Do We Value our Young People?

Do we value our young people? A free forum exploring the place of young people in Australian civil society:

with speakers:

Graeme Innes, talking about the human rights of children and young people in the national setting
Graeme is an Australian Human Rights Commissioner and Disability Discrimination Commissioner, a role he has held for over three years. He is a Lawyer, Mediator and Company Director. He has been a Human Rights Practitioner for almost 30 years in NSW, WA and nationally.

Chris Sidoti, exploring the dignity of young people and their right to full participation in society on the basis of equality with others
Chris Sidoti is a human rights lawyer, activist and teacher. He was director of the International Service for Human Right from 2003 to 2007, an Australian Human Rights Commissioner (1995-2000), Australian Law Reform Commissioner (1992-1995) and Foundation Director of the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1987-1992). He currently works as an international human rights consultant.

Daniel Dondo, addressing the problematic value attributed to international students in Australia
Daniel has been the President of the RMIT African Students Association for 2 years and is currently the RMIT International Student Officer. He is an international student from Kenya.

Dr Lucas Walsh, investigating how Australia’s young people are faring
Lucas is the Director of Research at the Foundation for Young Australians. Working with the Education Foundation, the FYA recently released ‘How Australia’s Young People Are Faring ‘08’ – a broad overview of the state of Australia’s young people.

Friday May 29th, from 2.30 - 5.00pm
Now at the Kaleide Theatre

(Entrance off Swanston Street, behind Commonwealth Bank ATMS)

RSVP to: youthworkrmit@gmail.com

From Human Rights to Human Service Delivery Work

From Human Rights to

Human Service Delivery Work

A free forum exploring the possibilities of human rights charters for human service delivery workers

with speakers:

Susan Ryan AO, speaking about the need for comprehensive human rights protection in Australia and the campaign currently happening in Australia.

Susan is the chair of the Australian Human Rights Group and the Pro Chancellor of the University of New South Wales. During her career in politics, she was instrumental in creating the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Affirmative Action (Equal Opportunities in Employment) Act 1986.

Jason Rostant, exploring if human rights can be effective tools for change, and using human rights to frame advocacy, improve services and enable participation.

Jason has worked in diverse sectors including youth homelessness, disability, GLBTIQ, alcohol and drug, and suicide prevention. He currently manages human rights education at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

Paul Ramcharan, reflecting of the capacity of human rights to improve disability advocacy.

Paul has been researching intellectual disability for over eighteen years across Wales, England and now Australia. He has a focus on advocacy and inclusive research paradigms.

Rachel Ball, highlighting some of the 'good news stories' that have emerged from the use of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act.

Rachel Ball is a lawyer at the Human Rights Law Resource Centre where she undertakes casework, strategic litigation, advocacy, legal education and human rights capacity building.

Deb Pietch, discussing the process of implementing Human Rights Charters within large organisations and the learnings along the way.

Deb is the Project Manager for the Human Rights Charter implementation project within DHS. Deb has responsibility for training and supporting DHS staff with regard to implementing the Charter within their workplace. Before this, Deb worked in the disability, health and community sector for 15 years.

Friday May 1st, from 2.30 - 5.00pm

RMIT City Campus, Multi Function Room

Building 8 (Swanston St) Level 5 (behind the library)

RSVP to: youthworkrmit@gmail.com (please let us know which forum you're RSVPing to in your email)

Can Our New National Youth Policy Agenda Secure the Well Being of Young Australians?

Can Our New National Youth Policy Agenda Secure the Well Being of Young Australians?

A free forum exploring the Rudd Governments’ new youth policy agenda:

with speakers:

Mary Balzary, speaking about the Office for Youth’s work on the new national youth agenda
Mary Balzary is the new branch manager for the national Office for Youth.

Prof Judith Bessant, exploring the Rudd government’s willingness to break with neo-liberal policy settings and their commitment to developing new policies for young people
Judith holds a dual Chair in Youth Studies and Sociology at RMIT and is Discipline Head of the RMIT University youth work program.

