ISSUE 18 / APRIL - MAY 2012
Young people and the environment
National Young Leaders Day review Is age just a number? New trends in indie music
news • opportunities • action • opinion
unleash 18
contents
unleash is YAPA’s magazine of youth opinion and action.
Belinda Miranda explores the new wave of indie hip-hop 06
If you are under 20, unleash gives you the opportunity to express your opinions on issues that concern you. It also supports and encourages you to take positive action to improve your community and young people’s lives.
Julie Melrose believes that it’s time for us to advocate for the rights of future generations to enjoy a healthy planet
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Cameron Howlett explains how our environment can affect our happiness
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Dean introduces us to Parkour: a new way of perceiving our built environment
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Matthew Meharg and Allie Burnie question the relevance of the HSC in 2012
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(You)th express artwork by Beatrix Butterfly Rowe
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Age is just a number to Naomi Kroll
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Emily Meller looks at current Australian laws affecting young people
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get unleash unleash is published 6 times each year. See the subscription details on the inside back cover, or go to www.yapa.org.au/unleash
unleash work experience student Simran Hingorani attends National Young Leaders Day
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Flynn Colby thinks that we need to distinguish between ‘biggies’ and ‘littlies’
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feedback We want to hear what you like, what you don’t like, and what you would like, in unleash. We also want to hear what you think about the issues discussed in unleash. Here’s how: • email: unleash@yapa.org.au
Past unleash editor Jess Carter reviews Moree Superstar
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YAPA’s Emily Jones wraps up another round of YOUth Represent
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April - May 2012
editor Erin Fouracre
coordinator Nick Manning
graphic design Emma-Lee Crane, Milk Thieves Art & Design www.milkthieves.com.au YAPA, the Youth Action & Policy Association NSW Inc, is the peak organisation representing young people & youth services in NSW. YAPA is not religious and not party political. YAPA receives core funding from the NSW Government - Department of Family and Community Services. More at www.yapa.org.au/yapa
• voicemail: leave a message on the unleash feedback line (02) 9281 5522 – ext. 4 or toll free (NSW landlines only) 1800 627 323 – ext. 4 contribute unleash is a space for young people aged 12-19. See how you can contribute on page 19, or go to www.yapa.org.au/unleash advertise If you would like to advertise in unleash, please contact Nick Manning at YAPA on (02) 9281 5522 – ext. 4 or email unleash@yapa.org.au. legalities unleash is © Copyright YAPA 2012. Individual articles are copyright the individual authors. Contact us if you would like to copy something from unleash.
news EDITOR’S word OPPORTUNITIES unleash YOURSELF!
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front cover
This edition’s cover art is by sixteen year old aspiring illustrator, Rachel Marriott.
Opinions are the author’s and not necessarily YAPA’s. contact us Erin Fouracre - Editor unleash magazine Youth Action & Policy Association NSW Inc Suite 403, 64-76 Kippax Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 unleash@yapa.org.au (02) 9281 5522 - ext. 4 or tollfree (NSW landlines only) 1800 627 323 fax (02) 9281 5588 www.yapa.org.au/unleash printed on 100% recycled paper
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unleash April - May 2012
Rachel will receive a $50 gift voucher for letting us publish her artwork! If you are under 20 years and would like us to consider your art, in any form, for a future front cover of unleash, email unleash@yapa.org.au.
opinion
“As young people, we’re being fed information about climate change and what it’s doing to our environment. The science actually shows that humans aren’t the ones doing damage to the environment. So, the government isn’t really looking into the science that much, which causes more damage to the debate. All in all, I don’t believe it’s human-made. We should know both sides.”
“To be frank, no - there is very little representation of young people in the environmental debate. This is ironic, seeing as we are the ones who have to deal with the actual effects of climate change. It seems that it is not until young people are given the power to vote that they are truly considered in policy debate.” Jake, 18, Cronulla NSW
“Young people have a very visible presence on the international and national level of the climate debate, especially at UN climate talks. However, they are largely seen as activists and protesters, rather than future leaders who should be included in key decision-making processes. National governments should have a youth representative on their negotiating team in order to represent the interests of young people and future generations, and to ensure intergenerational equity.”
Majekah, 14, Castle Hill NSW
Do you think the current climate policy debate reflects the concerns of young people? “Older people can learn a lot from the younger generation. It can get frustrating when old people try to represent young people without even listening to them.”
Johnathan, 16, Guildford NSW
“The younger generations will be most affected as climate change accelerates. Action should be taken now for the benefit of future generations.”
David, 16, Merrylands NSW
Tahnii, 13, Willoughby NSW
Seb, 14, Mangerton NSW
“Yes and no. I hear a lot of talk about taxes and stuff…but it’s all pretty confusing. It’s not explained in a way that is relevant to us. But then again, I guess it’s our job to find out about it and get more involved in the debate.”
“Maybe it reflects our concerns, but there isn’t really any representation by young people in the media… I think we should have more of a say, seeing as we are the ones who will deal with the impact.”
