NSW Youth Action Plan – The Way Forward: Supporting young people in NSW Message from the Premier and Minister for Youth Young people want to belong and be part of the decisions that affect their lives. And that is why one of the best things government can do for young people is to listen. That’s exactly what we’ve been doing in developing the NSW Youth Action Plan. This Plan has been shaped by wide-ranging consultations with young people across New South Wales – with the assistance of the Youth Advisory Council. While every young person is different, many common themes have emerged from those consultations: young people want the best possible opportunities for work and study. They want to be healthy and safe. They want more opportunities to enjoy culture, sport and recreation. But, above all, they want to be taken seriously and treated as full citizens not patronised or blamed for social problems. This Youth Action Plan outlines many of the steps the NSW Government will take over the next four years to help achieve these ideals. Our efforts will have a special focus on prevention and early intervention, assisting young people who face problems to get help earlier before things get out of hand. The Plan also places huge importance on increasing opportunities for young people to participate in decision-making and in the design and delivery of public services. We value the fresh insights and perspectives that young people bring to the way our community operates – and we need to ensure those voices are heard more so that together we build a better and more inclusive future. Morris Iemma                                                           Reba Meagher Premier                                                                     Minister for Youth  Introduction Helping young people to reach their full potential is a high priority for the NSW Government. We recognise that young people need support to maintain good health and wellbeing, access to education and strong community networks. The NSW Youth Action Plan sets out the NSW Government’s plans to support young people over the next four years. Young people in NSW – the facts According to the 2001 Census: * 1,109,554 young people aged between 12 and 24 years lived in NSW, that’s 17.4 per cent of the State’s population * young people living in NSW make up 33 per cent of Australia’s total population of young people * around 2.7 per cent of young people in NSW are from Indigenous backgrounds * the Indigenous population in the State is younger than the general population, with 58 per cent aged under 25. Young people in NSW are also culturally diverse with 19 per cent speaking a language other than English at home. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in Demography, New South Wales 2003 the number of young people aged 15 -24 in NSW has been increasing since 2000. The ABS said that this increase is probably a result of interstate and overseas migration. Why a Plan? On 14 November 2006 the Premier launched the State Plan to guide the delivery of Government services in NSW over the next 10 years. The State Plan’s goals, priorities and targets are important for all people in NSW including young people. Of the 34 priorities identified in the State Plan, more than half have particular relevance to young people: * R1. reduced rates of crime, particularly violent crime * R2. reducing re-offending * R3. reduced levels of anti-social behaviour * R4. increased participation and integration into community activities * S1. improved access to quality health care * S3. improved health through reduced obesity, smoking, illicit drug use and risk drinking * S4. increasing levels of attainment for all students * S5. more students complete Year 12 or recognised vocational training * S7. safer roads * S8. increased customer satisfaction with Government services * F1. improved health and education for Aboriginal people * F3. improved outcomes in mental health * F4. embedding the principle of prevention and early intervention into Government service delivery in NSW * F5. reduced avoidable hospital admission * F7. reduced rates of child abuse and neglect * P1. increased business investment * P7. better access to training in rural and regional NSW to support local economies. * E8. more people using parks, sporting and recreational facilities and participating in arts and cultural activity. The NSW Youth Action Plan has been developed to inform young people, their families and communities about the results which the NSW Government seeks to achieve for young people and the key actions it will implement over the next four years to achieve these results. The Plan is for all young people in NSW, and it recognises that young people are a diverse group whose needs differ according to their background, age and interests. To ensure that young people had a say in the Plan, we went out and spoke to many young people and youth organisations across NSW. Some of the ways we gained input from young people included: * Youth Advisory Council members visiting young people in Wagga Wagga, Culcairn, Albury, Coffs Harbour, Macksville, Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Lake Burrendong, Trangie, Nyngan, Warren and Gilgandra, and consulting with more than 750 young people.  The Action Plan’s theme of ‘Belonging’ was informed by young people who completed a survey at these consultations on the question “Who can I depend on?”. * two online forums hosted by the YAC. The first was about young people’s attitudes to racism and gathered ideas about ways to promote harmony in local communities. The second, undertaken with the support of the Minister for Disability Services the Hon. John Della Bosca MLC, provided a forum for young people with disabilities to talk about issues that affect them. * the email alert service ‘Have a say’ at the NSW Government’s youth web portal at www.youth.nsw.gov.au The Youth Action Plan has been informed by consultations with the Local Government and Shires Associations and key State government agencies. The Plan also builds on the NSW Youth Policy 2002-2006, Working Together, Working for Young People. How the Government supports young people The NSW Government provides many services that help young people from health and education to community services and transport. We: * provide public and community health services, public and psychiatric hospitals, ambulance services, acute care, rehabilitation, counselling and many community support programs * deliver a wide range of high quality education and training services in schools and in NSW TAFE and help young people make a smooth transition from school to work or further study * work to make sure young people are safe and well, particularly those who are vulnerable and need help most. We provide services to help fix family problems early – before they get out of control – through our early intervention and prevention programs.  