Youth Bulletin
Issue 16, August 2008
Welcome to the first edition of the source
Youth Bulletin for 2008.
This month’s edition contains the following articles:
AYF
On 17 March 2008, the Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Youth, released a discussion paper and launched a consultation process to inform the development of a model for the Australian Youth Forum (AYF), to be established as a formal communication channel between the Government, young people and the youth sector. This exciting new initiative will provide many opportunities for young people to directly engage in a dialogue with the Government about issues young people and the youth sector consider important.
Consultations took place around Australia with about 900 young people and 140 youth sector organisations and included over 50 written submissions. Consultations closed on 30 May 2008.
Outcomes of consultations are currently being analysed and considered with a view to establishing the AYF which will serve the needs of young people and the youth sector well. Minister Ellis’ announcement about the AYF model is expected in the near future. Information about the AYF can be found on www.thesource.gov.au.
NYW 2009
National Youth Week (NYW) is the largest single celebration of young people
on the Australian calendar and has run annually since 2000 as a joint initiative
of Australian, State, Territory and Local Governments. The overall theme of NYW
is "Celebrate and recognise the value of all young Australians to their
communities."
Each year a new slogan and design is developed to support the theme and reflect
the upcoming year's events and activities. The slogan for NYW 2009 is “Make A
Move” and the Week will be held from 28 March- 5 April. More information will be
available at: www.youthweek.com
(currently you can check out the 2008 National Talent Competition winners
there).
AFP
Communication the key to connect missing persons: National Missing Persons Week
National Missing Persons Week 2008 runs from Sunday 3 to Saturday 9 August and will focus on young people as a significant group at risk of going missing. The theme this year is ‘When communication goes missing, so do our youth. Don’t close the door to communication’.
Latest research revealed that young people aged under 18 years accounted for more than two thirds of all missing persons reports. About 20,000 people under the age of 18 are reported missing each year and research indicates they are predominantly female aged between 13 – 17 years, so this year's campaign aims to focus on this group, as well as increase awareness of the triggers, such as communication, that play a role in why young people go missing.
The reasons for young people to go missing are many and varied and can include:
- Mental illness (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia)
- Suicide
- Drug/alcohol abuse
- Rebellion
- Escape from domestic violence/family conflict or dysfunctional relationships
- Child abuse/ neglect
- Escape from school pressures, bullying
- Puberty/ peer pressure
- Abduction
- Homicide.
The Australian Federal Police National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC) had specifically targeted young people during 2008 through focused activities. In April the AFP supported National Youth Week 2008 by directly engaging with thousands of young Australians through online polls and at the Video Hits Live concert in Sydney asking them to ‘talk before you walk’.
Social networking sites have also been targeted with videos being uploaded on YouTube extending the reach to an international audience, and through the development of a missing persons MySpace profile.
The NMPCC website has also undergone a significant redevelopment to further increase awareness and engage young people. The website, www.missingpersons.gov.au will go live on the eve of National Missing Persons Week.
More than 35,000 people in Australia are reported missing each year - one
every 15 minutes.
Police define a missing person as anyone who is reported missing to police,
whose whereabouts is unknown, and where there are fears for the safety or
welfare of that person.
More than 95 per cent of people reported missing in Australia are located within a short period of time, but some 1600 people still remain missing more than six months after they disappeared.
If you think you have information on a missing person, or are interested in learning more about missing persons and the agencies which help them, visit www.missingpersons.gov.au free call 1800 000 634, or visit the AFP MySpace site at www.myspace.com/missingpersons.
Australian of the Year 2009
Nominations for the Australian of the Year 2009 are now open. For information please visit www.australianoftheyear.org.au.
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