Workforce Council

Youth Development Strategy

Since 2006, YANQ has been advocating and lobbying for funding to develop a Youth Sector Workforce Development Strategy for Queensland that would recognise the vital and unique role played by this sector  in supporting young people across Queensland and assist in preparing the sector for the future through targeted skilling and other development strategies.

For the past twelve months YANQ has utilised funding from the Department of Education and Training (DET)  to undertake a Youth Services Workforce Skills and Training Research Project.  The project has gone some way towards the goal of addressing systemic workforce development needs by creating a platform to support initiatives towards a vibrant and sustainable youth sector workforce that protects and promotes young people's rights.

The report from the research titled The Youth Sector in Queensland provides a summary of the data gathered during the projects, key themes that emerged and recommendations that can be used to inform skilling and workforce development initiatives.

A crucial next stage of the project involves YANQ leading a sector engagement process over the next 12 months to allow regional review and comparison of data to enhance the evidence base and create the opportunity for regional stakeholders to validate workforce development strategies and to commence prioritisation and implementation of various recommended strategies.

Genuine sector development is a long term process requiring interest, ownership and buy in from those within the sector both to inform what is required and how this is possible and from government to work collaboratively with sector leaders and other key stakeholders to implement and evaluate strategies and initiatives. Working in partnership, short and medium term contributions can be developed while seeds are planted for long tern sustainable development and support.

YANQ is about to commence the process of validation of the report by visiting various Youth Interagencies across the state. The main purpose of the process is:

• Validate the overall trends, findings and recommendations that emerged through the Youth Sector Development plan with various regions in Queensland that were not in the target areas of the project.
• Identify any regionally specific characteristics or trends.
• Gain feedback and suggestions to include in the Youth Sector Development Plan.
• Identify and plan agreed upon action learning projects from the Youth Sector Development Plan.

For further information contact Youth Affairs Network of Queensland Director Siyavash Doostkhah Ph: (07) 3844 7713.