Through more than 85 Community Services offices across NSW, we also work to protect young people at risk of harm and provide care for those unable to live with their families. * provide various free and concessional travel entitlements and subsidies to students, jobseekers, apprentices and trainees and young people with disabilities. We are working to ensure all young people have access to the same range of transport concessions on their local services * provide a range of housing solutions for young people in need * provide youth-specific sport, recreational and artistic programs and services and Arrive alive, the NSW Government’s youth road safety program. Rewarding lives for young people The NSW Government wants young people to have opportunities for rewarding and positive lives, now and in the future. Specifically, we want young people to: * have opportunities to contribute to the decisions and processes that impact on their lives * enjoy positive and nurturing relationships with family and community, where they are valued, respected and supported * engage in education and training that is relevant and prepares them, in all their diversity, to succeed in the modern world * know and understand their rights in the workplace * lead healthy lives * engage in positive artistic, sporting and recreational activities that enhance their physical, emotional and social development and wellbeing * feel safe and be safe. The importance of young people participating In a Youth Advisory Council survey of over 2,000 young people across NSW, more than half of the respondents said they would like to have a say in decision-making at the place where they study and in the ways that services are provided to young people in their local area. More than half of the respondents also identified they would like to let government know about the things that are important to them. These findings clearly indicate young people want to participate and have a say on important issues. Providing opportunities for young people to participate in Government policy, programs and services that affect them is an important aspect of a representative and democratic society. The NSW Government recognises best practice principles in youth participation. We aim to: * recognise young people’s rights to participate in developing Government policy, programs and services that impact upon them * promote respect by listening to young people’s views and taking them seriously * build and maintain strong relationships with the young people we consult with * provide young people with appropriate and timely information on Government processes * build on young people’s knowledge and skills * recognise young people’s different situations and backgrounds, particularly those: o from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island backgrounds o from culturally diverse backgrounds o with disabilities o in out-of-home care o from vulnerable or marginalised groups * organise participation processes that take into account the needs of young people , such as training and transport * encourage young people to provide feedback on the effectiveness of participation processes. Young people have legal rights under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 to take part in decisions that specifically impact on their lives. These rights have also been highlighted in the NSW Interagency Guidelines for Child Protection Intervention 2006 – a document that outlines the child protection responsibilities of different government and non-government agencies. Where will we place our effort Young people have told us that they want to belong and be involved in making decisions that affect their lives. Young people are concerned about study, work, health and their future and want opportunities to have fun and get engaged in culture, sport and recreation. Importantly, they want to be safe and feel safe. Through those discussions, a number of common themes stood out: * Belonging to family and community * Learning and earning * Feeling good and staying healthy * Engaging in culture, sport and recreation * Feeling and being safe Belonging to family and community Most young people in NSW (63.8 per cent, Census 2001) live in Sydney. Most (around 62 per cent, Census 2001) live with their parents, with young men more likely to do so than young women. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that in 2000, 91 per cent of males and 85 per cent of females aged 15-19 years were living at home. The same report showed that 52 per cent of males and 39 per cent of females aged 20-24 years were living at home and that around 11 per cent of young people are either married or living in a de facto relationship. Young people are also a mobile population. In the 12 months before the 2001 Census, around one in four had moved house. Around 70,000 young people in NSW aged 15-24 have a disability, with around 17,000 being severely or profoundly disabled. On any given day in NSW, about 3700 children and young people live in foster care. What we know Young people prosper when they have strong relationships with family and friends and a strong connection with their community. If young people have strong relationships with their parents they are more likely to enjoy enhanced wellbeing. We also know that young people with strong connections with their community are more likely to have better school results, a greater sense of responsibility, good mental health and a longer life. Research tells us that young people can be supported by: * supportive community networks and local services for young people and their families * programs to help parents improve the way their families work * youth development and leadership programs to build skills and confidence and encourage peer support * mentoring programs to foster relationships with caring adults in the community * opportunities to participate in government, community and business decision-making * opportunities to participate in community events and volunteer for community organisations. What we are doing The feeling of belonging is important for young people. Encouraging and enabling more young people to be involved with family and community benefits everyone and will contribute to the positive results in education, health and safety which we are seeking in the State Plan. NSW Government initiatives that support the participation of young people include: * Youth Advisory Council: The Council, which is comprised of 12 young people aged 12 to 25 years, consults with young people, conducts forums on youth issues and provides advice to the Minister for Youth on issues of concern to young people.  * NSW Boards and Committees Register: The register provides opportunities for young people who want to help make a difference by being part of the hundreds of government boards or committees that deal with almost every issue that the government manages. Information on the register is available though the NSW Government youth website www.youth.nsw.gov.au * Commission for Children and Young People: The Young People’s Reference Group is one of the ways the Commission involves young people in its work. Each year, 12 young people under 18 years are chosen to help the Commission keep in touch with the views of young people in NSW. * TAKING PARTicipation seriously: This resource, produced by the Commission for Children and Young People, is for organisations who want practical advice about how to involve children and young people in activities, events and making decisions about issues that affect their lives. * Student Representative Council network: All government secondary schools and most government primary schools in NSW have student-elected Student Representative Councils (SRCs). Each region has a