Youth Survey: a great chance to listen and learn

Mission Australia has had a fantastic early response to its 10th National Survey of Young Australians, with hundreds of young people already lodging their completed surveys online – the first of an estimated 50,000 we expect to receive by 1 July.

We’ve also had plenty of interest from peak bodies, government, not-for-profit and educational institutions keen to spread the word about the largest survey of its kind by distributing it through their networks and adding the Youth Survey link to their websites.

While any young person aged from 11 to 24 can complete the survey online, Mission Australia is also urging schools and educational institutions to get involved.

We can send out printed copies to organisations that are interested in getting a “temperature check” on what young people value, their issues of concern, who they go to for advice and support, what activities they are involved in and how they feel about the future.

Our 2010 survey revealed that body image was one of the main concerns for young people, closely followed by family conflict and school or study issues. Yesterday youth in Geraldton, WA, provided 720 ABC Perth with a taste of what the big issues for 2011 might be - listen to it here.

Mission Australia can also arrange to compile a tailored report for any school or organisation that provides 200 or more responses. These reports, which will be available later in 2011, contain valuable local data that can help them to plan future activities.

However, schools or organisations that are in interested in receiving a unique report on the concerns, values and thoughts of local young people need to contact us before handing out the survey so we can make plans to collate your data.

If you would like multiple copies of the 2011 National Survey of Young Australians please contact Aimee Tyson at youthsurvey@missionaustralia.com.au or on (02) 9219 2022.

To complete our online survey or find out more, visit MAYouthSurvey.com.au

It's in

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Turn Back Time

If you have been watching the entertaining series Turn Back Time: The High Street on ABC, you may be hankering for some of the old-fashioned customer service which shops used to provide - weighing out the goods, bagging them up, and delivering them to your home. These two photos, taken around 1965, show Mr Eric Jones and his grocery store at 26 Darley Road, Manly. Mr Jones began his store in the mid 1920s, and it was still going strong into the early 1980s. The shop is vividly remembered by many of his former customers. Pictuerd outside the shop are Ken Jones, Eric Jones and Rodney Nicholson.

John MacRitchie

Charcoal Lane Trainee wins Apprenticeships Plus Award

Congratulations to Charcoal Lane’s Marley Kennedy on winning the Apprenticeships Plus Monthly Apprentice/Trainee Award for March.

The trainee was recognised by Charcoal Lane’s partnered training provider for “outstanding achievement”, particularly during Charcoal Lane’s Taste of Reconciliation Lunch Bridge Lunch early in March – an open-air dining experience on Melbourne’s Sandridge Bridge that showcased the restaurant’s modern native menu and promoted reconciliation.

The Certificate III Hospitality trainee arrived at Sandridge Bridge early on the Sunday to help set up the event for 150 guests after working a late shift at Charcoal Lane the night before. During the lunch she impressed Aboriginal elders and other diners with her knowledge and hospitality skills, and stayed on to clean up.

It was a long and hot day, with many of the usual “hospitality frustrations”, but Marley played a real leadership role in keeping her colleagues cheery and positive until the end.

In recent months Marley has been something of a spokesperson for Charcoal Lane and Apprenticeships Plus, being interviewed in The Melbourne Times and on Indigenous TV station NITV to encourage other young Aboriginal people to reach their potential.

In the newspaper article Marley spoke of the positive impact Charcoal Lane has had on her life:

"I wanted to connect with the Indigenous side of it all, to be able to pass on my knowledge about our culture and food to others," she said. "I feel like I'm embracing a positive outlook. I have cousins up in Albury who look at me and see that if I can do it, they can do it.”

Charcoal Lane Program Coordinator Stephanie Simson said Marley was a very worthy recipient of the Monthly Apprenticeship/Trainee award.

“Marley is doing fabulously and is looking at a work experience placement at the Mercure Hotel in the city,“ said Stephanie.

“Apprenticeships Plus employs more than 500 apprentices and trainees, so she had plenty of competition. We’re very proud of her!”

Charcoal Lane trainees and apprentices are part of an integrated program that includes personal skills development and accredited education (Certificate II and III in Hospitality),
with the aim of transiting to sustainable employment.

Specialising in modern cuisine infused with native flavours, the restaurant has built up a reputation for quality since opening in July 2009 and featured in The Age Good Food Guide 2010.

Charcoal Lane is at 136 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, and opens from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 10.30pm. To book call (03) 9418 3400 or email eat@charcoallane.com.au

Visit Mission Australia's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island resources page for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the latest indigenous news, current affairs and policy updates.

Manly 5pm today

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Location:Beach

Getting ready for cadet camp

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Youth Beat service planned for SA

Last year Mission Australia’s National Survey of Young Australians identified alcohol and drugs as the second top issue facing Australia today. And the significant level of concern about crime, safety and violence reported by young people last year was often linked to alcohol.

To help protect vulnerable young people who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Mission Australia operates Youth Beat mobile outreach services in the Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Run by trained youth workers, Youth Beat provides young people affected by drink or drugs with support and transport to overnight care, reducing risk to their safety and demands on local police.

This mobile outreach service has been so successful in Tasmania and the NT that Mission Australia is now trying to provide a similar after-hours assistance service for young people in Adelaide. The Youth Beat Adelaide service will transport young people to appropriate overnight care such as sobering-up centres or stay houses run by other community organisations.

Mission Australia currently operates the state’s only youth sobering-up service, located at Hindmarsh.

Mission Australia Acting State Director Phillip Leslie told today’s City Messenger that Youth Beat staff could help calm young people and diffuse potentially violent situations.

“Typically, the call is for more police and more CCTV to help stop anti-social behaviour but commonly, problems treated with common sense and respect can be solved,” he said.

Having a Youth Beat bus in Adelaide will also reduce pressure on local accident and emergency services, divert young people away from the justice system and help them to reconnect with their families and offer safe options.

The Adelaide service will most operate on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with potential stops including Hindley Street, Rundle Mall and the central bus and train stations.

Youth Beat Adelaide is a little closer to hitting the road following a Mission Australia black-tie fundraiser held last weekend by Mr David and Mrs Janet Rice.

The fundraiser at a property in the Adelaide Hills included a performance by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. The money raised from this event will go towards the purchase and fit-out of the Youth Beat vehicle, which Mission Australia hopes to have up and running by the middle of 2011.

These funds are in addition to those raised by our generous FebFast supporters. To help fund Mission Australia’s Youth Beat bus in Adelaide call Jill MacDonald, our SA Corporate Relationships Manager, on (08) 8218 2828.

You can also help a young person who is battling drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness or other personal challenges to change their life by donating to Mission Australia’s Youth Appeal.

Further reading:

• Past Youth Beat stories
• Youth Beat Fact Sheet
• Mission Australia Youth Services