The Scoop Newsletter
January 2016
YACSA Update The year is off to a good start for team YACSA as we finalise some work from 2015 and get stuck into planning the year ahead. In the last edition I talked about the consultation we completed to find out what you know about government engagement policy and practice and how (or if)
contents YACSA Update
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Youth Parliament
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Your Vote Counts
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Advice From a Uni Graduate
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Handy Hansard
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Opportunities
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you’d like to be engaged in the future. In December we used that information to draft a resource for government and the young member policy group provided feedback and approved the content at their January meeting. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) is overseeing the final design and the resource will be launched towards the end of Feb so we’ll let you know when it’s available in hard copy and online. The next meeting of the young member policy group will include a discussion about how the group wants to prepare and progress the group’s agenda so we’re all looking forward to that. The meetings are held every month at YACSA HQ. In the meantime we’ve created a Facebook group so members can communicate between meetings. Contact Kristy for more info. After much speculation, the Premier reshuffled the cabinet in early January in preparation for a “year of action”. There are a couple of new faces in the line-up but the Hon. Zoe Bettison MP has retained the youth portfolio so it’ll be business as usual for us. In line with the premier’s “year of action” statement, we’re keen to know about your “2016 year of action wish list” – what do you want state or federal government to action this year? Email your response to yacsa@yacsa.com. au and we’ll let you know how we’ll use that information. In a couple of weeks we’re hosting our big sector event for the year so we’ll be focussing on that but once it’s over we’ll get back to planning and will let you know what’s in store in the March edition. Cheers Anne
Youth Parliament Who would have thought Human Resources, eastern mysticism and parliament go together? Well for Bridget Barletta, Youth Parliament’s Community Engagement Officer, it’s just a normal day. Bridget’s studying Law and Human Resources at the University of South Australia, has a curiosity for people, nature, culture and eastern mysticism, and is part of the volunteer Taskforce running Youth Parliament. She’s been a Youth Parliamentarian for two years and in 2015 had the role of Government Leader in the Legislative Council. This year she hopes to make many new friends, to connect communities and to make sure the voices of young people in our state are truly heard. Here’s what she has to say about Youth Parliament.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to make a difference, be a leader of your community or voice your opinion, Youth Parliament is just the program for you! YMCA SA Youth Parliament is an apolitical program that empowers young people to be a voice for youth in South Australia. It is a program by the youth for the youth, aimed to engage politicians and decision-makers with the views, opinions and perspectives of young people in the State. Each year, 85 participants are selected to represent their community, and learn about youth advocacy, public speaking, parliamentary etiquette and Bill Development. Together they share ideas, discuss issues and create Youth Bills to debate in Parliament House. What’s even more awesome - their bills are then considered by our very own State Minister for Youth and Members of Parliament! This is where our youth get to make a real difference, and where they inspire practical changes in our State such as compulsory bike helmets and the ban on plastic bags. The program is open to people aged 15-24, from areas in both Metropolitan and Rural South Australia. It involves a training weekend in May and a six-day residential camp in the July School Holidays where participants will spend four days in Parliament House. It is a great experience for anyone looking to make a difference, to emerge as a leader or even for public speaking skills, teamwork, friendships, confidence and personal development. So if you’re thinking that this all sounds pretty cool, I encourage you to apply. You won’t regret this once in a lifetime opportunity. Applications Close 13 March 2016. For more information head to SA YMCA Website or contact Program Manager Alana James on 0447 047 422 or ypsa@sa.ymca.org.au
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The ScoopNovember January 2016 The Scoop 2015
yvote.com.au
The YACSA team stumbled across this awesome website about the power of the Youth Vote, and we couldn’t wait to share it with y’all. It’s run by a non-partisan youth organisation dedicated to increasing young people’s voter participation and political engagement. We’ve taken out some key messages from the website, but you should definitely check it out for yourself, and pledge to vote while you’re there! At the last Federal Election young people could have changed the outcome in at least
46 electorates, but...
800,000
That’s 25% of young people not having their voice heard.
18 - 30 Year olds didnt vote
? ??
