ISSUE 19 / JUNE - JULY 2012
Young people and travel How to budget Testing the tides (You)th express
news • opportunities • action • opinion June - July 2012 unleash
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unleash 19
contents
unleash is YAPA’s magazine of youth opinion and action.
unleash sets out ‘How To’ write a budget
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.
Caitlin Morahan chooses the road less travelled.
June - July 2012
editor Erin Fouracre
coordinator Nick Manning
graphic design Emma-Lee Crane, Milk Thieves Art & Design www.milkthieves.com.au
Competitive surfer Rachel Campbell reveals her one true love Gracia Ngoy exchanges details of her exchange trip to England (You)th express artwork ‘Chip Mate’ by Sarah Boxall Hitchhiker Kurt Provost describes the art of smiling at strangers
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
Nick Manning discusses the effect of porn on young people’s relationships
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
YAPA’s Emily Jones recounts the North Coast Trip
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
Eamon Waterford looks at transport in NSW Tom Davidson-McLeod thinks that the fast food industry is out of control
news EDITOR’S word OPPORTUNITIES unleash YOURSELF!
• 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.
front cover
This edition’s cover art is by seventeen year old fashion photographer, Lucia Pang. You can check out more of her work at www.luciapang.com
legalities unleash is © Copyright YAPA 2012. Individual articles are copyright the individual authors. Contact us if you would like to copy something from unleash. 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 June - July 2012
Lucia 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
“I would like to go to Italy because the food is amazing. The culture is unique, especially the architecture and language. The shopping is also supposed to be spectacular!!”
“I would have to say India, where they still believe in their culture. They are not afraid of the world - they embrace it with joy. I feel I could benefit from being surrounded by and immersed in the Indian culture… I think it would widen my understanding of the world.”
Riley, 16, Mosman
Sophia, 17, Middle Cove
Elena, 17, Clovelly
Ryan, 15, Sans Souci
Aidan, 17, Clovelly
“I would like to travel around Africa so I can immerse myself in the diverse cultures and experience the different amazing foods. I would love to see the Great Serengeti Migration (if I’m ever lucky enough!).”
“If I could travel anywhere, it would have to be LA because a lot of celebrities are living there, and that would be an amazing experience.”
Kurt Provost (check out Kurt’s article on page 12)
“I would like to travel to Ibiza - the dance music scene there is phenomenal! Regardless of how tacky people say Ibiza is, you can’t deny that the atmosphere would be amazing!”
“Everywhere! The world is such an intense mix of colour and culture, I want to taste it all. But if I had to narrow it down to two places, it would be Iran and Russia. I would love to hitchhike in Iran. It is an ancient land famous for its hospitality, so I think hitchhiking there would be a very special experience. Russia is a mystery to me…it’s such a massive slice of this world, yet I know very little about it. I’ll be there in July this year.”
“I would love to travel to Greece… specifically the Greek islands. I want to swim in the clear blue waters and lie on the beaches and eat the delicious food.”
Lara, 16, Matraville
If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would it be?
June - July 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)! Fine for some, but penalties lack fairness If you got a fine and thought it was an unfair punishment aimed at raising revenue, the Law Reform Commission believes you may have a point. A review has found the NSW system of penalty notices lacks transparency and fairness. It finds that fines are issued even when a caution is more appropriate. In 2009-10, 2.83 million notices were issued, generating $491 million in revenue. The report recommends raising the minimum age at which people can be fined from 10 to 14 and that officers use appropriate discretion in not fining other vulnerable people.
Eamon Waterford, Director of Policy and Advocacy at YAPA
Better hours for Learner Drivers – a step towards safety and practicality YAPA has welcomed the Minister for Roads’ plan to create a 1-day training program for learner drivers.
The Director of Policy and Advocacy at YAPA, Eamon Waterford, said fines were having an adverse effect, particularly on young people, ‘’Young people aged 10, 11 and 12 are getting fined … which is OK if your parents are well off. But for many of the young people we hear from, who are in foster care or experiencing homelessness, this just isn’t an option.’’ smh.com.au 9/4/12
Do you have an opinion on fines? Email me at unleash@yapa.org.au
Eamon Waterford, Director of Policy and Advocacy at YAPA, said, “This is a great step forward to achieve two things: reduce the number of hours that young people have to complete to get their P’s, but also make sure that they are safe and capable drivers.” “YAPA regularly receives reports from youth workers and young people across NSW that many young people miss out on crucial employment and education opportunities as a result of being unable to reach 120 hours. It will be important that support for disadvantaged young people is packaged with this one-day training course, to allow them to access it.” Critically, YAPA rejects that this will have a negative impact on young people’s safety behind the wheel – an intensive course that deals with driver attitudes and learning how to manage incidents will support the next generation of safe drivers. 19/3/12
unleash believes that driving hours should be kept to a level that doesn’t make it impossible for young people to get their P’s!
