young job seekers and young people at risk, e.g. Mission Australia, Youth Action and Policy Association, St. Vincent de Paul, a JPET and Reconnect provider, as well as state government representatives. Target Group: Service providers, researchers and youth Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing (bi-annual meetings) Contact details: Website: www.centrelink.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Centrelink Centrelink Flexible Preparing for Work Agreements for at risk young people under 18 years Centrelink has established procedures for developing Preparing For Work Agreements for youth under 18 at risk of disconnecting from mainstream society. Guidelines have been developed which will ensure that PFWAs for young people develop appropriate activities to maintain income support, accommodate their personal circumstances and minimise their chances of being breached eg finding suitable accommodation, drug and alcohol education. This was implemented in November 2000. Target Group: Homeless/At risk Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.centrelink.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Centrelink Breaching rules change to protect the vulnerable A number of significant changes to the Government's breaching rules to help vulnerable job seekers; The Government has been working on a range of measures over the last year to ensure that breaches are not imposed without good reason. The announcement will mean that from 1 July 2002:
Target Group: At risk young people Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.centrelink.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services and Centrelink Centrelink Second Breach Intervention pilots This strategy, currently in place as a pilot from August 2001, occurs after the imposition of a second breach. At this time, the customer is called in for an interview aimed at identifying any factors that may be contributing to the likelihood of a subsequent breach. The obligations of the customer are reinforced at this interview and measures may be taken to prevent them incurring further breach penalties. Specialist officers will also assist if required. The Pilot is currently being evaluated with a final report due to be released in June 2002. This report will include recommendations about which elements of the pilot should be rolled out across the network at a time to be decided. Target Group: Homeless/At risk Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.centrelink.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services and Centrelink Centrelink Third Breach Alert The Centrelink 'Third Breach Alert' commenced on a national basis in June 2001 and is activated when a third breach for a customer is being considered. At this time, consultation with a specialist officer (eg. Social Worker or Occupational Psychologist) takes place to consider whether the customer has any special needs or may lack the capacity to comply with their mutual obligation requirements. It is part of Centrelink's move to improve staffs' ability to identify those who are most at risk of being breached and allows more opportunity to help customers understand and comply with their obligations. Updated training materials have been developed and distributed to Centrelink staff. Target Group: Homeless/At risk Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact details: Website: www.centrelink.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Family and Community Services and Centrelink In seven high schools across South West Sydney, Centrelink has implemented a Truancy project aimed at Secondary students receiving Youth Allowance who are at risk of becoming early school leavers due to poor attendance. Students with poor attendance patterns are required to attend a workshop conducted during school hours by Centrelink and a school representative. Early results from this project have seen significant reductions in absenteeism. Target Group: Youth Coverage: Local Timeframe: Ongoing subject to resources Contact details: Website: www.centrelink.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Centrelink Centrelink's Linking Opportunities Through Indigenous Education (LOTIE) This program addresses low school retention rates amongst indigenous young people. It provides information to Indigenous school students about the importance of attending school regularly and how the Local, State and Federal Departments can assist individuals and families whilst at school and during their transition into employment or further education. Aboriginal Elders from the student's local community contribute to the program. Target Group: Indigenous youth Coverage: Local Community Timeframe: Ongoing subject to resources Contact details: Website: www.centrelink.gov.au/ Responsible Agency: Centrelink Job Network - Intensive Assistance Intensive Assistance provides individually tailored assistance and support to get long term unemployed people, or those at risk of becoming long term unemployed, into jobs. Job Network members have the flexibility to decide with a young person the best form of assistance to get them a job or to assist them to return to education or take up training. This may include the provider using their fees to provide vocational training, language and literacy training or employer incentives such as a wage subsidy or workplace adjustments. Currently, services are provided for between 12 and 15 months depending on the level of job seeker disadvantage, with a provision to negotiate an extension of up to 6 months. From July 2002, under Australians Working Together (AWT), the period of Intensive Assistance will be up to twelve months for all job seekers except those who are referred to Intensive Assistance immediately following participation in the new Personal Support Programme. These job seekers will receive up to 18 months of Intensive Assistance. Job Network members are contracted to provide services to all eligible job seekers including eligible young people (called a "generalist service"). Specialist Intensive Assistance services cater to the needs of a number of different groups. There are three specialist youth providers operating from 11 sites in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. In general, the focus of Intensive Assistance and its regime of outcome