The amazing folks at Y-Vote can help you understand who it is you’re voting for and provide you with relevant information for your electorate. Plus, they’re calling on politicians to place greater value on the views of young people, pretty cool eh? TheScoop ScoopNovember January 2016 The 2015
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©Disney Pixar: Monster’s University
Advice From a Uni Graduate Many young South Australians are geared up to experience their first year of university this year. Whether you are fresh out of high school or have taken a couple years break from study, chances are your emotions are swinging between nervousness and excitement. I’m no expert on the whole university thing, but I’ve been there, done that and recently come out the other side, so I thought I’d offer up whatever small pearls of wisdom I collected from the experience. It isn’t like high school You’ve probably heard this one before, but I can’t overstate how true this is! No one’s going to be calling home if you don’t show up - you have to get your butt in those lecture seats yourself! Step outside your comfort zone: University can be a pretty lonely place if you don’t make the effort to get some new friends, so it pays to step outside your comfort zone. New friends aren’t going to just fall into your lap. Uni or TAFE campuses are huge places with thousands of people, which can be incredibly intimidating. But remember, university is an opportunity to make lifelong friends. Unlike high school, the people you find yourself surrounded by at uni are here by choice, chances are it’s similar interests, passions and ambitions which have brought you here. So step outside your comfort zone, talk to the person sitting next to you in a lecture, join a sports club or attend that pubcrawl even though you don’t know anyone on the RSVP list. Trust me, it’ll be worth it. Pick subjects that excite you: If you’re lucky enough to choose electives as part of course, pick the ones that actually excite you. Every semester the ratio of students to empty chairs slowly decreases as people realise they have better ways to spend their time. Pick subjects that make you want to be the nerd, sitting in the front seat of the lecture hall, hand poised to take notes. It’s OK to change your mind: Making decisions about the rest of your life is no small feat; you’ll probably get it wrong once or twice. But you know what? That’s ok. I changed direction after my first year. I know people who dropped out or failed, who have gone on to do amazing things without a degree. I know people who got it right the first time, and are happily plodding along a linear path. There are always options open to you, changing your mind is never a failure. ScoopNovember January 2016 4 The The Scoop 2015
Handy Hansard Hansard is the official report of the debates and proceedings of the SA parliament. We like it because we can see who’s been saying what about youth affairs and young people. You can access it yourself and search for terms, but we look at it regularly so we will provide a snapshot for you in this section of the newsletter. Last month, there was a motion moved by the Greens Party showing support for the endangered Radio Adelaide and acknowledging that the station “reduces the ‘brain drain’ of young people leaving Adelaide to seek opportunities elsewhere.” It inspired a lot of discussion, some of which you can read below. Find the full transcript here. I move this motion on behalf of the Greens in state parliament today to recognise the outstanding contribution made to South Australia’s cultural life by the community broadcaster Radio Adelaide, and to highlight the incredible campaign of support that has emerged following the announcement that its home at 228 North Terrace has been sold to facilitate the building of a new medical school facility by the University of Adelaide.
Hon. John Gazzola MLC voiced the Government’s support for the motion. Community broadcasters such as Radio Adelaide present the only real opportunity for young people to gain the necessary skills to carve out careers in the media. Indeed, in Radio Adelaide’s 43-year history it has assisted many South Australian artists, technicians and broadcasters to go on to a fulfilling career in South Australia and indeed Australia. To lose a community broadcaster based in the city and within the university does not assist the government’s agenda in creating and maintaining a vibrant city.
Hon. Kelly Vincent MLC made mention of the diversity of the station: Lastly, I would like to note that Radio Adelaide recently undertook a program called Access All Areas. This was a training program for young people with a variety of disabilities. Radio Adelaide is one of the important, and one of the few, avenues amplifying the voices of people from many backgrounds and genuinely aiming to reflect the true diversity of our great state. For these reasons, I support the motion.
Their contribution is enormous and immensely important to civil society. Radio Adelaide has contributed to this civil society in a number of ways. For the benefit of the members in this council, I will highlight some of Radio Adelaide's achievements, but I do know that other members are also eager to make a contribution today as well. First and foremost, Radio Adelaide provides a platform to up-and-coming media professionals as an avenue to access hands-on media training. All too often we hear of the younger people of our state heading to Sydney, Melbourne, or even overseas, to pursue creative careers. We know that South Australia needs to build on our new industries and emerging industries and provide jobs. South Australia needs organisations that provide people with a chance to stay in South Australia, to learn media production skills here, to build these creative industries and to generate future jobs. Radio Adelaide does and is providing these opportunities.