Useful stretches of the imagination Rebecca Wardle was ‘’looking for problems I could solve’’ when it came to her major project for HSC design and technology. The former Castle Hill High School student designed her DoorBrell after seeing her mother struggle to put shopping into the car during a downpour. The DoorBrell has a suction cup and three attachments to fasten any umbrella to the side of a stationary car, making it easier to get in and out in wet weather. Ms Wardle’s project was among 21 chosen for DesignTECH, an exhibition of major works from last year’s HSC design and technology students. Check out boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/exhibitions for info on DesignTECH exhibition dates. smh.com.au 18/2/12 4
unleash June - July 2012
Trop Jr winners: Max Barden and Tim Sheehan
High school friends win Trop Jr Film Fest Fifteen year old filmmakers Max Barden and Tim Sheehan have won Trop Jr – the world’s largest short film festival, for kids by kids – with their short “Let’s Make a Movie”. The high school friends from Victoria made the film in just two days with a $20 budget. Both filmmakers starred in the comedy about the difficulties in picking a genre for a Trop Jr film. Emily O’Connell from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, also fifteen; and eleven year old Yianni Rowlands from Preston in Victoria took home the runner up prizes for their films – “The Cascades” and “I Think You Stink Show” respectively. “The Cascades” was filmed in the bush and was shot over seven days, with no budget. “I Think You Stink” is a claymation talent show, filmed entirely on one shelf of the filmmaker’s bookcase. The filmmaker overcame 30 degree days by taking his characters on frequent trips to the fridge to stop them melting. He produced the film on a budget of $150. http://tropfest.com/tropjr 20/2/12 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
Passing the
baton
By unleash editor, Erin Fouracre.
A couple of months ago, after graduating from uni, I made the decision to travel. I sat down at my desk and pulled my world globe towards me with both hands. After letting it spin a few times, I slowed it down for a better look.
In this travel themed edition of unleash, Kurt Provost takes us with him on his hitchhiking adventures (page 12), Caitlin Morahan recounts her travels up the mighty Amazon (page 7), and Gracia Ngoy shares what she learnt on exchange (page 10).
My index and middle fingers walked their way over parts of Asia, Europe and South America. Stopping at Africa, I gave the globe another spin. It landed on the USA. I let it spin again until it finally landed on Nepal.
We also have a piece on How To write a budget (page 6), handy not only for those planning a trip away, but for those planning a youth event.
Nepal? It was a country that I knew very little about. Apart from it being home to Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, there wasn’t much I could say about it. After a few hours of research, however, I had loosely planned my trip to Nepal and India, ordered my lonely planet guide, and set up a strict saving plan. I was sick with excitement!
The value of travel is in its ability to launch you completely out of your comfort zone; throw you deep into the unknown, and make you realise how very little you know about the world. And this is a good thing. This edition’s $50 gift voucher goes to nineteen year old illustrator, Sarah Boxall, for her artwork ‘Chip Mate’. Check it out on page 11!
So I bid farewell, not just to Australia, but also to unleash magazine and the fantastic crew at YAPA. It’s been a wonderfully challenging year as editor of unleash, but the time has come to move on to new adventures, and pass the baton over to the next editor. Thanks to all the young creatives who contributed to unleash over the past year, whether it was writing, photography or cover art! I have been truly impressed with the calibre of young people across New South Wales and Australia. Stay inspired, stay in the know about the issues that affect you, and be vocal!
Erin
If you would like to contribute to unleash, email your article (or artwork) to unleash@yapa.org.au
June - July 2012 unleash
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how to
HOW TO WRITE A BUDGET So you have an idea in mind for an event or project. Before you even start looking for funds, you need to work out how much money you will actually need.
6. Total expected expenses Once you’ve finished all your pricing, add up the total expected expenses.
Your Expected Budget
7.
An expected budget is a great way to start planning your event or project. It is also easy. 1.
Create a template See our example. You could use Excel, but for simple budgets paper and pen is just as easy (if you can add up!).
2. Expected income List all the likely sources of income. This can include money you already have, grants, fundraising, ticket sales, refreshment sales and that kind of thing.
When estimating your income, don’t over-estimate. You might think you’re going to make $1500 by fundraising, but you might not. Be realistic or you will end up blowing your budget.
