Young people
Adolescence and young adulthood are critical stages for emotional, social and physical growth and development, including brain development. It is a time when young people can be particularly vulnerable and require timely and integrated support to ensure that they are able to reach their potential.
As in the early years, adolescence is also a period where the brain undergoes key developmental stages. Significant connections and remodelling occurs in the frontal lobe, the area of the brain responsible for a range of functions including coordinating behaviour, impulse control, decision-making, judgement, planning and other higher order cognitive functions. Much of this remodelling is influenced by a young person’s experiences.
Experiences of violence, trauma or neglect undermine young people's development. Even without such negative experiences, adolescence can be a difficult time of transition and change. Flexible, integrated services support services play an important role in ensuring all young people maximise their capacity to participate in education, training and/or employment.
Yet many communities in Victoria, particularly in rural and regional areas and on the urban metropolitan fringe, have no early support services for young people, or generalist youth services. Where services are available, they are often not local, making it difficult for young people to get to them.
Currently, one of the most significant gaps in youth support services is in the availability of psycho-social counselling services and early intervention to secondary level mental health support services. Generalist youth services play an important role in reducing the onset of serious mental illness by providing timely support for young people who may be experiencing the early mental health issues.
VCOSS and the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) worked collaboratively to produce a report on this issue, published in October 2006 and titled Who’s carrying the can? Youth Services Report. The report makes several recommendations on how these gaps may be addressed and calls for the development of a comprehensive youth services system for Victoria.
Positive pathways framework launched
VCOSS welcomed the release of the Positive pathways for Victoria’s vulnerable young people: A policy framework to support vulnerable youth by the Premier on Wednesday 22 September 2010. This framework is the result of the consultations around the Vulnerable Youth Framework – Discussion Paper.
VCOSS and the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) welcomed the launch of the Positive pathways framework as a significant first step in improving outcomes for young people in Victoria. The release of the framework is the culmination of many years of advocacy from the youth and community sectors and effective cross-department work on behalf of the Government to better meet the support needs of young people in Victoria.
The joint VCOSS and YACVic media release is here
Details
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VCOSS and YACVic very much welcome the intent within the Positive pathways framework to drive improved collaboration and much more effective planning and the local and state level – we strongly support and applaud the intent to create a system that enables teachers and schools, community and youth services, and just to work more effectively together so as to enable better outcomes for young people. VCOSS and YACVic have been working closely together around improved supports for young people in Victoria in a focused way since 2004. In 2005 VCOSS and YACVic undertook the research, including sector surveys and forums, to inform our 2006 report, Who’s carrying the can?, the key recommendations of which pointed to the need for:
Some of these have been addressed in the Positive Pathways framework – but some have not, and VCOSS and YACVic will be continuing to advocate for an increased focus in those areas. VCOSS and YACVic are looking forward to working with each of the departments – DEECD, DHS and DPCD – in the implementation of the Positive pathways framework in partnership and with the support of the community and youth sector. |
Sector Briefing – 7 October 2010
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VCOSS and YACVic hosted a Sector Briefing on the Positive Pathways framework on Thursday 7 October 2010. A Panel of departmental representatives provides presentations on the key aspects of the Positive pathways framework:
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Vulnerable Youth Framework – Discussion Paper
VCOSS has made a submission in response to the Vulnerable Youth Framework discussion paper. The Vulnerable Youth Framework discussion paper outlined a coordinated approach for delivering services to vulnerable young people across Victoria. The paper describes the framework as ‘the foundation for coordinated and effective youth services that assist all vulnerable young Victorians at the time they most need support.’
The proposed Framework outlined in the discussion paper builds upon the important campaign and policy advocacy work undertaken by YACVic and VCOSS and the Interface Councils Network on the need for investment in generalist youth support services. The ‘Who’s Carrying the Can?’ report by YACVic and VCOSS, called on the State Government to develop a framework for a strong youth services system in Victoria.
The Vulnerable Youth Framework discussion paper outlines the basis for the development of the Vulnerable Youth Framework, a set of focus areas and associated actions for change. The five focus areas in relation to Victoria’s vulnerable young people are:
- prevention and early identification
- engagement in education, training and employment
- local planning for a youth service system
- tailored responses to particular groups
- effective services, capable people
Download the PDF version of the VCOSS submission here.