Portugal

Youth information work in Portugal is coordinated by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ), a governmental body under the administration of the Ministry of Education.

Youth information work is an integral part of the mission of IPDJ, as established in its Organic Law: “Promote, create and develop integrated information systems” and also in the Statutes – “Encourage the participation of young people in sharing and disseminating information, respecting the principles of the European Youth Information Charter” (Decreto-Lei n.º 98/2011, de 21 de setembro and Portaria n.º 11/2012 de 11 de Janeiro).

The current structure comes from the former Portuguese Youth Institute, created in 1996, and the implementation of the National Youth Information Network, also in 1996.

While IPDJ coordinates the national youth information network, Lojas Ponto JA, the national youth and sport portal - ipdj.gov.pt - and a national youth information phone line, youth services are provided by youth centres, youth clubs, youth organisations, schools, etc.

Youth information worker is not recognised as a profession in Portugal. However, “youth worker” is, since December 2015.

As defined in the professional profile of a youth worker in Portugal, one of his/her activities is, among others, to intervene in the development of information and communication campaigns, national and/or international, about themes in the youth field. It is also part of the mandatory training unit on «Youth Information - contexts and practices, national and international».