Slovenia

Youth information work in Slovenia is coordinated by the Office for Youth, a governmental body under the administration of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport.

Youth information work forms an integral part of youth work, with its legal foundations established by the Youth Work Act (Act on Public Interest in the Youth Sector) in 2010.

While the Office for Youth develops youth policy and coordinates youth work at the national level, the responsibility of providing youth work services (including youth information services) lies with the local governments. As of 2020, there are 212 local governments in Slovenia, each with their own established cooperation network of youth work organisations. Youth services are provided by youth centres, youth clubs, hobby schools, youth organisations, schools, etc.

Youth information worker is not recognised as a profession in Slovenia. However, “youth workers” are qualified to organise, implement and evaluate youth activities, inform young people, defend the rights of young people, plan and conduct non-formal education activities and provide professional support to young people. The youth worker helps young people to acquire competences and abilities and contributes to their personal growth.

The National Vocational Qualification (NPK) for a youth worker enables young people with experience in the field of youth work to acquire a profession and recognises their knowledge with a certificate of competence to perform youth work as a profession. It is not possible to obtain a publicly valid education in the formal education system to pursue the profession of youth worker in Slovenia, so in 2017, the professional standard for youth workers was approved, which officially recognises professional knowledge and skills for youth workers.

In total, there are currently 120 youth work organisations (mostly youth centres) funded by local governments that together employ approximately 350 youth workers.