What it's all about
One day out from International Youth Day, (new window) the State Government announced a new direction for youth policy around Victoria, summarised in the Future Directions Top 40 Action List: 40 points that the state government will execute in an aim to provide better technical education, safer public transport, and more opportunities to have a say.
The flagship of the new plan is a public private partnership with the Bendigo Bank to establish Youth Foundations Victoria, an arrangement that involves giving funding to 15 new Youth Foundations in disadvantaged areas around the state, and allowing the groups to have responsibility in the provision of grants for youth activities in their communities.
The launch
The launch was a classy affair, with Steve Bracks sticking around to have a chat, Youth Group playing a live set and free tiny little chocolate mud cakes.
A couple youth groups and classes from school also came in to talk about the things that they do in the community. A group from Epping Secondary College chose an elective in their class to learn about the CFA.
"We get to light small fires, and we learn how to put them out safely," said one of the group, Petar Davcev. The class is also about learning certificate one in first aid and CPR, and are also completing their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.
The classmates said that it was really great to be doing something practical and something that you could really use in ordinary life.
Held in Flinders St side of the ACMI complex, the launch was crowded with people who managed the event, the local and state councillors, and various groups who were interested.
There were some youth media, some people from SYN, a couple of guys from Channel 31's 1700 chasing around the band, and of course the youthcentral team, who came and hooted a little louder when Youth Group came on.
It was a very interesting launch, with some serious discussion about the policies - which you can have a look at right here on youthcentral - and see what you think.
For more about the Future Directions action agenda and its launch, check out the rest of our Future Directions pages.
Articles Written by Linda
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