3. Total expected income Once you’ve listed all your expected income, add up the total expected income. Now you know roughly how much money you have to spend. 4. Stuff you need List all your expenses. Think of everything that you need, from major stuff (like venue and equipment) to simple stuff (like decorations). 5. Expenses Once you’ve got a list of stuff you need, ring around to different businesses and get quotes on how much each item will cost. The cheapest quote doesn’t necessarily mean the best quote. Make sure the supplier isn’t cutting corners or leaving things out of the quote.
10% contingency Calculate 10% of the total expected expenses and add it to your budget as a 10% contingency - a buffer to cover unexpected items and cost blowouts. You may not think you will need this, but even very experienced organisers do!
8. Expected expenses + contingency = total expenses. 9. Total expected income – total expected expenses = Total profit/loss If you’ve come up with a negative figure, that means you are at a loss! You might need to cut back on expenses, raise more income, or both! Your Actual Budget An actual budget will show you any items you over-budgeted and under-budgeted for (which might be handy for the future). It will also help you spot problems you may have when balancing your budget. Write down the actual amounts of income and expenses as you receive or make payments. It is best to do this in a separate column on the same table as your expected budget (see our example) so that you don’t forget anything. Doing this also makes it easy to compare expected and actual costs. Good luck and get budgeting! Quick tips: •
Keep all quotes, receipts, invoices, budgets etc, and file them somewhere you can easily find them later.
•
Over-estimate your expenses a little and under-estimate your income. Doing it the other way around could lead to serious problems!
EXPECTED BUDGET INCOME
TOTAL INCOME EXPENSES
TOTAL EXPENSES + 10% Contingency TOTAL EXPENSES incl. contingency PROFIT OR LOSS 6
unleash June - July 2012
ACTUAL BUDGET
my story
By nineteen year old Caitlin Morahan, who hopes to one day be a travel writer. I’m off for the road less travelled. Or so I thought a month ago, before I found myself crammed onto a cargo boat packed with local Brazilians, heading up the mighty Amazon. Hammocks were strewn in a slapdash fashion across the decks, the toilets were filthy, and the showers redirected their water from the piranha-ridden Amazon waters. Brazilian men played heated games of dominos on plastic tables, precariously set up outside the canteen labelled “Bar”. Speedo wearing men squeezed past me, in search of a bit of sun.
But the hard work was worth it. When we saw the widow and her five young sons stare at their new home, tears clinging to their dark lashes, the memories of our physical hardships disappeared. That was my first moment of pure elation. My second was reaching the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. The third was standing just two feet from a man-eating Tsavo lion. The fourth was white-water rafting down the mighty Zambezi, over the roar of Victoria Falls.
I was certain. This was exactly where I was meant to be.
And since then, I’ve been on an endless search for such moments that give life clarity.
Which is odd, considering that the whole adventure was born from a state of uncertainty, as I wandered around one of those university market days, wondering if the student advocates themselves even knew what they wanted from life.
This path led me to the favelas of Salvador, Brazil. Brazil was hot and stuffy, bright and colourful, industrial and peaceful, staggeringly rich and heartbreakingly poor. It was a land of contradiction.
Nine months later I found myself traipsing around sunbaked Africa. Three months volunteering in Kenya taught me more than thirteen years at school. Each day, twenty other “mzungus” and I rose at seven am, swearing as we disentangled ourselves from our mosquito nets, changed into heavy-duty work boots and stumbled out to a breakfast of carbohydrates and strong coffee. At eight am we were at our building site, which we’d cleared of weeds and grass using only machetes and our gloved hands. We dug out holes for the foundation and tied poles fashioned from palm trees around the sturdier posts, ready to fill with mud bricks.
In Salvador, you can travel from the bright bustling city to one of the secluded beaches that dot the coastline. The cobbled streets are lined with pastel coloured houses, pushed next to each other.
It was hard work. We hauled sand and gravel, mixed concrete, and pushed wheelbarrows, only stopping to watch as the odd African mama (equipped with a baby on her back) walked by. She held a twenty-litre can of water with each arm, balancing a third on her head. Collectively, we struggled to lift just one can into a wheelbarrow.
Bars are scattered along the beaches, and leathery skinned men gather around plastic tables for litres of beer at ten thirty in the morning. The locals show off the samba, as barefoot kids push and weave their way through the crowds, shrieking with laughter. In Salvador I sat with some children: orphans with disabilities. I stumbled over broken Portuguese with them, played (seemingly) endless games of soccer with those who could walk, and read stories to those who couldn’t. And I feel lucky. Because now I know that there is such a vast, diverse world out there for me to explore. There are so many people to meet, places to see, and things to do. I could never get bored with a life that has so much to offer.
