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February 2021 Edition
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Being Just in Youth Justice
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Youth Justice is a major topic in Queensland at the moment with proposed tough on youth crime stance and laws being debated in parliament. The tragedies that led to the rapid shift in direction for youth justice responses in Queensland have had far reaching devastation for the families and loved ones of those left behind. Our hearts go out to them. Our hearts also go out to the children, young people and families embroiled in the youth justice system. From QYHC’s perspective, offending behaviours and homelessness sit within a symptomatic continuum of structural imbalances, poverty and social disadvantage. Relevant to this, is the reality that, in Australia, 1 in 8 young people are living in poverty (ACOSS) We know the importance of compassion for the countless children and young people who live in poverty and the many who are traumatised as victims of abuse or crime and act out their trauma in inappropriate and sometimes illegal ways. Read more here
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Platform 1225
QYHC is pleased to announce that Platform 1225 will be held at Rydges Southbank on Tuesday November 23rd 2021.
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We extend our appreciation to those who previously registered for your flexibility during the impact of COVID-19. We’re looking forward to a thought provoking day of presentations and conversations in person! Click the image to register now.
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Homelessness Think Tank
in Rockhampton
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QYHC was delighted to catch up face to face with some of our colleagues in Rockhampton last week, hear their views and seek further input into our projects. It was also a pleasure to attend the Central Queensland Homelessness Think Tank hosted by CHPQ and CTC.
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Over the two day forum, we enjoyed connecting with homelessness and support services across Rockhampton and beyond! Discussing collaborative practice, guiding principles and frameworks for the future as well as current barriers and challenges to the system, and how we can better meet community need ensured plenty of food for thought.
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We extend our thanks to Steve and April for organising this opportunity.
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Laying Down the Law
QYHC is joining with the Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC) to bring Laying Down the Law to specialist youth homelessness service workers. This 2 day workshop aims to assist workers towards an enhanced understanding of how the law works, particularly within the context of youth justice and child protection.
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- A framework for decision making which is cognisant of the law, child centred and human rights compliant
- Confidentiality
- Negligence
- Child Protection
- Police Powers
- Children’s Court
- Being a support person at Police interviews
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Venue: 55 Russell St, South Brisbane
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Cost: Members – free, non-members $150
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SECTOR/GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
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Maryborough and Townsville Scholarships
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Young people aged 15 to 24 years in Maryborough
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and Townsville can access up to $13,000 to undertake
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an eligible VET qualification at the following levels:
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Certificates III and IV, Diplomas and Advanced
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Diplomas. For more information, click here
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The Little Warriors Group
Brisbane Domestic Violence Service (BDVS) is running this evidenced based group therapy program for children and young people who have been impacted by and/or experienced domestic and family violence.
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The goal is to provide children with an opportunity to have a social learning experience and to form secure connection through a trauma informed group program. The sessions include: big feelings, managing change, protective behaviours, memories and worries, resilience, and sleep and self-care.
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Lotus Group
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BDVS also runs a free 5-week education and peer support program for parents and carers of children and young people who have experienced domestic and family violence. Topics include: what is trauma, trauma responses, impacts of trauma for children and moving forward.
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For more information on the Little Warriors or
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Young People in the Driver’s seat
With many employers requiring a driver’s licence not having one can impact a young person’s capacity to be employed. Braking the Cycle (BTC) is a volunteer driver mentor program designed to support learner drivers without access to a supervisor or registered vehicle to complete their logbook hours. The aim of the program is to provide young people with increased employment opportunities, community connection and driver education. BTC is an initiative of PCYC and is offered at 42 sites across Queensland.
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Braking the Cycle relies on volunteer mentor drivers.
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If you have an hour to spare each week, PCYC is looking to increase their volunteer driver mentor group. For more information click here
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Amplify - Young Minds Can't Wait Hackathon
The Hackathon is part of the QFCC’s response to the findings of Growing Up in Queensland 2020. Of the thousands of young people who completed the youth survey, 33 per cent said they have an emotional or mental health condition. Young Queenslanders also said that mental health was also a top issue through Growing Up in Queensland, with many sharing the specific barriers they face such as mental health stigma, the costs of accessing support, waiting times and the challenge of accessing services in regional and remote locations.
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At the event, 15 to 18 year-olds virtually and in-person will be co-designing a youth-led response to the mental health concerns of young Queenslanders. Saturday 27 February 2021
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L2/155 Queen St, Brisbane City
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Human Rights Champions
QYHC is pleased to support the work of QCOSS in assisting the housing and homelessness sector in implementing the Human Right Act and will represent youth housing on the stakeholder reference group.
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QCOSS is working with the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy (DCHDE) to highlight the sector’s commitment to human rights and build capacity for organisations to implement the Human Rights Act.
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QCOSS members are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to become a Human Rights Champion for the sector. Human Rights Champions will receive dedicated in-house training for their staff on human rights skills development, as well as an individualised review of policies and procedures to support human rights compliance.
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Click here to complete a short survey and register your interest in becoming a human rights champion.
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The Future of Youth Housing
Parity Magazine is calling for contributions for the April 2021 Youth Edition: The Future of Youth Housing.
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The aim of this edition is to discuss: the current state of the provision of housing for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and the youth housing options and models that are needed to meet their housing needs and requirements.
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This edition of Parity is sponsored by: Melbourne City Mission, Hope Street Youth and Family Services, Brisbane Youth Services, Kids Under Cover, My Foundations, Gold Cost Youth Services, YFoundations and The Queensland Youth Housing Coalition.
