- Youth Action Plan

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
What we are doing
What we will do

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.

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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 Wellbing 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.