Dr Kathy Edwards, asking what the new social inclusion agenda might mean for young people in the Rudd era
Kathy is a senior lecturer in youth work at RMIT. She has researched widely on young people's participation, social inclusion and youth policy.

Dr Geoff Holloway speaking about the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth’s work on national youth policies and well being
Geoff is Research Manager for ARACY and has managed extensive research on: an Australian youth policy agenda, including extensive consultations around constructing a consensus on key issues for young people in Australia and the ARACY Report Card on the Wellbeing of Young Australians.


Friday April 17th, from 2.30 - 5.00pm
RMIT City Campus, Research Lounge
(Building 8 Level 5, opposite the Library)

RSVP to: youthworkrmit@gmail.com (please let us know which forum you're RSVPing to in your email)

'At Risk' young people

‘At Risk’ young people
Can risk based practice, theory and politics lead to good outcomes for young people?

A free forum for professionals involved in delivering services to young people at risk and developing youth policy.

with speakers:

Mark Grant, exploring the place of risk in current Victorian youth policy
Mark is currently the Manager of Policy and youthcentral at the Office for Youth. He has worked extensively across government and the community sector over the past 25 years

Professor Rob Watts, talking about the institutionalisation of risk and the role of the social sciences in an age of spin
Rob is the programme director for social sciences at RMIT University. He has published widely on public policy and young people


Dr Peter Kelly, offering some thoughts on challenges, choices and opportunities that present themselves as we attempt to construct what is, increasingly, a DIY biography

Peter Kelly is the Head of Behavioural Studies, in the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University. He has published extensively on young people, youth at-risk and the practice of Youth Studies


And a panel discussion featuring:

Bernie Geary, OAM, Bernie is the Child Safety Commissioner for Victoria. He has more than 30 years experience working with children, young people and their families.

Kerry Montero, Kerry is Program Coordinator of Youth Work at RMIT. Over the past decade Kerry has worked extensively on young driver safety and developing of road safety education

Karen Broadley, Karen has worked in a variety of roles in Child Protection for the past nine years, and a generalist youth worker for more than a decade. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from this work.




Friday March 27th, from 2.30 - 5.00pm
RMIT City Campus, 56.3.94
(corner of Lygon and Queensberry Streets, ground floor)
RSVP to: youthworkrmit@gmail.com

The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on young people

The Global Financial Crisis & Young People: A free forum exploring the impacts of the financial meltdown on Australia’s young people.

Please note new venue : Kaleide Theatre, Building 8, Level 2 (enter off Swanston Street)

with speakers:

Dr Richard Heaney, talking about the causes and impacts of the financial crisis
Richard is a professor of finance at the RMIT University. He has published over 50 refereed publications, working in the area of financial markets, commodity pricing, corporate governance and various aspects of corporate finance

Associate Professor Chris Chamberlain, looking at the impacts of the crisis on housing and homelessness among young people
Chris is the director of the Centre for Applied Social Research, RMIT University and author of numerous publications on housing and homelessness, including Counting the Homeless 2006.

Nicholas Wyman, exploring the falling employment opportunities in Australia for young people and the need to maintain commitment to skills development
Nicholas is the CEO of WPC Group, one of the largest employers of apprentices and trainees in Australia, with 500 apprentices and trainees across Australia.

Kasy Chambers, talking about the impact of the crisis on social service provision, especially the many social services used by young people
Kasy is the Executive Director of Anglicare Australia, a national network of care and social justice agencies of the Anglican church.

Friday March 13th, from 2.30 - 5.00pm
RMIT City Campus, 56.3.94 (corner of Lygon and Queensberry Streets. Ground floor)

RSVP to : youthworkrmit@gmail.com

Professionalisation and the Victorian Youth Sector

In September 2008, the RMIT held a public forum exploring the possibility of a professional association of youth workers. Speakers included Lisa Darmanin from Australian Services Union, Georgie Ferrari from the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria and Jethro Sercombe from the West Australian Association of Youth Workers. Part II of all the speeches is available at the RMIT Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/rmitmedia

Jethro Sercombe - WAAYW



Georgie Ferrari - YACVic



Lisa Darmanin - ASU