June - July 2012 unleash
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(you)th express
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unleash June - July 2012
TESTING THE TIDES By competitive surfer and ocean lover, Rachel Campbell. She gave a part of her heart away when she was young. It was accidental, frivolous, child’s play. But he took hold of her and never let her go. As she grew up, she fell more and more in love with him; she craved his presence as if he were the only source that gave her air to breathe. She adored his company, and as a young girl only saw the freedoms that he so fervently promised. However, his presence took its toll on her. Over the years she was shaped by his influence until he controlled virtually every part of her: what time she woke, what time she ate, what time she slept. It was hard to blame her - he was so beautiful. Growing up around him, she saw how magnificent he was, as well as how much he provided for her, day after day. But it wasn’t until she was much older that she discovered his greed. He held a part of her heart, but he wanted more. She found herself unable to understand other people. She lost the ability to give her full heart and devotion to anyone, or anything else. After all, she didn’t have a full heart to give. To her, this seemed quite normal - no, perfect. He had opened her eyes to beauty, power, energy, love, and devotion in another form. She felt at home in his presence. The taste of the salty air surrounding him put her at a familiar peace.
She learned to understand him; she knew how to read his moods and predict his movements. She began testing him, playing games when he was at his most powerful, dangerous, and unpredictable. This often caused her injury. It didn’t matter though; she liked to learn lessons the hard way.
Her behaviour was a mystery to most. The only people who understood her were those, too, who had given their heart to him. They were also helplessly addicted to his grasp; when they were away from him, a voice inside appealed for their return. When her inner voice screamed, sometimes she would test her strength. As her sand-flecked toes reached the water’s edge, she felt his pull. Digging her heels into the shore, she felt something within her haul her body towards him. She would try to resist but his appeal was too strong. The voice would become louder until she found herself at home with him again. It was as if the tide took her with it, immersing her fully into the ocean. She relaxed, letting the salt water lift her, keeping her safe from the unknowns of the ocean floor. When she bounced to the top, the sun kissed her skin, welcoming her home. She kicked her legs, dancing with the sea. As she danced in the water she could feel his rhythm in her veins. It seemed as though the waves danced back, playing with her, throwing her around, showing her something new, something even more spectacular than she had experienced before. In her heart, she was convinced that the ocean knew her well. He had watched her grow up, all these years, and helped her become who she is today. After experiencing his discipline before, she believed he had a way of nurturing her. It didn’t matter if people didn’t understand the connection she had with the ocean, she understood it and that was all that counted. All day long she stayed in his presence until the sun went down, telling her it was time to leave. After putting on a closing ceremony performance of colourful skies and golden waters, the ocean would eventually fade to black with one single silver pathway. The pathway led to the moon, which was quickly accompanied by many stars. The stars reminded her that tomorrow they would lay their sparkle on the sea when the sun came up, letting her know it was safe to return to him once again. Until then though, the ocean rested and she dreamt, with a smile, of that first time she gave a part of her heart away.
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opinion
Into the cold: how stepping out of your comfort zone can take you places By Gracia from Berkeley, who believes that failure is a product of fear.
It’s been six long months that I have been away from home, in a country where I know no one but myself. I’m on university exchange in England. From the many universities to choose from across the globe, I decided to choose one in a cold country where I knew nobody. I enrolled into the University of Sheffield, located in the heart of the UK; just two hours away from London by train. The only thing I had with me was the language and my luggage. I chose to live in self-catered student accommodation, which was very challenging for me; at times I would start crying for no real reason. You would probably understand this better if I told you that I am from a family of thirteen kids. If we had to go somewhere, we always went as a group. For the first time, my life was in my own hands; I had to decide what to eat, what to do and when to do it.
This was a whole new experience. Maps and signs became my best friends. The change in weather did not.
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It was hard to get used to the rainy, gloomy, and chilly UK, with its narrow roads and old infrastructure. It was not unusual for me to put on up to five layers of clothing. People warned me about the weather but it seemed the winter clothes I had purchased from home were simply not warm enough. In the midst of all the challenges associated with being miles away from home, I grew. As I look back, at the end of the journey, I realise I am more confident and more responsible. I have become even more independent in every avenue of my life. I also made great friends from different parts of the world and visited other countries in Europe. Despite the ups and downs, this experience has made me realise how much fear restricts young people from going beyond their comfort zone. If I had succumbed to my fear of the unknown, I would never have been able to gain from the experiences that shaped me as a person. This experience made me grateful for everything I have: my family, friends, and my possessions. It has also made me grateful for living in Australia - what a beautiful, sunny, green land - full of opportunities. I encourage all young people to make use of all great opportunities that come their way, and take them up without fear.
you(th) express
Artwork is by nineteen year old illustrator, Sarah Boxall. “Chip mate was inspired by the typical Australian tradition of sharing your chips with the local seagulls and in doing so giving them a free lunch. As a comic artist, I sometimes like taking a break from cartoon styles to draw some of the beautiful things around me in all of their detail.�
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
HITCHHIKING: THE ART OF SMILING AT STRANGERS By Kurt Provost, who learnt from the road.