SRC network made up of representatives from local schools. There is also an annual State SRC conference for student leaders, including Aboriginal student leaders, from across NSW. A NSW SRC meets five times a year and also consults with government and community groups. * Student Wellbeing Initiatives: Schools offer a range of opportunities for students to link with key members of their communities through student leadership, student mentoring and volunteer activities. * Community Relations Commissioners: The Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Act, 2000 was amended in 2003 to reserve two positions on the Community Relations Commission for young people from culturally diverse backgrounds. * Transport concessions: Young people using private bus services in metropolitan Sydney and areas such as Newcastle, the Illawarra, the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains and the Lower Hunter have a greater range of concession options, with eligible tertiary students now able to obtain concession fares at all times on all services. For the first time apprentices and trainees and will also be able to obtain half fare concessions on private buses, while young vision impaired people will be able to travel for free. * www.youth.nsw.gov.au: The NSW Government’s youth website provides a space for young people to give their opinions on a range of issues including government policy and youth service. What we will do * Issue a Premier’s direction to NSW government agencies to apply the best practice youth participation principles in their dealings with young people. * Encourage and facilitate young people’s participation in decisions about the design and delivery of health services, through a Health Clinician and Consumer Engagement Policy. * Evaluate the NSW Aboriginal Youth Leadership Project. * Fund the Youth Action and Policy Association to establish the Youth Participation Grants Program, giving young people the opportunity to create and run local projects that also encourage their peers to get involved in the community. * Work with the youth sector to make sure that the Department of Community Services’ Community Services Grants Program and Youth Action Plan are better aligned. * Develop new contracting, planning and funding arrangements for rural and regional bus operators to provide better services and a more coordinated approach among transport providers. * Explore extending the range of travel concessions for young people in rural and regional NSW as part of the rural and regional bus reform program. Learning and Earning The most recent data from ABS is that around 336,000 15 to 19 year olds were in full-time education in NSW. The ABS data suggests that over 50 per cent or 192,000 15 to 19 year olds have a job. A comprehensive survey of over 5,000 young people in 2005, undertaken by the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research and Training for the Office of Industrial Relations and WorkCover NSW, found that 71.7 per cent of those surveyed had a paid job and 83.7 per cent of those who worked, combined work with study. Most of those who worked usually did so for less than 15 hours per week, with regular days and/or hours. About one third worked in the hospitality sector, while another third worked in the retail sector. Young Aboriginal people do not stay as in school as the general population and are less likely to have a paid job. What we know We know that positive learning experiences at school and TAFE and good results are linked to good health and wellbeing among young people. If young people lack literacy and numeracy skills, they are more likely to leave school early and feel less confident about their prospects. The education and training system plays a vital role in preparing young people for work and active involvement in the community. The NSW Government places special emphasis on: * increasing the level of educational attainment for all students * helping young people to obtain the skills to help them succeed at further study or work The NSW Government also recognises that it is important for young people to understand their rights at work. With less workplace experience, young people are at greater risk of being exploited and often have less bargaining power when negotiating with management. We aim to make sure young people have the information they need about working conditions, rates of pay and other work-related matters. What we are doing The NSW Government manages the education and training system and provides support to young workers entering the workforce. Education and Training With an operating budget of more than $10 billion, the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) provides high quality education and training services through a state wide network of public schools and TAFE colleges. Around 70 per cent of school students attend NSW Government schools. The Department operates schools at more than 2,200 locations across the State. Around 750,000 students attend the Department’s pre-schools, primary schools, central schools, high schools, colleges and specialist schools. Our schools provide children and young people with the foundations for lifelong learning so that they become literate, numerate, well-educated citizens with the skills and confidence to make a positive contribution to society. TAFE NSW is the largest training organisation in the southern hemisphere.  There are over 500,000 enrolments in over 130 TAFE campuses across NSW delivering over 1200 courses. In 2005, 134,463 young people aged 15 - 19 years were enrolled in TAFE NSW - representing more than a quarter of the total enrolments in TAFE NSW. TAFE NSW works closely with employers to give students, many of whom are young people, the skills that will make them productive and competitive in the modern workplace.  Career planning and individual support for young students is provided by the TAFE NSW counselling service. The Government recognises the importance of education in the State Plan. Providing an education and training system is critical in preparing young people for work and active involvement in the community. The State Plan and Youth Action Plan both emphasise actions to support the successful transition from school to work and further study. In the workplace In partnership with the Far Western Regional Development Board, the Department of State and Regional Development is running the YCREATE program to encourage young people in Broken Hill to start a career in business. To help young people understand their rights and entitlements at work, the Department of Commerce’s NSW Office of Industrial Relations offers a range of support to young people starting work for the first time or starting a new job. With a free advice line on 131 628 and a range of on-line tools available at www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au the Office of Industrial Relations provides young people with advice about their rights and conditions at work and help with important issues such as being underpaid. The Office’s industrial advisors can also help young workers compare the terms of other job contracts, such as Australian Workplace Agreements, against the award for their industry to help them make informed choices.  