Mental Health is consistently raised by workers and services in the youth sector as being one of the top three issues for young people aged 12 – 25 years, alongside alcohol and other drugs, and housing and homelessness. The Youth Coalition provides advocacy relating to young people and mental health issues in a range of cross-sectoral forums, submissions, committees and other activities, which is based upon the policy positions and commitments outlined in the Youth Coalition’s Policy Platform on Mental Health.

Click here to view the Youth Coalition’s Report: Mental Health: Perspectives of Young People aged 12–25 in the ACT.

Click here to the Youth Coalition’s submission to the ACT Legislative Assemblies Inquiry into Youth Suicide and Self ­Harm

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Housing and homelessness is consistently raised by workers and services as one of the top three issues for young people, alongside mental health and alcohol and other drugs. The Youth Coalition works closely with government and non-government agencies on issues of youth homelessness and housing affordability in the ACT, through participation on specific networks and committees (outlined below), and through other general forums, submissions, committees and activities. Advocacy and representation work relating to housing and homelessness is based upon the policy positions and commitments outlined in the Youth Coalition Policy Platform on Housing and Homelessness.

Click here to view the Youth Coalition Policy Platform on Housing and Homelessness.

The Youth Coalition also coordinates the Youth Housing and Homelessness Forum, which meets regularly and provides an opportunity for housing and homelessness providers to raise issues they come across in their work supporting young people who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness in the ACT. The Youth Coalition also plays a key role in coordinating Youth Homelessness Matters Day.

In addition to these activities, the Youth Coalition participates in a number of forums and committees that specifically focus on housing and homelessness, including:

• Joint Pathways;
• National Youth Coalition for Housing (click here for more information)

Alcohol and other drugs is consistently raised by workers and services in the youth sector as being an issue of concern for young people aged 12 – 25 years. The Youth Coalition provides advocacy relating to young people and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in a range of cross-sectoral forums, submissions, committees and other activities, which is based upon the policy positions and commitments outlined in the Youth Coalition’s Policy Platform on Alcohol and Other Drugs.

Click here to view the Youth Coalition’s Policy Platform on Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs.

Advocacy in relation to education and young people has consistently been a priority for the Youth Coalition over many years. This work increased in 2010 following the ACT and national legislation changes to education attainment, which requires young people to complete Year 10 and remain in education, training or employment until they complete Year 12 or turn 17.

The Youth Coalition and the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) have an ongoing campaign which highlights the issues and challenges of educational equity in the ACT. For more information visit our Education Equity campaign website.

The Youth Coalition provides advocacy relating to young people and education issues in a range of cross-sectoral forums, submissions, committees and other activities, which is based upon the policy positions and commitments outlined in the Youth Coalition’s Policy Platform on Education.

Click here to view the Youth Coalition’s Policy Platform on Education.

The population of the ACT is culturally diverse with 22% of the ACT population having been born overseas, with 12% of this population being aged 12 – 25 years. The Youth Coalition is strongly invested in supporting multicultural young people, particularly those who are newly arrived or of a refugee background. The Youth Coalition provides advocacy work relating to multicultural young people in a range of forums, submissions, committees and other activities, which is based upon the policy positions and commitments outlined in the Youth Coalition’s Policy Platform on Multicultural Young People.

Click here to view the Youth Coalition’s Policy Platform on Multicultural Young People.

The Youth Coalition also coordinates the Multicultural Youth Affairs Network, which seeks to improve supports for multicultural young people, strengthen multicultural youth services, strengthen connections between multicultural youth services and raise the profile of multicultural young people in the ACT.

In addition, the Youth Coalition participates in the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia.

The Youth Coalition undertakes advocacy and representation work relating to a range of youth justice issues; including legal education, young people’s access to legal information, advice and support; young people’s engagement with police; and young people’s engagement with the Justice system in the ACT. The Youth Coalition provides advocacy and representation in a range of cross-sectoral forums, submissions, committees and other activities, which is based upon the policy positions and commitments outlined in the Youth Coalition Policy Platform on Justice.

Click here to view the Youth Coalition’s Policy Platform on Young People and the Law.

In addition, the Youth Coalition participates in a number of committees and groups that relate specifically to youth justice and the law, including:

• The Blueprint for Youth Justice Taskforce
• Murrumbidgee Education and Training Centre Committee

In addition to a range of advocacy and representation work relating to specific issue areas, such as mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and housing and homelessness; the Youth Coalition undertakes general advocacy and representation work to progress the interests of all young people aged 12 – 25 years in the ACT. This work may include providing an ACT perspective on national forums; and ensuring a youth perspective is provided at general ACT opportunities. Advocacy and representation on young people aged 12 – 25 in the ACT is based on the policy principles and commitments outlined in the Youth Coalition Policy Platform.

Click here to view the Youth Coalition Policy Platform.

For more information on advocacy and representation relating to young people aged 12 – 25 years in the ACT, contact info@youthcoalition.net.

The youth sector in the ACT is comprised of a diverse range of non-government and government agencies, private practitioners, volunteers, programs, services and organisations that work with young people or have been established to benefit young people aged 12 – 25 years in the ACT. The Youth Coalition is committed to undertaking advocacy and representation to ensure the youth sector is viable, sustainable, dynamic and adequately resourced. This work is based upon the policy principles and commitments outlined in the Youth Coalition’s Policy Platform on the ACT Youth Sector.

In 2010, the Youth Coalition also completed the self-funded ACT Youth Sector Workforce Profile Project and report Motivation, Money, Making a Difference: A Profile of the ACT Youth Sector Workforce, which aimed to support youth sector workforce planning and development through a comprehensive workforce profile of the ACT youth sector.

Click here to view Motivation, Money, Making a Difference: A Profile of the ACT Youth Sector Workforce.

The Youth Coalition also participates in a range of committees that relate to the youth and broader community sectors, including:

• Joint Community Government Reference Group;
• ACT Peaks Forum;
• ACTCOSS Policy Network;
• CYFSP Workforce Development Sub-Committee