Children and Young People

The ACT Children and Young People’s Commitment 2015-2025, released in December 2015, provides a whole of government and whole of community approach to promote the rights of children and young people aged 0 to 25 years in the ACT.

Developed in consultation with over 1,500 people, the Commitment outlines what our children and young people see as priorities for them. Importantly, key initiatives have been designed to improve outcomes and supports by considering these identified priorities. This Government places a high priority on supporting our children and young people and is identifying, supporting and assisting those who need our help, through:

• A Step Up for Our Kids which began in 2015 and will continue through 2016-17. A number of key milestones have been reached, including the commencement of the Uniting Children and Families ACT program delivering a range of brand new services and supports within families to prevent children from coming into care, or return them home as soon as it is safe to do so. A Step Up for Our Kids is an additional investment of $16 million over four years in new services and reforms to the out of home system, to deliver better outcomes for vulnerable children and young people in the ACT. A Step Up for Our Kids is designed to stem the rate of entry to care through new placement prevention and reunification services; improve outcomes for children and young people in care; and place children and young people in care with permanent alternative families in a timely way. It represents a major departure from current practice and will reduce duplication in the role of government services and non-government services; improving the way the system supports children, parents and carers.
• The West Belconnen Local Services Network, which aims to build services and supports around the needs of the local community. In 2014-15, intensive engagement was undertaken with local residents to find out what matters to people who live in that community. Youth unemployment was identified as an issue with work now underway to deliver tailored employment pathways and a youth employment hub to respond to these needs.
• CCCares – a program providing an education and support program for pregnant and parenting students in the ACT and surrounding districts. CCCares offers Year 12 Certification, goal orientated learning packages, online learning, education and welfare support, health services, and vocational education and employability skills within a mainstream Government College environment. Students can remain in the program for 5 years. In 2015 there were 172 students enrolled. On average 12 – 15 students graduate with an ACT Year 12 Certificate each year.
• A new dental service introduced during 2015 for children and adolescents with special needs. Currently this outreach service involves collaboration with four schools and includes health education, dental assessments and treatment and family support. Since the commencement of the service, 75 students with special needs have received dental assessments and interventions.
• The Blueprint for Youth Justice in the ACT 2012-22 which continues to demonstrate reducing numbers of young people coming into contact with, or becoming further involved in, the youth justice system; ultimately improving outcomes for young people in the ACT.
• Construction of a purpose built respite property for young people aged between 13 and 18 years old to replace an existing respite property currently operated by Disability ACT.
• The Children and Young People Commissioner, who plays an important role in ensuring that the views and interests of children and young people are considered in Government policy and in decisions that affect them. Recent work of the Commissioner has included the Schools for All Report, as a member of the Expert Panel on Children and Young People with Complex Needs and Challenging Behaviour in ACT Schools, and the Report on Children and Young People with Complex Needs in the ACT Youth Justice System, as well as the Right Here Right Now project which captured the self-portraits and views of over 11,500 ACT school students. From 1 April 2016 the roles of the Children and Young People Commissioner and the Public Advocate of the ACT have been combined to a single position within the ACT Human Rights Commission, which will provide greater opportunities to identify areas for systemic reform to benefit the most vulnerable children and young people.
• Our Community Grants which have been promoted through local services, businesses and schools, encouraging local residents, and young people in particular, to identify and drive local community responses to the priority areas.
• The Youth Advisory Council (Council) which is a group of 15 dynamic and passionate young people aged from 12 to 25 years, from diverse cultures, backgrounds and life experiences. The Council provides young people with an opportunity to take a leading role in participation and consultation activities on issues that affect their lives. The Council has identified three broad priority areas, including gender and sexuality, youth homelessness, and alcohol and drugs, and provides advice to government to help ensure the best possible supports for young people in our community.
• A Ministerial ‘listening tour’ of 15 local youth groups, currently underway to hear first hand of concerns and perspectives that are held by Canberra’s young people in a range of different settings.
• A Youth Symposium to be held in August 2016, providing a platform for young people to present views on what needs to be done to sustain our socially harmonious community and the supports that would need to be put in place to ensure no young person falls through the gaps.
• A renewed research agreement with the Institute of Child Protection Studies at the Australian Catholic University to help find new ways to prevent child abuse.
• Libraries ACT who continue to provide a variety of popular, exciting and innovative learning programs, including through its Makerspace. Makerspace houses a range of electronics and computing equipment that is available for use like– 3D printers, Raspberry Pis and Mindstorm robot. It is a self-facilitated project and each individual shares the responsibility for the appropriate use of the space, tools and technology made available.
• Provisions to support students in their training which are built into all ACT funded training initiatives. Skilled Capital, the ACT’s signature entitlement training program, and the Australian Apprenticeships (User Choice) program both provide loadings of $500 for registered training organisations to provide supports to a range of eligible students including young people (15-24 years of age) at risk, particularly those who have been unemployed. Registered training organisations may also apply for further financial supports (up to $3,000 in some cases) to meet specific additional training needs of students.
• Support provided to the CBR Innovation Network to offer a program to encourage students and youths aged 10-17 years to learn ICT, coding, entrepreneurship and the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

Another stream of activity in youth engagement is being led by the Canberra Islamic Centre which has identified 20 to 30 Muslim youth living in the ACT who are potential leaders who could be trained to work with their peers, to impart the value of participation, volunteering and social harmony in our community.  The Canberra Islamic Centre will be supported by the Government to deliver a series of workshops for these potential young leaders.  These workshops will culminate in a Youth Summit for about 100—150 local and interstate Muslim youth.

 

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