Online tools such as the Compare What’s Fair tool on the industrial relations site can also help. What we will do 8. Award NSW Youth Housing Scholarships to students living in social housing to assist them stay at school by offering scholarships worth $2000 each for spending on books, computers, tuition and other items that assist in their education. 9. Help young people living in public housing estates to stay longer in education and improve employment outcomes. In a two year pilot program the Department of Housing will be working with businesses, education facilities, schools and local community groups to help identify barriers to learning and employment and to develop ways to help young people into learning and employment at a local level. 10. Provide school students with access to an on-line careers survey to help with career planning. 11. Update the Stay Safe @ Work resource and the pocket booklet Starting Work? Know Your Legal Rights. 12. Run the Corporate Partners for Change Program, a partnership between government, industry, unions and the community to assist disadvantaged groups in greater western Sydney make the move from unemployment to work. 13. Run the Young BizStar Business Pitching competition for young entrepreneurs through the Department of State and Regional Development, with three business support packages each valued at $6000 being made available by the Department. 14. Continue the Young Entrepreneur Stepping Up Program, an ongoing program aimed at young entrepreneurs running their own businesses. The program organises mentoring, workshops and opportunities to network with others in the business community. 15. Fund projects under the Local and Community Transport Program such as the driver’s license training program managed by the Darkinjung Community Development Employment Program. This project helps disadvantaged Aboriginal youth on the Central Coast get a driver’s licence and employment in the local transport sector. 16. Distribute Offered a Job? Know Your Legal Rights as a booklet, on-line and as a podcast to provide information to young people on rights and entitlements in the workplace. 17. Expand workplace advice and assistance services with a Young People and Work website, a Look and Listen multimedia site, and a series of presentations at schools, community venues and careers expos. 18. Protect the 150,000 under 18 year olds workers in NSW so that employers have to offer wages and conditions that are at least equal to those provided by NSW awards and legislation. We will make sure that young workers do not have to bargain individually to maintain their existing penalties, allowances, training pay and training leave. Young people will also have access to the services provided by the NSW Office of Industrial Relations to enforce employment rights. Feeling Good and Staying Healthy In 2001, 76 per cent of young Australians aged between 15-17 years and 59 per cent of those aged between 18-24 years rated their health as excellent or very good. Just over 80 per cent of young people were delighted, pleased or mostly satisfied with their quality of life, with only four per cent seeing their lives as unsatisfactory, unhappy or terrible. Injuries are relatively common and are the leading cause of young people’s going to hospital. Transport accidents and intentional self harm are the most common causes of death with skin cancer, the most common form of cancer. The mortality rate for Indigenous young people is three times higher than the overall population. In 2004, there were 3,387 mothers aged 12-19 years, constituting four per cent of all mothers. Of all indigenous mothers, 21.4 per cent were aged between 12-19 years. What we know We know that young people value their health and wellbeing and adolescence is often a time of optimal health. During this time some young people may begin to develop behaviour patterns that may cause harm in the long run. Adolescence can also be the time when certain problems, such as mental health issues, first appear. Adolescence is an ideal time to address health issues before they become a problem and to intervene early for individuals with signs or symptoms of a health problem. The Youth Action Plan places special emphasis helping young people make good choices in relation to: * mental health * drugs, tobacco and alcohol * sexual health * nutrition, weight and exercise * pregnancy and parenthood. These areas overlap with the State Plan’s focus on mental health; smoking and risk drinking; and nutrition, weight and exercise for the overall community. We recognise that young people want services and programs that meet their needs, are youth-friendly, culturally appropriate, accessible and respect their privacy. To ensure that this occurs, the NSW Government will continue to involve young people in the planning and development of health and other government services. What we are doing We are building on the successful programs that came from the NSW Youth Alcohol Action Plan (2001-2005), the Drug Summit and the Childhood Obesity Summit to provide health services that aim to meet young people’s diverse health needs. We are continuing to help disadvantaged young people through programs such as Innovative Health Services for Homeless Youth, and youth-specific mental health, drug and alcohol services. Experts in young people’s health, such as the Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health, will help advise us on our programs. What we will do: Mental Health 19. The Government will focus on delivering mental health services that are accessible and relevant to young people. Of particular importance will be increasing the support for young people experiencing difficulties at school. We will develop an early intervention Youth Mental Health Service Model to provide a seamless, multidisciplinary services for young people aged 14-24 years of age with mental health problems and disorders. Using this approach, we will provide early access for young people to a range of health services, such as general practitioners, drug and alcohol workers and mental health workers, in a one stop shop. We will also implement youth-specific initiatives under the NSW Suicide Prevention Strategy. Drugs, Tobacco and Alcohol 20. We will provide young people with information about the dangers of smoking, risky drinking and illicit drug use through initiatives such as Play Now/Act Now – a peer education initiative about drugs and alcohol.  We will develop a new Youth Alcohol Action Plan and continue successful anti-smoking campaigns.  Programs will provide targeted information about specific drugs, such as methamphetamine, ecstasy and GHB.  