Recognising young people who go Above and Beyond
A new resource kit launched today by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Larry Anthony, will help organisations recognise the skills and achievements of young people through their involvement in youth development activities.
“Above & Beyond: Recognising Youth Development in Australia is a resource kit that provides informal and formal recognition options to suit the range of activities offered by youth development organisations in Australia.
“Through the diverse youth development activities offered in Australia, young people develop skills, experience and personal attributes which are valuable as part of their education and in helping them on the road to employment.
“Above & Beyond will also provide practical guidance on how to offer young participants and volunteers recognition of their extensive skills, while allowing community organisations to determine what options best meet their individual needs.
“The seven guides in the kit will aid organisations to use specific options that range from developing their own youth participation certificate to creating links with school and TAFE curricula so young people can gain credit for the skills they gain.
“Some of the suggestions are informal and open to creativity, such as designing a certificate to be presented at a public ceremony. Others will allow skills gained to be counted towards formal qualifications in the school and Vocational Education and Training (VET) sectors where designated performance standards and other requirements need to be met.
“Many of Australia’s well-recognised youth development organisations, such as the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, have contributed their time and expertise in the development of this resource kit, as well as stakeholders from the state and territory education and VET sectors.
“Above & Beyond will help young people to gain a better understanding of their own skills and attributes, and to get greater recognition for them by others.”
“The Australian Government has a strong interest in encouraging young people’s participation in schools and their communities and is proud to show leadership through the provision of this vital resource,” Mr Anthony said.
Copies of these publications will be available from the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services in hard copy and on CD-ROM, or via the source website.