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November 2023 Edition
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Specialist Youth Homelessness Services
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40 beds coming soon
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Exciting progress on the Townsville Foyer. It will consist of 40 self-contained units providing safe, stable and affordable housing for young people, aged 16 to 25 years, who need support and accommodation while they engage in education, training and employment. Mission Australia will run the Foyer once complete. There is so much excitement about the opportunities the Youth Foyer will provide young people in the community. The completed build is anticipated for April 2024!
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Youth Housing Essentials
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Young people can now obtain financial assistance to enhance their capacity to access housing. Those who are leaving Government services can now apply for financial support to help cover the cost of one-off, essential goods and services up to $5,000, such as:
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- furniture, fridge, washing machine and other essential home items
- education or work necessities, such as school stationery and work clothing
- transport and moving costs, such as vehicle registration, Go Cards, removalists and identification
- mobile phone and prepaid phone credit.
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Applicants must be engaged with a support provider, government agency or Housing Service Centre.
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This is one of the deliverables under the Towards Ending Homelessness for Young Queenslanders 2022-2027. Application forms will be circulated to SYHS to assist eligible young people.
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Young people can also apply through their local Housing Service Centre here.
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Queensland Housing Summit One Year On
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On the 1st of the Month, Minister Scanlon particularised the significant movement for housing in Queensland one year on from the Housing Summit.
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- We’ve delivered over 4000 homes, and by 2027, we will have commenced 10,000 more.
- We established our own hub to build pre-fabricated homes, while training more construction workers.
- We’ve bought and leased former retirement villages and hotels to help those in need of housing.
- We’ve boosted our Housing Investment Fund to $2 billion, allowing us to deliver even more social and affordable housing.
- We’ve found excess State Government land which we can use for housing.
- We’ve expedited approvals for emergency housing in disaster affected communities.
- We’ve allowed granny flats and secondary dwellings to be rented out.
- We’ve funded a $70 million Build to Rent pilot project, delivering 1,200 homes.
- We’ve worked with local government to deliver local housing strategies.
- We’ve assisted more than 45,000 people who were homeless or at risk of it, through specialist homelessness services.
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- We arranged more than 145,000 nights of temporary accommodation for those at risk.
- We’ve assisted more than 20,200 households in sustaining private tenancies.
- We limited rent increase frequency to no more than once in every 12 months.
- We are purchasing ex-NRAS homes for social housing.
- We’re head-leasing 2,331 private properties to be used for social housing.
- We launched our Housing Opportunities Portal with over 100 submissions received already.
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Thank you to all the service providers and supporters who joined us for our 39th AGM on 23rd November. It was wonderful to recap a year that’s been filled with so much movement for Housing and Homelessness in Queensland. The announcement of the Towards Ending Homelessness for Young People Framework was significant for the Specialist Youth Homelessness Sector. We’re looking forward to seeing the deliverables actualised in the near future.
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Sincere thanks to Brett and Allan for your dedicated service to QYHC. Your wisdom and humour will be missed. Welcome to our new Management committee. We’re looking forward to QYHC’s 40th Birthday and many other projects and celebrations in the year ahead.
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You can read our full AGM report here.
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It’s not too late to become a member - click here.
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A fond farewell to 2 fabulous SYHS stalwarts!!!
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This month we bid farewell to Carmel Riethmuller after 15 years at Chameleon and Dearne Lang who has been at the helm of Anglicare’s Specialist Youth Homelessness Services in Cairns for the past 9 years.
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Both fabulous advocates for young people and their access to housing and support, also innovative in their responses to emerging need. The sector is richer for your contributions and many staff who’ve learned from you will continue to support young people with the wisdom you’ve both imparted.
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Carmel’s parting words:
"It’s been an amazing journey and while I’m sad to be leaving the team, community and young people it’s time to wind back a tad and explore other options which is exciting. I’ll always keep supporting young people and wish Lorraine and everyone in QYHC all the very best. You are all freaking amazing!”
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Thank you Carmel and Dearne!!!"
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In Conversation with
Minister Scanlon
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Honourable Meaghan Scanlon MP will join QCOSS on Tuesday, 5 December to talk with members and the sector about how we can work together to provide all Queenslanders with a safe, stable place to live. The Queensland Government is committed to tackling homelessness and developing social and affordable housing and community housing with its Big Housing Build, and the single-largest concentrated investment in Queensland’s history to help deliver thousands and thousands of homes.
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This In Conversation is delivered in partnership with QUT Centre for Justice.
