Youth Work in Australia

This report discusses the history of youth work in Australia, the issues faced by young people, the role of youth workers in schools, and more. It also covers the responsibilities of youth workers and how they can help students and parents improve their health and mental conditions.

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Youth Work in Australia

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Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
History of Youth Work in Australia........................................................................................................2
Young people in Australia......................................................................................................................3
Youth Work at School............................................................................................................................4
Problems and issues..............................................................................................................................4
Role and function of the youth worker..................................................................................................5
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................6
References.............................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
Youth Work is a practice, which keeps the interest of young people at first place. Youth work
is a social practice, where the young workers function along with young people. Youth work
is a kind of communal support activity consists of adolescents and young people. Institutions
may exist for this purpose depending on the community, and different services (Checkoway,
2012). The report contains the brief history of development of youth work in Australia, the
young people of Australia in different contexts. In continuation discuss issues problems
related to youth woke at schools, and various role and functions perform by youth workers at
schools
History of Youth Work in Australia
The history of youth work started in 18th century at time of Industrial Revolution, when the
young men left their families and move to big towns, this result into emergent of youth
culture in urban areas. In Australia, youth work programs first brought by Christian based
organisation such as the YMCA and the girls and boys brigade. Prior to 1885, the Boston
YMCA began to hire gymnasium superintendents which led the training of physical directors,
Congregationalist minister wanted to provide training for untrained labours hired at churches,
YMCAs and connected institutions. Earlier in 20th century, worries raised about the numbers
of young individuals not in association of youth societies (Bessant, 2012). This led to first but
ineffective attempt to register all young people in Australia. During Second World War,
frontrunners were looking to prevent a World War-III, which would probably be fought with
nuclear bombs and annihilate humanity. One the strategies put in place was to set-up youth
organisation worldwide and have adolescence with similar fields of interest organise and
contribute in youth exchange.

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Young people in Australia
Native Australian is direct descendants of a civilization that arrived in the country more than
50000 year ago and remains isolated ever since. Throughout human history, the vast majority
of young indigenous Australians raised in a culture that had been free from outside influence
for millennia. All young people across Australia deserve access to the resources and support
they need in order to lead healthy and satisfying lives.
One-third young people in Australia are underemployed or jobless. The rate of
underemployment is 18% and 13.5% youth is unemployed. The youth unemployment rate for
age group 15 to 24 has remained inflexibly high since the global financial crises. In February
2018, more than 650000 people aged 15 to 24 looking for jobs or underemployed. Among
young, people of Australia 39.3 % of non-student in casual work, and 35.8% in part-time
role.
Australia has a strong culture many young people of Australia not connected with their elders
and have become distant from their culture. Involving in culture is an amusing, fun and
educational youth organised festival for Young people to come together and to connect to
their culture through food, dance, music, and stories (EKonoja, 2018).
Adolescence people play important role in individual and social development of young
people and help society in finding their place in labour market. The young people of all social
background participate fully in civic democratic life. The young people of Australia have idea
about identity and society that help shape the rest of their lives. Young people have great
interest in profound questions and in developing their talents and abilities.
Young people participation in government decision making and planning broadly defines the
activities Australian governments will take and the values administrations have permitted to
ensure young people participation is meaningful. The successful engagement of young people

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contributes and influence to the development of programs, policies, and services occurs
across all levels of government (Wyn, 2008).
Youth Work at School
Youth Work at schools developed in the direction to provide supports to youth at various
phases of their lives. The main aim is to give young people the feeling that they are not alone
and dependent. Youth worker will guide and support young people in their personal, social
and education development to help them reach their full potential in society. Youth work
aims to support youth development in various ways. While consistent youth work typically
lead during young people’s leisure time, Youth Work at schools supports youth development
at schools (Luke, 2018). This regular youth work seen in youth spaces or various youth clubs.
The youth work services at schools are largely depends on government funding. The trained
youth workers at schools will help students in developing a positive attitude to learning,
improve attendance, increase problem solving abilities, set goals to raise their academic
performance.
Problems and issues
The problems and issues face by schools includes student attitudes and behaviours many time
it is been seen that students are disrespecting their teachers, the short attendance of students is
also a problem. Bullying at schools is also a problem and due to that attendance, health and
learning ability of student is affected. The main issue is for schools is no student will left
behind, every student is different from each other and their mind also work differently, it
become hard for school to keep the students on equal level. Health of students is also a
problem for schools Obesity among students is reached on high the is because of poor eating
habits and due many health issues occurs in students and they loses their focus from studies,

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increase the number of absenteeism and more academic issues. Sometimes the teachers are
not much qualified for teaching but schools hire them because they demand less salary.
Budget cutting is become a problem from schools now days less budget means less staff, less
resources and lower number of services for students (Chen, 2017).
The youth worker can help the schools in resolving these issues by providing full guidance to
students by become their friend or mentors. The youth workers will guide them to follow a
right path they will help them in reducing absenteeism and to maintain good health. While
shortage of staff members they can take place to address the problem of shortage.
Role and function of the youth worker
The primary responsibilities perform by the Youth workers at schools are
 Youth workers will advise youngsters, children, and their parents relating to social
adjustment, physical abuse, health issues, substance abuse, and childcare. By assisting
to kids and youngsters with dysfunctional people, and by supervision to overcome the
previously mentioned concerns, encouraging kids in adoptive care and adoption
programs, counselling and re-educating minors in correctional organizations.
 They will question kids and youngsters to measure their problems, by analysing and
observing their personal life, advice kids, and youngsters to report any maltreatment,
gather recording evidence on family background and by questioning parents to
regulate their capability to raise a kid.
 Providing assistance and counselling for adolescents dealing through ingredient
exploitation issues.
 They will organise community meeting, group, and events at school (Neuvoo, 2018).

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Conclusion
To conclude, Youth work has an extensive range of optimistic consequences for young
people. The positive consequences for young people includes, providing new activities,
making friends, and opportunities, formal and non-formal learning opportunities, advice, and
information. At schools, the Youth workers play very important role in providing counselling
to students, and their families to improve their performance at school. The youth workers
play very important role at schools they give a voluntary service to school students and
parents, by helping them improving their health and mental conditions. With the guidance
provided by the youth workers, the student get benefits and their absenteeism in school will
also decrease.

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References
Bessant, J. (2012) Youth work and the education of professional practitioners in
Australia. Journal of Advancing youth work, 2 pp.52-68.
Checkoway, B. (2012) Youth participation, and community change: An introduction.
In Youth participation and community change (pp. 9-18). UK: Routledge.
Chen, G. (2017) 10 Major Challenges facing public schools [Online] Available from:
https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/10-major-challenges-facing-public-schools
[Accessed on 13/07/2018].
EKonoja, N. (2018) what is it all about [Online] Available from:
https://hundred.org/en/innovations/youth-work-at-schools [Accessed on 13/07/2018].
Luke, A. (2018) Critical literacy in Australia: A matter of context and standpoint. In Critical
Literacy, Schooling, and Social Justice (pp. 168-188). UK: Routledge.
Neuvoo. (2018) what does a Child and Youth Worker do [Online] Available from:
https://neuvoo.ca/neuvooPedia/en/child-and-youth-worker/ [Accessed on 13/07/2018].
Wyn, J. (2008) the changing context of Australian youth and its implications for social
inclusion [Online] Available from:
http://library.bsl.org.au/jspui/bitstream/1/6476/1/Wyn_paper_29Oct08.pdf [Accessed on
13/07/2018].