Youth Bulletin
Issue 6, February 2007
Welcome to the February edition of the source Youth Bulletin.
Every month the source brings you up-to-date news on youth programs, events and competitions.
Get it delivered straight to your inbox every month by subscribing to the source.
This month's edition contains the following articles:
- Young Australian of the Year 2007
- Launch Yourself into National Youth Week 2007 Competitions
- So you think you're tough!
- Study and work opportunities grow in our Asia Pacific region
- Pathways to Rural Leadership Course - Applications are now open
- Free Career planning for job seekers
- Smoking - worth kicking the habit
- Centrelink self service - Skip the queue and claim online
Young Australian of the Year
The Young Australian of the Year Award helps to highlight the achievements of young Australians, encourages them to contribute to their communities and provides examples of high achieving young Australians who are pursuing excellence. As sponsor of the Young Australian of the Year Award, the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has helped to profile the outstanding contributions many young Australians have made to our community.
This year, Queensland's indigenous youth advocate, Tania Major, was named Young Australian of the Year 2007 for her efforts in addressing the issues and welfare of young indigenous people.
Now 25, Tania became the youngest person ever elected to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Commission (ATSIC) three years ago. Tania's forthright and open approach to the myriad problems faced by her people, including domestic violence, has focused the attention of opinion leaders, politicians and the public alike. Her honesty and passion have established her as a role model not only for indigenous youth, but for all young Australians.
Nominations are now open for Young Australian of the Year Award 2008. No other similar program or event is able to match the Young Australian of the Year Award in terms of improving the portrayal of young people and highlighting their achievements, so why not nominate a young Australian you know who makes you proud.
Visit the Australian of the Year Awards website to obtain nomination forms or to find out more about all recipients of the 2007 Australian of the Year Awards.
Launch Yourself into National Youth Week 2007 Competitions
National Youth Week (NYW) 2007 will take place from 14-22 April and is set to be huge with plenty of events and activities happening throughout the week.
Two massive competitions are now open. The National Talent Competition is divided into five categories - RockIT for the budding musicians, WriteIT for those creative with words, ShootIT for the talented filmmakers, SnapIT for the upcoming photographers and DesignIT for those handy with art and graphics. Prizes include awesome Sony Digital video cameras, Casio digital cameras, iMac computers, Apple iPods and $5000 gift vouchers to spend at Allan's music stores.
NYW 2007 also brings you heaps of chances to Win Free Stuff! All you have to do is go to the NYW 2007 website and answer the simple question associated with that prize group. It's that easy! There are lots of cool prizes on offer. so check it out!
Competitions close at 5:00pm (AEST) on 23 April 2007. Conditions of entry, prize details and entry forms are available from the NYW 2007 website.
So you think you're tough!
How do you think you’d go navigating a boat by the stars?
Do you think you could survive in the bush with little food and water?
What would you do if a friend got bitten by a snake?
Well, eight 13-16 year old Indigenous cadets from the remote town of Bamaga recently got the chance to test whether they could answer these questions with 250 other Australian Army Cadets at a promotion course in Charters Towers, Far North Queensland.
And as if that wasn’t enough, they had to travel via land, sea and air for more than two days to do it!
Bamaga is about 1300 kilometres by road north of Townsville, which is 130 kms from Charters Towers. The eight cadets travelled by ferry from Bamaga to Thursday Island to Horn Island. They then flew to Townsville via Cairns, then travelled by car coaster to Charters Towers.
At the promotion course, the junior and senior cadets were tested on how well they could structure, take and assess lessons, read a map, navigate using a compass, protractor and the stars, live in the field, issue verbal orders, conduct drill with and without firearms and administer and guard a unit.
The Australian Defence Force Cadets is a youth development organisation where you can take part in adventurous, military-like activities, while learning about leadership, team building and yourself.
If you want to join in the fun of the Australian Defence Force Cadets visit Cadet Net website.
Study and work opportunities grow in our Asia Pacific region
Simon Butt specialised in Indonesian and law as part of his combined Asian Studies/Law degree at the Australian National University and got the opportunity to live and study in Indonesia as part of his program.
‘I was able to get entrenched in Indonesian society and understand the way the law works there – which is very different to Australia. I thought I knew a lot before I left but realised when I got there that there was so much more to learn. It was an awesome experience’, said Simon.
Today Simon is back in Australia working with the Asian Law Group. He makes frequent trips to Indonesia and the region to make use of his skills to work with judges, police and government officials.
Being able to speak a second language and understand different cultures are important factors when trying to further your career prospects. As our region becomes increasingly interconnected through trade, tourism and education, opportunities for young people in the Asia-Pacific are emerging fast.
Australia currently has some 270,000 international students with nine of the top ten sources are from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies.
Australia’s hosting of the APEC forum this year is an opportunity to forge even closer ties with the important economies of our region.
For more information on opportunities in the Asia Pacific region, contact your careers adviser or visit the APEC Australia 2007 website.
Pathways to Rural Leadership Course - Applications now open
Applications are now open for the inaugural Pathways to Rural Leadership Course – an exciting new opportunity for young people aged 18-35 currently working in agricultural, fisheries, forestry or related industries.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is seeking motivated young men and women who are eager to take on greater representational and professional responsibilities within their industry.
The Pathways to Rural Leadership Course is an advanced leadership course for Australia’s best and brightest and will build on the reputation of the Young Rural Leaders Course.
Up to 20 talented young people from across Australia will be selected to participate in the Pathways to Rural Leadership Course in Canberra in April 2007.
For further information and to apply visit the Young Australian Rural Network website, email industrypartnerships@daff.gov.au or call 02 6271 6633.
Applications close 5.00pm ADST on Monday 5 March 2007.
Free Career planning for job seekers
Know what job you want but don't know how to get it? Don't know what type of job you’re after?
If you are currently unemployed and asking yourself any of these questions, Career Planning is a free four-hour course that can help you answer them. This service is delivered by professional counsellors, to help job seekers match their needs, skills, interests and personality to the right sort of job.
You may be eligible for Career Planning if you’re registered as a job seeker with Centrelink, and either:
- receiving an income support payment, or
- aged 15-20 and not eligible for income support.
To register, just speak to your Centrelink Customer Service Adviser or Job Network member. They’ll be able to book you into the next available session.
For more information, phone Centrelink on 13 2850 or visit the Centrelink website.
Smoking - worth kicking the habit
Each year around 45,000 Australian teenagers take up smoking – but they’d be better kicking the habit, or not starting at all. It’s bad for your fitness and bad for your health – around half of those 45,000 will ultimately die from smoking-related diseases.
When you smoke, you inhale more than 4,000 chemicals. They include ammonia – which is used in toilet cleaner; hydrogen cyanide – which is used in rat poison; acetone – which is used in nail polish remover; and benzene, an ingredient in paint stripper.
Here are the top six benefits of quitting:
- After 12 hours almost all of the nicotine is out of your system.
- After 24 hours the level of carbon monoxide in your blood has dropped dramatically. You now have more oxygen in your bloodstream.
- After five days most nicotine by-products have gone.
- Within days your sense of taste and smell improves.
- Within a month your blood pressure returns to its normal level and your immune system begins to show signs of recovery.
- Within two months your lungs will no longer be producing extra phlegm.
The Australian Government is investing $25 million over four years in a new national tobacco campaign to help people stop smoking – or give up the habit.
For more information on the harmful health effects of smoking, visit the quitnow website or call the Quitline on 131 848.
NOW IS THE TIME TO QUIT!
Centrelink self service - Skip the queue and claim online
It’s the start of another year and already you feel snowed under with everything you need to do. Why not save yourself some time and claim Student Youth Allowance or Austudy online? Once you have registered to use Centrelink self service, you can access a range of services online or by phone.
You can make a claim, update your details, report any income or just check to see when you will get paid. There are many other services available – just go to the Centrelink website to find out more.
You have better things to do then stand in a queue – at Centrelink you don’t have to.
Disclaimer