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Date: Tuesday, 5 December 2023
Time: 1:30pm to 2:30pm (AEST)
Where: Online via Zoom
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16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
25 November – 10 December 2023
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No country is within reach of eradicating intimate partner violence. Despite the scale of the problem and these worrying trends, financial commitments to violence prevention remain limited. Investing in preventing violence against women and girls is crucial to achieving gender equality by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
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The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that began on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and finishes on 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991.
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Submissions
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On 12 October 2023 the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee was established to conduct an inquiry to examine ongoing reforms to the youth justice system and support for victims of crime.
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If you’d like to make a contribution to this Inquiry and don’t want to write your own submission, you’re welcome to send your comments to add to our submission to admin@qyhc.org.au
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For more information click here.
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Submissions close: 10 January 2024.
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Understanding Social and Community Services
Workers’ Experiences
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The ASU has commissioned researchers from UNSW to complete a survey for Community and Disability Service workers to better understand SACS workers experiences, improve their working conditions, and pay. You can complete the survey here.
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Taking part in this research is voluntary and will not affect your relationship with ASU, your employer or UNSW. Please share this survey with your colleagues! If you participate, you will be given the option to go into a prize draw to win one of 5 x $100 Coles-Myer online shopping vouchers as a token of ASU’s appreciation.
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This research has been reviewed and approved by the University of New South Wales Human Research Ethics Panel. If you would like further information about the study please contact Natasha Cortis (UNSW) from the research team on n.cortis@unsw.edu.au. If you have any complaints or concerns about the research study please email humanethics@unsw.edu.au or phone +61 2 9385 6222 quoting the following number iRECS4629.
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CLOSING DATE December 8th!
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Human Rights Week takes place from 1-10 December each year, culminating on Human Rights Day - which this year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The theme this Human Rights Week is 'Universal means everyone' and we’ll be looking at what it means to protect and promote human rights for all. As part of that there's a range of events and free training on offer - check them out below.
You can also lead a workplace conversation about human rights, or use our supporter resources to help spread the word – there are plenty of ways you can get involved this Human Rights Week.
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Free training during Human Rights Week
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QHRC are offering a range of opportunities to learn about human rights this Human Rights Week, including face to face and online options - places are limited so register your spot today!
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The dates are confirmed!
Queensland Youth Week 2024 will run from Sunday 7 April to Saturday 13 April 2024.
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Queensland Youth Week (QYW) is an annual celebration of young people aged 12 to 25 and the positive contributions they make to Queensland communities.
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Each year, local councils, schools and youth organisations across the state host community activities and events designed to engage young people, highlight their achievements and celebrate the role they play in sustaining healthy, vibrant, inclusive and cohesive communities.
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Youth Week events will be promoted in an online calendar. Click here to register your 2024 Youth Week event or head to the Queensland Youth Week website for more information.
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The campaign is growing with allies across Queensland joining in support of Specialist Youth Homelessness Services. We’re requesting an increase to 2 workers for our 24/7 communal services for young people and a 25% increase in funding across services to ameliorate the decades without funding increases and to increase the capacity of specialist youth homelessness to respond to the growing needs of young people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk.
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Supported Accommodation Inquiry
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Inquiry into the provision and regulation of supported accommodation in Queensland. On 26 October 2023 the Legislative Assembly agreed to a motion that the Community Support and Services Committee inquire into and report on the provision and regulation of supported accommodation in Queensland. The terms of reference call upon the Committee to inquire into and report on the provision and regulation of supported accommodation in Queensland, considering: Residential services as defined under the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002 and other shared living arrangements, including but not limited to:
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- appropriateness of standards and their enforcement;
- provision of support services funded by the NDIS;
- provision of accommodation and support services to Queenslanders in this variety of settings, including if the current service delivery model by which level 3 residential services are provided is appropriate or alternative model/s that should be adopted and what role the NDIS should play in supporting these models;
- sustainability of proposed model/s, market constraints and potential impact on other government systems;
- resident wellbeing, including the differing needs of vulnerable population groups, and adequacy of current service delivery, quality and safeguards and oversight arrangements in place across all levels of government;
- the complex state and federal regulatory arrangements that apply.
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The closing date for lodging written submissions is Friday 2 February 2024. An information sheet can be found here. Click here to make a submission.
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Wellbeing professionals in schools
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Psychologists and other wellbeing professionals are joining our schools to support student and family wellbeing. Soon every state school student will have access to free appointments. As of September, this year, there were 453 Psychologists and wellbeing professionals in schools and more are on their way.
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Join QYHC in supporting Yfoundations
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WOW – 40 years of BABI supporting young people and families in the bayside! CONGRATULATIONS BABI and thank you team BABI for all you do to support young people.