Julie Melrose, 24, Ainslie ACT See Julie’s article on page 7
April - May 2012 unleash
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(you)th in the news
unleash’s take on how young people made the news in the last month or so... and any extras that might be relevant to you(th)! Teachers urged to address porn factor Sarah, 18, was shocked by her first sexual experience. Her partner, who had seemed like a nice guy, treated her roughly and disrespectfully. She had not consented to some of what happened and did not enjoy it. In high school sex education classes, Sarah had learnt about contraception and sexually transmitted infections. There was also some discussion about intimacy and relationships, but nothing to warn her of a disturbing new trend: many young men are watching pornography and then replicating some of the aggressive behaviour they observe with their sexual partners. When researchers Dr David Corlett and Maree Crabbe filmed 140 interviews with young people, academics, and those working in the porn industry, they found that pornography was not only widely accessed by teenagers, but had become more violent in recent years. It often portrayed coercive and abusive treatment of women. smh.com.au 13/2/12
Educating young people about developing healthy intimate relationships is just as important as educating them on contraception and sexually transmitted diseases. This is a worrying trend, and I think there needs to be more of a dialogue in schools about what is and isn’t acceptable sexual behaviour. - Erin
Ads are targeting alcopops drinkers on trainer wheels, says expert A two litre cask of Irish cream and butterscotch liqueur, a pack of 28 brightly coloured shots with flavours such as “chocolate banana split”, and free nail polish with every bottle of sparkling wine. Easy-to-drink products, along with social media marketing and product placement, are part of a growing trend of alcohol marketing to teenagers, according to a leading public health expert. Professor Mike Daube said sweet, creamy and brightly coloured products were “alcopops for drinkers on trainer wheels”. smh.com.au 28/1/12
Pub with no staff: young Australians steer clear of dirty work
Meanwhile, closer to home unleash congratulates Hawkesbury 2012 Young Citizen of the Year recipient (and unleash reader) Melissa Wolfshoerndl. Melissa completed year twelve at Colo High School last year and lead her student body as member of the SRC. She represents Hawkesbury City Council on YAPA’s Outburst! Western Sydney Youth Forum, volunteers at Hawkesbury Community Outreach Services, participated in the Lions Club Youth of the Year Quest, and is a nursing home volunteer. Melissa is passionate about providing a voice for the young people of the Hawkesbury; in 2009 and 2010, she organised a drug and alcohol-free year ten after party for all Hawkesbury High School students completing their school certificate.
Congratulations Melissa! All of us at YAPA are very proud! - Erin 4
unleash April - May 2012
Pulling beers and waiting on tables is a quintessential part of student life, but young Australians are turning their nose up at dirty bar work. While youth unemployment is rising, the federal government is considering importing thousands of overseas bartenders, chefs, and waiters to fill the jobs the industry says locals do not want. But the government’s plan reeked of laziness on behalf of employers, not young people, said expert Bill Mitchell of University of Newcastle. Despite an overall jobless rate of 5.2%, teenage unemployment jumped from 13.6% in 2008 to 17.3% in 2011 and more than a quarter of workers aged 15-24 are either unemployed or underemployed. Young people were simply less willing to work in service jobs these days, the Tourism and Transport Forum’s John Lee said. “… young people seek work in information-technology rather than cleaning toilets or serving drinks.’’ smh.com.au 28/1/12
Are you ditching dirty work in favour of other ‘cleaner’ industries? If so, why? Email me at unleash@yapa.org.au - Erin
More news, and links to full articles are at: www.yapa.org.au/youth/news.php. PDF readers: Click the link at the end of the item.
editor’s word
By unleash editor, Erin Fouracre.
I decided that we should have an environment themed edition of unleash whilst watching a TV debate on climate change policy. There were journalists, politicians, scientists and skeptics, all fervently arguing their points of view. Clutching the remote, I grew increasingly uneasy: something was missing from the dialogue, something very important.
That something was the voice of young people. It seemed quite strange; the group that was absent in the debate happened to be the group that will, in the future, be most harshly affected by its outcome. On page three I asked what you think about this. And, just as I thought, many of you feel unrepresented when it comes to public debate on environmental policy. Eighteen year old Jake, for example, made the interesting point, “it seems that it is not until young people are given the power to vote that they are truly considered in policy debate.” On page seven, Julie Melrose talks us through how to change this, providing us with a step-by-step guide on how to have a stronger voice on the environmental issues that affect us. Cameron delves into how our environment can affect our happiness on page eight, while Dean encourages us to challenge the way we perceive our built environment through parkour on page nine. Also in this edition, unleash’s own work experience gal, Simran, reviews National Young Leaders Day - you can check out her article on page fourteen. Enjoy!
Erin
Congratulations to Emily Meller! Her article on the Lost Voice of Young Australians has scored her a $50 gift voucher to the store of her choice. You can check out Emily’s article on page thirteen of this edition.
If you would like to contribute to unleash, or just want to say hi, email Erin at unleash@yapa.org.au April - May 2012 unleash
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opinion
By fifteen year old Belinda Miranda, who is loving the new hybrid of rap and indie music… and thinks you will too. Indie culture. Most of us know what it is, much to the dismay of those who fit into this scene. To their disappointment, indie culture has officially hit the mainstream. But for those who do not know what indie is (for example, those who have been living in the South Pole for the past few years!), the main identifiers of being indie are as follows: the clothes you wear (I call it ‘The Urban Granny’); your inexplicable and unconditional hatred of all things mainstream; and the music you listen to. Music is a big part of being indie. It used to be that if you wanted to listen to indie music, you had to seek it out for yourself; you had to immerse yourself in the scene and devote yourself wholeheartedly to the cause. You needed to be willing to attend all the seedy gigs, trudge through the city to the best hole-in-the-wall record shops, as well as make connections with artsy-fartsy friends who were critical players in keeping your musical education up to date. Now, with the growth of the internet and Tumblr!, the scene has changed.
