Youth Bulletin
Issue 7, march 2007
Welcome to the March 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:
- Shining an energy efficient light on Aussie entrepreneurs
- Young Australians having their voices heard by the Australian Government
- From Airlie Beach to the heat and dust of India
- Organise your event for National Youth Week 2007!
- Graphic pix put smokers in the picture
- Exciting opportunity for budding rural entrepreneurs.
- Youth Pathways - A step in the right direction
- Centrelink SMS and Online Letters giving you more options
Shining an energy efficient light on Aussie entrepreneurs
Recently, Australia's Environment Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced a ban on incandescent light bulbs from 2010 - the first country in the world to do so. Minister Turnbull said the move would ‘reduce our consumption of electricity by an amount equal to five times Australia's annual consumption of electricity’.
But it's not just the Government taking the initiative. In March an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference discussed how small businesses in Australia are leading the way on a range of energy saving schemes. Small businesses are actively developing innovative solutions and services that can deliver big advances in the battle to cut greenhouse emissions.
Two Australian businesses, Petratherm Ltd and Energetics Pty Ltd, which are using newly-developed energy-saving technologies, presented workshops at the 14th APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Hobart, Tasmania, from 4-9 March.
There are 1.9 million SMEs in Australia alone, and 49 million in the 21 member economies in APEC. With those numbers and the flexibility and innovation that these businesses bring, it is clear Australian entrepreneurs will play an important role in our region's future.
For more information on small business in our region, visit the APEC Australia 2007 (tm) website.
Young Australians having their voices heard by the Australian Government
National Youth Week (NYW) 2007 will take place from 14-22 April and is set to be huge with plenty of events. The first meeting of the National Youth Roundtable (Roundtable) 2007 was held in Canberra at the end of February.
Members were involved in a variety of training and development opportunities, as well as deciding on their project topics. The final six topics that were selected by members are:
- Cultural Identity
- Health
- Mental Health
- Rural Development
- Stronger Families
- Youth Empowerment
But it wasn’t all work! Members also had the opportunity to meet the new Minister for Community Services, Senator Nigel Scullion, tour Parliament House, meet the Governor-General at Government House and spend some time getting to know each other.
More information on the latest group of Roundtable members and their projects will be available on the source website in the coming weeks, so check it out!
If you wish to speak to the Roundtable team or a member of the Roundtable 2007, send us an email or call 1800 624 309 (free call).
From Airlie Beach to the heat and dust of India
Just before New Years Eve, Leading Seaman Michael Solomon of TS Pioneer Whitsundays was busy at work when he got a surprise visit from his Commanding Officer.
How did a week in India as guest of the National Cadet Corps sound?
Three weeks later, Leading Seaman Solomon was on his way to New Delhi with nine other Australian Navy Cadets for the adventure of a lifetime.
‘It was pretty awesome,’ he said.
During the week, Leading Seaman Solomon attended receptions at the homes of the President, Prime Minister, Chief of Air Force and Chief of Army, watched the Republic Day parade – India’s national day also falls on
26 January – visited Agra and Jaipur and got to meet with cadets from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Singapore, Nepal, Russia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
All the cadets were based at the same camp, which meant they could get to know each other and share and enjoy each other’s cultures.
‘On Australia Day we hosted a cricket match, and other nations hosted a soccer match,’ he said.
‘Despite our differences, we all got along very well, and we became good friends. We’ve exchanged email addresses so we can keep in touch.
‘India’s a great country. Once you get over the culture shock, you can really start to enjoy it,’ said Leading Seaman Solomon.
The Australian Defence Force Cadets is a youth development organisation where 12 and a half to 19 year olds take part in adventurous, military-like activities, while learning about leadership, team building and themselves.
If you want to join in the fun of the Australian Defence Force Cadets visit the CadetNet website.
Organise your event for National Youth Week 2007
Have you thought about holding your own event and becoming an Official National Youth Week (NYW) Event Organiser? It’s a great way to get involved in your community, meet other young people and most importantly, have fun!
