yr12 Community and Family Studies. Category B Youth

1. Creating positive social
environments
YOUTH
Groups in Context, Category B

2. addressing the groups’ issues of concern
● government policy & legislation
● organisations within the community that
support the group
● equity issues

3. Youth
Creating a positive social environment is essential for youth as it helps enable
them to meet their needs. A youth's ability to create as positive social
environment is determined by their:
● Physical needs and status
● Understanding of legal rights and responsibilities
● Environmental and technological resources
● Education and vocation
Addressing youths’ concerns is essential as some older members of the
community feel as if youths concern are 'blown out of proportion'. Youth today
are taking it upon themselves to advocate their own wellbeing needs and rights.
Helping improve their wellbeing today and for their future.

4. ● Social environment-home, workplace, places
youth interact within the community
● educational opportunities also impact social
wellbeing
● Youth voice is growing to address area of
inequity

5. Government policy & legislation Youth
ANTI DISCRIMINATION ACT:
- Against law to treat individuals unfairly because of age in different areas of public life, i.e. work,
education and buying goods and services.
- Negative stereotypes often lie at heart of age discrimination.
Important part of Commission’s work is to help foster positive community attitudes towards both young and
older Australians (equity)
EDUCATIONAL AMENDMENT BILL 2009:
- Makes school attendance legal and compulsory. Educated
people are more likely to to get further training boosting the
economy, improve sense of identity & hence wellbeing (equity).

6. Government policy & legislation Youth
MARRIAGE ACT 1961:
- Makes marriage under age of 18 illegal, unless permission of judge and parents obtained, youth can
then marry at 16. To be married at a reasonable age to protect the right of education & employment
opportunities for youth (equity).
PAYMENTS
- e.g. Youth Allowance help aid socioeconomic and educational inequity.
State Government Funding
- Concession cards, to allow cheaper travel for youth, usually students.
- Improves community participation, access to services over distance when youth income be limited. Job
seekers to travel and look for work or education. Promoting equity through access to travel and hence
services or employment.

7. Organisations within
the community -Youth
- Most youth support groups located in largely populated areas
- Increase in online support groups, easy to remember numbers & available
24/7 over last couple of years for those in rural areas e.g. Kids Helpline.
- Youth wellbeing concerns eg injury, mental health, employment,
relationships, family, suicide & the services needed are often lacking in
remote areas. This indicates the need to address inequities.
- Centrelink assists youth eg support payments ie Abstudy, Youth Allowance
- Payments available for isolated youth who can’t be enrolled at local
schools due to geographical isolation, disability or special needs.
- Services other than those offered by government based in local
community.

8. Organisations within
the community -Youth
● Groups within the community are often run by volunteers or supported by
government assistance.
● Groups who meet the needs of Youth include: PCYC, Kids Help Line; The
Make a Noise Project; Job Placement Education and Training (JPET);
Youth centres; sporting and other activity groups; Schools; Beyond Blue;
Salvation Army; Mission Australia; St Vincent de Paul and many more.

9. Youth of the Streets example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0fKIF6IjOY

10. Community organisation

11. Current inequity -Youth
Socioeconomic inequity strategies:
● Govt increase youth allowance
● Increase parent income threshold, more
youth can access support
● Travel concessions eg increase concessions
on low income for long distance travel to
employment opportunities or relaocation
allowances

12. Current inequity -Youth
Health inequity strategies:
● increase access to school psychologists to
decrease mental health issues
● fund services such as counsellors, GP into
community groups eg Youth off the streets
● lower the age to obtain an independent
Medicare card

13. Positive influences on community attitudes
● contributions the group makes within the
community

14. Youth contribute to the community
- Provide help around the home e.g. babysitting
- Carers for chronically ill or disabled parents
- Part-time or Casual Workers
- Act as role models and volunteers eg youth group leaders, soup kitchen,
St Vincent de Paul, blood donors
- Assist in fundraising eg Red Cross, Relay for Life
- Technologically advanced - embrace and lead new ideas in internet and
mobile phones
- Involved in community organisations e.g. Rural Fire Service,
Surf Life Saving

15. Surf Life Saving
Impact on wellbeing:
-sense of identity, education, health
physical/social/mental
-community service & belonging to the
community
-protection & education of the community
-ability to seek further education eg awards

16. ● advocacy (speaking up for the group’s needs
and concerns)
-raising awareness within the community
-educating the community
-promoting the rights of the group

17. Advocacy example -youth
Advocate -positive influence attitudes:
● Australian paralympians
● raises awareness of capabilities
● spirit of youth, inspirational
● youth train hard, work hard
● youth achievements get recognised

18. Surf Life Saving
Advocate -positive influence attitudes:
-sense of identity, education, health -
-see youth doing a community service
as part of the local community
-improve sense of health & safety eg attend
beach where there are patrols
-see SLS as a healthy option for their children

19. Example eg schools, festivals
Educating community about the aspects and achievements
of youth in the community can be found in the St John Paul
College Newsletter, in which the success of students is
recognised, congratulated and presented to the community.
Youth Week, Headspace Music Festival
for young people in the Coffs Coast
Advocate