When indie hit the mainstream you could hear the sound of thousands of sweet, tortured, pretentious hearts breaking. Yet a beast within was also awoken, with a hunger to find a new sound that would allow these souls to bask in their beloved side-stream scene once more. And they found it: a sound that was not only completely outrageous but also a genre that nobody expected indie kids to make their own. It was new wave hip hop/rap. You’re probably thinking that hip hop/rap from indie rock is quite a leap in genres; hip hop/rap was an outlet for an entire generation of inner-city black youths, while indie was reserved for the disillusioned middle-class white kids of suburbia. But they actually have more in common than you might think. Both started as side-stream movements fixed in the underground, and each slowly paved its path into the mainstream.
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Allow me to explain the logic of the choice. These side-stream paddlers, in choosing hip-hop/rap, are securing themselves a music genre that can never be fully accepted in society or, perhaps more importantly, hit the mainstream. The reason for this is because of its brutal lyrical content. An example of this is Odd Future, with the infamous leader Tyler the Creator. The group, also known as OFWGKTADGAF (Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All Don’t Give A Fu*k), was first picked up by Pitchfork Media. Even though this group is of the hip hop/ rap genre, their sound and the chaos it unleashes - seems to fit into more of a legacy of rock radicalism than fitting into rap history. Yes, there is misogynous repugnance of the most intense kind, and there is suicidal anguish. The tunes are ghoulish but can also be rather gorgeous, with the severe piano lines and pillowy keyboards. It may be insanely rude and crammed with explicit language, but really, these lyrics are just the verbalised emotions and thoughts of a pack of seventeen to twenty-four year olds who have been through a lot. As an indie youth myself, I’ve been loving this new wave of indie hip hop/rap. It’s creative, original, boundary pushing and that… is pretty damn exciting.
how to
HOW TO: HAVE A VOICE
ON THE FUTURE OF OUR PLANET By Julie Melrose, who thinks that you are never too young to stand up and make your voice heard on decisions that affect our environment. Twenty years ago, when the first 1992 Rio “Earth Summit” (an event that kicked off the modern global environmental movement) was held, I was just five years old. In my youth I was blissfully unaware of the enormous challenge of dangerous climate change that the world was facing. When the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development takes place in June of this year, I will be almost 25 years old. I have the historic opportunity to help define pathways to a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for us all. A leaked document, quoted by the UK Guardian on January 10, revealed some of the big ideas that Rio+20 will have on the table. World leaders will be called on to sign up for ten new sustainable development goals for the planet, with a promise to build green economies. They will also be asked to negotiate a new agreement to protect oceans, approve an annual State of the Planet Report, set up a major world agency for the environment, and appoint a global ‘Ombudsperson’, or high commissioner, for future generations.
It’s time for young people to reclaim our future and advocate for the rights of future generations to enjoy a healthy planet. You are never too young to stand up and make your voice heard on matters that impact your future.
Do you want to do something, but simply don’t know how? Here are three fundamental steps to get you started: 1. Be informed and start questioning There is so much talk and overuse of words like “sustainability” and “sustainable development” that it is easy to be fooled into believing that a lot is being done - or has been achieved - in combating dangerous climate change and biodiversity loss. The truth is that there is a huge amount that remains to be done; achieving the political will at a national and global level for strong action is an enormous task. As Albert Einstein famously said, “the most important thing is not to stop questioning”. Stay informed by joining the mailing lists of organisations like GetUp! and the AYCC. 2. Have purpose and direction It really does help to focus your efforts and have a purpose in mind when attempting to make a difference in an enormous challenge like climate change. If you want to attend an international conference for the first time, find an issue that you really care about (like deforestation, for example) and make it your mission to become an expert on it. You will be far more effective and valuable as an individual by knowing one area back-to-front than by knowing vague bits and pieces about everything. 3. Don’t go it alone One thing that I have learnt from attending several UN Climate Change negotiations overseas is that it is important to have a team that shares your vision and purpose. It is very difficult to achieve what you want to achieve on your own. Start gathering contacts that share your vision and passion; join a group like the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) that will empower you to make a real difference, and explore opportunities to volunteer or intern at an organisation that interests you. But most importantly, don’t ever be afraid to aim high and dream big, you will surprise yourself at what you can achieve. And don’t wait - the time to start acting is now.
Useful links Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC): http://aycc.org.au/ Background info on the UN Climate Talks: http://unfccc.int/essential_background/items/6031.php RIO+20: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/
Julie Melrose is Vice President and Environmental Officer of the Postgraduate and Research Student Association (PARSA) at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, where she studies international environmental law. She has been an observer at UN Climate talks in Bali and Durban and is now mobilising support and momentum in the lead up to the Global Young Greens Congress in Dakar, Senegal in March and RIO+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012.
