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Learning or earning: New education and training requirements for 15 to 24 year olds

Now more than ever it’s important to have qualifications that will help you get and keep a job and start to build a career. The Government is making sure everyone under 25 can get those qualifications – Year 12 or equivalent (a VET Certificate II at the very least) – by ensuring them a place in education or training wherever possible.

The Compact with Young Australians comprises a National Youth Participation (‘learn or earn’) Requirement for under 17 year olds; an entitlement to education or training places for 15 to 24 year olds; and changes to Youth Allowance (Other) and Family Tax Benefit (Part A) for young people aged under 21 without Year 12 or an equivalent qualification, making education and training a precondition for income support.

State of Australia’s young people - report released

The Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis, has released the State of Australia’s Young People: a report on the social, economic, health and family lives of young people.

This report presents a comprehensive picture of how young Australians are faring. The report’s findings were based on national data sources, existing literature, stakeholder interviews and focus groups with young people.

Overall the report presents a positive picture, showing how important young people are to our country and why it makes good economic and social sense for governments to invest in lifting outcomes for all young people.

It also highlights some areas of concern and underlines the important role that families, education and employment play in young people’s development.

View the State of Australia’s Young People Report

For further information please go to the Statistical Snapshot page.

Nominations now open for the 2009 Australian Vocational Student Prize

Nominations for the 2009 Australian Vocational Student Prize (AVSP) are now open. School principals and Vocational Education and Training (VET) coordinators have the opportunity to nominate Year 12 students who have undertaken vocational education and training as part of their senior secondary certificate.

Schools are invited to nominate students that have demonstrated outstanding vocational and employability skills, high achievement, determination and commitment while undertaking a VET in Schools program or an Australian School-based Apprenticeship.

The AVSP promotes the value of VET in Schools programs and Australian School-based Apprenticeships and recognises the benefits that can be gained by matching the career aspirations of young people with practical learning pathways to help them reach their full potential.

Each year the AVSP is awarded to up to 500 outstanding Year 12 students. Winners receive $2000 and a certificate from the Minister for Education recognising their achievements.

AVSP winners are also eligible for the Prime Minister’s Award for Skills Excellence in School. Winners of the prestigious Prime Minister’s Award are selected from the highest achieving recipients of the AVSP and each winner receives a certificate from the Prime Minister and an additional $2000.

The achievements of AVSP and Prime Minister’s Award winners are recognised nationally by the Minister and locally by schools and the community.

Nominations close on 4 December 2009.

To nominate for the 2009 AVSP visit DEEWR.gov.au.

For more information please visit the Prime Minister’s Award webpage.

Youth Across Government

To mark International Youth Day, the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, Kate Ellis presented an address to the National Press Club in Canberra.

In her address, Minister Ellis reviewed the achievements the Australian Government has attained for youth over the last year. Visit Youth Across Government for more information on these achievements.

Minister Ellis also presented a snapshot of the upcoming inaugural State of Australians Young People Report. The Snapshot shows us that:

  • One in four young Australians aged 16-24 years old have a mental health disorder with young people, especially girls highlighting self harm and unhealthy body image
  • More than a quarter of year 8 Australian students report that they know someone who had been cyber bullied
  • Young people are more likely than others to be affected by particular crimes, such as violence
  • Teenagers aged 15-19 years had the highest hospitalisation rates for acute intoxication from alcohol among all age groups.

You can find more information about Minister Ellis' address in the Media Release or read the transcript of the speech. (PDF 91KB | RTF 376KB)

Rock Eisteddfod Challenge spectacular!

Now in its 30th year, the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge is a unique and exciting opportunity for schools to take part in a dance, drama and design spectacular where the students are the stars. Nearly 300 Australian schools and 25,000 students compete in professionally staged Rock Eisteddfod Challenge® and J Rock™ shows across Australia.

Teams from 10 to 140 students plan an eight-minute performance around a theme of their choice and set it to music. Students, teachers and communities work together for months before competing against other schools at events in a 100% drug and alcohol free environment.

The REC went global in 1996 and now over 1 million young people have performed in the Global Rock Challenge on stages across the world. The event continues to be a celebration of youth expression, creativity, hope, persistence, health and talent.

The 2009 Rock Eisteddfod Challenge and J Rock tours are hitting the stage around Australia now. The curtains close on the 2009 REC at the Grand Finals in Sydney on 11 September and Melbourne on 18 September. Visit Rock Challenge for more details.

