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Central Coast Youth Commitment coordinator email: Rachael Fry rachael@snare.com.au coordinator email: [correct as at JUL 2002] regional based discussion group: CC_YouthCommitment@yahoogroups.com the big picture! community forum - 8 August 2002 working groups people environmental scan __________________________________________________


		CENTRAL COAST YOUTH COMMITMENT the big picture! [SEPTEMBER 2002] DOWNLOAD THIS SECTION: WORD format (36 K) CENTRAL COAST YOUTH COMMITMENT THE BIG PICTURE! A National Youth Commitment A National Youth Commitment will provide guaranteed access for all young people with particular support for early school leavers or those facing other disadvantages, to: Complete Year 12 either at school or another recognised provider; or Obtain an education or training qualification that is at an equivalent level such as a TAFE certificate or apprenticeship; or Obtain a full-time job that is linked to education or training. This is the equivalent of the existing minimum level of at least two years full-time education in the post-compulsory years. A National Youth Commitment, through ensuring access to these education, training and employment opportunities, will provide the basis for all young people to become positively engaged in society as active citizens. The goals of the National Youth Commitment will be delivered locally through umbrella regional Community Partnerships, drawing on existing resources, and presenting a powerful case for additional Commonwealth and State Government investment in the future of young people. OVERVIEW As many of us well know, a significant number of young people in this region continue to "fall through the cracks" often leaving school without completing Year 12 and finding no foothold in either secure employment or further education or training. Too often we don’t even know where these young people are or what has happened to them. The Central Coast Youth Commitment project aims to change that. The Central Coast Youth Commitment is a long-term community initiative that aims to guarantee every young person in the Central Coast Region has the opportunity and support to: Complete Year 12 either at school or another recognised provider; or Obtain an education or training qualification that is at an equivalent level such as a TAFE certificate or apprenticeship; or Obtain a full-time job that is linked to education or training The Youth Commitment builds on the benefits of combined effort and the values of collaboration to guarantee that all young people have the opportunity to develop the basic skills and capacities to cope with the demands of the modern labour marketplace. The Youth Commitment process is a preventative strategy centred around the learning and work circumstances of young people. It provides a clear initial focus of energy, a common framework for action and a collective means of developing the life skills and active citizenship over time of each young person in local communities. KEY FEATURES Critical to the success of the youth commitment concept is the establishment of a community partnership that brings together key stakeholders including schools, training providers, employers, labour market agencies, youth services and local government. This partnership needs to have identified the clear regional boundaries within which it will operate. As a guide to collaboration between community stakeholders, the following principles are recommended: A shared commitment by all key stakeholders to improving education and training arrangements through a Regional Youth Commitment. Integration of existing local services for young people adding greater value to what already exists, especially in the employment, education and training sectors. Active involvement of young people in the design, delivery and evaluation of the Regional Youth Commitment. A willingness to share the resourcing of the Community Partnership and to advocate for additional government (Commonwealth and State) funding to enable the key goals of the Youth Commitment to be. The Central Coast Youth Commitment has evolved through a partnership between local agencies and the community at large. The structure and systems of the Youth Commitment have evolved from substantial research about the needs of our young people in the Central Coast region. The Youth Commitment has established: A Steering Committee comprising of strong leaders within our business and community sectors, Formulated a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Youth Commitment Project Group and the Central Coast Youth Commitment Steering Committee. Completed an Environmental Scan of the regions youth (available for download) and commenced initial development of a strategic plan for the Central Coast Youth Commitment. Held a Community Forum Although significant progress has been made, we acknowledge there is still a lot to be done. Many issues are already under discussion with various working groups whereby strategic plans are being established to be incorporated into the Youth Commitment Strategic plan to be agreed upon by the Commitments stakeholders for the next few years. For FURTHER INFORMATION regarding the Central Coast Youth Commitment please contact: Rachael Fry - Youth Commitment Project Coordinator Ph: 02 43 255 707 Email: Rachael@snare.com.au ^ top

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CENTRAL COAST YOUTH COMMITMENT
community forum

[AUGUST 2002]

DOWNLOAD THIS SECTION: WORD format (56 K, 7 pages)

Central Coast Youth Commitment
Community Forum- 8^th August 2002

COMMUNITY FORUM OVERVIEW

As many of us well know, a significant number of young people in this region continue to "fall through the cracks" often leaving school without completing Year 12 and finding no foothold in either secure employment or further education or training. Too often we don’t even know where these young people are or what has happened to them. The Central Coast Youth Commitment project aims to change that.