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The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) has launched the Data Explorer, a go-to resource that reports on the wellbeing of Queensland’s 1.6 million children, their families and communities.
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Comprising thousands of data points and more than 20 case studies that showcase people and programs that are making a difference, the Data Explorer presents a holistic picture of child, family and community wellbeing in Queensland, describing their health, education, wealth, living, family circumstances, and so much more.
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The data and case studies map to the wellbeing framework developed by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), which sets out the six interconnected factors children and families need to thrive: feeling valued, loved and safe; having material basics; being healthy; being engaged in education; participating in their communities; and having a positive sense of identity and culture.
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The Data Explorer is an essential resource for everyone interested in children and families in Queensland - researchers, policy-makers, sector organisations, students, media - and it’s available now to explore on the QFCC website here.
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Intimate partner violence among Australian 18-19 year olds
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AIFS new research shows that that around three in 10 adolescents aged 18–19 years reported at least one experience of intimate partner violence in the previous year.
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This report examines risk and protective factors for intimate partner violence victimisation among Australian adolescents.
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Orygen and Mission Australia have released the Social exclusion and the mental health of young people: Insights from the 2022 Mission Australia Youth Survey report.
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The report examines the relationships between mental health and social exclusion among young people aged 15-19 years. Social exclusion was defined across four domains: housing challenges, relational difficulties, financial hardships and education/employment issues. Key findings include:
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- 60 per cent of young people experienced social exclusion in at least one domain, and 25 per cent experienced social exclusion across multiple domains.
- Social exclusion was strongly associated with poorer mental health and wellbeing.
- Young people who were more likely to experience social exclusion included gender diverse young people, Indigenous young people, those living in regional or remote areas, young people who speak a language other than English and those living in locations of lower socioeconomic conditions.
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You can read the report here.
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ACOSS Raise the Rate Report
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The campaign to Raise the Rate for Good is key to reducing poverty and inequality in Australia. QYHC is an avid advocate for addressing the appalling rates of income support. Poverty early in life is an indicator of long-term homelessness. Eradicating poverty is key to addressing many social ills faced by members of our communities. A level of income support for young people that that ensures they can actively participate, both socially and economically, is essential.
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The IT industry says yes to sector programs to solve its skills shortages and give young people a go at better quality jobs
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Communication is key to tenant wellbeing in public housing relocations
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For public housing tenants, having to relocate from their home is a significant and sustained stress. Even if the final housing outcome may be improved, the relocation can be a negative emotional experience which deeply affects tenants’ wellbeing, according to new AHURI research. The research, ‘Understanding the drivers and outcomes of public housing tenant relocation’, undertaken for AHURI by researchers from RMIT University, Macquarie University, University of Sydney and University of Tasmania, examines the drivers and experiences of tenant relocation from public housing in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Read more here.
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In 2020, David Pearson, the CEO of AAEH, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to better understand how communities around the world are reducing and ending street homelessness.
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David’s final report as a part of his Fellowship: Homelessness is solvable: How we can end it in Australia is now available.
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You can read David’s report here.
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Everybody's Home Report
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Across Australia, concern about the housing crisis has never been greater. Asking rents have been rising steadily for decades, and have surged to extreme levels over recent years. More households are in housing stress, and severe housing stress, than at any other time in our history. And the shortfall in social housing has peaked at record-highs as waiting lists stretch longer than anyone thought possible. Amidst these statistics are the experiences of people. More and more are missing out on the dream of a home, including renters who have been forgotten and ignored in debates about housing for years. They now face a housing market that has never been less affordable or more volatile as they are forced to spend record amounts to keep a roof over their heads.
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Crisis Accommodation in Australia
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Each year more than 160,000 people experiencing or at risk of homelessness seek crisis accommodation from Specialist Homelessness Services SHS. Not all can be accommodated, and many are turned away. For those who do access crisis accommodation, experiences vary significantly.
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New research, ‘Crisis accommodation in Australia: now and for the future’, undertaken for AHURI explores the different crisis accommodation models operating in Australia and found:
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- Many more people need crisis accommodation than can access it.
- SHS are forced to use purchased short-term accommodation, such as boarding houses, motels and caravan parks. This accommodation is often inappropriate and provides inadequate support.
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The National Trend of School Refusal and Related Matters
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This report, from the Parliament of Australia, about school refusal includes information on: prevalence, drivers, and impacts of school refusal; the need for a national approach to addressing school refusal; and barriers and opportunities related to addressing school refusal.
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Other Reports
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Innovation for Young People’s Employment:
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How to Tackle the Rental Crisis:
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AHURI on First Home Buyers:
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This resource has been prepared for teachers and community members who are caring for, or working with, children and young people who are survivors of refugee trauma, including intergenerational trauma.
