Communities Division

In July 2004, DoCS established Communities Division to coordinate programs involving multiple government agencies and the non-government sector.

Combining these programs helps ensure better planning, integration and delivery of our community development programs. It also consolidates prevention programs targeting families, children and young people.

The division comprises a diverse range of functions, programs and strategies in the areas of community development, strengthening families, engaging young people and reducing violence against women.

Communities Division Youth Initiatives include:

• Youth.NSW - the NSW Government's website for young people and workers in the youth field. The site provides links to Government and community services for young people, as well as information about how they can get involved in their community.

Youth.NSW is a forum for youth participation and for the Government to hear young people’s ideas on a range of issues. For those who work with young people, the site offers links to research in the youth field, funding opportunities and organisations, and information on events and training.

• The NSW Advisory Council (YAC) - The New South Wales Youth Advisory Council (YAC) was established in 1989 under the Youth Advisory Council Act to ensure that young people participate in the development of Government policies and programs which concern them. The Council advises the Government, through the Minister for Youth, on matters of concern to young people and Government policies and programs concerning young people. It also provides a communication channel between the community and the Government in relation to matters concerning young people.

• Youth Action Plan -  ?????.

• Youth Partnerships Initiative – provides programs for young people from Arabic speaking and Pacific backgrounds. The initiative focuses on the areas of education, family support, and sport and recreation and aims to promote wellbeing through education, arts and culture and participation in community leadership and decision making.

The Youth Partnership with Arabic Speaking Communities works with Arabic speaking young people in South West and Western Sydney.

• The Partnership’s Programs include an Arabic Intensive Family Support project for at-risk families, leadership camps for young people and programs to help improve school retention rates.

The Youth Partnership with Pacific Communities aims to make a positive difference to the lives of young people of Pacific backgrounds. It works with families and communities to improve parental support and education and helps provide better learning and recreational opportunities for children and young people.

The Partnership sponsors the annual Pasifika Youth Day where young people come together to celebrate their cultures and access information regarding services, education and careers. Other significant services include youth leadership programs, initiatives to prevent youth re-offending and school retention projects.

• National Youth Week - is an opportunity for young people to highlight their talents and the contribution they make to the community and to draw attention to their issues and concerns. Young people are involved in all areas of development and management of the Youth Week events held in their local area.

• Youth Interagency Taskforce oversees the development of the NSW Government's youth policy. It covers participation, education and employment, sport, recreational developmental activities, health, safety and wellbeing.

The taskforce includes representatives of all the major government agencies dealing with young people, including the Department of Education, the Department of Community Services, NSW Health and the Department of Sport and Recreation and a range of other agencies