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The myfuture Video Competition 2010

The myfuture Video Competition 2010 is an exciting opportunity for young people to get involved in exploring careers and win cash prizes of up to $7,500 in the process. The competition gives young people (12-25 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. This is a motivating and exciting opportunity for young people Australia wide to explore their future in a creative and innovative way. Selected entries will appear on myfuture.

The competition is an Australian Government initiative and is managed by Education Services Australia who deliver myfuture.edu.au, Australia’s national online career information service.

Find out more

 

New body image initiatives announced

On 27 June 2010 the Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis, announced new Australian Government initiatives to promote positive body image among young Australians.

The new initiatives aim to build young people’s resilience to negative body image pressures and promote leadership on this issue in the fashion, media and advertising industries.

Find out more

 

Step up to the Prime Minister’s AYF Challenge

The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth has opened a new national initiative, the Prime Minister’s Australian Youth Forum Challenge.

The PM’s AYF Challenge is an annual initiative that aims to stimulate fresh ideas about how young people can connect with their communities.

If you’re 12-24 and you have an innovative idea which you think will encourage other young people to engage in their community, actively address local needs and promote a positive image of young people, why not consider submitting a project entry?

Winners will be eligible for up to $15 000 to put their ideas into action. The winning ideas will be documented on the AYF website.

The PM’s AYF Challenge closes 5.00pm AEST Tuesday 11 May 2010.

More information can be found on the AYF website.

 

Investing in Australia’s Young People

The Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis, has released the Investing in Australia’s Young People report.

The report was produced by the Office for Youth and is a stocktake of Australian Government activities for young people aged between 12 and 25.

It highlights the wide range of programs, payments and services for young people in Australia.

View the Investing in Australia’s Young People report:

 

High Resolves Program

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The Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, has announced funding of $50,000 for High Resolves to expand their successful youth leadership initiative. High Resolves will deliver the program to young people in disadvantaged areas through a mix of interactive simulations, role-playing exercises and small group discussions. Young people will be supported to meet the challenges they face today and acquire the skills necessary to become leaders in their school and communities.

For more information, please visit the High Resolves website.

 

Proposed National Strategy on Body Image

The Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis, accepted an advisory report to help the Australian Government tackle negative body image on 27 October 2009.

The Proposed National Strategy on Body Image, which includes a voluntary Industry Code of Conduct, was developed by the National Advisory Group on Body Image established by Ms Ellis earlier this year.

Read more

 

Youth Initiatives

As part of the announcement of a National Conversation to inform the development of a National Strategy for Young Australians the Government has announced a number of youth initiatives:

 

Join the National Conversation

On 22 October 2009, the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP and the Hon Kate Ellis MP, launched the National Conversation to consult with young people and the broader community on the development of the Australian Government’s National Strategy for Young Australians.

Read more

 

Giving Young People the Vote

The second Electoral Reform Green Paper – Strengthening Australia’s Democracy, was released for public consultation on 23 September 2009. Please visit the AYF website for more information on the public consultation process.

 

Feedback on the findings from the Body Image Consultation

Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis MP, launched an online body image survey to support the Australian Government’s efforts in tackling negative body image. The consultation ran between 6 May and 5 June 2009 and was designed to gain insight into causes of negative body image and gather practical solutions for inclusion in the National Strategy on Body Image. This consultation was hosted on the youth.gov website, with 150 submissions received.
View the findings of the consultation on the Body Image page.

 

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.

 

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)

 

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.

 

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. Read more about the Youth Development Support Program

 

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.

 

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)