AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022
NYPS Project Update - 17/12/2004
MERRY CHRISTMAS and a SAFE and HAPPY NEW YEAR from the team at AICAFMHA!
UPDATE
The National Youth Participation Project is 4 months old and with 5 months to go we are heading into an exciting part of the project. Over 100 young people, workers and organizations have been consulted in regard to their experiences of youth participation and their responses have been collated using a database specifically designed for this project.
Using this information and of course the literature reviewed both here in Australia and Overseas ideas are being 'thrown around' and we will be working with a group of young people over January to develop a draft model document.
The plan is the draft document will be available
However, we are happy to develop resources that best suit your needs.
Once again if you are interested in reviewing draft documents please feel free to contact Dy as AICAFMHA is happy to support young people so they can be involved.
NB: I will be taking leaving from Wednesday the 22nd of December 2004 to January the 5th 2005.
MARKETING
If you could forward the following to your networks so we can market the reviewing of the draft models document that would be appreciated.
National Youth Participation Strategy!
Interested in having a voice in the development and implementation of programs under the National Mental Health Plan and National Suicide Prevention Strategy?...well we have something for YOU!
AICAFMHA has reviewed the literature and consulted with over 100 young people, workers and organizations over the last 4 months about their experiences of youth participation. Over January we will be working with a group of young people to develop a draft models document using ideas collected and presenting it in a youth friendly and professional format.
The draft documents will be available for comment during February to March. They can be accessed online, hard copy and in a group format, however, we are happy to develop resources that best suit your needs. There is no right or wrong answers instead we want all ideas, that's right the good, the bad and the ugly.
The AICAFMHA team wants to make sure the models presented to the Department of Health and Ageing in May are achievable and will work for young people and service providers.
So, if you or a group of young people are interested in reviewing the draft documents please contact the project officer, Dyanna Smith McCue either by phone 08 8276 2283 or email smith.dy@saugov.sa.gov.au as the AICAFMHA team are keen to support you in this process.
EMAILING LIST
NB: We encourage you to use this emailing list as a discussion tool in regard to the field of youth participation or I am happy for you to email me directly if you have any information you would like to have put 'out there' for discussion.
INFORMATION UPDATE
In a conference of young people involved in various projects supported by CYFP, International Youth Foundation (IYF) and National Council of Child and Youth Development, young people identified the current barriers to young people's participation. These views were also supported by many of the service providers and young people consulted as part of the National Youth Participation Strategy and need to be taken into consideration when developing a model of good practice for this particular project.
1. Adult/parent mindset. Lack of parental support was identified as a consistent barrier to young people's participation. According to the traditional mindset of adults, young people, by virtue of their youth, are to be protected or dictated to. Parents fear losing control over young people as they become more confident and assertive as a result of their experiences of participation.
2. Crisis situation of young people. Crisis situations damage the capacity of young people to participate in projects. Young people today struggle with various stressors and other societal problems. They need help in order to regain the capacity they have lost.
3. Community resistance. Perceptions that young people's opinions and abilities are subordinate to that of adults are widespread in the communities. Even if young people have received necessary training, the community rejects their efforts to participate in projects.
4. Relatively passive. In many Asian cultures, young people have been raised to be relatively passive. They were not allowed to question authority or to assert their rights.
5. Differently skilled young people lack opportunities to participate. There is a misconception that differently skilled young people need to be protected from harm or undue stress. This prevents them from using their available capabilities to participate in matters that concern them.
6. Lack of funding. Many young people had expressed the desire to become more involved in conducting research, advocacy work, and other activities, but lack of financial resources prevent them from doing so.
8. Inequality. Class distinctions prevent young people from lower income families to interact with and assume responsibilities in conjunction with those from high-income families.
9. The organizational mindset, which recognizes participation of young people in theory but not in practice, is a barrier to their participation. As adults are in the management position, they have the final say on how much authority or responsibility is delegated to young people.
10. Lack of skills and training of young people in the areas of leadership, communication, as well as social and psychological awareness are substantial barriers to young people working efficiently with their peers.
11. Part time jobs - young people expected to contribute to the family income, hence blocking their capacity to increase their participation.
12. School administrators are often lacking in trust for their young persons. Structures such as young person councils are present but do not really perform their function of providing young people with opportunities to participate.
13. Fast turnover of staff and volunteers in agencies because of staff burnout affects the continuity and the agency's capacity to follow-up the young people seeking to become more involved in program activities.
14. Lack of time because of school and work obligations inhibit young people from getting more intensely involved in program activities.
15. Organizational disagreement -regarding the type and manner in which Young people may participate in their projects may hinder their committed involvement. Support of the whole organization is necessary. This is to ensure that those who do not support them do not block those who support young people's efforts.
Thank you for your ongoing support?
Dyanna Smith-McCue
National Youth Participation Strategy Project Officer
smith.dy@saugov.sa.gov.au
Ph: (08) 8161 7338
Fax: (08) 8161 6983
PO Box 387, Stepney SA 5069
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