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Deadline: COB Friday, 2 April, 2021
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Word length: up to 1,600 words
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Zig Zag
Zig Zag Young Women’s Resource Centre Inc is recruiting a permanent part time Sexual Assault Counselling and Support Worker – Inala / Camp Hill within the Sexual Assault Program. This permanent position is 32 hours (4 days) per week and is paid at a QCSCA Level 5.
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Applications close at 9am, Monday 1st March 2021
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BYS Sandgate House
BYS is seeking a Youth Worker at Sandgate House The position is part time until 30 June 2023.
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Applicants will use the BYS Application Document package available for download from the website.
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Please mark applications to the attention of the hiring manager - Tracey Woodward and email complete applications to admin@brisyouth.org
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Applications close Monday 1st March 2021
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Australian Bureau of Statistics – Census Collection Team
An excellent opportunity exists for young people looking for work across regional and city areas in Queensland as ABS Field Officers for the upcoming Census. The work is temporary, all training provided and no experience needed. Young people with local knowledge are encouraged to apply. The ABS are actively trying to reach First Nations, CALD and young homeless communities, any working knowledge of local communities within these contexts would be a strong advantage!
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- Field Officer - (Contract/Temp)
- Work locations across all parts of the country including in Major Cities and Regional Areas of Australia.
- $24.80/hr (inc 25% loading) + Superannuation.
- Contract dates between 13 July 21 and 1 October 21
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For more information and to apply click here
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EVENTS
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YANQ’s Online Forum
From service delivery to community economic development, what is the role of the youth sector?
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A timely conversation given the employment challenges in a post COVID environment which have disproportionately affected young people and those facing social disadvantage. Focused on the theme Building relationships to improve the lives of young people, this forum will be an opportunity to hear from researchers and practitioners in the field and to network with other youth workers and explore collectively how we can support young people during these challenging times.
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18th March 2021 from 10:30am to 12:00pm
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Preventing Youth Suicide
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Working together to prevent youth suicide:
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The power of communication
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Research shows that young people 12–25 years are at the greatest risk of being harmed by suicide. Professionals play an important role in helping to prevent suicide and addressing the community impacts.
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This CFCA webinar explored local, place-based approaches to the prevention of suicide among young people and the minimisation of community harm following a suicide, known as ‘postvention’.
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To access the webinar & associated resources click here
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Creating Meaningful Partnerships
How to break down barriers to collaboration and create meaningful partnerships: Presented by Lottie Turner (Health Justice Australia) and Marika Manioudakis (Eastern Community Legal Centre), this webinar will discuss the value of investing in meaningful partnerships to improve outcomes for children and families.
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10 March 2021 from 1pm until 2pm AEDT
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For more information click here
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Housing and Pets
Housing and housing assistance pathways with companion animals: risks, costs, benefits and opportunities.
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This study investigates the policy and regulatory settings that shape housing options available to households that own pets. It considers housing and housing assistance contexts nationally across tenures, sectors (e.g. ownership, private rental housing), emergency/crisis accommodation and for diverse population groups receiving income and housing assistance support.
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Presented by Professor Wendy Stone
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(Swinburne University of Technology)
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3 March 2021 10am Brisbane
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For more information click here
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PUBLICATIONS / REPORTS / SUBMISSIONS
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Trans Equality
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Research released by Equality Australia shows overwhelming community support within Australia for transgender Australians. The majority of respondents were in favour of access to supportive schools and noted that religious schools should not be permitted to expel young people on the basis of being transgender. Furthermore, two-thirds of those polled supported the right of young people to access gender affirming healthcare support.
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For more information, click here
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Productivity Commission report charts change in social housing provision.
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Nominate your Local Hero
Nominations to Westfield Local Heroes are open until 15 March, with more than $1.2 million in grants to be awarded. Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with three finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation or group.
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Now in its fourth year, the program has already celebrated more than 363 individuals and their organisations. The successful heroes work in a diverse range of sectors and have a varied degree of experience. They include environmentalists, innovators, community volunteers and leaders, welfare service providers, first responders, essential workers, health and medical experts, educators, social entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs.
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BABI
BABI Youth and Family Service is commencing its strategic planning process for the next three years. They are keen to receive feedback from their partners and collaborators in service provision to young people and their families.
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Please assist by filling out this quick survey
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CAMPAIGNS
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$3.57 a day is not a new start
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After significant campaigning to raise the rate of Newstart to a more liveable amount, this week the federal government announced a $3.57 increase to the Newstart rate. That is just $44 a day to cover the essentials of life, including housing, education, food, health and the cost of job searching. As we noted in our opening article, poverty is the underlying factor in almost all social issues faced in our communities including homelessness, criminal behaviour, family breakdown, drug and alcohol issues and mental ill health.
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This tiny increase brings with it harsher mutual obligation requirements, including a return to face-to-face meetings with job providers, that will just make life even tougher for millions of people without improving their job prospects.
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This payment increase brings Newstart up to 41.2% of the National Minimum Wage – remaining well below the poverty line. When the Government announced its plan to introduce legislation to cut current rates of Jobseeker and related payments, Raise the Rate community generated a massive backlash. They then acted quickly to strengthen opposition to the Bill within the Parliament and on February 24th the Senate passed a motion calling on the Government to immediately revise their announcement and urgently increase Jobseeker to above the poverty line.
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February 25th saw the Government’s JobSeeker bill referred to a Senate inquiry that will report on March 12th. There is now a short time to ask our Federal Members of Parliament to stand up for those with the least, by legislating an increase that is more than an impoverished $3.57 a day.
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IN THE NEWS
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