payments is on getting job seekers into employment. However, in line with the government's concern that young people should be encouraged to complete Year 12, Job Network members providing Intensive Assistance are eligible to claim a full outcome payment if they assist a young person 15 to 20 years of age who has not completed Year 12 or equivalent, to complete two semesters of an eligible education or training course. Under Australians Working Together, Intensive Assistance providers will have the flexibility to refer job seekers to beneficial complementary programmes before commencing Intensive Assistance eg, Work for the Dole, the new Personal Support Programme or to Literacy/Numeracy training. Young people form part of many groups, such as parents, Indigenous Australians, people with disabilities and special needs, who have been specifically targeted in AWT. Young people will have access to the same resources as other members of these key target groups, including access to Personal Advisers. Young people, like other unemployed people, will benefit from employment services initiatives contained in Australians Working Together. From 1 July 2002, for example, they will have access to more places in Job Search Training, and if eligible, Training Credits in Work for the Dole and community work. Target Group: Long term unemployed people, or those at risk of becoming long term unemployed. Coverage: Intensive Assistance is offered from more than 1,100 sites nationally Timeframe: Ongoing Website: www.dewr.gov.au Responsible Agency: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations The Indigenous Employment Policy (IEP) was introduced in 1999 in response to concerns about the high indigenous unemployment rate and the particular disadvantage experienced by Indigenous clients in the labour market. There are three main elements to the Indigenous Employment Policy - the Indigenous Employment Programme, the Indigenous Small Business Fund and assistance for indigenous job seekers through Job Network. The Indigenous Employment Programme has a number of elements including, the Corporate Leaders for Indigenous Employment Project, the Structured Training and Employment Projects (STEP), the National Indigenous Cadetship Project and Wage Assistance, that provide flexible financial assistance to employers to assist in achieving sustainable employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians. A particular focus of the policy is to target jobs in the private sector. The IEP makes a positive contribution to getting more Indigenous youth into jobs. Currently, there are no specific participation targets for young Indigenous job seekers in the IEP however, indigenous youth (under 24 years of age) accounted for 49% of placements made under indigenous employment programmes from 1 April 2001 to 30 March 2002. Given the particular demographic profile of Indigenous Australians in which the median age is 19 years (compared to 35 for the total Australian population) the Government is conscious of the emerging issue of increasing demand for targeted employment assistance for indigenous youth. Partnerships between the Departments of Employment and Workplace Relations and Education, Science and Training are being strengthened to further improve the coordination and delivery of assistance to indigenous youth. Under the Australians Working Together package, indigenous job seekers will get more personalised help from Centrelink, Job Network Members, Community Work Coordinators and other providers. The first Indigenous Employment Centres (IECs), announced as part of Australians Working Together, have commenced operation and more will commence from 1 July 2002. Under this initiative, Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) organisations may be contracted to take on the additional role of IECs, providing further help to indigenous people in areas where job opportunities exist to obtain work. By 2004-05, IECs will have provided job search support, work experience, access to accredited training, and ongoing mentoring and support to up to 10,000 CDEP participants. By working with local employers and Job Network members, the IECs will encourage people to find work and help them retain it. This initiative, developed in consultation with ATSIC, complements the successful IEP. Many existing programmes are being expanded or changed to provide more individual help. There will be greater support for job seekers to work or to take part in their community or to do work experience or training . They will keep more income if they do casual or part-time work. Indigenous job seekers (including young job seekers) in Job Search Training and Intensive Assistance will be able to access a training account to gain work-related skills. Under AWT, there will be more practical ways to promote self-reliance for indigenous people. Target Group: Indigenous job seekers Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Website: www.dewr.gov.au Responsible Agency: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations National Divisions Youth Alliance (NDYA) The NDYA is a network of over 70 Divisions of General Practice and individual general practitioners with an interest in youth health, coordinated through the Australian Divisions of General Practice (ADGP). NDYA aims to work in partnership with GPs, Divisions of General Practice, young people and other stakeholders, to support general practice to improve health outcomes for young people. Key activities include: * raising the profile of youth health within general practice; * collating and disseminating information about youth health programs and activities; * developing partnerships at national, state and local levels; and * the development of best practice guidelines for the delivery and evaluation of youth health services. The NDYA website will ensure the accessibility of NDYA information throughout Australia. It is anticipated that the work of the NDYA will assist in making primary health care services more accessible to young people. Target Group: Young people, GPs, Divisions of General Practice Coverage: National Timeframe: 2001 - 2004 Contact details: Website: http://ndya.adgp.com.au/site/index.cfm Responsible Agency: Department of Health and Ageing National Mental Health Strategy (NMHS)