April - May 2012 unleash
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opinion
CAN YOUR ENVIRONMENT AFFECT
YOUR SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS? By sixteen year old Cameron Howlett, who knows from experience just how much your environment can affect you! It is mid-semester time, and it is hard not to feel stressed at the thought of looming exams and assignments. I find that by keeping my personal environment positive, my personal happiness gets a much-needed boost…and it can even rub off on others too! If you try to study in a workspace that is cluttered with rubbish or is a leaning tower of books, your mind will feel jumbled and you probably won’t produce any quality work. You will feel as if you are getting nowhere when trying to organize your study routine, or when trying to gauge which assignments are due when. To improve your study environment, here are some of my personal tips: 1.
Keep your desk or table neat and tidy.
2. Make a ‘To Do’ list or schedule of what you need to study for, as well as a list of what assignments are due and when.
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We all know how grumpy we can get when we are deprived of sleep, so here are some of my solutions: 1.
Put your clothes away instead of throwing them on the floor (it’s called a wardrobe not a floordrobe…).
2. Make your bedroom a space that represents ‘you’: hang posters or photos on the walls and get rid of unwanted furniture that doesn’t reflect your personal style. 3. Try to keep electronics off for at least half an hour before you go to bed, so that your mind can relax and gather its thoughts. School and work can take up a great chunk of our time… they are environments that we spend at least six hours a day in! We aren’t always able to control these environments, but we can try these ideas to keep them positive:
3. Focus on one thing at a time: tick boxes in your ‘To Do’ list and you’ll feel great when you get it done!
1.
The same is true of your bedroom. Going to bed with clothes strewn across the floor, spilling out of drawers and piled up on your unused workspace can leave you in a state of mind that makes it harder for you to sleep! Going to bed in a chaotic and messy environment can make it difficult for you to relax, and this can lead to an unsettled sleep.
2. If friends or co-workers are fighting or in disagreement, always avoid picking sides. It is better to remain impartial.
unleash April - May 2012
Never complain about friends and co-workers, it will undoubtedly circulate and create problems.
3. Work hard and give it your best, you never know who is watching and awards are always a great mood lifter! The environment in which we surround ourselves plays a huge role in our level of positivity and happiness. It will pay off to make sure you actively keep your environment at the best level it can be.
opinion
Parkour and the
Man-Made Environment:
Seeing With Creativity By Dean, who challenges us to rethink the way we perceive (and use) our built environment. I’ve never felt anything like it. Propelled in mid-air, a cool breeze brushed my skin as time seemed to suddenly stand still. I scoped the grounds, taking in the 180 degree view of the lake and the empty university campus grounds. Three metres below me, a jigsaw of red pavers suppressed tufts of grass that peeked tauntingly through the cracks. A lone group of students turned to look, a wave of concern registered across their faces as they realised the height of my drop. I don’t know how I had time to take all of this in - it couldn’t have lasted for more than a second. I also had time enough to spot my landing, mentally rehearse my position and technique, and execute my roll perfectly without snapping a shin, popping a knee, or crushing an ankle. After three years of practising Parkour, this was my first jump from a serious height. It was both frightening and exhilarating to be relying on my many hours of practice, conditioning and technique. After the jump, I sat down with a mate, glowing euphorically about the success of the jump. I was so swollen with a sense of my own brilliance and mastery that I almost didn’t notice the overweight, red-faced, middle-aged security guard approaching me. “Mate, we need to talk…” he said, doubled over and out of breath from his climb up the stairs. As a Traceur (a practitioner of Parkour), I see the world a little differently to other people: walls are either high (which implies that I can probably get over them) or seriously high (which means that I can’t), railings are balance beams and obstacles, rocks are jumping practice, gaps are challenges.
In the same way photographers see the world framed by their imaginative camera lens, I see various spaces in my environment as a playground.
Parkour is my way of using and seeing the world. As a society, we have constructed a strange artificial environment of angles, walls, gaps, fences and concrete obstacles that can be used for different purposes when viewed creatively. Skaters have been appropriating these under-used and under-inspired public spaces for years, and Traceurs have gladly picked up where skaters left off. The consequences of a perceived ‘misuse of public space’ can be quite serious. I’ve attempted to rationalise with security guards, police officers and members of the public about the risk that Parkour poses. Their answer is usually standard, “Well, this area isn’t built to be used like that.” When I ask, “Who can I get permission from?” they are usually unable (or unwilling) to tell me. They have the support of an age-old system that promotes ‘following the rules’, and while I have years of crime-free, injuryfree Parkour experience to support that it can be done safely, legally and creatively, it is usually not enough to sway these people. Despite this, I continue to keep a lookout for places to safely practice, develop, and experience our built environment in new and unique ways. So try out a Parkour view of the world, informed by creativity, playfulness and enquiry. Look at things a little differently…you just might find some new paths in familiar places.