We will also improve access to HIV and hepatitis prevention services among those young people who inject drugs. Sexual Health 21. We will work with general practitioners and sexual health services to improve young people’s access to sexual health services. We will continue our sexual health promotion activities, and will work with the Department of Education and Training to ensure young people continue to have access to effective sexual health education programs. Nutrition, weight and exercise 22. We will encourage healthy eating and physical activity to help manage young people’s weight and prevent obesity. We will support a range of activities that act on the recommendations of the 2004 NSW Schools Physical and Nutrition Survey. We will also continue the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy in schools to promote healthy, nutritious food options and to limit the sale of foods and drinks that are high in saturated fats, added sugars and salt. Pregnancy and Parenthood 23. We will support youth-specific health services providing information and health care to young pregnant women and young parents. This includes providing youth-friendly, culturally appropriate, and respectful antenatal care with improved access to midwifery services. In mainstream maternal, child and family health services we will promote a youth-friendly culture to ensure that young pregnant women and young parents receive the best care and support. Engaging in Culture, Sport and Recreation In an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey in 2000, 27 per cent of 18–24 year olds had done some sort of voluntary work. Voluntary work in sport, recreation, education, training and youth development were the most common areas of volunteer work among young volunteers, followed by welfare and community volunteer work. An ABS survey of adult participation in sports and physical recreation in 2002 found that nearly three quarters of 18–24 year old Australians had actively participated in sport or physical recreation. The ABS reported that about 20 per cent of 18 - 24 year olds had attended church or participated in other religious activities in a three month period in 2001-02. A survey on children’s participation in cultural and leisure activities by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2003 found that that 98.8 per cent of young people in Australia aged 12 - 14 had used a computer or accessed the internet in the last year. About 94 per cent had used a computer for school or educational purposes, 76 per cent for playing games and 70 per cent for internet based activities including email. About 84 per cent used a computer more than once a week, with about 33 per cent using it every day. About 67 per cent used the internet for email or chat rooms; 51 per cent for playing games; 93 per cent for school or educational purposes and 50 per cent browsed the internet for leisure. What we know By doing some kind of cultural, sporting or recreational activity, young people improve their wellbeing, become more resilient and have a stronger sense of cultural pride. Participating in sport also has important health benefits, helping to maintain healthy weight levels and promoting resistance to drug-taking and alcohol consumption. What we are doing The Government has identified Building Harmonious Communities as one of the fourteen goals in the State Plan. The Government gives a priority to increasing participation and integration in community activities. We want to ensure that young people have access to a range of opportunities to participate in cultural, sport and other recreational activities through: * planning, developing and implementing services that are affordable, interesting and challenging * developing appropriate transport infrastructure that enable young people, particularly in regional and remote locations, to join in the activities * promoting drug and alcohol-free events * addressing safety concerns, especially at night. Through the Indent Program the Government supports young people to stage music and other entertainment events for their peers. Grants are provided to groups of young people who demonstrate they have what it takes to stage a successful event. The young people in the program develop skills in event management and their community gets more drug and alcohol free entertainment options for young people – important for those living in rural and remote areas. Police and Community Youth Clubs (PCYCs) are a network of 58 Clubs and over 50,000 members across NSW. PCYCs host a range of sports, arts and leadership programs and help young people. Each PCYC makes sure its activities meet the needs of local young people and Clubs have areas for young people to relax with pool tables, video-games, air-hockey or table tennis. What we will do 24. Implement the Aboriginal Culture and Heritage Action Plan.  As part of this Plan, Aboriginal culture will be promoted in mainstream media by developing a framework for greater participation of young Aboriginal people in the performing arts, film, television and radio.  25. Use the Aboriginal Cultural Events Working Group to develop a strategic approach to supporting a number of key Aboriginal community events, including NAIDOC and the NSW Rugby League Knock-Out. 26.Acknowledge the achievements of young people living in social housing who have made a significant contribution to their community through the annual NSW Housing Youth Achievement Awards. The Department of Housing will offer awards in following categories: * academic achievement * achievement in chosen career * arts and culture * community service * sports achievement * special achievement award. 27. Provide opportunities for young Indigenous people through the Indigenous Performing Arts Strategy. 28. Use the CONNECTED program to help students in regional NSW get the chance to experience high quality art. 29. Support arts activities for young people though grants to the Shopfront Theatre for Young People, Music NSW, Powerhouse Youth Theatre and Urban Theatre Projects.  Feeling and Being Safe Around two per cent of young people felt unsafe or very unsafe alone at home in the day, while 10 per cent felt this way at home alone after dark. Nineteen per cent of young women aged 18–24 years felt unsafe or very unsafe home alone after dark, higher than for any other age group of either sex. Only two per cent of young men of this age felt unsafe or very unsafe at home after dark. This was despite the fact that young men were the most likely of any age group of either sex to have experienced actual or threatened violence (21 per cent). Young people were more likely than people of other ages to have experienced a break-in or attempted break-in (around 15 per cent). Young people involved in crime represent a small percentage of the state’s youth population. Information recently available to the Department of Juvenile Justice shows that for every 1,000 people in New South Wales between the ages of 10 to 17 less than 10 have a criminal matter finalised in the Children’s Court. What we know Being safe is essential to young people’s wellbeing. Experience of violence at home can lead to depression and anxiety, alcohol and substance abuse, and self-harm. Young people who live in an unsafe neighbourhood may be at risk of harm and have more chance of developing anti-social behaviours. Although only a small number of young people are involved in crime, they are more likely to do so if they are not connected to their family and community. For young people involved in crime, the best way to help is to make sure that agencies work in partnership with community support services and young people. Young people are also less likely to re-offend if they are given the opportunity to take responsibility for the impact of their actions through rehabilitation programs and alternatives to custody. To ensure young people’s safety, it is important that we address: * family issues, especially family violence, abuse and neglect * bullying * injuries * youth homelessness. What we are doing NSW is fundamentally a safe environment and the State Plan focuses on addressing the challenges of maintaining safety and harmony in our communities. We are improving the safety of young people at home, at leisure, in schools, on the roads and at work. We also have: * made Working with Children Checks compulsory for teachers, child care workers and employees in many child-related positions involving direct, unsupervised access to children and young people. * introduced more demanding requirements for getting a full driver’s licence. * required businesses to provide a safe workplace for all workers, including young people. * produced the youth version of the Charter of Victims Rights – Youth Version (2002) to help young victims understand their rights. * helped raise young people’s feelings of safety by addressing bullying in our schools and family and domestic violence. * We will continue to: * build cultural pride in communities, promoting positive types of recreation and improving access to transport.    * help young people in unsafe family situations by improving the response of child protection practitioners. * help young people who do not have safe and suitable housing with social housing, emergency housing and out-of home programs. * use warnings and other alternatives to formal detention for under 18s through the Young Offenders Act 1997. We are making legal advice available to under 18s who are suspected of committing an offence. What we will do 30. Support the Tirkandi Inaburra Cultural and Development Centre, a youth residential cultural ‘outstation’ centre for Aboriginal young men who offend or who are at risk of offending. 31. Provide diversionary programs for Aboriginal boys with intellectual or mental disabilities to avoid re-offending. 32. Support the Moving Forward and Negotiating Consent programs in schools and communities in Orana/Far West to support and train young people in developing positive relationships and to reduce the risk of developing abusive relationships in later life. 33. Develop a booklet What Now for Youth, a resource for young people regarding services and entitlements they can obtain to recover from the effects of being the victim of a crime. 34. Develop COURTWISE, an interactive website to help young people understand the legal processes they may face as victims/witnesses in court. 35. Over the next two years, deliver the Young Offenders Act training program to 24 Aboriginal Community Justice Groups to provide an introduction to cautions and youth justice conferencing. 36. Create stronger links between police and schools and prevent problems before they take hold, with 40 School Liaison Police in NSW high schools. It is expected that every high school in NSW will get at least one visit from their School Liaison Police every 12 months, with some schools receiving more visits depending on their level of need. The program will teach students about crime prevention and safety issues as well addressing at risk behaviour. 37. Adapt the Integrated Case Management program developed under the Government’s NSW Youth Partnerships with Arabic Speaking and Pacific Communities to assist Local Area Commands to enhance relationships with specific culturally diverse communities where there are young people at risk of offending or re-offending. 38. Develop a family work model and crisis accommodation supports for young people with complex needs in the juvenile justice system. 39. Make sport and recreation safer through the Sport Rage Prevention, Harassment Free Sport, Play by the Rules programs and child protection strategies. 40. Reduce harm associated with alcohol use in and around sporting clubs and venues through the Good Sports program. 41. Promote safe transport options for young people at licensed venues. 42. Teach school students conflict resolution skills as part of the peer mediation program. 43. Support Our Journey to Respect, an intergenerational violence prevention program for young Aboriginal men who have been, or who are at risk of being charged with a violent offence.  The program specifically addresses offending behaviours and aims to reduce the intensity and frequency of violent offending by Aboriginal males. 44. Provide extra out-of-home care resources including more caseworkers and specialist staff to strengthen the out-of-home care system to better support young people, their families and carers. Working together The five themes for young people in this Youth Action Plan are closely related. This means that young people, their families and communities, and government need to work together across a range of areas to give young people the opportunity to lead full and positive lives. A committee of senior officers from across government agencies will monitor and evaluate the effects of the Youth Action Plan. The Department of Community Services, with provide secretariat services for the committee. If you wish to keep up to date on how the Plan is progressing you can check on the NSW Government youth website www.youth.nsw.gov.au Young people who want to have a say, can apply to be on the NSW Youth Advisory Council or the NSW Boards and Committee Register. To find out more, visit www.youth.nsw.gov.au. Links to the State Plan Listed below are the 44 Actions outlined in the Youth Action Plan. The agency in italic next to the action is the agency responsible for the action and the codes below the action relate to the corresponding area in the NSW State Plan. List of actions and links to the State Plan 1. Issue a Premier’s direction to NSW government agencies to apply the best practice youth participation principles in their dealings with young people. DoCS State Plan R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities S8 – Increased customer satisfaction with Government services 2. Encourage and facilitate young people’s participation in decisions about the design and delivery of health services, through a Health Clinician and Consumer Engagement Policy. Health S1 – Improved access to quality healthcare S8 – Increased customer satisfaction with Government services F5 – Reduced avoidable hospital admissions 3. Evaluate the NSW Aboriginal Youth Leadership Project. DoCS F1 – Improved health and education for Aboriginal people R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities 4. Fund the Youth Action and Policy Association to establish the Youth Participation Grants Program, giving young people the opportunity to create and run local projects that also encourage their peers to get involved in the community. DoCS R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities E8 – More people using parks, sporting and recreational facilities and participating in the arts and cultural activity F3 – Improved outcomes in mental health S3 – Improved health through reduced obesity, smoking, illicit drug use and risk drinking. 5. Work with the youth sector to make sure that the Department of Community Services’ Community Services Grants Program and Youth Action Plan are better aligned. DoCS R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities F7 – Reduced rates of child abuse and neglect. S5 – More students complete Year 12 or recognised vocational training. 