Youth Bulletin
Issue 11, July 2007
Welcome to the July edition of the source Youth Bulletin.
This month's edition contains the following articles:
- Equal opportunities for women across the Asia Pacific region
- National Youth Week Talent Competition - winners announced
- New ship for Thursday Island Cadets
- National Disability Awards are Open
- Tender to provide Youth Facilitation and Development Panel services for FaCSIA
- National Tobacco Youth Campaign - Resources
- Connections
- Job Guide
Equal opportunities for women across the Asia Pacific region
Are you a woman? Do you have a head for business? Are you concerned about the challenge of carving out a career in a traditionally male-dominated sector? Well, don’t be. New statistics show the future business opportunities for women in the Asia Pacific region have never been better. Today five out of the top six countries in the world with the highest number of women in senior management roles are Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies, and businesses with high numbers of women executives tend to outperform their competitors.
As part of Australia’s hosting of APEC Australia 2007, the annual Women Leaders' Network meeting has been held to highlight some of the key issues for women across the Asia Pacific region. This year the meeting discussed business challenges for women entrepreneurs and how to strengthen capacity to meet these challenges. An important topic on the agenda was the issue of climate change and its particular impact on women in the region. The meeting’s key recommendations will be put forward to APEC Leaders at the APEC Leaders Week in September this year.
If you want to learn more about women's issues in the Asia Pacific region, the APEC Australia 2007T host year, or the Asia-Pacific region more broadly, speak to your teacher or visit the APEC education website, the APEC 2007 website or the International APEC website. You can also find out more on the APEC Women Leaders' Network meeting.
National Youth Week Talent Competition Winners
The National Youth Week National Talent Competition winners have been announced.
The Industry Awards were selected by an expert in the creative field for each competition, showing these young Australians really have what it takes to make a name for themselves in their chosen industry. View snippets of the winning entries in the Industry Award category.
People from around Australia were given the opportunity to vote for their favourites in the People’s Choice Award. In each category there was one winner and three finalists. You can view the People Choice Awardees here.
The National Youth Week team would like to thank all industry representatives, sponsors and those who voted for supporting these competitions, and everyone who entered.
Note for your diary - National Youth Week 2008 will be held from 5-13 April 2008.
New ship for Thursday Island Cadets
Last month, more than 60 Thursday Island Navy cadets got the chance to do something not many of us will ever do in a lifetime.
They moved into their own $350,000 purpose-built training ship.
But forget about decks and rigging. Training Ship Carpentaria is no ordinary vessel, but a Navy cadet unit complete with lecture rooms, a parade ground and the space to practice drill.
The ship was officially launched in true ‘TI-style’ by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Lindsay MP, who with more than 200 Thursday Islanders was treated to a blessing of the ship by Bishop Saibo Mabo and a performance by local Meriam dancers.
The re-developed TS Carpentaria has already attracted 66 cadets and five cadet staff members, four of them islanders.
The Australian Navy Cadets is a community-based, military-like youth development organisation of 2129 cadets, 407 staff and 92 units across Australia.
For more information visit the cadetnet website.
National Disability Awards are Open
Do you have friends, colleagues, or family members that either have disability or are involved in disability issues? If you do, then you may be interested to know that nominations for the inaugural National Disability Awards are open.
The Awards aim to recognise the outstanding contributions and achievements of people with disability, as well as the outstanding contribution individuals make to people with disability. There are two specific categories for youth, and three open categories.
The Awards are part of the Australian Government’s celebration of International Day of People with Disability—a UN sanctioned day that is celebrated on 3 December each year. Award recipients will be recognised at a National Awards Event in Canberra on 3 December 2007!
For more information or to order a nomination pack, visit the International Day of People with Disability website, or call 1800 677 427. Nominations are open until 20 July 2007, so nominate today!
Tender to provide Youth Facilitation and Development Panel services for FaCSIA
The Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) invests in quality consultations and development with young Australians to inform policy and program development.
FaCSIA is seeking tenders from suitability qualified organisations and individuals to establish the Youth Facilitation and Development Panel (YFDP) which will enable FaCSIA to procure a broad range of facilitation and youth development services.
Activities by members of the YFDP may include:
- Lead Facilitation;
- Project Facilitation; and
- Youth Development Activities/Services.
YFDP members will be required to work with FaCSIA and young Australians in the context of various FaCSIA funded projects/activities involving young people, using relevant capacity building approaches as they relate to either facilitation or youth development.
The YFDP will function for the period January 2008 to December 2012.
Tender documentation (Tender no. FACSIA/07/T587) and contact information may be obtained from the AusTender website.
Tenders close at 2 p.m. Canberra local time on Thursday, 23 August 2007.
National Tobacco Youth Campaign - Resources
The National Tobacco Youth Campaign launched in December 2006 with the aim of impacting youth smoking rates by contributing to a reduction in the uptake and prevalence of smoking among young Australians.
A number of campaign materials have been developed to support the campaign. The resources include e-grips, stress balls and slide puzzles as well as posters.
Merchandise and other tobacco related materials can be viewed and ordered free of charge through the quitnow website.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander posters have been developed as well as a website, Ditch the Durries.
Connections
If you are aged 13 to 19, facing major barriers and have been disconnected from school for at least three consecutive months in the past school year you may be eligible for Connections. Through Connections you can access an education and personal development programme designed specifically for young people.
The Connections programme (formerly known as the Partnership Outreach Education Model (POEM)) is part of the Career Advice Australia Network and is available in up to 60 locations across Australia. If you enrol in Connections you can receive accredited education, life skills and employability skills training in a supportive setting. At the same time, you will be provided with help to deal with personal issues, create positive relationships and build self-esteem and resilience.
The length of time spent in the Connections programme varies according to your needs and the complexity of the issues you face. To find out more contact your local Connections provider.
Job Guide
Are you in year 10 and thinking about different jobs that interest you? Do you want to know the skills you need and what employers are looking for in over 600 different jobs? Then Job Guide is for you.
The Australian Government produces Job Guide, which is published as a book, CD-ROM and on the Internet. Each year it is sent to schools, colleges and TAFEs so that year 10 students get their own copy.
It has tons of handy information about job requirements, qualifications you need, job descriptions and where you can find out more about particular jobs and training. It also has info on Australian Apprenticeships, how to start planning a career and also case studies from people who used to be in your shoes.
Whether you need serious facts fast or just a little more information about a particular job then make sure you get a copy of the Job Guide. If you have any other questions email the Job Guide mailbox.
Some related websites: Myfuture, Year 12 - What Next, Career Advice Australia
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