- Kids Help Line Kids Help Line provides a national telephone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 18 years. The non-government, free, anonymous and confidential service aims to:
Target Group: All children and young people aged 5 to 18 years. Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact Details: Website: www.kidshelp.com.au/ Responsible Agency: Department of Health and Ageing National Mental Health
Strategy (NMHS) and National Suicide Prevention Strategy - MindMatters:
National Mental Health Promotion Schools Program MindMatters is a mental health promotion program for all Australian secondary schools (2000-2003). The program recognises that the mental and emotional health and well-being of young people is fundamental to their academic, vocational and social competence. The program was developed to enhance school environments where young people feel safe, valued, engaged and purposeful. It provides a range of teaching resources, supported by professional development activities and a website. The program also helps schools develop strong links with counselling and support services in the community. Progress on the project to date includes:
StudentMatters will complement MindMatters and aims to improve referral and service provision for high-risk students in MindMatters schools. This initiative aims to develop a strategy that will help interested MindMatters schools to work more effectively with at risk students. ParentMatters aims to ensure that parents in MindMatters schools are able to effectively participate in parenting and supporting their adolescent children, including when treatment for mental health problems is required. Work on this program is about to commence. CommunityMatters is a key component of the Indigenous strategy of MindMatters, CommunityMatters is a whole school resource that addresses cultural diversity, addressing issues such as community, culture, identity and wellbeing. Target Group: Young people and young adults and their parents. Coverage: National Timeframe: 2000-2003 Contact Details: Website: cms.curriculum.edu.au/mindmatters Responsible Agency: Department of Health and Ageing National Suicide Prevention
Strategy - Reach Out! Reach Out! (http://www.reachout.asn.au/home.jsp) is an initiative of the Inspire Foundation, and is a web-based service to assist young people going through difficult times. The purpose of the Reach Out! Website is to assist young people, their families, friends and the general community in contact with young people going through difficult times, to gain information, self-referral and general support through a youth-oriented medium. Reach Out! averages in excess of 30,000 visitors each month (unique user sessions), with each person spending an average of 12-15 minutes in Reach Out! each visit. Reachout! also run RORRT (Reachout! Rural and Remote Tour) involving touring rural Australia and encouraging young people to express themselves and to constructively discuss mental health and suicide prevention issues utilizing the Reach Out! Internet medium. Target Group: Young people, young adults, their family and friends Coverage: National Timeframe: 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 Contact Details: Website: http://www.reachout.asn.au/home.jsp Responsible Agency: Department of Health and Ageing National Illicit Drugs Strategy (NIDS) The purpose of NIDS is to assist in preventing and reducing the use of illicit substances through a balanced package of measures aimed at reducing the supply of, and demand for, illicit drugs. Key demand reduction initiatives under NIDS include:
Responsible Agency: Department of Health and Ageing Young people are entitled to hold their own Medicare card from the age of 15 years and consequently, are able to obtain independent access to health services. Australia's health care system provides universal access to quality care at reasonable cost through the provision of medical and pharmaceutical benefits, other funding of general practitioner programs and funding agreements with State and Territories for public hospital services. Target Group: All Australians Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Responsible Agency: Department of Health and Ageing National HIV/AIDS Strategy 1999 - 2000 to 2003 - 2004, 'Changes and Challenges' The National HIV/AIDS Strategy provides a framework for Australia's national response to HIV/AIDS, and is integrated with other strategies including the National Indigenous Australians' Sexual Health Strategy and the National Drug Strategy. The following resources have been developed to provide young people with the information and learning opportunities they need in order to make healthy decisions and reduce their exposure to harm. Funding has been provided for a number of projects, including:
Target Group: While the current National HIV/AIDS strategy does not specifically identify young people as a priority population group, it notes that young people may sometimes be at relatively high risk of infection. They may also form part of one or more of the priority groups, and they will have specific HIV/AIDS prevention, education and health promotion needs, including those that will be best met within school settings. Coverage: National Timeframe: Five years to 2003-04 Website: http://www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/strateg/hiv_hepc/hiv/index.htm Responsible Agency: Department of Health and Ageing National Mental Health Strategy (NMHS) - Mental Health Information Materials A number of information resources have been produced aimed at the general community to address the high level of misunderstanding about mental health problems and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. These resources include:
Target Group: Parents and young people Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Contact Details: Website: www.mentalhealth.gov.au Responsible Agency: Department of Health and Ageing National Drug Strategic Framework (NDSF) 1998-99 to 2002-03 Building Partnerships The objectives of the NDSF are to improve health, social and economic outcomes by preventing the uptake of harmful drugs use and reducing harmful effects of licit and illicit drugs in Australian society. The Framework recognises the vital role of families and communities in the development of attitudes to and values concerning drug use. A number of key initiatives focusing on young people and targeting families and parents are funded under the NDSF, including:
Responsible Agency: Department of Health and Ageing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Health A number of specific programs or components of programs address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth health issues at the population health, community, and family level. These programs include:
Target Group: Indigenous young people in general and those at risk of drug and alcohol use, and the broader Indigenous community. Website: www.health.gov.au National Crime Prevention Program The National Crime Prevention Program's objectives are to identify and promote innovative ways of reducing and preventing crime and the fear of crime. The program includes both research and practical initiatives including national pilot projects, local prevention activities and communication and training initiatives. Priority issues include property crime; domestic and family violence and violence in Indigenous communities. A significant proportion of National Crime Prevention Program (NCP) funding is for early intervention initiatives with young people and their families under the Youth Crime and Families Strategy. National projects focusing on young people include those addressing public space, public events, domestic violence, truancy, bullying, early intervention and homeless youth. Research reports are already available on the domestic violence, early intervention, homelessness and use of public space. To date key youth related initiatives under the programme include:
Target Groups: The target groups vary from project to project. The pilot projects are evaluated for their efficiency and effectiveness in the prevention of crime and violence in specific settings as well as for their transferability to the similar or different settings across nationally. The reach and effectiveness of communication materials are subject to focus testing and qualitative evaluation. Coverage: National Timeframe: 2000 - 2003 Responsible Agency: Attorney-General's Department Commonwealth Community Legal Services Programme (CCLSP) CCLSP purchases general and specialised legal services on behalf of the most needy members of the Australian community who are unable to afford a private lawyer. These services are purchased from community legal services in approximately 130 communities located across Australia. While each community legal service assists young people who require legal services, the CCLSP recognises the importance of providing services that specialise in both assisting with and educating young people about their legal rights and responsibilities. The CCLSP funds five specialist Youth Legal Services as follows:
Youth legal services provide assistance in a range of important areas, including but not limited to: school suspensions/expulsions, school bullying, disability discrimination in schools, victims compensation applications, family law, consumer rights, sexual harassment, social security problems, youth casual employment practices and mandatory sentencing. The range of service types delivered includes legal advice and casework, information, education and law reform. In addition, the CCLSP funds the National Children's Youth Law Centre (NCYLC) to provide legal services. This innovative and successful service has a national focus and targets metropolitan and rural youth via the Internet, http://www.lawstuff.org.au/. Target Group: Young people under 18. Coverage: Individual Youth Legal Services providing coverage in Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland with the NCYLC providing national internet based coverage. Timeframe: Ongoing Responsible Agency: Attorney-General's Department Northern Territory Diversionary Scheme
Under the Agreement the Commonwealth is providing funding over four years for a juvenile pre-court diversion scheme and to jointly fund an Aboriginal interpreter service. This enables funding for:
The Commonwealth and the Northern Territory are working closely together to facilitate the coordination of initiatives related to the agreement. There will be an initial review of progress of the objectives and the Agreement after the first 12 months of operation. A full review of the agreement will be conducted six months prior to the expiration of the agreement. By 31 August 2001:
Target Group: Young people in contact with the juvenile justice system Coverage: Northern Territory Timeframe: 2000-01 - 2003-04 Responsible Agency: Attorney-General's Department Vietnam Veterans Sons and Daughters Project (VVSDP) In August 2000 the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released a report which validated that the children of Vietnam veterans had a three times higher level of suicide and accidental death rate than expected for their age groups (reports are available from the DVA webpage). In response to this finding the Commonwealth government has established the Vietnam Veterans Sons and Daughters Project (VVSDP). The goal of this project is to ensure that the children of Vietnam veterans are able to access appropriate services to reduce their level of suicide risk. The Project is based within the Vietnam Veterans' Counselling Service (VVCS). The VVSDP is based on a broad public health approach to the problem of suicide in this target group. It therefore has both generalist mental health education components, as well as specific crisis supports for those most at risk. In 2000 the VVCS and the Rural Health Education Foundation produced a video titled 'Suicide and Family Dysfunction in Vietnam Veteran Community' which provides further information regarding specific issues associated with:
Target group: Approximately 85,000 children who were born to Vietnam War veterans since the beginning of the Australia's involvement in the Vietnam conflict. By 2000 25% were aged 19 years and under, 60% were aged between 20-30 years and 15% were over 30 years. This group of young people are moving into the higher risk age groups for suicide in Australia. This target group has also been identified as being "at risk" in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan - the LIFE Framework. Coverage: National Timeframe: Ongoing Responsible Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
|
