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NSW Youth Advisory Council

Annual Report

2015

Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People Level 2, 407 Elizabeth Street SURRY HILLS NSW 2010 Telephone: (02) 9286 7231 Facsimile: (02) 9786 7267 Email: acyp@acyp.nsw.gov.au Website: www.acyp.nsw.gov.au

YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL NEW SOUTH WALES

The Hon. John Ajaka MLC Minister for Ageing Minister for Disability Services Minister for Multiculturalism

Parliament House Macquarie Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Dear Minister

It gives me great pleasure to present you with the 2014 NSW Youth Advisory Council Annual Report. The Council has carried out its functions in accordance with the Advocate for Children and Young People Act 2014.

The Council is committed to directly consulting with young people and increasing children young people’s participation in the community and government. This commitment is reflected in the variety of Council activities in 2015. This year the Council liaised with a range of organisations and participated in a number of forums, conferences and events, concerned with the issues of children and young people. The Council also provided advice to the Government in the development and implementation of policies that affect the lives of children and young people in NSW.

I would like to thank the members of the Council for their work and for the role they have played in ensuring that the Council continues to provide a link between the young people of NSW and the NSW Government.

On behalf of the Council, I would also like to thank you for your continued support.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Piero Craney Chair NSW Youth Advisory Council

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Role of the Council The NSW Youth Advisory Council (“the Council”) was originally established under the Youth Advisory Council Act 1989, which was then repealed by the Advocate for Children and Young People Act 2014. The Council allows young people to participate in the development of Government policies that concern them.

The Council’s functions under the Advocate for Children and Young People Act 2014 are:

o Advising the Minister and the Advocate on Government policies and programs concerning young people;

o Consulting with young people, community groups and Government agencies on issues and policies concerning young people;

o Monitoring and evaluating legislation, Government policies and programs concerning young people and recommending changes if required;

o Conducting forums, approved by the Minister, on issues of interest to young people;

o Providing the Minister and the Advocate with information on issues and policies concerning young people.

Administration of the Council The Hon Victor Dominello MP, Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Assistant Minister for Education, administered the Advocate for Children and Young People Act 2014 from January 2015 to July 2015.

The Hon John Ajaka MLC, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Multiculturalism, administered the Advocate for Children and Young People Act 2014 from July 2015 to present.

Administration support for the Council was provided by the Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People.

Membership of the Council The current members of the Council were originally appointed in 2014 under the Youth Advisory Council Act 1989. This Act was later repealed by the Advocate for Children and Young People Act 2014. After the end of the Council’s previous term on 31 December 2014, members were given the option of reappointment under the new Act. Eight out the twelve members elected to be reappointed. These members have agreed to continue in their role until the new Council commences. Recruitment for the new Council is currently underway.

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2015 Council members

Ms Brenella Abdel-Rehim Age: 19 Lithgow/ Kensington

Mr Piero Craney (Chair) Age: 21 Wyoming/ Kingsford

Mr Declan Drake Age: 17 Inverell

Mr Jesse Hanna (Deputy Chair) Age: 23 Bexley

Ms Yvette Quinn Age: 19 Parkes/ Newtown

Ms Kavisha Shah Age: 17 West Ryde

Ms Sarah Van Der Meer Age: 20 Kulnura/ Epping

Ms Gina Zheng Age: 19 Eastwood/ Braddon

Ex-Officio member

Mr Andrew Johnson, Advocate for Children and Young People.

Work of the Council In 2015 the Council discussed contemporary ‘Hot Topics’ which arose throughout the year to enable dialogue on a broader range of issues that affect young people. The following issues are those which the Council felt appeared on numerous occasions or were of particular interest to the Council. These were raised with the Minister during a meeting.

1. Identity

The Council believes that young people can encounter barriers during the formation of

their identity, especially those from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

A forum on identity was organised and facilitated by the Council with a focus on respect and inclusion. The speakers included Amna Karra-Hassan founder of Auburn Giants Australian Football Team and Shane Phillips, CEO Tribal Warrior. The main themes spoken about by the speakers and others involved in the following discussion included, the importance of connections to place and spaces, relationships and how institutions should be respectful when generating perceptions of young people’s identity, for example in the media. The forum followed on from the Youth Week forum which had a focus on overcoming the barriers to community engagement with links to identity.

The Council is aware of current Government programs which promote identity and are examples that could be built on to further reduce barriers encountered by young people, in regards to identity. The Language and Culture Nests in the OCHRE Plan for Aboriginal Affairs, supports Indigenous students to learn traditional languages. This helps to build the identity of Indigenous young people. The Council believes it is important for all children and young people to learn more about Indigenous cultures and languages to promote identity and inclusion. The Youth Frontiers program focuses on leadership and civic engagement. It targets year 8 and 9 students, who work to develop innovative community projects. The Council believes that youth mentoring can be an effective way for young people to explore their identity.