There are no licensing fees or registration costs to become an official NYW event organiser - all you need to do is register. All official, registered NYW 2007 activities are entitled to:
- use the official NYW 2007 logo, design, imagery and slogan
- a range of promotional materials to help promote your event or activity and
- a listing of your event/activity on the national Calendar of Events
The NYW 2007 website provides all the information you need to set up your own event, including details of how to register your event, resources available to you and tips to make your event great.
Be creative and spread the word around about your event. Let’s make NYW 2007 bigger and better than ever before!
If you need some inspiration or simply want to check out what is happening in your state, the National Calendar of Events is now up and running. Check it out to see what's going on in your local area.
Graphic pix put smokers in the picture
Young smokers are now being confronted with a new set of graphic warnings on their cigarette packets, with seven new gruesome pictures to be added to those already on display.
Over the past 12 months, seven graphic colour picture warnings have replaced text-only health warnings on tobacco products. From 1 March 2007, the second set of pictorial warnings must be printed on Australian-manufactured and imported tobacco products. To keep the messages fresh, the two sets will continue to rotate every 12 months.
The new set of warnings cover the smoking-related health topics of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, blindness, the effect of smoking on unborn babies, the addictiveness of smoking and the toxicity of tobacco smoke.
Unfortunately about 45,000 Australian teenagers will begin smoking in 2007, and about half of them will ultimately die from smoking-related diseases.
The graphic health warnings on tobacco products are part of the Australian Government’s continuing efforts to increase consumer knowledge of the health effects relating to smoking and reduce tobacco use among Australians.
For more information on the warnings and the impact smoking tobacco has on a person’s health, visit the Quitnow website and select ‘health warnings’.
Exciting opportunity for budding rural entrepreneurs
Are you aged 18 to 35? Do you work in an agricultural, fisheries or forestry business? Are you looking to grow your business and enhance your entrepreneurial skills?
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry invites motivated young men and women to apply for a place on the inaugural Enhancing Entrepreneurial Skills Course, a four day residential training course to be held in Melbourne in May 2007.
A total of 15 innovative business managers from across Australia will be given an opportunity to enhance their management skills, influence their business environment and build effective relationships with key supply chain stakeholders. They will explore issues influencing domestic and international markets for agricultural, fisheries and forestry products.
Course costs, travel, accommodation and meals are sponsored by the Australian Government.
Applications close 5.00pm AEST, Friday 30 March 2007.
For further information, or to apply, visit the YARN website, send us an email or call Jennifer Medway on 02 6272 5010.
The Enhancing Entrepreneurial Skills Course is part of the Australian Government’s Industry Partnerships Programme.
Youth Pathways - A step in the right direction
If you’re having trouble staying on track at school, or you’ve already left school and are not quite sure what do with yourself, Youth Pathways might be able to help.
Your Youth Pathways worker will talk to you about your situation, one on one. They will help work out what’s getting in your way, or what’s preventing you from getting through school or returning to education. We’ll help you to find out your strengths and goals, and set up a plan to get you past the obstacles and back on track.
We can keep on helping you all year, providing advice when you need it, as you move through your training or education and onwards. Completing Year 12 is one of the best preparations for your future.
It’s completely free and available all over Australia.
Visit the Youth Pathways website to find your local provider.
Centrelink SMS and Online Letters-giving you more options
It’s your choice! SMS and Online Letters let you decide how you receive information from Centrelink and the Family Assistance Office.
About Centrelink SMS
This is a free service that creates a personal reminder by sending a text message to your mobile phone. It can include:
- appointment reminders, the business day before your appointment
- reminders to provide up-to-date information or documents and
- notification of Online Letters —if you have subscribed to this service.
About Centrelink Online Letters Service
This free service gives you the choice to view and print some Centrelink and Family Assistance Office letters on the internet. Your letters will be available to view online for 60 days.
To use this service you will need:
- internet access
- current Centrelink self service registration and
- the ability to view files in Portable Document Format (PDF).
If you choose to use this service you will continue to receive letters from Centrelink and/or the Family Assistance Office that require you to fill in information and return. You may also receive brochures, information and reply paid envelopes.
For more information, or to subscribe to either service visit www.centrelink.gov.au go to the ‘online services’ page and follow the links to ‘Reminders and Letters’, visit your local Centrelink Customer Service Centre or call 13 2490.
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