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Human Rights Training
The Queensland Human Rights Commission is providing training sessions including:
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- Introduction to the Human Rights Act
- Introduction to the Anti-discrimination Act
- Human Rights Act for Community Advocates
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Find the dates and register here.
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‘Laying Down the Law’
Online Training
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Youth Advocacy Centre’s ‘Laying Down the Law’ online version of their highly sought after youth worker training program has launched!!!
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Fantastic training for those in the youth support sector that can be completed from your home or office.
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Responding to Young People’s
AOD Use
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In other exciting news Dovetail recently released a new practice video which targets Specialist Youth Housing workers and OoHC Resi workers!
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Introducing Real Talk:
About Sex n' Stuff
A co-designed relationships and sexuality education resource. Through a series of co-design workshops, True Relationships & Reproductive Health asked young people aged 16-25 what was most important to them when it comes to relationships and sexuality education. The result is Real Talk: About Sex n' Stuff, an evidence-based, inclusive, and shame-free illustrated booklet that empowers young people to:
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- Recognise healthy vs unhealthy relationship behaviours.
- Understand consent and communicate with respect.
- Have enjoyable and safer sexual experiences.
- Embrace their unique identity.
You can access the resource here.
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When sharing with the young people you work with or who access your services, please keep in mind that Real Talk: About Sex n’ Stuff contains illustrations of nudity and sex and is recommended for people aged 16+. You can print the entire PDF or select individual pages to fit your educational/service needs. Hard copies can be mailed upon request by emailing hello@true.org.au.
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You are some of the first people to engage with Real Talk: About Sex n’ Stuff and TRUE are relying on your feedback to make this resource as impactful as possible. Stay tuned for a follow up survey in the coming weeks to ask how you’ve found using the resource and its reception.
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What influences supportive peer relationships in the middle years?
This new short article summarises the determinants of supportive peer relationships in early adolescence.
It aims to help guide your work with young people in their middle years. Read more here.
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Coercive Control Literature Review
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INFORMATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
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Seeking Talented Youth Actors
Mind Blanks is a mental health promotion charity seeking young talented actors to become part of their acting ensemble in Brisbane and surrounding areas. If you know any local young talented creative artists who would love a chance to make a real difference in the community, Mind Blank has a wonderful opportunity to provide:
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- paid casual employment to support a creative career
- social education and youth development experience
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The Sleep Ninja App
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Sleep Ninja is a free adolescent focused app which helps young people improve their sleep. Over 6 weeks, the six training sessions go through the importance and role of sleep, raise own awareness of habits that are contributing to poor sleep hygiene and teaches behavioural and cognitive strategies to change unhelpful sleep patterns. Find out more here.
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Support Your Mental Health
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Smiling Mind provides daily mindfulness and meditation guides at your fingertips. Their evidence-based tools support people to learn the skills to maintain their mental health in fun and interactive ways. Find out more here.
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Helping Hands TV
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Helping Hands TV have recently launched a series accessible on 9Now. Vignettes are presented on the Benefits of Community connection, Young People and Anxiety, Paying It Forward and many others.
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AOD Program for
LGBTIQ+ Young People
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The Alcohol and Other Drug Program at Open Doors Youth Service provides psychosocial interventions to LGBTIQ+ young people between the ages of 12 to 24 who are experiencing problematic alcohol and other drug use, or who are impacted by the alcohol or drug use of others. Refer here.
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Everybody’s Home is a national campaign to address the housing crisis. It focuses on working together to call on Australian governments to bring balance back to the system, so that everybody has a place to call home.
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The campaign will be working with their 42,000 partners to strengthen the Government’s 10 year National Housing and Homelessness Plan and the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement. We simply cannot end the current shortfall without Government funding.
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Call to Halve Child Poverty by 2030
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Poverty affects far too many Australian children and families, diminishing their life opportunities now and into the future. As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, it’s just not right that 1 in 6 of our children grow up in poverty.
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The campaign calls upon all politicians to commit to halve child poverty by 2030. QYHC is cognisant that childhood poverty is strongly connected to homelessness as a young person and in later life. Addressing poverty is essential. Find out more here.
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QYHC is a member of Make Renting Fair Queensland. Ensuring fair rental laws for young people is essential, it is incredibly difficult for young people to access the private rental market.
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You can find out more about the campaign and become a supporter here.
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We’re also keen supporters of Raise the Rate – it is essential to keep young people out of poverty for them to thrive. You can find out more and join the campaign here.
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Young people and
housing in the news
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A snapshot of November media coverage of matters impacting young people including homelessness.
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