The Central Coast Youth Commitment has established:

A Steering Committee comprising of strong leaders within our business and community sectors,

Formulated a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Youth Commitment Project Group and the Central Coast Youth Commitment Steering Committee.

Completed the Environmental Scan of the regions youth,

And commenced initial development of a strategic plan for the Central Coast Youth Commitment.

The Youth Commitment had identified draft strategic focus areas and attempted to align them with recommendations based on the environmental scan. With the assistance from the community we wanted to review the findings to finalise the Strategic Plan. This was initiated by working as a community coalition that provides a forum for collaborative discussion and common endeavours through which all stakeholders could assist each other to achieve the common objectives.

The Community Forum was a strategic planning meeting to further develop the strategic plan for the Central Coast Youth Commitment. The forum aimed to discuss methods to provide assistance, support and add value to all stakeholders. The strategic planning will be performed regionally founded upon a strong data basis to consider practical ways in which we might better work together to significantly improve the learning and work opportunities available to all young people. More particularly, ways to better support those leaving school early or facing other disadvantages.

Youth Commitment engaged the community as they value the related experience and required constructive input into the discussion based forum.

The morning session was an overview of the Youth Commitment historically both nationally and locally. The community was advised of the members of the Central Coast Steering Committee and the activities to date executed by the Central Coast Youth Commitment. The Community was provided with a detailed overview the National Youth Commitment and presented with Key findings and a local overview of our youth to demonstrate the need for Central Coast Youth Commitment

SPEAKERS:

Welcome-Setting the Scene

Louise Duff- Chair

Purpose & Outcomes

Ian Colley- Facilitator

National Youth Commitment

Lesley Tobin- Dusseldop Skills Forum

Key Findings/ Local Overview

Maggie McFie- Youth Connections

Members of the Community were split into four key working groups to discuss initially how they felt about the Youth Commitment each group scribed the findings and presented them back to the forum.

WHAT IS THE GUT REACTION REGARDING "YOUTH COMMITMENT"?

group #1
	1.	Are people aware of the problems on the central coast?
	2.	Increase in casual employment across all age groups?
	3.	There needs to be general commitment across the community.

group #2
	1.	Revealing figures, mind blowing, to everyone in community.
	2.	Why is this out there?

group #3
	1.	It’s time
	2.	Help the kids that need it.
	3.	Reality is different from perception

group #4
	1.	Financial support??
	2.	Development of resources to sustain programs.
	3.	Forum is a positive step.
	4.	Good strategies

group #5
	1.	Coordination or operation — role of both?
	2.	Need to work for the future and also with existing needs

group #6
	1.	Coordination or operation — role of both?
	2.	Need to work for the future and also with existing needs
	3.	Statistics tends to sanitize the issue.
	4.	We’re going backwards.
	5.	Needs a whole of nation approach / community agencies.

group #7
	1.	Mismanaged at school
	2.	Real concern
	3.	Key issue / increase awareness
	4.	Employee works closer with use
	5.	Communication — employers
	6.	Communication & links — Schools — Uni — Agencies
	7.	Information Lack
	8.	Employers — educated on work placement

group #8
	1.	Organization protecting their interests
	2.	Existing programs struggle to gain commitment form government, dept
	3.	Talk fest — rhetoric
	4.	Great ideas — but don’t look at other issues eg: drug use that de-motivates young people
	5.	Is it too late?
	6.	Positive — target group lower
	7.	15 is post-compulsory age / should look at younger
	8.	School doesn’t work for may kids > alternative learning environments
	9.	Education — strategies & attitudes
	10.	Depts. Commitment way behind
	11.	Truancy — stats don’t reflect reality
	12.	Red-tape for kids who do want to go to school
	13.	Curriculum — own their individualised learning plan, VET earlier
	14.	Structural — limited jobs
	15.	Attitudes to Y/P - barriers

IS YOUTH COMMITMENT VALUABLE?

group #1
	1.	Supports tender process to tender for youth specific programs.
	2.	Increasing VET programs that are linked to the youth programs.
	3.	Valid research appeals to social conscience.
	4.	Greater support from local employers for work placement support.
	5.	Research helps break barriers between youth and employers.