Grey clouds parted as the plane screamed into sleet-covered Vancouver. Apparently Winter had just passed, but it could have fooled me. Young, naïve and enthusiastic, I bounced out of the airport and struck up a casual conversation with a middle aged woman also waiting for the bus. “What do you mean you don’t have a guidebook? How old are you?” she blinked. “Eighteen.” “Dear God, does your mum know you’re doing this?” I assured the frazzled woman that my mum was well aware of the fact that I was overseas. We separated and boarded the bus, its thick glass windows heavy with condensation. The woman managed to bury a small seed of doubt in my fertile teenage mind. She was staggered by the fact that I was an eighteen year old travelling by myself, ‘without a guidebook!’ To me, eighteen seemed like a perfectly normal age to be travelling alone, and sixteen would have been far more impressive. As for the guidebook, I thought they were useful… but I preferred a surprise. There is an innate joy to be found in getting lost and stumbling upon a well-kept (and unpublished) secret. We reached our destination. I stepped off the bus. The sky was streaked with thick silver clouds and the wind was persistent. I hated it.
When travelling on your own, there’s one thing you come to realise: it’s hard to be alone. The first few days are the worst; everything is new and unfamiliar, leaving you longing for what you left behind. But time moves on; you adapt and you mould yourself into who you need to be. In the end, you come to relish the novelty of constantly doing things in a new way. But no one told me this at the time.
It took two days of wallowing in a dingy hostel for me to gather the nerve to jump on a greyhound bus just outside of Vancouver to the small town of Chilliwack. I decided to hitchhike for the first time in my life. Perhaps I was doing it due to money, unenthused by the prospect of spending the dollars I’d slaved at four jobs to earn. Most likely, it was all those books I’d been reading about the escapades of adventurous souls who use their thumbs to discover and cut new ground - they inspired me. Or maybe I was just glad to be out of my small Australian coastal town, away from all those who knew me, no longer bound by the constraints of social hierarchies. Hitchhiking became an outlet; it was a new and exciting way to see the world. It was the first time in my life when
I felt compelled to push my limits, contest boundaries and see what I could really do. It was the beginning of a revelation: everything is possible.
But to be honest, just between you and me, I also thought it would be a cool thing to do and maybe, just maybe, I’d land a ride with some gorgeous girls who would adore my laid-back Aussie accent. Regardless of the reason for choosing hitchhiking, it had a huge impact on my life. I fell in love with it. Hitchhiking became the medium for me to experience the world in such a raw and honest way. Hitchhiking is responsible for some of my most inspiring friends and greatest adventures. Hitchhiking is freedom. Not only did I hitchhike across Canada, I continued on, weaving my way around the globe. Sometimes hitching, sometimes just travelling, but always living my life with the lessons I learnt from those first few rides in Canada. I developed a tolerance of people and their cultures. I learnt to listen and rely upon my senses and intuition. I transformed from an awkward teenager pigeonholed as shy, into a man willing to try new things, eager to explore and experience. I became a person who looks you in the eyes and actually listens, a man thriving off new experiences and situations, someone with a comfort zone that encompasses the world. In short, hitchhiking became the tool to sculpt myself into a person who squeezes the most out of life, someone who leaves no opportunity wasted. Hitchhiking does not get the recognition I feel it deserves, so I am trying to change that. Hitchhiking, if done properly, has the potential to open up a world you never knew existed. It has the potential to show you who you really are. I’ll leave you with the two greatest lessons that hitchhiking has taught me: Listen to your intuition, and enjoy the ride, because that’s really what life is.
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Kurt Provost is the author of the How To hitchhike book “Smiling at Strangers” and is the founder of Hitchhiking Guru, a site to help all those looking to give hitchhiking a try. Kurt is currently working on his second book “Itchy Feet”, which is full of entertaining tales from the road, and will be available soon.