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2. Ice (Methamphetamine)

Use of the drug ice is an issue facing young people, particularly in rural and regional areas. While other drugs still have detrimental effects on young people, ice is particularly addictive and can have extreme and dangerous side effects.1

The Council acknowledges the funding for specific treatment and rehabilitation services and an educational campaign in the 2015-16 Budget. The NSW Police Force’s focus on reducing supply and referring on users for treatment is beneficial. The Council feels more could be done in regards to health promotion, which will ensure young people are able to develop their own skill set when making health conscious decisions, rather than become involved with ice initially.

3. Work and Development Orders (“WDOs”)

The Council recognises that young people can have difficulty paying their fines. When a young person under the age of 18 receives a fine, the State Debt Recovery Office will refrain from using the full range of enforcement actions available. However, issues arise when the young person turns 18, as any unpaid or accumulated fines will be followed up. This can lead to the young person having their licence suspended, or facing garnishee or property seizure orders. The Council supports the WDO scheme used by the State Debt Recovery Office, which allows eligible young people to clear their fines through unpaid work, educational courses, mentoring,

1 NSW Ministry of Health (2014) ‘Methamphetamine Speed and Ice: The Facts’, Drug

counselling or treatment with an approved organisation or health practitioner.

The Council held a meeting with the State Debt Recovery Office to seek further information on the WDO scheme. Advice was also provided by the Council on the State Debt Recovery Office’s Youth Engagement Strategy.

4. Mental Health

Many young people experience mental health issues throughout high school and later in life. In particular, young people face significant stress during their Higher School Certificate (HSC).

The Council is aware of the Supported Student, Successful Students program for public schools, as announced in the 2015-16 Budget. The Government has allocated $167 million over four years to this program, which will provide additional school counsellors and student support officers. The Council notes that school counsellors often face a conflict between student confidentiality and duty of care. Some students who need help may avoid seeing school counsellors due to unclear expectations and a concern that their confidential information may be disclosed to others. While the Supported Student, Successful Student program addresses the demand of mental health services, young people’s concern of confidentiality may need to be further addressed.

5. Volunteering

The Council finds the recognition of a young person’s volunteering efforts, through awards and incentives will encourage a sustained commitment to

Facts, http://yourroom.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Speed-facts.pdf, p. 1.

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volunteering and encourage other young people to volunteer.

The Council was involved in the Review of the Definition of Volunteering undertaken by Volunteering Australia. Feedback was provided in the form of an online survey by all members of the Council.

The Council welcomes the Premier’s Volunteer Recognition Program, which was introduced earlier this year and provides State-level recognition to volunteers of any age. The Council also believes that a lack of access to transport is a barrier to young people engaging in volunteering activities, especially in rural and regional areas.

Forums, Consultations and Representation of the Council Representation on Committees

The Council had representation on the following committees in 2015:

o NSW Youth Week Young People’s Advisory Committee;

o NSW Health’s Youth Health and Wellbeing Advisory Group.

Meetings with Minister

The Council met with the Hon John Ajaka MLC, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services and Minister for Multiculturalism, to discuss the work of the Council and present an overview of the Council’s activities in 2015.

Council Meetings

The Council met on five occasions in 2015: 22 February, 22 March, 15 May, 12 July and 20 September.

Conferences, Forums, Meetings and Functions

The Council organised and facilitated the following:

o Meeting with the State Debt Recovery Office and provided feedback on their Youth Engagement Strategy;

o ‘Youth Identity and Inclusion in NSW Today’ forum where Amna Karra-Hassan, Youth Member of Multicultural NSW’s Advisory Board and Shane Phillips, CEO Tribal Warrior were speakers;

o Speak Up St George consultation for the Advocate for Children and Young People’s whole of government strategic plan;

o Facilitated a consultation on the Advocate for Children and Young People’s whole of government strategic plan at the NSW Youth Council Conference.

Council members represented the NSW Youth Advisory Council at the following conferences, forums, meetings and functions:

o Launch of the Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People;

o Consulted with the Advocate on: - The brand of the Office of the

Advocate - Methods and questions to ask

children and young people in the Office’s consultation process

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- The recruitment process for the 2016 Council;

o Provided facilitation at the Youth Week Forum at Parliament House;

o Engaged in the national review of the definition of volunteering undertaken by Volunteering Australia;

o NSW Budget 2015-16 Lock Up; o Provided a Council member to sit

on the recruitment committee for the Office of the Advocate;

o Advocate’s NGO and Civil Society Forum;

o International Youth Day at Government House;

o Provided feedback to the NSW Privacy Commissioner;

o National Child Protection Week Reception at Admiralty House;

o NSW Youth Council Conference organised by Eurobodalla Youth Council;

o 2015 Children’s Week Awards at Government House.

Training

o Facilitation skills training; o Advocacy training; o Policy training.

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Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People Level 2, 407 Elizabeth Street SURRY HILLS NSW 2010 Telephone: (02) 9286 7231 Facsimile: (02) 9286 7267 Email: acyp@acyp.nsw.gov.au Website: www.acyp.nsw.gov.au