Outdoor Leadership Trainee Program

Land’s Edge Foundation is a local not-for-profit outdoor education provider and we have recently opened applications for our 2022 Certificate III Outdoor Leadership Trainee Program, beginning late March.   

We would love the opportunity to engage some of the young people of the area through your services.

Please note, although our external promotion states that the traineeship is open to persons 18 years & older, we have had fantastic success in the past when taking on school leavers aged 17. 

Registrations are now open for Tuesday 1st March 2022

10.00am for 2.5 hours with a ten minute break.

A free webinar designed for people who work with young people. Sticky Stuff aims to increase confidence, knowledge and skills of all participants around the area of sexual health by providing workers with tools, valuable tips and activities to support young people.

Sticky Stuff is a collaboration between Yfoundations, NSW Health’s STI Programs Unit and

NSW Health Promotion. Sticky Stuff is delivered by Megan Hall online & to 30 locations across NSW annually.

*Megan is driven to provide holistic health information and practical solutions to ensure that participants feel prepared and comfortable to open up the conversation of sexual health with young people. Megan comes from a nursing background, having spent 3 years working in the area of sexual health. Before this, she worked with children and young people in many different capacities, as an Indigenous Group Training Consultant, a Boarding Supervisor at a Residential college and an Outdoor Education Instructor. Regardless of her role, Megan has always been passionate about empowering individuals to challenge themselves.

NSW Youth Advisory Council 2022 – Applications Now Open

Applications are open for the 2022 NSW Youth Advisory Council. Children and young people between 12-24 years of age living in NSW are encouraged to apply. Council members are sought from diverse locations, backgrounds and life experiences. The 12 member YAC advises the NSW Government on subjects relevant to young people across the state. Applications close 13 March, 2022.

More information on the NSW Youth Advisory Council as well as application forms are available here www.acyp.nsw.gov.au

The Illawarra Centre for Enablement (ICfE) Youth Council have decided to focus on youth experiences of COVID-19, and to explore what the issues of concern are to youth in the Illawarra, aged 18-26 years old, they have created an online survey. 

The survey includes questions on a range of issues including COVID-19 vaccination; impacts on mental health and well-being, and personal and community concerns. The survey seeks to gain engagement from youth from all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, youth with disabilities; multicultural youth and youth who identify as LGBTIQ.

They intend to publish their findings and recommendations in a Report which will be released online and distributed to relevant organisations.

Can I please ask if you can assist by sharing the Youth Council Survey link to youth in the Illawarra and any youth organisations you know.  I am also attaching a flyer. 

Information about the Survey and the link to it is at: http://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/youth-survey/

More information about the Youth Council is at http://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/icfe-youth-council/

Mental Health and Education Forum

This Wednesday, 25 August at 4:00pm ACYP together with Multicultural NSW are hosting an online forum for young people where they can listen to NSW Government leaders answer COVID related questions from young people, with focus on Mental Health and Education. 

This forum will feature:

• The Hon. Bronnie Taylor MLC, Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women;
• The Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning; and
• Ms Deb Summerhayes, Executive Director, School Performance, Department of Education.

This is a challenging time for our community and it is important that we support young people. This forum aims to equip young people with accurate knowledge to assist them in navigating current Public Health Orders.

Registration link for young people:

https://www.acyp.nsw.gov.au/covid-forum-25aug

Thank you for supporting this initiative and for empowering young people to lead the charge in protecting themselves and their communities throughout this pandemic.

Flexible Learning Centre

If you have or know of any young people who are disengaged from education, we would be willing to support them to reconnect.

Online link to referrals/enrolment here

We have bacon and egg breakfast every Friday between 9:00am to 10:00am

Beyond Empathy

We’re reaching out to let you know that we have created a short video all about our new podcasts (we may be biased, but we reckon it’s really inspiring!) and it’s just been released on our Facebook page.

One simple action that would really help us spread the word about our podcasts would be to jump onto our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/be.org.au/posts/4012387412130424 and watch, like, comment and share this video.

You can also click on the picture of us below and it will take you there.

If you’re not on Facebook, not to worry! Jump onto our website and support us by having a listen to our podcasts.

Chuck us on while you drive, or go for a walk… or clean the house. We promise we will entertain and give you something to think about too.

