JULIA FARR YOUTH

For young people by young people with

initiative!

WHO IS JULIA FARR YOUTH (JFY)?

• JFY are a group of young people living with disability who are active on disability youth issues.

• Established in 2008 by Julia Farr Association (JFA) Purple Orange after consultation with young people who identified a need for young people to have a voice.

• JFY are an advisory group to JFA Purple Orange who are a social profit organisation working to assist people living with disability to get a fair go.

WHAT DO JFY DO?

• Meet monthly to discuss issues of importance and to devise strategies for change.

• Consult with individuals and organisations.

• Respond to submissions and advocate for the rights of young people living with disability.

• School presentations and discussions.

• Awareness raising.

• Work on projects important to them and other young people.

EDUCATION

We would like equal access to education of a

person’s choice!

WHAT ARE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS?

1.The introduction of individualised (self-directed) funding for all students

2.Person-centred planning for all students

3.The introduction of Circles @ School

4.The introduction of a steering committee to introduce disability related course material into youth work, social work and teaching degrees.

BRADLEY’S STORY – THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSITIONBradley will chat to you about:

• Why he joined Julia Farr Youth and what it means to him

• His experiences during high school and afterwards

• His dream of becoming a PE teacher and undertaking a sport and recreation course

• His current achievements in sport (soccer, football, swimming)

• His families experience of individualised funding

BRADLEY’S STORY

ANGUS’S STORY

"I have a go at anything that appeals to me. I’m quite happy at how everything’s going, and I’ve got a great balance between social life and university."

MY EXPERIENCES

Angus will chat to you about:

• His current achievements (university, kayaking, Australian Institute of Sport)

• His transition from children’s services to adult services

• Accessing equipment

• The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and what's important

WHAT DO YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO SEE INCLUDED IN THE NDIS

• The same standard of study as all people (funding for transport, personal care and adaptations for university/TAFE

• Information sessions on how to access services, work placements for university and how they can move out of the family home and live independently

• Education for people living with disability so that they know the NDIS exists

• Will the NDIS support hidden disabilities and how?

• A focus on life skills and adaptations so that a person can learn to do something themselves instead of support from a carer who will do something for them

• A strong focus on early intervention and transition

JULIA FARR YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM

The mentoring program in an innovative idea which came about in 2009 .

The program evolved from consultation with JFY about ways to better support students living with disability through the often challenging years of adolescence .

JFY were concerned about the transition from primary school to high school and from high school to tertiary education.

They were also concerned about mentees connecting with their local community.

Mentees are aged 11-16 and live with disability.

Mentors are aged 18-30 and also live with disability.

CORE PRINCIPLES OF MENTORING

When designing the mentoring program we looked at the following core principles:

1. Personhood – where mentees living with disability connect with their own worth as unique human beings, and identify their strengths and potential.

2. Citizenhood – where mentees are active, valued members within their school and the wider community.

3. Capacity building – where mentees learn new skills.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MENTORING• Provides an opportunity for mentees to discuss situations

which relate to their disability

• Supports mentees to empower themselves , to develop problem solving capacity and to move into leadership roles

• Increased chances of success in the high school education and adolescence roles

• Non-disabled peers and adults have an opportunity to develop a fuller understanding of the contribution people living with disabilities have within our community

• Teachers are able to access the program as a resource

• Community connection for young people

WHAT ARE WE FINDING HARD?

• The cost of transport for a mentor (i.e. an access cab).

• Finding it difficult to recruit mentors with lived experience of disability.

• The program requires extra funding for a full time coordinator to run the program

• Sometimes there is a lot going on in someone’s life with systemic issues and therefore mentoring is pushed to the bottom.

WHAT’S FOR THE FUTURE - WEB DOCUMENTARY• This web documentary is an initiative which will

raise awareness within the general population of the human rights of people living with disability.

• The project will provide insight into the lived experiences of young people living with disability and raise awareness of community attitudes, inclusion and capacity building.

• The project aims to strengthen communities, improve quality of life and wellbeing for people living with disability and encourage a more resourceful community.

WHAT ARE INDIVIDUALS GOALS FOR THE WEB DOCUMENTARY?

1. Accessibility - To backpack from Adelaide to Darwin highlighting man-made and community restraints and how these can be changed for the future

2. Education - To get every high school teacher is South Australia to sign up to a youth mental health tutorial

3. Housing - To get every young person in a nursing home in South Australia out

4. Employment - To be the first person with autism to present a one-hour program on national radio station, Triple J

5. Awareness raising - To obtain ongoing financial support for invisible disabilities.

JULIA FARR YOUTH – IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Julia Farr Youth members would like to present a YouTube clip they prepared for this conference - in their own words

• http://youtu.be/Vo-Ohgw4CPA 

QUESTIONS