STRATEGIC PLAN

Transcription

1 STRATEGIC PLAN

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3 About the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition 2 Strategy one: build youth participation 6 Who we are 2 What we value 3 Where are we now? 4 Our vision 5 Our plan 5 Strategy two: support the sector 8 Strategy three: advocate for change Strategy four: drive research for better practice Strategy five: do things well

4 Who we are The Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) is Australia s non-government youth affairs peak body. We undertake a range of activities including advocacy, research and policy development, youth sector development and youth engagement. Funded by the federal government, we work to: Represent the rights and interests of young people, and the sector which supports them, at national and international levels Promote the well-being of young Australians Advance the participation of young people in the community Support best practice in youth participation Offer policy advice to government and other organisations on issues that affect young people and the youth sector Take a leadership role within the youth sector Encourage and support coordination and cooperation within the sector. The Australian Youth Affairs Coalition was formed in 2002, after the wind-up of the previous national youth affairs peak, the Australian Youth Policy and Action Coalition (AYPAC) a few years earlier. We are governed by a Board of Directors, and receive expert policy advice from our Policy Advisory Council (PAC). The Board and PAC include representatives from state and territory youth peaks, the youth sector and young people from across Australia. 2 AYAC Strategic Plan

5 What we value We believe young people have important contributions to make in our community now and in the future. We value their place in Australian life We recognise that young people are influenced by their environment, which includes their family, peers, educators, youth workers, health professionals and other members of the community We are committed to supporting young people by advocating for their rights. We are committed to helping establish an Australian community that respects and values the rights of young people We believe in the right of young people to be included and to participate in all aspects of community life, and in the value that their participation brings to the broader community We believe in building the capacity of young people, the youth sector and the community to establish powerful and positive approaches to youth engagement. We value the work performed by youth workers, organisations and other professionals who are committed to positive youth development We see enormous potential from working in partnership with other organisations to support and promote positive youth development We are committed to being a strong advocate for appropriate and sufficient resources for the youth sector so that we can meet the needs of young people. We are committed to ethical practice in all we do. We will be a transparent and accountable organisation that actively responds to government, members, stakeholders and young people We will be an independent and vocal advocate for young people and the youth sector We will promote evidence-based practice and work with the sector to build the evidence base, because we believe that there is integrity in responding to evidence about what works. We believe all young people have a right to their human rights being upheld in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - and that inequality is not acceptable in our society We are committed to Australia removing the inequalities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young Australians We believe that every young person in Australia has a right to access adequate and appropriate programs and services regardless of their geographic location, race, gender, sexuality, physical ability or disability, social, religious or economic circumstances. AYAC Strategic Plan

6 Where are we now? AYAC has been a part of the Australian youth landscape since Then, AYAC was a small group of people dedicated to maintaining a national voice for young people and the youth sector in Australian public life following the de-funding of the existing youth peak body. Following the Rudd Government s promise of funding to AYAC, the organisation has undergone a period of immense growth and development. Today, we have a dedicated staff team, a committed Board of Directors, an active Policy Advisory Council and a growing list of achievements. Since our formal establishment as the national peak body for youth affairs, we have: Built a new and dynamic website to encourage and facilitate young people s involvement in what we do, and to enable regular communication with the youth sector and stakeholders about important issues Launched two major research reports, titled Where are you going with that? Maximising Young People s Impact On Organisational & Public Policy, and Future Focussed - Youth Work in Australia: Reflections and Aspirations Co-ordinated the first national youth affairs conference since 2004 Established the Online Community Youth Spaces project, which enabled groups of young people to use technology to promote youth involvement and positive images of young people in their community Provided a platform for national discussion on a federal Code of Ethics for the youth sector Provided mentoring and support to the six winners of the inaugural Prime Minister s Australian Youth Forum Challenge an award that gives winners the chance to implement innovative strategies to engage young people in their community Partnered with Tune In Not Out to develop an online space for young people involved in social action to profile their stories and connect with other young people Provided support to Plan Australia and the Australian Youth Research Centre to conduct a national consultation of young people about issues that matter to them Contributed to public policy development by producing written submissions, attending roundtables, meetings and events. AYAC is now looking ahead to We have great plans to build on these foundations for positive change and create an even stronger presence for young people and the youth sector on the national stage. 4 AYAC Strategic Plan

7 Our vision This includes ensuring that: Young people who have experienced disadvantage can access programs, services, advice and support to reach their full potential Young people participate with energy and enthusiasm in public debate, decision making and political process, creating the change they want to see in Australia Young people are supported by a vibrant and well-resourced youth support sector that delivers relevant and meaningful programs and opportunities across Australia The Australian youth sector is recognised as leading the way in innovative and effective youth engagement and participation strategies The community truly values and welcomes the ideas, opinions and experiences of young people in all spheres of community life. Our plan We ve worked closely with the youth sector to develop this plan, consulting nationally on priorities for AYAC for the next four years. This plan draws on the ideas and feedback we received from a range of youth workers, organisations and other agencies with a commitment to young people in Australia, as well as from young people themselves. The Strategic Plan sets our directions for the next fours years and commences on 1 July It establishes five strategic areas to focus our work for the next four years: 1. Build youth participation 2. Support the youth sector 3. Advocate for change 4. Drive research for better practice 5. Do things well AYAC Strategic Plan

