Youth @ The Centre

What we are all about!

The Youth at the Centre national sponsors are: The Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal The Department of Human Services - Victoria For more information on this program, or the proposed National Youth Foundation please contact Michael O'Meara (National Co-ordinator) on 0418 505519 Or Y@TC News Editor Hayley Bester on 03 63932499 pr h_bester@iprimus.com.au. Or Peter Kenyon at Bank Of I.D.E.A.S (www.bankofideas.com.au) 0417183719

The following is a summary of the Youth at the Centre concept. Very shortly the site will be enhanced to provide: case studies on-line discussion tools & resources "Youth at the Centre" is a national initiative focussing on the retention of young people in rural Australia, and their active involvement in its economic and social future. While the project focuses upon school experiences which enable students to begin to audit and respond to local community need and opportunity, 'Youth at the Centre' also provides tools and program support for young men and women who have left school to enhance their participation in, and contribution to the life of their local community. Key Objectives: To highlight issues associated with rural youth retention, and the actual and potential contribution of young men and women in rural development. To expand the relationship between local schools and their communities through fostering opportunities for greater collaboration. To encourage the development of school curriculum initiatives and practical community development tools that enhance greater understanding of, and more meaningful participation in the life of the community by young men and women. To help create and support practical projects across Australia that enable young people to become involved in auditing and responding to the social and economic needs of their communities. To identify and encourage youth employment pathways that respond to new and changing community economic opportunities. To foster leadership and more enterprising attitudes, behaviours and skills among young men and women. To promote and support entrepreneurship as an option for young people in rural communities. Key Strategies Research and promotion of issues and Bank of I.D.E.A.S. associated with the meaningful involvement of young people in their communities, and their retention in rural Australia. The design and promotion of curriculum initiatives and community development tools that would enable young people to: discover and learn about their community. audit their community in terms of economic and social assets, challenges and opportunities. design and implement projects that build upon community assets and opportunities. reflect upon their community building experiences, and explore its relevance to new pathways in terms of employment and economic opportunities. Support for a range of pilot project initiatives across Australia. Creation of a clearing house, newsletter and website to collect and disseminate 'best practice' Design and implement a range of 'in service' workshops Creation of a Public Recognition Awards Program Establishment of a 'Youth at the Centre' Foundation Promotion of youth leadership development experiences Support for rural youth entrepreneurship through: school based entrepreneurial experiences based on the REAL approach (Rural Entrepreneurship and Action Learning) 'Rural Entrepreneurs of the Future' workshops Core characteristics of "Youth at the Centre" projects Projects supported through the Youth at the Centre should: enable fun, challenge and excitement allow participation by choice avoid pigeonholing of young men and women and generalising about their behaviour, opinions or ideas maximise the opportunity of success through adequate provision of information, training, support, resources, time and space address opportunities, needs and issues that are valued and respected by young people, their peers and the community start with the talents, assets and skills of young people, rather than their problems and deficiencies create opportunities for young women and men to lead and teach involve young men and women from the start maximise decision making and accountability by young people develop young peoples awareness of the social, political, economic, cultural and personal aspects of the issues affecting them make sense of, and demystify adult structures and processes build active and supportive working relationships between young people and other members of the community provide opportunities for training and skill development encourage opportunities to reflect and analyse their experiences The National Youth at the Centre Program is an initiative of the Bank of IDEAS, York Western Australia. It has been built upon similar international programs like School/Community Revitalisation (USA), School at the Centre (USA) and Changemakers (UK). It also seeks to enhance initiatives that rural young people, schools and communities across Australia are already undertaking to create a better rural Australia. Through support from the Commonwealth Dept of Family and Community Services and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and a range of government and private sector sponsors, National Program Coordinator and local youth facilitators will: introduce and promote the concept of 'Youth at the Centre' across the country design and introduce a range of audit and project development tools for young people to utilise within their communities support the creation of 'youth at the centre' projects coordinate a national reference management group comprised of young rural men and women facilitate a Rural Entrepreneurs of the Future Workshop in each state plan and coordinate a range of special 'Youth at the Centre' events, eg, facilitation training workshops etc Youth at the Centre’ will provide clusters of rural communities with a Cluster Project Officer who will facilitate and resource young women and men in the development of Youth at the Centre activities. In the first year, the clusters being supported include: Murraylands region, South Australia Great Southern region, Western Australia Yarra Ranges, Victoria Western Districts, Victoria Boonah, Beaudesert and Goondiwindi, Queensland Tasmania Tools developed through the project will be made available to all young people and their communities through an interactive web-site.