Hon. Tammy Franks made these closing remarks: So many people get their start or transition careers in this way. The voice of the people is too vital to lose. Adelaide University needs to make a decision that gives certainty into the future and allows Radio Adelaide to transition in a timely manner, not give them a death sentence seven months from now. With those few words, I commend the motion.
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Opportunities
Jibba Jabba Radio are currently on the search for 16 - 25 year olds from Salisbury and Playford to join their team. Starts Friday 12 Feb 4 - 6pm @ PBA FM 17-19 Wiltshire Street Salisbury Radio training provided $150.00 for six month program, ability to be assessed for TAFE SA Certificate I in Creative Industries Click here for more details and expression of interest.
EVERYDAY SKILLS Are you 18 - 25 years old and interested in learning more about cooking and nutrition, improving your health and wellbeing, navigating your community or managing your money? The Everyday Skills is comprised of four topics over three weeks each, and runs for a total of 12 weeks. Starting February 5th, the program will be held every Friday at 11am. To register your interest for the group or for more information contact Streetlink on 8202 5950
ATTENTION MUSICIANS: Are you interested in performing at the National Youth Week Launch event in April?
YMCA SA Youth Parliament is an apolitical program that empowers young people to be advocates for their community.
Onkaparinga Youth are looking for DJs, bands, solo and duo performers aged between 12 - 25 to perform at the National Youth Week Launch event on Saturday 9 April.
It’s all about personal development, youth leadership and connecting politicians and decision makers with youth voices and opinions. Every year, young leaders come together to learn about public speaking, parliamentary etiquette, bill development and youth advocacy. They share their big ideas, discuss the challenges facing South Australia and create solutions in the form of Youth Bills.
To apply, complete an artist application and provide an example of your work. Applications close Friday 26 February 2016 at 5pm. For more information contact Natasha 8301 7322 or send her an email.
Oh, and did we mention that they debate the Youth Bills in Parliament House before they’re given to our politicians? That’s real world impact. For more information or to apply visit the YMCA SA website Do you want to see your opportunity for young people
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here, or do you have an idea for content you’d like to see in The Scoop? Get in touch with us at yacsa@yacsa.com.au.
In the coming weeks, Julia Farr Youth Mentoring are offering a range of free mentoring services covering different issues affecting young people living with disability. These peer to peer mentoring information sessions will cover topics such as bullying, sexual health and advice for school leavers. For more information on the mentoring sessions or to book, visit the JFY eventbrite page.
QSpace returns Friday 12 February. QSpace is a group for same sex attracted and gender diverse young people in the North East of Adelaide. The group meets regularly to chat and be around like minded folk. The next QSpace session will venture outdoors while seeking a new venue. If you are interested in joining this group, head along to barbeque in Civic Park, Modbury. Friday 12 February 5-7pm. For more information contact Fiona on 0418 854 638
RMT Management are offering Film & Stage Acting Classes for 9 - 16 year olds at Twelve25. The weekly classes focus on both communication & confidence building whilst teaching important industry acting skills. Term 1 enrolments now open When: Mondays Time: 4 - 5:30pm Location: Twelve25 Salisbury Youth Enterprise Centre, 17 Wiltshire Street Salisbury Hurry limited spaces available. Check out their website Email or 8394 2574 for more information.
UN Youth Australia’s South Australian Conference is being held 8-10 April, with the theme of Standing Up For Gender Equality: Empowerment, Inclusion & Expression. This weekend-long event is open to all students from Years 10 to 12 and is run entirely by young people for young people. Across a weekend of engaging workshops, worldclass guest speakers, immersive Model UN debate and lot of social activities, over 100 students will come together to discuss Gender Equality in Australia and abroad. The event will be held at Nunyara Conference Centre, Belair. Registrations open on Monday 8 February, so put the date in your diary. If you have any question, Contact the convenor, Christina Devetzidis. The Scoop 2016 The ScoopJanuary November 2015
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