6. Develop new contracting, planning and funding arrangements for rural and regional bus operators to provide better services and a more coordinated approach among transport providers. Transport R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities P7 – Better access to training in rural and regional NSW to support local economies 7. Explore extending the range of travel concessions for young people in rural and regional NSW as part of the rural and regional bus reform program. Transport R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities P7 – Better access to training in rural and regional NSW to support local economies 8. Award NSW Youth Housing Scholarships to students living in social housing to assist them stay at school by offering scholarships worth $2000 each for spending on books, computers, tuition and other items that assist in their education. NSW Housing S5 – More students complete Year 12 or recognised vocational training. S4 – Increasing levels of attainment for all students. F4 – Embedding the principle of prevention and early intervention into Government service delivery in NSW. 9. Help young people living in public housing estates to stay longer in education and improve employment outcomes. In a two year pilot program the Department of Housing will be working with businesses, education facilities, schools and local community groups to help identify barriers to learning and employment and to develop ways to help young people into learning and employment at a local level. Housing S5 – More students complete Year 12 or recognised vocational training. S4 – Increasing levels of attainment for all students. 10. Provide school students with access to an on-line careers survey to help with career planning. DET S5 More students complete Year 12 or recognised vocational training. 11. Update the Stay Safe @ Work resource and the pocket booklet Starting Work? Know Your Legal Rights. Department of Education and Department of Commerce Aligns with the Goal: Opportunity and support for the Most Vulnerable. 12. Run the Corporate Partners for Change Program, a partnership between government, industry, unions and the community to assist disadvantaged groups in greater western Sydney make the move from unemployment to work. Premier’s P1 - Increased business investment. 13. Run the Young BizStar competition for young entrepreneurs. Run the Young BizStar Business Pitching competition for young entrepreneurs through the Department of State and Regional Development, with three business support packages each valued at $6000 being made available by the Department. State and Regional Development P1 - Increased business investment. 14. Continue the Young Entrepreneur Stepping Up Program, an ongoing program aimed at young entrepreneurs running their own businesses. The program organises mentoring, workshops and opportunities to network with others in the business community. State and Regional Development P1 - Increased business investment. R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities 15. Fund projects under the Local and Community Transport Program such as the driver’s license training program managed by the Darkinjung Community Development Employment Program. This project helps disadvantaged Aboriginal youth on the Central Coast get a driver’s licence and employment in the local transport sector. Transport Aligns with Goal: Opportunity and Support for the Most Vulnerable. 16. Distribute Offered a Job? Know Your Legal Rights as a booklet, on-line and as a podcast to provide information to young people on rights and entitlements in the workplace. Commerce Aligns with Goal: Opportunity and Support for the Most Vulnerable. 17. Expand workplace advice and assistance services with a Young People and Work website, a Look and Listen multimedia site, and a series of presentations at schools, community venues and careers expos. Commerce Aligns with Goal: Opportunity and Support for the Most Vulnerable. 18. Protect the 150,000 under 18 year olds workers in NSW so that employers have to offer wages and conditions that are at least equal to those provided by NSW awards and legislation. We will make sure that young workers do not have to bargain individually to maintain their existing penalties, allowances, training pay and training leave. Young people will also have access to the services provided by the NSW Office of Industrial Relations to enforce employment rights. Commerce Aligns with Goal: Opportunity and Support for the Most Vulnerable. 19. The Government will focus on delivering mental health services that are accessible and relevant to young people. Of particular importance will be increasing the support for young people experiencing difficulties at school. We will develop an early intervention Youth Mental Health Service Model to provide a seamless, multidisciplinary services for young people aged 14-24 years of age with mental health problems and disorders. Using this approach, we will provide early access for young people to a range of health services, such as general practitioners, drug and alcohol workers and mental health workers, in a one stop shop. We will also implement youth-specific initiatives under the NSW Suicide Prevention Strategy. Health F3 – Improved outcomes in mental health F4 – Embedding the principle of prevention and early intervention into Government service delivery in NSW. 20. We will provide young people with information about the dangers of smoking, risky drinking and illicit drug use through initiatives such as Play Now/Act Now - peer education initiative about drugs and alcohol.  We will develop a new Youth Alcohol Action Plan and continue successful anti-smoking campaigns.  Programs will provide targeted information about specific drugs, such as methamphetamine, ecstasy and GHB.  We will also improve access to HIV and hepatitis prevention services among those young people who inject drugs. Health S3 – Improved health through reduced obesity, smoking, illicit drug use and risk drinking. 21. We will work with general practitioners and sexual health services to improve young people’s access to sexual health services. We will continue our sexual health promotion activities, and will work with the Department of Education and Training to ensure young people continue to have access to effective sexual health education programs. Health S1 Improved access to quality healthcare. F4 – Embedding the principle of prevention and early intervention into Government service delivery in NSW. 22. We will encourage healthy eating and physical activity to help manage young people’s weight and prevent obesity. We will support a range of activities that act on the recommendations of the 2004 NSW Schools Physical and Nutrition Survey. We will also continue the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy in schools to promote healthy, nutritious food options and to limit the sale of foods and drinks that are high in saturated fats, added sugars and salt. Health S3 – Improve health through reduced obesity, smoking illicit drug use and risk drinking 23. We will support youth-specific health services providing information and health care to young pregnant women and young parents. This includes providing youth-friendly, culturally appropriate, and respectful antenatal care with improved access to midwifery services. In mainstream maternal, child and family health services we will promote a youth-friendly culture to ensure that young pregnant women and young parents receive the best care and support. Health S1 – Improved access to quality healthcare F4 – Embedding the principle of prevention and early intervention into Government service delivery in NSW. S8 – Increased customer satisfaction with Government services 24. Implement the Aboriginal Culture and Heritage Action Plan.  