8 Our goal: Our targets: Young people are supported to participate in discussion, debate and public policy development at the national level Young people become skilled and confident in advocacy The right of young people to participate in all aspects of Australian life is promoted and advocated Young people are involved in decision making at all levels within AYAC Good practice in youth participation is modelled and promoted 6 AYAC Strategic Plan

9 Our priorities: Provide avenues for young people to participate in important discussions and debates about national priorities Develop pathways through which government agencies and media organisations can access the opinions, ideas and contributions of young people Support the development of youth-led organisations through activities designed to develop leadership, participation and advocacy skills in young people Advocate for and support young people s participation on national roundtables, meetings, conferences and government committees Provide opportunities for young people to participate in AYAC s internal structures and policy making processes Lead the development of quality resources and processes that encourage youth participation, with a focus on the participation of disadvantaged and marginalised young people. Success measures: We will have reached our goal if, by 2015: Young people are participating in debates and discussions about Australia s future and about the things that matter to them AYAC Strategic Plan

10 Our goal: The youth support sector is unified, well-resourced and professional. Our targets: The youth sector has a unified voice at the national level that represents the interests of youth workers and services and the young people they work with Youth programs and services are based on a growing understanding of what works in youth engagement and positive youth development The sector is supported by mechanisms that aid professionalism Our priorities: Facilitate and contribute to debates on key industry issues including continuing education and professional development, pay and conditions, the recognition of youth work as a profession, and the development of Codes of Ethics and Conduct for the sector Advocate for and support the development of a youth sector workforce development framework at the national level Promote the importance of the unique role that youth workers and the youth sector play in the lives of young people Advocate with government for the sector to be appropriately resourced and recognised Facilitate research on, and documentation of, good practice in youth support services Develop and foster collaborative relationships with and between the state and territory youth peak bodies Provide opportunities for young people, youth organisations and related groups to meet and develop relationships Engage the sector through AYAC s Policy Advisory Council. Success measures: We will have reached our goal if, by 2015: The youth sector comprises organisations, people and services that are professional and sustainable and that are achieving great things for young people in Australia The workforce is recognised as highly skilled, valuable and expert and is rewarded appropriately through professional recognition and conditions 8 AYAC Strategic Plan

11 Our goal: Our targets: The needs and interests of our members and the sector are represented and progressed with the government The sector contributes to national debate, policy development and change in the most effective ways possible An effective conduit is maintained for information flow between the government, our members and the broader youth sector AYAC is recognised as the go-to organisation for mainstream media organisations seeking opinions and advice on national issues of concern to young people. Our priorities: Employ effective communication strategies to create positive change in community perceptions of young people in Australia and the work of the youth sector Investigate and develop the use of new and emerging technologies and media to communicate our messages Maintain robust and honest working relationships with the federal Minister for Youth and his/her staff, the federal Shadow Minister for Youth and his/her staff, and the federal Office for Youth Build our reputation and scope of influence through developing relationships with other federal government departments and Ministers Provide information to government through written submissions, representation, participation in think tanks and working groups Foster strong media connections throughout Australia to encourage both positive and realistic portrayals of young people through the media. Success measures: We will have reached our goal if, by 2015: The Federal government consults AYAC on all policy matters that affect young people and the youth sector Community action, public policy platforms and strategic decisions made by government take into account the impact of action and inaction on young people. AYAC Strategic Plan

12 Our goal: Our targets: Young people and the youth sector help identify our priorities for research and policy responses Our research and policy program meets the needs of the youth sector and informs good practice We capitalise on opportunities to influence national discussion, debate and policy development on matters affecting young people and the youth sector Government and significant policy makers seek advice from AYAC on all matters relating to young people in Australia We contribute to the development of a body-ofevidence about best practice in the youth sector, particularly in the area of engaging young people. 10 AYAC Strategic Plan

13 Our priorities: Explore opportunities for collaboration with key organisations (including the government) to undertake insightful research projects about young people and the sector that supports them Draw on the expertise of members for our Policy Advisory Council to ensure our research and policy development is guided by young people and youth support services Remain at the cutting edge of new and emerging issues in the youth sector both in Australia and internationally Build our reputation as experts on issues affecting young people and the youth sector Strike a good balance between proactive and reactive policy development. Success measures: We will have reached our goal if, by 2015: There is a solid evidence base about good practice in youth work and youth engagement at the local, state, national and international level Our research has generated insight and value for policy makers and government and has contributed to key public policy debates. AYAC Strategic Plan

14 Our goal: AYAC is a healthy organisation where staff and volunteers are supported to be their best. Our targets: Good people want to work with us: the quality of applicants for positions is high Our governance structures are strong and effective: our Board and PAC function well, with all members understanding their responsibilities Throughout the organisation we maintain high levels of integrity in what we do We capitalise on, and invest in, the skills and expertise of our people Our membership continues to grow We are open to new opportunities and new ways of doing things. Our priorities: Provide a workplace in which staff are valued and recognised and where diversity and difference are respected and valued Give our people access to a range of professional development opportunities, including training, mentoring and succession planning Establish a culture which supports people in creating a work/life balance that suits them Explore a range of ways to grow AYAC Continue to build AYAC s membership by demonstrating our relevance and value to our members and the sector. Success measures: We will have reached our goal if, by 2015: AYAC is recognised as a leading employer in the not-for-profit sector We have a diverse and strong membership that reports that AYAC provides real value to the youth sector. 12 AYAC Strategic Plan

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16 Australian Youth Affairs Coalition 604/28 Foveaux Street Surry Hills, NSW, 2010 T: F: E: Twitter: AYAC_ Design: