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Helping Bega's young people to speak out
23 Mar 2001
The free workshop, jointly sponsored with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, is designed to help young people under 18 years-of-age learn how to be effective advocates on issues that affect their lives.
"Young people like to participate in community life and knowing how to participate has benefits for the whole community," said the Commissioner for Children and Young People Ms. Gillian Calvert.
"If young people can speak up in an effective way they will feel included in their community and the issues that impact on their lives are dealt with,
"They will also want to stay in the communities where they have been encouraged to become active and positive contributors."
Topics to be covered during the two-day course will include Understanding Advocacy and How Governments Work, Campaigning, Lobbying and Negotiation, Effective Meetings and Communication Skills as well as the role of the media.
The need for advocacy training for local young people was identified during recent consultations in Bega as part of the Commission's Inquiry into Children Who Have No-one to Turn To.
The consultations revealed the need for greater advocacy skills to assist children and young people to find ways of improving local youth services and being involved in their community's decision making processes.
There are twenty places available for the Advocacy Training Workshop that will be held on Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th April between 9am-3pm.
Registration forms can be obtained and registered at Job Placement and Employment Training (JPET) at Peden St, Bega.