Now in its twelfth year, Heywire is an online platform for creative young leaders from rural, regional and remote Australia to create, blog and share their stories.

The 38 Heywire winners will have their stories told on ABC Radio and online at http://heywire.abc.net.au/.  They will also travel to Canberra in February 2010 for the Heywire Forum at the Australian Institute of Sport. 

The Heywire Forum is a chance for the winners to work together developing outstanding ideas and proposals that will create positive change in their communities. As part of this focus, the winners participate in mentoring, training, networking, skill building and learning activities during the week, and will have the chance to meet members of parliament, government and leaders from across the Australian youth sector and the ABC.

“Heywire celebrates the diversity, passion, humour and hard-edged reality of young people in regional Australia, using the full range of digital storytelling techniques. Our Heywirers come from far and wide across Australia, from places as diverse as Tennant Creek (NT), Mullaway (NSW), Aurukun (QLD), Renmark (SA) and Esperance (WA),” says Tony Rasmussen, Manager Regional Local Radio.

“We are very excited that many young people, often from the most remote and isolated parts of our country, can connect with each other and share their dreams, opinions and ideas through Heywire.”

The Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said of his department’s and the government’s support for Heywire, “… we are proud to continue to be associated with this unique and innovative youth participation project. This year hundreds of young people from across Australia have shared their stories through the Heywire website. I have been impressed with the creativity and connectedness our 2009 winners have brought to the project and I look forward to meeting them in Canberra and hearing more about their work from the Youth Issues Forum.”

Over the past twelve years over 7000 young Australians have shared their stories with Heywire. In 2009, Heywire is a website open all year for submissions. Young people can create their own Heywire profile page and network with other Heywirers from across Australia; upload their video, audio, text and photo entries live to the site; and comment on other entries and leave their own thoughts and comments. 

A full list of winners including the winning story can be found here.

Heywire acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation; the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

Heywire website – http://heywire.abc.net.au/

For more information, please contact:

Bryce Ives     

Heywire Executive Producer      ph: 0419 102 637

Belinda Lee    

ABC Radio Marketing     ph: 0419 262 730

HYPAF is the pre-eminent national report on the learning and work situation of young Australians. This year’s report focuses on the global economic downturn and the subsequent impact on young people’s aspirations, employment opportunities and education pathways.

HYPAF 2009 was commissioned by FYA and prepared by the Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning (CPELL) at the University of Melbourne.

Dr Lucas Walsh, Director of Research at FYA is candid in his assessment of the report’s findings, “In the wake of both recent economic instability and longer term structural challenges, there is no doubt the conditions of earning and learning for young Australians have deteriorated in 2009,” says Dr Walsh.

The report also highlights that:

• the rate of unemployment among teenagers who were not in full-time education has risen from 12.2% in 2008 to 18.5% in 2009, one of the largest annual increases for teenagers over the past two decades;
• the proportion of teenagers not in full-time education or employment varies widely across states and territories, with the ACT having the lowest rate followed by Victoria and NSW;
• the last 12 months has seen reduced rates of entry into full-time work for school leavers;
• those young people living in the wealthiest areas are three times more likely to gain a university degree by the age of 24 than those in the poorest areas;
• females are nearly twice as likely as males to complete a university degree by the age of 23.

“These are concerning signs about the declining wellbeing of young Australians,” says Adam Smith, CEO at FYA. “In these turbulent times, the challenge for all of us is to provide innovative pathways and new opportunities for young people so that they can realise their full potential.”

The HYPAF report draws on the latest data from a range of sources including annual Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) surveys of education and work, monthly ABS national labour force surveys, and the Census of Population and Housing.

To read the report and related material, click on the links below. To download, right click and choose Save Target As.

Read the full report here.

Read HYPAF 2009: At A Glance here.

Read the HYPAF press release here.

Read the HYPAF 2009 Background Document here.

Read related press coverage at our Media Centre.

Read HYPAF 2008 here.

The 2009 How Young People are Faring (HYPAF) report shows that the proportion of teenagers not learning or earning full-time has jumped from 13.4% a year ago to 16.4%, the highest level since the recession of the early 1990s.

HYPAF is the pre-eminent national report on the learning and work situation of young Australians. This year’s report focuses on the global economic downturn and the subsequent impact on young people’s aspirations, employment opportunities and education pathways.

HYPAF 2009 was commissioned by FYA and prepared by the Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning (CPELL) at the University of Melbourne.

Dr Lucas Walsh, Director of Research at FYA is candid in his assessment of the report’s findings, “In the wake of both recent economic instability and longer term structural challenges, there is no doubt the conditions of earning and learning for young Australians have deteriorated in 2009,” says Dr Walsh.

The report also highlights that:

• the rate of unemployment among teenagers who were not in full-time education has risen from 12.2% in 2008 to 18.5% in 2009, one of the largest annual increases for teenagers over the past two decades;
• the proportion of teenagers not in full-time education or employment varies widely across states and territories, with the ACT having the lowest rate followed by Victoria and NSW;
• the last 12 months has seen reduced rates of entry into full-time work for school leavers;
• those young people living in the wealthiest areas are three times more likely to gain a university degree by the age of 24 than those in the poorest areas;
• females are nearly twice as likely as males to complete a university degree by the age of 23.

“These are concerning signs about the declining wellbeing of young Australians,” says Adam Smith, CEO at FYA. “In these turbulent times, the challenge for all of us is to provide innovative pathways and new opportunities for young people so that they can realise their full potential.”

The HYPAF report draws on the latest data from a range of sources including annual Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) surveys of education and work, monthly ABS national labour force surveys, and the Census of Population and Housing.

To read the report and related material, click on the links below. To download, right click and choose Save Target As.

Read the full report here.

Read HYPAF 2009: At A Glance here.

Read the HYPAF press release here.

Read the HYPAF 2009 Background Document here.

Read related press coverage at our Media Centre.

Read HYPAF 2008 here.

Welcome!

Welcome to the first edition of FYA’s eNews. At FYA, our mission is to empower young Australians to be successful learners and creative, active and valued citizens. We do this through innovative educational programs and by building effective, sustainable and scalable initiatives that inspire and challenge young Australians and improve their wellbeing.

In 2009, FYA will connect with almost 300,000 young Australians through our expansive range of national programs, grants and campaigns. This eNews will give you a snapshot of our latest work, as well as the chance to stay in touch with FYA.

Adam Smith,
CEO

Schools First

Do you know a school that could share in $5 million of funding?

We are proud to kick off the inaugural round of applications for Schools First,  a unique and exciting awards program that encourages schools to engage with communities in an effort to take learning beyond the blackboard. Schools need to successfully demonstrate that they are involved in a school/community partnership, or are developing a plan to implement a partnership that improves student outcomes.

Award applications are now open and close on August 14th. Schools are encouraged to get more info and download application forms from www.schoolsfirst.edu.au.

Young Social Pioneers

Applications for Young Social Pioneers 2009 closed on Monday 29 June, with over 70 talented young Australians submitting their projects for consideration.

Young Social Pioneers (YSP) is an initiative that strengthens, supports and celebrates the role of young people in creating positive change in their communities, whether at the local, national or global level. Find out more here

FYA honours Sir John Holland

Sunday 31 May saw the passing of a great Australian and exceptional supporter and patron of FYA, Sir John Holland, AC. Awarded his AC for extensive community work, his passion was helping young people. He inspired many Australians to achieve their life goals, and enabled many organisations to give a voice and opportunity to young people. He served as chair of the Queen’s Trust between 1983 and 1988, and was keenly involved and interested in the formation of FYA.
Sir John made extraordinary and long lasting contributions to many Australian landscapes – engineering, community and military. A man of integrity and wisdom, wit and compassion; he will be dearly missed by many. Our deepest sympathies are extended to Lady Holland and Sir John’s family.

Research highlights

On Wednesday 22 July FYA will launch a bold new educational reform proposal for Australia. Written by FYA Thought Leadership Fellow, Professor Jack Keating, ‘A New Federalism in Australian education: A proposal for a national reform agenda’ will argue the need for an alternative discourse to respond to educational inequity across Australia, including a new federalist approach to schooling. Find out more about the proposal and FYA’s research here.

Program case study: WYPIN

The Western Young People’s Independent Network (WYPIN) is an ongoing grant partner of FYA. WYPIN is a group of young people between 12-25 years of age, of refugee and migrant backgrounds, living in the Western region of Melbourne.

WYPIN was established in 1989 by a group of young people aiming to challenge racism in the community, and empower other young people to develop programs and activities in line with their needs and aspirations. Today, WYPIN’s Committee of Management is still driven by young people.

WYPIN continues to encourage young people to express and advocate their needs, and serve as a voice for young refugees  in the Western region. Some of their current initiatives are a photography project and advocacy magazine that encourage young people to express their experiences living in Footscray. FYA is proud to support and sponsor WYPIN in their work. Visit their website.

Stay tuned…

FYA’s new website is packed with the latest news on our programs, research, policy and advocacy. Check it out at www.fya.org.au. Keep an eye out for FYA’s quarterly newsletter, the next edition will be coming your way in late July. Join FYA on facebook here.

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