Like Hitchhiking Guru on Facebook, or check out the site directly at www.hitchhikingguru.com
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youth issue
YOUNG PEOPLE
AND PORN: Just who’s
imitating who here? by Nick Manning, who grew up back in the days when the internet was steam-powered. “The first time I had sex, cos I’d watched so much porn, I thought ‘all chicks dig this, all chicks want this done to them’… so I tried all this stuff and, yeh, it turned out bad,” said a young guy in a new documentary, Love & Sex in an Age of Pornography. smh.com.au recently reported that young men are watching pornography and then replicating some of the aggressive behaviour they observe with their sexual partners. The article gave this example:
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 this disturbing new trend… [Teachers urged to address porn factor. 13/2/12] Researchers Maree Crabbe and David Corlett have interviewed porn industry insiders, young people and experts here and overseas. Maree Crabbe says that many young men see thousands of pornographic images before their first sexual experience, and this is shaping how they think about and experience sex. ‘’Pornography is now our most prominent sex educator,’’ she says. ‘’Some young men expressed surprise that their partners did not do what they asked without hesitating and did not want to follow the ‘script’ of pornographic videos.” But researchers caution that this is a complex topic. “We need a lot more research to … separate hype from reality,” says David Finkelhor, of UNH Crimes Against Children Research Center. He has examined a variety of social trends between 1996 and 2005 and found that young people are actually displaying healthier behaviours in areas that might be negatively influenced by greater access to internet porn, such as crime and teen pregnancy.
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Nina Funnell is researching a book about young people and social media. She emphasises that, “Not all information gathered online is bad. Plenty of young people are using the internet as an excellent resource to gain sexuality and health information which is accurate, informed and which empowers them to make informed choices about their bodies. However, information which is inaccurate, which perpetuates gender stereotypes, or which directly or indirectly encourages any form of harm or sexual exploitation, is deeply concerning.” Pornography is not new, but the internet has contributed to a marked shift towards more extreme and more violent sexual imagery, say Crabbe and Corlett. “Images of rape, coercion and abuse are commonplace. Even when the acts portrayed are not so abusive, the images are degrading and humiliating. The vast majority of portrayals are of men doing things to women for men’s indulgence.” Nina Funnell argues that, “We need to equip young people with the skills to actively deconstruct messages and to think critically about those messages. We teach them how to deconstruct Shakespeare and Austen. It is equally important that we give them the tools to think critically about all manner of media.” Much of the concern is about consent. “The young women we interviewed talked about young men trying things they’d seen in porn, sometimes without even asking,” report Crabbe and Corlett. According to a young woman in Love & Sex in an Age of Pornography, “… they don’t really ask, they just sort of do, and hope you will go along with it.” Nina Funnell says, “Many sexually inexperienced people don’t know how to ‘do’ consent, or what active, informed consent necessarily looks like. In porn, no one ever says “I’m not really sure” or giggles nervously like they do in life. No one ever seems to say ‘no’ (and mean it). Consent is assumed, and the result is that very few people have any deep understanding of what enthusiastic, active consent actually looks like or how to negotiate it, when venturing into their first sexual experiences. The number one thing that we need in sex education right now is more information on active consent.”
are they listening?
COVERING THEIR TRACKS: The government’s plan to fix transport in NSW By YAPA’s Eamon Waterford, who looks into the transport crystal ball and guesstimates the future… The NSW Government wants to fix transport in NSW.
Learner Driver training to reduce hours by 20
Ok, it’s going to take at least a few years, but that’s the plan. How does this affect young people? And more importantly, how can young people affect the plan?
Young people in NSW have scored a win – the Minister for Roads and Ports has set up an advisory panel of experts and youth advocates who will determine how a one-day driver-training course should be run.
The NSW Long Term Transport Masterplan In February, the government put out a paper asking for people to inform the government about what they wanted to see in a transport system. This wasn’t just for buses and trains, but also for people who drive, people who ride, and people who just plain walk! They’re asking the sorts of questions you would expect: what type of transport is most important to you – buses, trains or cars? But there are also some interesting questions: what would encourage more people to leave their car at home and hop on a bike instead? YAPA has put in a submission to the Masterplan, but we’ve also had hundreds of young people and youth workers have their say online. Some of these have been turned into submissions of their own, so it’s fair to say that at least some young people are having a say!
We’re reminding the government that young people matter. Getting to school or uni, seeing friends on the weekend, and accessing a job at random hours – these all happen with the aid of public transport, regardless of where you live.
The best part? It’ll count as 20 hours in your log book, taking the number of hours a young person will need to complete down to 100 (or 80 if you get an instructor for 10 hours). Will the Transport Masterplan be enough? It’s hard to say, I think it’s looking ok. The Government definitely recognises that more people rely on transport than people who work 9-5: people like students, casuals or shift workers, and young people just trying to catch up with friends on the weekend. But transport is a tricky issue; it takes years to build new train lines, buses are expensive to run and there’s not much enthusiasm from the government for more bike paths. Any new money will probably go into train lines for the North-West and South-West sections of Sydney, so we’re not going to see any huge changes just yet – but at least it’s a start. Didn’t get the chance to be involved, but want to? Email me at policy@yapa.org.au! There’s always more going on! You can also contact me through our Facebook Page – just search for Youth Action & Policy Association NSW on Facebook and Like the page!
