Austria

Youth information work in Austria is coordinated by the National Network of Austrian Youth Information Centres, a non-governmental body, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Family and Youth.

Youth information work forms an integral part of youth work. A legal reference can be found in the Federal Youth Promotion Act (Bundes-Jugendförderungsgesetz), which has been in force since 2000 and was last modified in 2018. There is no youth work law in Austria, as there is not just a single youth law but several laws for different youth-related topics.

While the Federal Ministry of Labour, Family and Youth develops youth policy and funds youth work at national level, the responsibility of providing youth work services (including youth information services) lies with the regional and/or local governments (youth departments). However, youth policy is a cross-departmental, cross-sectoral matter. This is why youth-relevant agendas can be found in all ministries. As of 2020, there are 9 regional governments in Austria, each with their own established cooperation network of youth work organisations. Youth services are provided by youth information centres, youth centres, youth clubs, hobby schools, youth organisations, schools, etc.

Youth information worker is not recognised as a profession in Austria. However,

“youth worker” is.

The qualifications required of youth workers differ according to the setting and nature of their respective jobs. The underlying competences are presented in the “Competence framework for child and youth work” (Kompetenzrahmen für Kinder- und Jugendarbeit). This framework systematically presents and describes at different levels how people act competently in their work in extracurricular child and youth work.

It covers open youth work, as well as children and youth associations in Austria. The Competence Framework translates child and youth work qualifications to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The NQF makes qualifications visible and comparable by the European Qualifications Framework across Europe.

In total there are currently 28 youth information centres funded by regional and/or local governments that together employ around 100 youth information workers.