YACVic media release

NEWS UPDATE

8 April 2001

What went on at the YACVic Youth Participation Summit?
By lise dalla torre

On Monday 2nd of April, 2001 young people from throughout Victoria gathered in North Melbourne Town Hall to partake in YACVic's Youth Participation Summit. Participants came from various backgrounds, with different experiences, upbringing, environments and values making the summit all the more interesting through the contributions of the attendees.

Issues addressed during the summit in workshops and by guest speakers were split into three key areas. School participation dealt with the current state of school councils and student representative councils in Victoria and participation and organisation in schools in regards to student leadership. Community based workshops and speakers included the issues of community action within our localities, activist participation and using the media to voice your opinions to a wider range of people in order to gain local support. Government based workshops dealt with barriers that students face over tertiary education issues, the Victorian Youth Round table scheme and the Victorian Government's Youth Strategy with an emphasis on what we the young people believed were important issues.

The summit was valued as a wonderful experience by most of the participants, as it was not only interesting but involved issues involving us as young people instead of us as the old people of tomorrow. Melbourne high student Andrew Thomas commented on this saying that "It was a great experience because a group of young people had the chance to get together and discuss issues relevant to them, now."

Here's some of the issues, ideas and strategies that came out of the summit...

School

What facilitates youth participation in school?

When decision making processes are democratic >>> An ability to fit in with young peoples lifestyles >>> Taking a bottom up approach >>> When young people are be involved in all stages of policy discussion >>> Trust and respect >>> Schools taking youth participation seriously >>> Support from class teachers (making time to discus issues) >>> Setting precedents by demonstrating results >>> Students on school councils >>> When programs are open for everyone not just people on the SRC

Barriers to participation at school

Apathy > Language >>> Meeting process >>> Lack of funding >>> Tokenism >>> Location (especially rural areas) >>> No follow up >>> Lack of resources for giving young people funding >>> No say in schools budget >>> Focus not on young people >>> Young people are perceived as only interested in having fun >>> Lack of opportunity >>> Media - negative images of young people >>> Lack of publicity of youth events >>> "Youth" we are not a homogenous group! >>> Social issues - wealth, geography, nationality, language barriers. >>> Voting processes, who gets onto the SRC, what is representative? >>> Lack of information >>> Time >>> Resources >>> Lack of motivation >>> The "BIG" problem - people don't think that meaningful youth participation is achievable. >>> Image, some people think it's not "cool" to be on an SRC, or to participate.

Strategies

Genuine training for SRC's and other students in leadership participation >>> Provide workshops on writing submissions for funding grants >>> Incorporate SRC meetings into the timetable >>> Publicise youth events >>> Implement bullying and harassment programs >>> Implement Year 7 buddy programs >>> School councils should consist of four parents, four students, four teachers, the government should introduce legislation to support this structure >>> SRC's should be provided with a budget and resources to run conferences and forums >>> Encourage SRC's to exist in all schools >>> Schools to provide students with education and support for participation >>> Funding for external consultants to assist schools individually.>>> Schools should consult with students via opinion surveys, assemblies, forums, discussion groups and discussion papers.

Victorian Youth Strategy

What do we want from the youth strategy?

Granting scheme: money should be made available to support involvement of young people in decision making >>> The state government should fund local government to promote better awareness of services and participation opportunities >>>Places provided for young people as representatives in decision making structures and processes >>> Raised community awareness of the position of young people in society. >>> Enhance the status of young people in the community >>> Minister for Youth Affairs be a member of key, whole of government social policy making processes >>> Establishment of a Children and Young Persons Commissioner >>> Audit the government on youth issues >>> Have a committee that advises the Minister for Youth Affairs that has places for young people as supported, resourced and equal members (like the old youth policy development council)

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) young people and the Victorian Youth Strategy

This workshop was run by Context, support group for GLBT young people and youth workers.

There is no mention of sexuality in the Youth Strategy Discussion Paper >>> Young people have often been targeted by policy rather than being involved in making and shaping it >>> Research suggests that between 8-11% of young people do not identify as being heterosexual (Writing themselves in - LaTrobe Uni)

Issues facing GLBT young people:

No services >>> People are coming out earlier >>> No education >>> Rural issues, no diversity >>> Mental illness and depression >>> Being treated differently because of stereotypes (implicit homophobia) >>> Explicit homophobia >>> Lack of role models

Negative experiences for GLBT young people

Have to do what's expected of you >>> Unrealistic fears about sexuality and same sex relationships >>> Inability to identify own sexuality >>> Negative associations with GLBT >>> Sex education is focussed on heterosexuality >>> Young people don't have opportunity to talk about homosexuality at school >>> Teachers are uncomfortable to talk about issues, no resources or education available to facilitate this >>> Students are scared of confidentiality breaches with teachers >>> No point of access at school

Barriers to GLBT young people participating in Government Consultation

Lack of dialogue in school >>> Lack of acknowledgement of GLBT young people >>> Attitude that homophobia doesn't exist anymore >>> Term "diversity" is too broad - what does it mean? >>> There must be action not just talk >>> Rights and legal issues >>> Negative feelings towards authority >>> Assumption that everyone attends school >>> Environment and location >>>Issues are individualised not and not recognised as part of a broader problem

Recommendations:

That a Youth Roundtable focus on sexuality diversity, or if this is too radical the focus might be on gender, ethnicity, sexuality etc >>> That the Interdepartmental Committee for Youth talk to GLBT young people with: A representative for the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Lesbian and Gay Health, A representative from the Office for Youth, YACVic, A representative from the education dept

Community action

What facilitates youth participation in community action?

Inspiration from friends >>> Access to support and resources through school, local councils and youth groups >>> Education >>> Music, art, creativity, action >>> Through positive action >>> Vive la Revolution! >>> Discussion (anywhere, anytime) >>> Access to the internet >>> YACVic >>> Lobby groups >>> Local action groups >>> Collective action, fighting together not alone >>> Social Movements >>> Editorial (Media)

Barriers

Perceptions of what community action is >>> Adults and baby boomers ruling the roost of community action >>> Media representation >>> Lack of political power and influence >>> Lack of understanding, people are not willing to listen, "That's just the way things are" >>> Self-esteem and self-consciousness >>> Location >>> Work, work, and more work >>> Adult systems not willing to change or listen >>> Homophobia, Sexism, Racism >>> Popular definitions of "politics" & what it involves - politics is NOT necessarily the parliament >>> Rigid education system >>> Fear of change and conservatism >>> Access to resources