NEWS UPDATE

National Youth Affairs Network
Notice of Meeting 4-5 May 2000

The Australian Youth Policy and Action Coalition (AYPAC) was de-funded by the current federal government, and subsequently wound up by its members in 1999.

At the last AYPAC meeting two interim groups were initiated: The Australian Youth Affairs Network (AYAN) was formed to work on the development of a new national youth peak body; and The National Youth Affairs Coalition (NYAC) was formed to maintain communication between existing state peaks, and to ensure that a focus on national youth policy issues was retained.

A third group was proposed to develop an interim email communication mechanism across the sector, but was not successfully implemented. AYAN met by teleconference and held a number of face to face meetings to explore issues (including funding issues) relating to the development of a new peak, and proposed two models, a funded and an unfounded model, for further discussion in the sector.

NYAC met regularly by teleconference and has successfully facilitated ongoing communication between the state peaks and a few national organisations. In November 2000 the two groups, who to this stage had been operating in parallel, met in Canberra and agreed to combine their activities into one group. At this point AYAN and NYAC ceased to exist, and a new combined group, the National Youth Affairs Network (NYAN) was formed. The resolution that confirmed this change stated: "That this meeting resolves to bring together the entities known as AYAN and NYAC into an entity called National Youth Affairs Network (NYAN). The purpose of NYAN is to further develop the move to reestablish an independent youth sector national youth peak body based on the founding principal of sector-wide inclusiveness, and to agree on priority youth policy issues to be addressed as ongoing agreements determine." NYAN has decided that early May of 2001 is the best time to bring the youth sector together in order to resolve the many issues around the establishment of a new national youth peak.

Purpose of Meeting

The purpose of the meeting is to finalise a sector-wide position on the role, functions, structure and processes for a new national youth sector peak body. The outcomes of the meeting will be agreement on a model, and a workplan to ensure its establishment.

Who Should Attend

All organisations in the community sector who are interested in the establishment of a new national youth peak are welcome to attend. Attendance is particularly sought from organisations who wish to be included in the new structure.

When: Friday 4 - Saturday 5 May, 2001
Where: Cato Conference Centre. YWCA, 489 Elizabeth St Melbourne, VIC 3000.
How: Organisations will need to fund their own participation.

For Further Information

For information about the background of NYAN, including the work of AYAN or NYAC contact either:
Bernice Smith
Executive Officer
Youth Affairs Council of Queensland (YANQ)
30 Thomas Street, West End, Brisbane, Qld 4101 Phone: (07) 3236 5400, Fax: (07) 3236 5411
Email: bernices@thehub.com.au

Dave Ireson
Fusion Australia
Phone: (02) 6231 4448, Fax: (02) 6282 5440
Email: dave_ireson@hotmail.com

For information about the venue and meeting arrangements contact:
Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic)
Level 6/1 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Vic 3000 Phone: (02) 9612 8999, Fax: (03) 9620 4802
Email: info@yacvic.org.au