group #2
	1.	Provides a more structured approach.
	2.	Stronger community collaboration.
	3.	Strengthening community partnerships.
	4.	More of a pathway obvious to youth.
	5.	Readily accessible information to students and parents.

group #3
	1.	Needs to be expanded- integrated approach.
	2.	Stick to what you know.
	3.	Welfare teachers not paid or valued.
	4.	Six learning styles one teaching style, yes but limited.

group #4
	1.	Council advocates —
	2.	Placement
	3.	Facilities
	4.	Council will expand role
	5.	Working together
	6.	Community ownership
	7.	Increase value of education
	8.	Expand programs
	9.	Step by step pick up employment
	10.	Overall — together

group #5
	1.	Could identify follow-up requirements for TAFE and other students.
	2.	Improved environment to cater for all people.
	3.	Encourage employers to be responsible for supporting young people in work
	4.	Expand some of the excellent programs that are currently existing

group #7
	1.	Benefit cost savings
	2.	Greater society respect including self
	3.	Savings on community resources better directed to ideas.

CAN YOU IDENTIFY ANY GAPS?

group #1
	1.	Need to look at the school system and how it meets the needs of all young people
	2.	Needs connection between schools and ‘services’

group #2
	1.	Too big- not individualised
	2.	Doesn’t look at other issues that impact on why young people leave school early
	3.	By the time services pick them up it is too late
	4.	Identify earlier
	5.	Earlier intervention
	6.	Statistical analysis open to interpretation

group #3
	1.	Where are the apprenticeships?
	2.	Shrinking need for a ‘Blue collar’ workforce, beyond year 12 to tertiary education should also be a priority.
	3.	Vocational Counselling?
	4.	Revisit "conscription"
	5.	Broaden experience community service professionals

group #4
	1.	Better employer understanding of programs and initiatives
	2.	Information has to be accessible to parents and employers
	3.	Youth has to be committed
	4.	Local opportunities are needed as opposed to commuting - Employment
	5.	Continued commitment by Government

group #5
	1.	Earlier identification
	2.	Greater collaboration between service providers and stakeholders
	3.	Lack of infrastructure in isolated areas
	4.	Support for existing programs that target young people at risk of leaving school

The community members were asked to split up again this time selecting which area they would like to participate in. Working groups discussed key issues and strategies relative to the working groups strategic area. Members of the Youth Commitment Steering Committee and others facilitated each group.

WORKING GROUP SESSIONS

Group 1. Information Group- data collection

Bruce McDonald, Kerrie Jackson

Group 2. School Retention Group

Graham Holmes, Sue Mclean, Wayne Ible

Group 3. Leaving School Group

Maggie McFie, John Mundy, Barry McKnight

Group 4. Structure and Sustainability

Louise Duff, John Van Esveld

Group 5. Transport Forum

Lynne Khong- Dusseldorp- this group did not collaborate at the community forum as it was established some time ago. This Working Party is also part of the Youth Commitment Working Parties.

Please refer to the working party site to review the working parties minutes and to find details on when the next meetings will be held.

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		CENTRAL COAST YOUTH COMMITMENT working groups Details coming soon. ^ top

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CENTRAL COAST YOUTH COMMITMENT
people

• COMMITTEE [as at JUL 2002]

John Mundy (Co-ordinator)
email: jmunday@brilliantlogic.com.au

Barry McKnight
Director
Central Coast Campus

John Mundy
Executive Officer
Central Coast Area Consultative Committee

Maggie McFie
Youth Connections

Sharryn Brownlea
President of National P&C

Wayne Ible
Dept of Education and Training

Leonie Baldwin
NSW Premiers Office

Lesley Tobin
Dusseldorp Skills Forum

Bill Low
District Superintendent
Central Coast Department of Education

Louise Duff (Chair)
Brilliant Logic

Paul Warwick
Director of Community Health

Bob Pigott
Wyong Shire Council

Barry McDonald
Albany International

Jason Knott
Westfield

Ray Comans
Centrelink

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		CENTRAL COAST YOUTH COMMITMENT environmental scan March 2002 View or Download the environmental scan [135 pages - 2.6M - please note: large file] as a PDF (Portable Document Format). Note: You need Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 or above to view PDF files. You can download a free copy from the Adobe web site. ^ top

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