Youth

Child Physical Activity and Nutrition Publication

The participation of 12,000 students in years eight to 11 across 237 schools provides the first truly national sample for a physical activity survey of young Australians since 1985.

Read the Child Physical Activity and Nutrition Publication.

Early Language and Literacy Development

Positive early language and literacy development can give children a window to the world, helping to ensure that each child can seize his or her potential for future success. During the first 3 years of life, the brain undergoes its most dramatic development and children acquire the ability to think, speak, learn, and reason. When this early development is not nurtured, the brain’s architecture is affected and young children begin to fall behind.

Read more information on the Early Language and Literacy Development Program (PDF 259 KB).

I Dreamt I was a Supermodel Resource

I Dreamt I was a Supermodel is a journal style workbook. Girls can work through it individually or in a group, creating opportunity for discussion and reflection. Giving tools to make changes about how they think and feel about themselves.

I Dreamt I was a Supermodel can be purchased for $19.95 per single copy. For any further information please contact Jane Geyer by emailing jane@idreamtiwasasupermodel.com.

Tools for Youth Workers

A set of ethics cards and ethics scenarios has been developed in Western Australia to help youth workers develop ethical thinking in their work with youth. Anglicare WA, the Western Australian Association of Youth Workers (WAAYW) and the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia (YACWA) have worked in partnership to produce these tools. The tools can be accessed from the WAAYW website.

There is a small charge for the cards; however, the set of 10 ethics scenarios, which can be used in conjunction with the cards, can be downloaded for free.

The Healthy Island

The Healthy Island is a free CD ROM resource for use by young people in conjunction with their agency support workers.

Designed as an interactive experience for young people to explore and understand information on mental health, self care, and getting support. The material has been developed under the guidance of a group including representatives from a range of community sector organisations providing services to young people, as well as academic and professional staff at the University of Melbourne with interdisciplinary expertise in mental health.

This valuable resource is being offered free to community sector agencies by the University of Melbourne as part of its community engagement program. To order copies, simply fill out and return the attached order form (PDF 324 KB).

Child Abuse Prevention Services Resources

Child Abuse Prevention Service's new range of free print and printable resources is now available. The materials are designed to promote key child protection, abuse prevention and protective behaviours messages and have been tailored for the use of specific groups - children, parents, teachers, councils and community workers, survivors of abuse, and those at risk of offending. Some resources are also available in Chinese, Korean, Greek, Italian and Arabic.

These resources can be viewed and downloaded/printed directly from the 'Resources' section of Child Abuse Prevention Services website.

Laying Down the Criminal Law

Laying Down the Criminal Law is an indispensable resource for anyone working with young people, not just for those who have studied social science or social work. It is the essential guide to understanding both the laws and practical aspects of working with young people in Queensland today.

This book contains 7 realistic scenarios, papers on various topics, information sheets for young people and many other useful chapters. YAC also offers a training program which supplements the book.

If you would like further information, please contact 07 3356 1002 or email at admin@yac.net.au.

Great Booklets for Indigenous Young People: "Your Guide to Dealing with Grog"

There are two great booklets with information for Aboriginal teenagers and parents about the risks associated with binge drinking and tips for having a safe and enjoyable night when alcohol is around.

Both booklets were designed for use in discussion groups and counselling and also for display in attractive boxes in Aboriginal health, drug and alcohol, youth and community services.

To download these books and for more information please visit Community Builders.

From Isolation to Connection: A Guide to Understanding and Working with Traumatised Children and Young People

This guide, published by the Child Safety Commissioner, Victoria has been written to help professionals, carers and others understand the needs of children and young people who have been affected by trauma through abuse and neglect.

Download the guide (PDF) today.

Touching the Future: Building Skills for Life and Work

Touching the Future: Building Skills for Life and Work, by Johanna Wyn, explores the goals of Australian education and of how schools should prepare young people for work and life.

The book is published by the Australian Council for Educational Research and can be downloaded from their website (PDF).

Measuring Outcomes of Community Organisations

The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth is undertaking a major project that will review evidence, practice and policy concerning the measurement of the outcomes of community organisations (COs), in particular the contribution made towards the wellbeing of children and young people. As part of this project, a discussion paper Measuring the Outcomes of Community Organisations has been completed.

The discussion paper will inform further strategy and project development work to be undertaken by ARACY in 2010.

Check out the Measuring Outcomes of Community Organisations report.

Dovetail Project

Dovetail is a new statewide youth and drug and alcohol sector development project currently being established in Queensland. It is designed to support any youth worker or drug and alcohol practitioner who may work with young people around alcohol and substance use across the state.

For more information please visit the Dovetail website where you can download a brochure.

New Citizenship Resource Kit for Schools Released

In November the Australian Government released a new citizenship resource kit for use by upper primary and lower secondary students. Its release coincides with the sixtieth anniversary of Australian citizenship. Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, said the kit would help all students to understand the significance of citizenship. He added that the kit would 'help students appreciate the contribution made to Australia by people from diverse backgrounds, whose journey to Australia was completed when they became citizens.

Download the Primary School Teaching Resource (PDF) from the Citizenship website.

A Snapshot of Queenslands Re-engagement Services

A snapshot of Queensland's Re-engagement Services present the finding from the Census of 'Re-engagement' Services in Queensland conducted by the Youth Affairs Network Queensland (YANQ) in 20008. The aim of the Census was to learn more about what was available in Queensland to support young people aged 12-18 years of age who were disengaged from Education and Training.

For more information please visit the Youth Affairs Network Queensland website to read the report.

Between the Lines

Between the Lines is a community for young people ages 18-25 that enables them to make informed decisions to reduce problematic drug and alcohol use.

Visit Between the Lines and explore the three key areas of the site, drug facts, the blog and get help.