Thanks again for all of your support, Sharif and the BE Podcast Crew

Unpacking complex trauma
21 July 2021

Complex trauma – the impact of early life, repeated trauma and loss often involving trusted relationships

Youth Health Forums (YHFs) are stimulating, half-day forums that cover a wide range of adolescent health and wellbeing issues, appealing to health, education, community, welfare professionals and students. The Forum provides an opportunity for attendees to meet, update knowledge and skills, exchange information and strengthen the youth health network, in order to provide the best possible support for young people in NSW.

Cost: Free of charge

When and where
Date:  21 July 2021
Time: 9am -12.30pm (AEST)

Where: live streamed to where you are

Live Stream details (including technical difficulty issues)

To watch the live event go to: https://www.thestreamingguys.com.au/production/youth-health-forum-unpacking-complex-trauma-210721/

Remember to add this to your calendar, no password is required

• Ensure you have up to date browser installed for example Chrome, Firefox, or Safari
• Check out page 2 of the attached program and the streaming tips if you encounter technical difficulty on the Forum day

RSVP: Register by close of business 16 July 2021 to receive a reminder email (registration is optional)

Direct questions to Forum speakers during the live stream

• Text questions to 0452 378 112 stating location and question. For example “[Dubbo], my Q to Speaker A is….”
• For technical difficulty on the Forum day, please refer to live stream details above (this number will not be able to respond to technical issues)

Forum’s speaker notes

The speakers’ presentations will be available on the NSW Health website (www.health.nsw.gov.au) within two weeks of the Forum (search for ‘Youth Health Forum’) , or go to: www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/youth/Pages/speakers-presos.aspx

Forum’s evaluation

• Your feedback is very important to us, please fill in this TWO MINUTE Evaluation form on https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YHF21Jul2021 after the Forum
• Evaluation closes on the 6 August 2021

Program includes presentations on:

This forum will be chaired by Ms Sue Foley,  Director, NSW Children’s Court Clinic, The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN)

• Sue is currently the Director of the (NSW, Australia) Children’s Court Clinic, and is a senior Clinical Social Worker. She has worked in Health, Community Services, NGOs and private practice since graduating in social work in 1975. She has a combination of post graduate qualifications, including social work, adult education and childhood and social policy. She is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and enhancing the capacity and safe care of children by parents and other carers, using prevention, trauma informed interventions, appropriate assessment and intervention strategies that are developmentally, culturally, and therapeutically respectful. She has been working with colleagues to ensure that the work of clinicians and others is respectful and collaborative with our indigenous colleagues and clients.   Sue has been working in the field of children’s safety  and wellbeing since being an undergraduate and volunteer in 1973 in health, welfare, NGOs, legal settings and in private practice.  Sue’s special interest is in education, films, prevention of injuries and harm to children, children’s voices, factitious disorder, strength based casework and therapy.

Speakers include:

• Impact of complex trauma: Ms Stephanie Helfer, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Complex Cases Consultant, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, SCHN
• Integrated Trauma-Informed Care – mitigating the impacts of trauma, preventing re-traumatisation and promoting healing for children and young people: Ms Katherine Barnes, Acting Manager, Child Protection and Wellbeing Team, Prevention and Response to Violence, Abuse and Neglect Unit (PARVAN), NSW Ministry of Health; and Ms Helen Freeland, Managing Director, ACER Associates
• Trauma, cognitive development, and social and emotional wellbeing: Dr Paul Gray, Associate Professor, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney
• Intensive Support Services for out of home care children and young people: Mr Andrew Schacht, Principal Project Officer, Intensive Support Services, Department of Communities and Justice
• Trauma responsive practice for our youth – the Australian Childhood Foundation approach: Ms Karyn Robinson, Senior Advisor, Professional Education Services, Australian Childhood Foundation
• Voice of youth: Ms Emily Backhouse and Ms Sienna Acquara, CREATE young consultants, CREATE Foundation
• Panel discussion: Panel will include all program speakers

Please see the attached program for more details.

Don’t miss this forum and let your networks know

Hope you can join us on the Forum day! Please feel free to pass this onto your colleagues and networks.

The online Youth Empowerment Tool (YET) is now live!

This online tool has been designed to empower young people to engage with health professionals

and to increase their knowledge around sexual and reproductive health.

The YET was launched in Youth Week April 2021 and features:

• Stuff to know before you go-accessing a health professional, obtaining a Medicare card and bulk billing
• Going for an STI test-what’s involved in going to a health professional for screening
• Knowledge is Power- provides links to trusted and reliable websites

Scan the QR Code to go to the YET

Or visit https://www.caddyshackproject.com/