What is Parkour? By Tim “Livewire” Shieff in a video called ‘Imagination is Everything’ “You’ve got four limbs: two arms, two legs, feet, hands… and what are you using them for? To walk to the train station, to type on a keyboard? You’ve got all this potential - you’re not using it. So what we’re doing is…we’re saying, ‘I wonder, what I can come up with today, with what I’ve been given?’ There’s a stereotype that we’re all reckless, daredevil, stuntmen... That every jump we do, we’re risking ourselves, and that’s just not the truth. Y’know, I wouldn’t do something if I thought I was risking myself. If I’m looking at a jump, and my heart’s racing, I don’t enjoy that feeling. I enjoy standing, and looking at that gap and feeling calm! That’s when I get it right. I’m looking at this gap, I feel completely calm within myself that I can make it, and then you do it! And that’s when you perform at your best level. Y’know, we’re not stupid, and I think we’ve got responsibility to show the upcoming kids that want to do it, that it’s not about being reckless or trying the most dangerous thing, it’s about doing it with respect to the environment, respect to people around you, and then progressing at the right pace.”
If you are interested in getting into Parkour, please don’t jump off stuff to learn – that’s just stupid! There are heaps of good tutorials on YouTube to show you how to develop basic skills safely, and Sydney Parkour runs cheap lessons on Sundays. Jump on http://www.parkour.asn.au/ to see classes and join some online forums about safe practice!
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opinion
HSC? I’m not stressing… By eighteen year old Ally Burnie, who believes in putting things into perspective and not getting overly stressed throughout high school and the HSC. The only thing that got me stressed during the HSC was the fact that, ironically, I was simply not stressed. While I do admit I felt the pressure in the final lead up to exams, the rest of the year was largely enjoyable and calm. The Board of Studies released a statement that 72,391 students sat the HSC last year. I cannot help but wonder: did they feel the same as me? And if they did not breathe the same stress-free air as I did, then why not? My brother, who did not study once for his HSC, has a brilliant analogy that sums up the HSC perfectly, “You have an elite soccer player and an elite rugby player. Both are highly skilled in their sport. If you ask the soccer player to take the rugby field and proceed to compare their abilities, is this really fair?”
If this does seem unfair, then how is the HSC a fair system of determining one’s ability, when it comes to being given a rank in the State? The fact of the matter is that the HSC is an outdated, excessively stressful and ineffective means of testing students’ academic ability (and their aptitude to work at a university level). It could not have been drilled into me more that there are many alternative routes that students can take, in order to get into their desired university course or profession. While it is easier to enter university on the first go and with the right mark, sometimes the easiest option is unrealistic, and perseverance is the key. So, to all future students who are sitting the HSC in 2012 and beyond, just remember to breathe and put things into perspective!
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HSC:
NOT AS EASY
AS 123
By seventeen year old Matthew Meharg, who thinks that our education system needs an overhaul.
Well, it’s half way through the year. Soon, our good friends in Year 12 will be leaving us. These Year 12 students have been told that this is their last chance to make the most out of their education. But is it? Surely there has to be other options besides conventional education (for people who are on the more creative side, for example, or those who just want to get a head start in the workforce).
Why is our education system so intent on our ticking the boxes and finishing high school, and not on what is arguably best for some students? So, the point of this quick rant is to question what our school system is actually achieving by encouraging a mass of students to stay until Year 12. Why is getting an apprenticeship or a full-time job frowned upon by society? Shouldn’t we be encouraging our youth to do what is best for them?
you(th) express
Artist: Beatrix Butterfly Rowe, 14 “I think self portraits are special as only one person in the world will ever understand what it truly means. I am inspired by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, whose artistic style I have attempted to incorporate into the lower half of the
drawing. It is always hard to capture the emotion of a stranger in a drawing, which is why I found it easier to draw myself. A self portrait allowed me to depict the emotions and thoughts inside my mind without any confusion.�
To be featured in you(th) express, send a file of your drawing/painting/collage/ photography/poetry/rap/(anything!) to unleash@yapa.org.au
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opinion
By sixteen year old Naomi Kroll, who thinks that some people judge too easily. Our whole society revolves around the concept of age. When you start school, learn how to drive, graduate from high school and receive a pension, your age is a big factor.
But should age be determined by the year you were born? Or should it be your level of maturity and the amount of wisdom that you have collected over the years? A few weeks ago, I talked to a young man. I was surprised at his level of maturity, as he looked quite young. He opened doors for strangers and talked confidently about complex ‘adult’ topics. He was just fifteen, but he was the most mature teenager I have ever met. I also met a man who was forty years of age. It turned out that he was the most immature man I have ever met; while he looked older, he had the emotional age of a twelve year old boy. My point is that you shouldn’t judge a person’s maturity by how many years they’ve been on this earth, as people mature at different rates. As for relationships, saying that two people shouldn’t be together because of age differences seems unfair. A difference in age may account for physical differences, but not necessarily emotional, intellectual or mental differences. It is important to acknowledge that young people can be mature beyond their years. If I were older, I could be tempted to laugh at young people wanting independence, disregarding their ability to be mature and understand complex issues. But I guarantee that if you take the time, you will find that young people are too often underestimated because of their age. I urge you to think about this: age is just a number.
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Illustration by sixteen year old Rachel Marriott
opinion
THE LOST VOICE OF YOUNG AUSTRALIANS By nineteen year old Emily Meller, who thinks young Australians should drive the change they want to see. Our current laws are entrenched with an archaic attitude towards young people: that they should be governed without any right to be involved in government policy - that they should be ‘seen and not heard.’ Most Australians think that our children are well protected and well educated, but that there is no need to listen to them when it comes to law and policy. What if they knew that over half of the homeless population in Australia is under eighteen years old? And that approximately 1,048 children are currently being held in Australian detention centres? Or that Indigenous Australians aged ten to seventeen are twenty-four times more likely to be jailed than their nonindigenous counterparts? Clearly there are gaps in the system, and they hinder any real possibility of national equality.