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opinion
LOVIN’ WHAT?
By Tom Davidson-McLeod, winner of the Year 9-10 category of the 2011 What Matters? Competition. The fast food industry is out of control. The epidemic in childhood obesity, heart disease and diabetes is only one side of this growth industry. The other appalling aspect that no one talks about very much is how the fast food industry has corrupted our farming practices. If you dare, venture past the malevolent gaze of a certain Southern Colonel or the papier mache facade of “I’m lovin’ it,” and poke at the husk of the fast food industry; you might be alarmed. With regard to McDonalds’ inane slogan, “I’m lovin’ it”, I have a question that simply is: “lovin what?”. Surely love can’t be associated with the trends in Australian farming practices, trends that include denying a sow the simple dignity of lying down to succour her piglets.
I’d like you to take a moment and conjure up that age-old image of a picturesque farm with great lush fields rolling onto the horizon, with a herd of majestic cows meandering along, chickens clucking around the hillside, ducks playing in a dam, an odd pig or two wallowing in the mud by a barn, and a kitsch farmhouse with smoke billowing from its chimney as the glorious last glimpses of sun duck out of sight. It’s everything Farmer Hoggett could hope for. It is also a lie, which exists only on happy meal boxes. That idyllic image is far removed from current Australian farming practices. In fact, that nostalgic image of the farmer watching his
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pigs wander about, calling each by name, contributes less than one percent of agricultural produce in Australia today. What instead might be a better thing to imagine is this: a grid of enormous tin sheds, each 15 metres wide and 150 metres long, each holding roughly thirty thousand birds. Let’s compare it to an environment we’re familiar with, a crowded elevator. An elevator so crowded you can’t turn around without bumping into, and aggravating, your neighbour. Distressed, perpetually-clucking chickens, that’s the reality for the life of Australia’s poultry. These chickens are living lives of 48 days, lives where they don’t ever see sunlight, lives where they have less than the area of an A4 sheet of paper to live on. I’m not really sure that ‘life’ is an appropriate term for the plight of these chickens. From the moment they are born they are essentially corpses, just waiting to be carted off. They are tomorrow’s chicken nuggets. The outlook for cows, sheep and pigs is equally bleak. Grain-fed cows in Australia, for example, increasingly spend their short, sad lives literally cramped shoulder to shoulder. If a cow lies down it is deemed redundant and promptly given a short, sharp visit from a cattle prod to get it moving again. Unfortunately, most of the cows don’t have the luxury of a hastened death and have to spend their lives knee deep in their own excrement until they are carted off to the abattoir which recognises them as so filthy that they need to treat the raw meat with ammonia, a hospital grade disinfectant. And this says nothing about the immense environmental costs of grain-lot feeding. People have a responsibility to all creatures great and small. We must act to change the way farming practices in Australia are being corrupted for the profit of multi-national companies. Think about it the next time a benevolent clown smiles down at you. Think about it, and ask yourself, “Lovin’ what?”
what’s YAPA up to?
What’s YAPA UP TO? 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 North Coast Trip
by YAPA’s Emily Jones, YAPA’s resident Canadian, who really enjoys discovering new parts of NSW! In the early morning of February 6, YAPA team members Dean Williamson, Emily Jones, Sophie Trower and Ann Deslandes hit the skies, bound for the Gold Coast airport. After a round of (strong) coffees in Coolangatta (and a quick peek at the beach), we headed to Kingscliff to meet Mario from The Family Centre. Mario gave us the low-down on some of the Centre’s work and provided a great intro about issues for young people and youth work in the Northern Rivers region.
Some issues included support for young men, an under-supply of jobs for both young people and youth workers, support for young people who disengage from school, and a severe shortage in affordable rental housing and crisis accommodation for young people who need it, as well as the impact of competitive tendering on young people as clients of social and community services. The afternoon brought a meeting between Dean, Emily, Sophie and the team at the Northern Rivers Social Development Council, followed by the fabulous NRSDC Youth Advisory Council. The YAC recently ran their own survey of young people in the region, and presented the YAPA team with a list of things they’d like YAPA to work on. These included: •
supporting young people to cultivate good relationships with family and friends;
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keeping healthy (both physically and mentally), as well as addressing issues such as body image, alcohol abuse, violence and stress;
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environmental issues;
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increased support for young people with a range of sexualities across the region.
If you’ve got anything you think YAPA should be working on, you can let us know too!
