Youth Participation

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Youth Participation You
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About YAPA

• YAPA is the peak community group working in the
  interests of young people and youth services in
  NSW.
• YAPA aims to achieve social justice for young
  people including the appropriate provision of
  services for young people.

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What is Youth Participation

• ... it's a phrase you hear a lot in youth
  work. But what exactly is it?
• Youth participation is often short for
  youth participation in decision-making, which
  conjures up images of young people on management
  committees. While many youth services have
  successfully involved young people on their
  committees, I think that this is one of the less
  significant types of participation for young
  people.
• It is essential that participation is in
  ways that are appropriate to the interests and
  potential skills of the young people concerned.
  Interests meaning that they get to make decisions
  and take action on the things that interest and
  concern them. Potential skills meaning that they
  get to do this in ways which not only reflect
  their current skills, but also skills which they
  are ready to learn and wish to learn.
  Sitting on a management committee may fit these
  requirements for some young people, but for most,
  other forms of participation are called for.
• Participation should also involve action to
  implement the decisions taken, and to evaluate
  their effectiveness. There are better avenues
  than management committees for giving young
  people this opportunity to act.
• Nick Manning

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The Formula
Participation
Youth


An increase of Capacity in Young People
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The Formula
Community involvement
Active Young People


An increase of power/resources to create positive
change In a community, issue or event
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Participation, Young people You

• Group Activity!
• 1

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Some examples of Youth Participation

• Council Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)
• High School Student Representative Council (SRC)
• Youth Center Steering Committees
• Young Person(s) representation on Boards of
  Governance
• Independent Young people being active in
  community life

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Case Study 1

• Peace Train
• A Direct Action
• example of
• Youth Participation

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Discussion
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How to Engaging Young People in Participation

• Ensure topic relevance
• Promote involvement
• Use Young People as experts
• Make meetings accessible
• Use other services to promote

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Barriers when Engaging Young People in
Participation
Things to consider
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Participation, Young people You

• Group Activity!
• 2

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Case Study 2

• Yo.WeST
• A Strategic Action
• example of
• Youth Participation

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Discussion
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YAPA Youth Participation

• Youth Participation Grants Program
• The YPGP gives young people the power and
  resources to develop and implement community
  activities in their local area.
• YP must be aged between 12 and 25 years, and
  living in NSW.
• 4 grant levels on offer
• 200 to 400
• 500 to 1000
• 1000 to 1500
• 1500 to 2000

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Youth Participation Things to remember

• Different YP engage differently
• Consider when it is / is not appropriate to seek
  participation (it does not need to be all
  encompassing)
• Chose appropriate models depending on the client
  group

• Can range from the simple involvement to large
  scale involvement
• There are no right and wrong answers
• Participation models
• are unique and dynamic from formal ridged
  to informal and fluid

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For more information Contact

• Thomas Scire
• Policy Training Officer
• Youth Action Policy Association
• [phone] ext. 5
• Or via e-mail
• Policy_at_yapa.org.au