The importance of children’s rights has been accepted for some time, but current laws in Australia do not reflect this. Despite being a signatory to The United Nations Convention on The Rights of the Child (CROC), virtually no progress has been achieved in over a decade. It is a treaty with great potential, but it is dormant. The rights outlined in CROC are the most powerful tools available to ensure every child has the opportunity to prosper. It states that all children have the right to public education (Articles 28 and 29), a policy clearly supported by our government and a 98.8% enrolment rate. However, a 2010 report revealed that 30% of year nine students only had basic literacy skills, suggesting poor quality of education, particularly in remote areas.
How can we hope to break cycles of poverty without equal opportunities for all children? A right to education should be seen as just that: a right, not a pointless legally imposed yet unenforced ‘chore’. The most confronting example of policy contravening international law is the holding of children in ‘Alternative Places of Detention.’ The psychological devastation and distress this causes is well documented (UNICEF, ‘Listen to Children Report,’ 2011). Children should be able to enjoy their basic rights to emotional and physical wellbeing at all times, and should not be detained at all – full stop. A more widespread issue affecting almost all young Australians is lower pay for equal work. Should they accept it as merely a part of ‘breaking into’ their working life? Age is the only factor that allows a person to be paid less for doing the same job, though this approach, when based on gender or race, is considered discrimination. These laws need to be reviewed in consultation with young people to ensure that they operate for their benefit rather than their exploitation. Integrating CROC into law is the best and most effective way to remedy these issues. Non-government organisations and community groups should refer to it in their reports as an authority on the rights of young people. Youth groups can actively campaign, writing to all levels of the Australian government about what they want to see changed. Human rights seminars run by and for students, as well as the creation of educational tool kits for teachers are also excellent ways of raising awareness on the rights of young people. Equality won’t happen unless the government reforms laws and policies, and enforces them accordingly. Citizens of voting age have the power, and it is up to them to start using it. Australia needs to shift its outlook from dismissing young Australians to start acknowledging and valuing their opinions and ideas. If young people are not given a voice, they should stand up and take it. April - May 2012 unleash
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action
National Young
Leaders Day: A REFLECTION By Simran Hingorani, a previous work experience student at unleash and conference attendee. Every year since 1997, the Halogen Foundation has run the National Young Leaders Day, an event that runs all across Australia aimed at developing strong leadership skills and values amongst Australian young people. In November of last year, I had the pleasure of attending the conference at the Convention Centre in Sydney. I was really looking forward to the day and was excited about what the event had to offer (and the fact that Delta Goodrem was a guest speaker!). When everyone was seated, we were introduced to our host of the day, Murray Bunton, who entertained the audience with his KungFu skills and ‘locationally confused’ accent. The auditorium was buzzing with excitement as Mike Martin, the executive director of the Halogen Foundation, was introduced. Mike encouraged the audience to find what they love and to use it as inspiration in becoming an effective leader. Feeling inspired, we were then introduced to our next speaker, Jessica Watson. Most of us had already heard of Jessica and her amazing sailing journey around the world, but I was especially looking forward to hearing Jessica tell her story, rather than the media’s sensationalised account of her voyage. Jessica’s story was truly inspirational; she was real-life example of a young person having a dream and persevering in order to make it reality. Murray then spoke about an initiative of the Halogen Foundation called 10,000 Ideas. We were asked to think about and record our thoughts on how we would make the world a better place. The results were a powerful representation of what concerns my generation, and an encouraging example of our desire to improve our world for future generations. At this stage, I was feeling very motivated but slightly overwhelmed. It suddenly dawned on me that the youth of today
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has so much potential and so many ideas to make the world a better place, but very few actually acted upon this. My opinion on this quickly changed when we were introduced to our third speaker, Avril Henry. You name it - Avril’s done it. Growing up in South Africa, Avril was exposed to constant corruption and overwhelming poverty. She was repeatedly told that there was no way her dreams could come true. Today, Avril is a hugely successful and widely popular keynote speaker, author and corporate motivator. This speaker stresses, “quitting is not an option.” As quickly as it appeared, my self-doubt vanished; Avril encouraged us to never be limited by what others think we can do. After much anticipation, we were introduced to the final speaker of the day. Cheering erupted as Delta Goodrem glided into the room. Everyone settled down as she took the microphone. Listening to Delta’s story, we learned that life can be a journey of dizzying highs and crushing lows, but if you believe in yourself and follow your dreams, anything is possible. She left us with the chorus from her song Born To Try, and for those who were lucky enough, a hug (I was not one of those people, and have been feeling sorry for myself ever since)! Overall, National Young Leaders Day was an enormous success and I feel lucky to have been involved. Not only am I motivated to make a positive change in the world, I am even more inspired to find something that I am truly passionate about, because I really think that therein lies the foundation for change.
opinion
TECH HEAD
MAKES
YOU DEAD
By Flynn Colby, runner-up in the Year 7-8 category of the What Matters? Competition. Plenty of times my parents have said to me “Does it really matter?”. Usually, the answer is no. It does not really matter if I accidentally squeeze BBQ sauce on my sausage instead of tomato, or my brother uses my skateboard without asking, or that I wear two different socks.
The ‘littlies’ in life should not be stressed about, but there are plenty of ‘biggies’ that should. It does matter that a 13 year old I know can update to an iphone the day it hits the shops or that the people next door got rid of a perfectly good TV because they couldn’t hang it on their wall. Our society has become so obsessed about keeping up with the Joneses that we have totally lost our perspective about what’s important. I think the more we have, the more unhappy we become! When my family and I travelled around Thailand, we visited many of the hill tribe villages up in the north, around Chiang Mai, which was a lesson in how to be happy. The children of the Black Museu had an old plastic wagon that they had tied to a piece of rope and they were taking turns pulling it up and down a hill. In the Long Neck Karen tribe, we visited the primitive school and talked to the young girls about how they wore brass rings around their necks. The Lisu sold us their beautiful brightly coloured hats and bags. Although they were from different tribes, all these people had happiness in common. They wore bright smiles and laughed together and sang and worked and ate with family and friends and
talked and shared jokes. They were poor and had nothing, but they had enough. These Thai people did not need email to communicate with each other or ipads to tell them how to plan their days or Foxtel to pass the time. They liked the pencils, lollies and band-aids that we gave them, but when we ran out, they still smiled and laughed and smiled some more as if to say “Does it really matter?”.
If Australia is meant to be the clever country, why are we so dumb? Advertising is partly to blame for its strong influence. Just like Adam and Eve were first tempted by the apple in the Garden of Eden, we are tempted by the smooth, white fruit of Apple computers. But we are human beings, with our own brains and our own freedom of choice. We still have the power to deny this pressure and say “No. I’d rather just have a banana please!”. There’s no depression in third world or war torn countries because they have to concentrate on surviving. In contrast, our suicide rates are increasing. People in Australia work so hard and get so stressed about making money and then buy things that they don’t really need and then throw them away in a year because the latest model has come out. The first world countries think they are the smart ones, but they could learn a lot from the their third world brothers, just as I learned from those little children in Thailand who had never even seen themselves in a mirror until we showed them the photos we had taken of them on our digital cameras. A simple life equals a happy life. Technology is great, but not when it makes us stupid. Does it really matter? Yes, this is the ‘biggie’ that really does!
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MOREE SUPERSTAR By previous unleash editor Jess Carter, who grew up in a town way smaller than Moree Next time you turn on your TV or radio, listen carefully. The singer might just hail from Moree, a small town in the northwest of NSW. Determined to prove that country towns aren’t cultural deserts, the Moree Plains Shire Youth Council (MPSYC) created Moree Superstar, a highly successful music competition that has been running since 2007. “This is the best event the Youth Council has organized. With television programs like Australia’s Got Talent and Australian Idol, there’s a need for local programs like this to exist,” says Jade Burling, 2007 President of the MPSYC. The finale of Moree Superstar is held annually over Youth Week, with crowds reaching 600 people, a huge number for the rural community of Moree. Leading up to Youth Week, auditions are run in towns across the Moree shire, one of the largest, and least populated, areas of the state. In the past, auditions have been held in Narrabri, Warialda, Inverell, Boggabilla, Mungindi, Goondiwindi and also Gunnedah, which is more than two and a half hours drive from Moree. Mitch Dahlstrom, a past President of the MPSYC, says that one of the biggest difficulties of running Moree Superstar is the huge distances that need to be travelled to run the auditions, but the youth council has lots of fun along the way. “The bus rides to and from the auditions are sometimes the best parts. Last year we sang all the way back from Goondiwindi, which is a long way. The bus driver just shook her head when we got off,” Mitch says. The council, made up of twenty-seven members, meets every fortnight, and conducts formal meetings in the council chambers. They are supported by Esther Chapman, the Projects Officer for the Moree Plains Shire Council, who Mitch describes as the Mum of the youth council. “One of the strengths of our Youth Council is the commitment of its members. They give 100% of their time and effort to make this event very successful,” says Esther.
Mitch says that the youth council’s formal approach to organizing events is part of its success. “It shows the Shire Council and the older people in the community that we are serious about what we’re doing, and that we should be taken seriously.” The hard work of the youth council has paid off, Moree Superstar has grown bigger and bigger since it first started, and shows no signs of slowing down. The event receives sponsorship from local organizations and these help to keep the competition running. Harvey Norman Moree has been the major sponsor for prizes, with winners receiving iPods, LCD televisions, Playstation Consoles and of course, the Australian Idol game. Local media Southern Cross Ten Television, the Moree Champion and Moree Broadcasting NOW FM have provided free advertising for the event. Qantaslink has also helped, providing airfares for guest judges, including Melinda Schneider, Country Music Golden Guitar winner. MPSYC member Simone Dahlstrom says that the community support for the event has helped it to continue to run for so many years. “There were so many people just at the auditions. Even if people didn’t know anyone performing they still came along to have a look. Because we’re a small town, there’s not a lot to do, and having Moree Superstar means a lot for the people here. It shows everyone that we’ve got talent.” “Being involved with Moree Superstar and the Moree Plains Shire Youth Council has taught me lots. I’ve learnt about the responsibility of showing up and helping to organize things, and we’ve all learnt about leadership. It’s been a really good experience.”