The Rock Eisteddfod is sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Job Guide on your phone

Job Guide helps young people explore career options and make subject choices. It provides information about a wide range of occupations and the education and training pathways that lead to them. It also includes useful information on the job search process, provides details of available government assistance and suggests where to go for further information.

Job Guide books and CD-ROMs are provided free to all schools with Year 10 students. Reference copies may be available through school career advisers and libraries. The Job Guide website is now available on your mobile phone at www.mobile.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au (phone charges may apply).

A Privacy Guide for Young People

To help young people make informed decisions about their privacy, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has produced private i, a privacy survival guide.

private i covers the privacy issues you may face such as: online social networking, identity theft, the scanning of ID documents at pubs and clubs, ‘blacklists', online shopping, dealing with telemarketers, and responding to requests for personal information. It also discusses the pitfalls to avoid, and where to get help if your privacy has been affected.

Download private i from the Privacy Youth Portal now.

 

2009 myfuture Student Video Competition is here!

The myfuture Student Video Competition is an exciting opportunity for students to get involved in exploring careers and win prizes in the process. The competition gives young people (12-18 years) the opportunity to submit 2-3 minute video clips that profile a range of occupations showing real people in real workplaces.

Entries explore the duties, tasks, working conditions and personal requirements, learning pathways and qualifications required of their selected occupation. Selected entries will appear on national TV on the Crew program and may be chosen to be published on www.myfuture.edu.au, Australia’s national career information and exploration website.

The competition is an Australian Government initiative and is supported by the Crew program (on SBS Television) and myfuture.edu.au, Australia’s national online career information service managed by Education.au Limited.

Registration opened: 10 June 2009. Entries close: 30 September 2009.

For more information, visit the Crew.

 

myfuture wins NetGuide web award

myfuture has been awarded the ‘Best Government Site’ honour for 2008 in the Australian NetGuide Web Awards.

“The myfuture careers planning site is slickly designed and offers guidance on how to get into a wide range of jobs. With the internet filled with questionable careers information, having an authoritative, non-commercial source of Australia-centric data is particularly valuable” remarked the NetGuide judges.

NetGuide is a monthly magazine for the non-technical Australian internet user.

See why myfuture is a winning website - visit myfuture.

 

Nominations for Young Australian of the Year now open

The Young Australian of the Year Award recognises and celebrates the achievements of young Australians who make us proud as a nation.

All Australians can take the opportunity to nominate someone for Young Australian of the Year, and you could help find the next award recipients by nominating someone you find inspirational.

Nominating is simple – nominate online at www.australianoftheyear.org.au, or call 1300 655 193 for more information. Nominations close on Monday 31 August 2009.


Youth Development & Support Program

The Youth Development and Support Program funding round will open soon. Click on the button on the right to read more.

 

Changes to Youth Allowance (Other)

Do you get Youth Allowance (Other) or think you might start claiming Youth Allowance (Other)? If the answer is yes, then you need to know Youth Allowance (Other) is changing and these changes may affect you.

From 1 July 2009, if you apply for and get Youth Allowance (Other) and you don’t have Year 12 or a Certificate II qualification, you will probably need to do further study or training. If you were already getting Youth Allowance before 1 July 2009, this will apply to you from 1 January 2010.

Go to the DEEWR website for more information.

 

What’s In It For Youth?
A quick guide to youth budget and other relevant measures 2009.

On Tuesday 12 May, Treasurer Wayne Swan delivered the Federal Budget for 2009-10. The Budget is the result of months of preparation and calculation, involving extensive liaison between all Australian Government ministers and their respective departments and agencies.

Check out What’s In It for Youth? to find out how this budget affects young people.
 

Young People in Primary Industries

With an ageing Australian farm workforce, there are lots of opportunities for young people already in, or wanting to get involved in, primary industries.

There’s more to working in primary industries than just being on the land. Primary industries also need scientists, economists, accountants, advisers, rural journalists and environmental professionals, just to name a few.

Find out how you can get involved in primary industries, and learn about issues affecting young people in rural, regional and remote Australia.
 
More information will be available on the Young People in Primary Industries page.

 

The Australian Youth Forum

A new chapter in conversation between the Australian Government and the youth of the nation kicked off today, with the launch of the Australian Youth Forum by the Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Youth.

The AYF is an exciting new initiative, which will enable young Australians to be engaged in discussions with the Australian Government about important issues. The establishment of the AYF shows this Government places significant value on the voices and views of young Australians, their creativity, unique perspectives and capacity to contribute to public debate.

You can get involved on-line at the new AYF website.

 

Australian Government - Youth Related websites (external links)