As part of this Plan, Aboriginal culture will be promoted in mainstream media by developing a framework for greater participation of young Aboriginal people in the performing arts, film, television and radio. Aboriginal Affairs F1 – Improved health and education for Aboriginal people. R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activity. 25. Use the Aboriginal Cultural Events Working Group to develop a strategic approach to supporting a number of key Aboriginal community events, including NAIDOC and the NSW Rugby League Knock-Out. Aboriginal Affairs F1 – Improved health and education for Aboriginal people. R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activity. 26. Acknowledge the achievements of young people living in social housing who have made a significant contribution to their community through the annual NSW Housing Youth Achievement Awards. The Department of Housing will offer these achievement awards to these young people through the following categories: - Academic Achievement; - Achievement in Chosen Career; - Arts and Culture; - Community Service; - Sports Achievement; and - Special Achievement Award. Housing R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities. 27. Provide opportunities for young Indigenous people through the Indigenous Performing Arts Strategy. Arts. Sport and Recreation F1 – Improved health and education for Aboriginal people R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities. E8 – More people using parks, sporting and recreational facilities and participating in the arts and cultural activities. 28. Use the CONNECTED program to help students in regional NSW get the chance to experience high quality art. Arts Sport and Recreation R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities. E8 – More people using parks, sporting and recreational facilities and participating in the arts and cultural activities. 29. Support arts activities for young people though grants to the Shopfront Theatre for Young People, Music NSW, Powerhouse Youth Theatre and Urban Theatre Projects. Arts, Sport and Recreation R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities. E8 – More people using parks, sporting and recreational facilities and participating in the arts and cultural activities. 30. Support the Tirkandi Inaburra Cultural and Development Centre, a youth residential cultural ‘outstation’ centre for Aboriginal young men who offend or who are at risk of offending. Attorney General’s R2 – Reducing re-offending. R4 – Increased participation and integration in community activities. E8 – More people using parks, sporting and recreational facilities and participating in the arts and cultural activities. 31. Provide diversionary programs for Aboriginal boys with intellectual or mental disabilities to avoid re-offending. Juvenile Justice R2 – Reducing re-offending F3 – Improved outcomes in mental health 32. Support the Moving Forward and Negotiating Consent programs in schools and communities in Orana/Far West to support and train young people in developing positive relationships and to reduce the risk of developing abusive relationships in later life. DoCS R1 – Reduced rates of crime, particularly violent crime S4 - Increasing levels of attainment for all students. S5 – More students complete Year 12 or recognised vocational training. 33. Develop a booklet What Now for Youth, a resource for young people regarding services and entitlements they can obtain to recover from the effects of being the victim of a crime. Attorney General’s Aligns with Goal: Opportunity and Support for the Most Vulnerable. 34. Develop COURTWISE, an interactive website to help young people understand the legal processes they may face as victims/witnesses in court. Attorney General’s Aligns with Goal: Opportunity and Support for the Most Vulnerable. 35. Over the next two years, deliver the Young Offenders Act training program to 24 Aboriginal Community Justice Groups to provide an introduction to cautions and youth justice conferencing. Attorney General’s R2 - Reducing re-offending. F1 – Improved health and education for Aboriginal people. 36. Create stronger links between police and schools and prevent problems before they take hold, with 40 School Liaison Police in NSW high schools. It is expected that every high school in NSW will get at least one visit from their School Liaison Police every 12 months, with some schools receiving more visits depending on their level of need. The program will teach students about crime prevention and safety issues as well addressing at risk behaviour. Police F4 – Embedding the principle of prevention and early intervention into Government service delivery in NSW. 37. Adapt the Integrated Case Management program developed under the Government’s NSW Youth Partnerships with Arabic Speaking and Pacific Communities to assist Local Area Commands to enhance relationships with specific culturally diverse communities where there are young people at risk of offending or re-offending. Police R2 – Reducing re-offending F4 - Embedding the principle of prevention and early intervention into Government service delivery in NSW. 38. Develop a family work model and crisis accommodation supports for young people with complex needs in the juvenile justice system. Department of Juvenille Justice. R2 – Reducing re-offending 39. Make sport and recreation safer through the Sport Rage Prevention, Harassment Free Sport, Play by the Rules programs and child protection strategies. Arts, Sport and Recreation R4 - Increased participation and integration in community activities. E8 - More people using parks, sporting and recreational facilities and participating in the arts and cultural activity. 40. Reduce harm associated with alcohol use in and around sporting clubs and venues through the Good Sports program. Arts, Sport and Recreation R3 - Reduced levels of anti-social behaviour. 41. Promote safe transport options for young people at licensed venues. Arts, Sport and Recreation S7 – Safer roads 42. Teach school students conflict resolution skills as part of the peer mediation program. DET S4 – Increasing levels of attainment for all students S5 – More students complete Year 12 or recognised vocational training 43. Support Our Journey to Respect, an intergenerational violence prevention program for young Aboriginal men who have been, or who are at risk of being charged with a violent offence. The program specifically addresses offending behaviours and aims to reduce the intensity and frequency of violent offending by Aboriginal males. Juvenile Justice R1 – Reduced rates of crime, particularly violent crime. R2 - Reducing re-offending. F1 – Improved health and education for Aboriginal people. 44. Provide extra out-of-home care resources including more caseworkers and specialist staff to strengthen the out-of-home care system to better support young people, their families and carers. DoCS F7 - Reduced rates of child abuse and neglect. F6 - Increased proportion of children with skills for life and learning at school entry.