Youth Bulletin
Issue 5, December 2006
Every month the source brings you up-to-date news on youth programs, events and competitions.
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Welcome to the final edition of the source Youth Bulletin for 2006.
Due to the holiday period, the next edition of the Youth Bulletin will be distributed in February 2007. As 2006 comes to a close, FaCSIA would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
- Launch Yourself into Australia’s biggest youth event
- The Endurance Test
- Asia-Pacific pop-culture appealing to young Australians
- Want to be your own boss?
- Structured Workplace Learning: out of the classroom and into the workplace
- Have a YARN
- Apply for EPIC07 (Emerging Producers in Community)
- Skin Cancer - the most common cancer for 15-24 year olds
Launch Yourself into Australia’s biggest youth event
The lead up to National Youth Week (NYW) 2007 has begun, with the launch of the official NYW website last week by the Minister for Community Services, John Cobb.
NYW will be held from 14 to 22 April 2007, providing all young Australians with the opportunity to celebrate achievements and make the week what they want it to be. It is the largest celebration of young people on the Australian calendar and you are encouraged to become involved by logging on to www.youthweek.com
The NYW website is the central source for all 2007 NYW activities and events being held across Australia and is jam packed full of information, activities and fun….just for youth. The site also provides ways for young people to get involved in the Week, win prizes, enter talent competitions and voice opinions on issues relevant to them.
All young Australians aged 12-25, no matter who they are or where they are, can get involved in the diverse range of competitions, events and activities celebrating NYW.
Visit www.youthweek.com for more information or call 1300 663 500. National Youth Week 2007 is a joint Australian, State, Territory and Local Government initiative.
The Endurance Test
Tomorrow’s military and community leaders from around the nation recently got an up close and personal look at Kapooka Army Recruit Training Centre at Blamey Barracks near Wagga Wagga when they pitted their skills against one another during the third annual Chief of Army Cadet Team Challenge.
The challenge was originally designed to assess the fitness, teamwork, leadership, initiative and general military knowledge of selected cadets with the aim of identifying a champion state. The competition has grown every year and has become much more than that.
The challenge puts virtual strangers together in unfamiliar surroundings far from home and tests their physical, mental and emotional ability.
Jon Morgan, Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer 1, said although the teams come together from the same region, it doesn’t necessarily mean they know one another.
‘As strangers, they’ve had to work out each others skills, weaknesses and strengths, and how best they can work as a team to win the challenge.’
The challenge winning team was South Queensland, which also took out the Regimental Sergeant Major-Army trophy for drill. This is the first time the same region has won both trophies.
The Australian Defence Force Cadets is a youth development organisation where you can take part in unique adventurous activities in a military-like setting and get the chance to meet serving men and women.
For further information visit the CadetNet website.
Asia-Pacific pop-culture appealing to young Australians
Have you ever seen an Astro Boy cartoon? Or owned a Hello Kitty bag? Or enjoyed the pounding tunes of Guitar Wolf? Asian pop culture is now so common place in Australia that most see it as a given rather than a novelty. With increased cooperation and a greater sense of community between countries in our region we are now seeing an even greater variety in pop culture.
Currently touring Australia is the 'Marvel of Manga' exhibition which showcases the work of the creator of Astro Boy, Japanese artist Osamu Tezuka. If you want to sneak a peek at original Astro Boy sketches, drop in to either the National Gallery of Victoria or the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Youth discounts apply and the NGV also offers a youth-to-youth tour.
Australia's ties to the Asia-Pacific region are enhanced by its membership of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum which Australiawill host in 2007. Visit the APEC Australia 2007 website to find out more.
Want to be your own boss?
Jodie Craig credits NEIS for helping her become her own boss in the web design business
Are you currently unemployed but have a good idea for a new business?
Over the last year, more than 100 unemployed young people started their own small business with the help of the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS).
NEIS gives you training in small business management and helps you draw up a business plan. You'll also get a Certificate IV in Small Business Management - a nationally recognised qualification.
At the end of training (two to three months), your business plan is assessed and if it's approved, then you can start your business, and you'll get business mentoring support for the first year.
If you're already on an eligible allowance like Newstart, you may also be eligible to switch onto the NEIS Allowance for up to one year. And you keep all the profits from your business without your NEIS Allowance being reduced, regardless of how much money your business makes.
Visit the workplace website to find out if NEIS is for you or phone the Employment Services Information Line on 13 62 68.
Structured Workplace Learning: out of the classroom and into the workplace
The Structured Workplace Learning programme is just one of the ways in which Career Advice Australia is helping you to get ready for your working life.
The Local Community Partnership in your area is keen to help you organise a useful work placement in a local industry or business, or in a simulated work environment.
By taking part in Structured Workplace Learning, you will have a chance to find out what it’s really like to be out there in the working world, and on top of that you’ll have the opportunity to build up your technical and general employability skills. During most work placements you also have the added bonus of being able to achieve real qualifications while you train and learn!
Darwin students studying hospitality, tourism and business are currently taking part in one week work placements at Saville hotels as part of their Vocational Education and Training in Schools.
What better way to find out what it’s really like working in a particular industry than to get in there and do it!
To find out more about Structured Workplace Learning check out our case studies online or call the Career Advice Australia info line on 13 38 73.
Have a YARN
Young rural Australians now have an improved ‘meeting place’ after the recent launch of the revamped Young Australian Rural Network (YARN) website.
Designed for, and run by, young people in rural industries, YARN provides a place where you can interact and share information with others from around Australia.
YARN has a number of interactive features including a discussion forum, events calendar and listing of opportunities for young Australians in agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.
It also has a site builder function, allowing you to create a website for your rural non-government organisation without needing to know anything about designing webpages. The template based tool allows you to create a professional looking site in minutes; you will even get your own website address that you can place on stationery and publications.
Visit the YARN website or for more information on how you can use YARN to help promote your events or organisation send us an email.
Apply for EPIC07 (Emerging Producers in Community)
EPIC07 provides professional development opportunities in media art or dance for emerging producers, project managers, artists and arts workers.
EPIC07 will provide emerging producers/artists with an internship to facilitate contemporary youth arts and cultural projects in regional and remote areas.
EPIC07 will support up to five internships with up to $45,000 towards salary and on-costs, project related travel and evaluation.
EPIC last year helped emerging producer Ro Alexander, from the ARTRAGE Festival in Perth, design and implement a sound-driven project Audiosity based in the regional community of Geraldton, WA.
EPIC07 is supported through the Australian Government's Young and Emerging Initiative. Proposals are due by COB 9 February 2007. Visit the EPIC07 website for more information.
Skin Cancer - the most common cancer for 15-24 year olds
Tanya, only 22 years old, found this out the hard way when she had a melanoma removed from her back earlier this year:
‘My name is Tanya and I’ve been diagnosed with melanoma, not skin cancer that can be burnt off, but a serious cancer that can be fatal if not treated in time. I was very lucky to have this removed from my back before it could spread any further. But, I have been left with a reminder - a 28cm scar across my back and a 15cm scar under my arm where my lymph nodes were removed.’
Most young people don’t realise how serious it can be to get skin cancer. That’s why the Australian Government has launched a new national skin cancer campaign, Protect Yourself in Five Ways from Skin Cancer, which shows the importance of using multiple forms of sun-protection when outdoors.
For more information visit our Skin Cancer website or email us.
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