February 7 was an action-packed day! Over 60 youth workers in the region came together for a forum at the YWCA Goonellabah. It was a day full of consultation, networking, and a great peer-run training session. The main themes that we heard were around lack of affordable housing options for both young people and youth services. Ann and Emily met with Professor Anne Graham, Dr Liz Reimer, and Dr Robyn Fitzgerald at Southern Cross University’s Centre for Children and Young People. Anne, Liz, and Robyn updated us on the work of the Centre and its involvement in the Northern Rivers region. We also discussed some possible future collaboration between YAPA and the Centre – stay tuned! On February 8, the team headed from Lismore to Byron Bay. We met with Phil Barron and Melissa Armstrong, who co-ordinate a vital service for young people in the region, Yaxi and Batbus: two innovative transport programs that help young people get around in a safe and affordable way. This was closely followed by a meeting with Nadine and Zahra Smith, founders and co-ordinators of the Creative People’s Collective. CPC run many youth-driven and innovative events in the region, and they’re about to put another one under their belt with Crankfest festival of youth arts and culture, coming up in Youth Week 2012. The trip finished in the afternoon of February 9 at Cabarita Surf Club, with a meeting between the YAPA team, local youth advocate Nick Aldridge and volunteer Youth Worker Katrina. Nick and Katrina oversaw the development of a community youth centre for Cabarita in 2011 that had to close recently, and are hoping to bring it back in bigger and better form in 2012. We heard the inspiring story of an entire community response to the challenges faced by their local young people, as well as the pitfalls of struggling to keep a well-functioning centre/program running with little or no dedicated resourcing. It was both uplifting and upsetting, and we wish the team the best of luck. Overall, the 2012 edition of YAPA’s Rural Road Trip was a massive success and a great eye-opener for the YAPA team. Watch this space for news on when the YAPA team will be coming to a town near you! Check out the YAPA website www.yapa.org.au for more on What’s YAPA up to?
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opportunities
wealth / power / fame / glory competitions… grants… surveys… leadership…
What is important for you to live a good life? We’d like to hear what you think so that we can develop The Nest and make plans that are based on the real life experiences of young people. The Nest is an independent project to improve the health, wellbeing and life opportunities of all young Australians. The Nest will focus Australia’s efforts on a national plan for coordinated action. It will highlight the best evidence to show what works, and invite children, young people and the community to join in a conversation about their hopes and aspirations. Find out more about the project and have your say to help make Australia the best place it can be for children and young people: www.thenestproject.org.au
FESTofALL – for young carers – June 2012 We invite all young carers to FESTofALL – a month long celebration recognising the hard work and dedication of young carers. Held across Australia in June 2012, this festival will see a range of FREE fun activities. See www.festofall.com.au Young carers in NSW are invited to join us for FESTofALL’s flagship event at Luna Park’s Big Top! Enjoy a big day out at Sydney Harbour’s foreshore amusement park for free activities and fabulous entertainment: • Early show: 11.30am to 3.30pm (5 – 13 year olds) • Evening show: 3.30pm to 8pm (14 – 25 year olds): Snap a pic in a photo booth, show your courage on the bungee trampoline before the Big Top comes to life with Australian music talent. Limited grants and travel assistance are available at www.festofall.com.au/grants You can find FESTofALL at facebook.com/FESTofALL2012 and Twitter at @FESTofALL. Register at www.festofall.com.au/registration
‘I believe that YSP has changed me – and ultimately my life course – in so many different ways. I am grateful to YSP for giving me direction, focus and a deeper sense of purpose.’ – Anania Tagaro, Darwin Youth
Organisations Network (DYON); Young Social Pioneer 2011
Young Social Pioneers applications now open If you’re 18-29 years old and work with purpose and passion for a social cause we want to know about you! Young Social Pioneers (YSP) invests in inspired young Australians to develop their leadership skills and support their vision for social change. As a Young Social Pioneer:
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You will receive 12 months of professional training, mentoring, networking opportunities and skills building
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You will become part of a dynamic community of like-minded individuals who learn from and inspire each other
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You will become part of an influential force of young leaders of social change.
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Want to get a feel for what it’s like to be a Young Social Pioneer? Check out our video! Young Social Pioneers begins with a five-day live-in retreat, followed by a series of workshops on leadership, communication, branding, media training, business planning, financial acumen, evaluation and resilience. After the completion of their 12-month journey, YSP alumni continue to receive support from the networks they create, and in turn continue to support the program as mentors, workshop facilitators and advisory board members.
‘Through YSP I found like-minded people who not only got what I wanted to do but also what I wanted to be.’ – Alissa
Phillips, s.p.a.c.e; Young Social Pioneer 2009
The Foundation for Young Australians has increased its intake this year and is searching for eighteen Young Social Pioneers. So if you’re up to something great (or know someone who is!) head to www.youngsocialpioneers.org.au. Applications close 1 June 2012.
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www.yapa.org.au/unleash June - July 2012 unleash
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