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what’s YAPA up to?
What’s YAPA UP TO? by YAPA’s Emily Jones, who is hyper-inspired after meeting some fascinating young people and awesome youth services on YAPA’s annual Road Trip YAPA publishes unleash, but we do other stuff too. In each unleash we outline something that has been keeping YAPA staff busy. (For the official what is YAPA spiel, go to yapa.org.au/yapa).
The last few months of 2011 were a flurry of activity at YAPA, as projects wrapped up and planning for 2012 began. In October, we wrapped up another round of our YOUth Represent, a project for Aboriginal young people in the Macarthur region, south-west of Sydney. With a project coordinator working alongside YAPA’s partner organisation, Sector Connect, the project was a huge success. Four groups of young people came together with the project leader to envision, plan, and deliver events, sports days, and workshops that addressed any needs in their community. The projects included: •
a young Aboriginal women’s group with ten young female participants,
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a hip-hop workshop with ninety young Aboriginal participants,
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a touch footy day that involved seventy young people and brought together young people, youth services and police officers in a positive way,
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a Traditional Indigenous Games Day involving 160 young people across four schools.
In case you were keeping track, yes - that’s a total of 330 young people involved in these projects! Team leader at Sector Connect, Leo Dynevor, wrote that for the young people assisting to create an event and pull it off, it was a wonderful and proud moment. To see them grow in confidence and achieve this was definitely a highlight.
If this sounds like something you would want to be a part of, check back on YAPA’s website for future rounds of YOUth Represent or other participation projects, or email Emily, YAPA’s Operations Manager, at operations@yapa.org.au
YAPA’s model of YOUth Represent is about getting young people to identify something in their community that they want to see changed. It could be a need they have that isn’t being met, an attitude of the community that they would like to see changed, or simply a part of their culture or their community that they are proud of and want the rest of the world to know about. The projects are entirely designed and executed by young people with the support of youth services, teachers, parents and community members. In the case of YOUth Represent in south-west Sydney, the people involved in the projects had never had a similar opportunity to work together and learn from each other. With lots of passion, big dreams and a little help from the community, YOUth Represent opens a world of opportunities to make a real change.
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opportunities
wealth / power / fame / glory competitions… grants… surveys… leadership…
2012 What Matters? Competition What actions do you think should be taken to build a better society? What would you change if you could? What do you want other people to care about?
U View The World
What Matters? is a writing competition run by the Whitlam Institute at the University of Western Sydney, that gives year five to twelve students in NSW and the ACT a chance to say what matters to them in society today. Write a 400-600 word opinion piece on what matters to you and why. Prizes are awarded in 4 categories: Years 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12:
Keen to know how the internet changes your view of the world? UNSW is undertaking some cutting edge research into the impact of internet usage and wants to hear from people aged eighteen and under as part of their investigation. By taking part in this study, you get a chance to help us investigate how websites impact the way you think, behave, and interact with those around you! And all you have to do is play.
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$350 for each category winner and $200 for each category runner-up. Winning entries will be published in print and online.
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An overall competition winner, announced at the awards ceremony, will receive a laptop with software donated by Officeworks.
To say ‘thanks’, you’ll get a $20 voucher after you finish the second questionnaire. But most importantly, if you finish all 4 questionnaires in the study you’ll automatically be in the draw for an Apple iPad, an iPod or a $200 JB HiFi voucher! Check out more info and take part at www.uviewtheworld.org.au
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The Year 11/12 category winner will also be offered the opportunity to participate in ReachOut.com’s ReachOut Reporters multimedia content producing program, receiving professional training and the opportunity to be published online and paid for their work.
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The category winners from Years 5/6, 7/8 and 9/10 will each receive a full-day creative writing workshop donated by The Writing Workshop, conducted by award-winning author Bernard Cohen.
Closing date: Friday 4 May 2012. www.whitlam.org/whatmatters
Through flash mobs, meetings with MPs and businesses, speeches at schools, music events and more, we will generate the groundswell of support necessary to achieve real change. Each road trip will converge on central Sydney for a seven day summit that will unite us in a call for action. We will urge individuals, communities and governments to do more to create the world we all want to live in.
Road Trip 2012 Raising awareness of homelessness - An initiative of young noise. We’re uniting a generation to create a sustainable country free from youth homelessness. In 2012 you could be one of the many young people who will embark on a nationwide road trip to help end youth homelessness and raise awareness. We will be leaving from every major city in the country in order to spread the message and raise awareness of homelessness.
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But we can’t do it alone. We need your help. If you are aged from 14-26, are confident, engaging and a natural leader who is passionate about ending world poverty, we want you on our bus! Your bus will travel through Australia’s cities and towns, inspiring thousands of people to join the fight against homelessness. The experience will be at times crazy and fun, at others difficult and challenging. But one thing is for sure – it will never be dull! There will be two rounds of trips at different dates: 24-30 September 2012 and 24-30 December 2012. http://youngnoise.org.au
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No need to wait for a paper copy of unleash - read it online before the unleash printers have even had their morning coffee! Simply email info@yapa.org.au and ask for an unleash PDF sub.
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