9 August 2007
Welfare chief calls governments to account for youth policy failures
Melbourne Citymission today called for a national overhaul of federal and state youth policy, saying that traditional approaches were ‘piecemeal’ and ‘ad hoc’ and perpetuating exclusion instead of reducing barriers for young people experiencing homelessness and other forms of disadvantage.
Speaking at Melbourne Citymission’s 2007 Homelessness Breakfast at Federation Square, Chief Executive Officer Anne Turley said despite record low unemployment and a robust economy, the rate of youth homelessness had almost doubled in the past 20 years.
“Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are also missing out at school and in the labour market,” Ms Turley said.
“There are 540,000 young Australians not in full-time work or study – a figure largely unchanged since the 1990s.
“And the unemployment rate for 15 to 19 year olds not in full-time education is more than triple the adult unemployment rate. In some neighbourhoods in which Melbourne Citymission works, the youth unemployment rate is as high as 30 per cent.
“So you can understand my cynicism when I hear political leaders and economists waxing lyrical about the latest ABS data,” Ms Turley said.
“The economic boom has well and truly passed Melbourne Citymission’s clients by: young people who are homeless, early school leavers who can’t find work, young people who miss out on education and training because they can’t afford course fees or materials, and young people whose health or family circumstances prevent them from enjoying the kind of life that most of us take for granted.”
Ms Turley said Melbourne Citymission was seeing increasing numbers of young people, and their cases were becoming more complex.
“All of us who work in the community sector are trying our best, but we’re hamstrung by a system that is ad hoc and piecemeal. It’s a system that over-emphasises short-term results at the expense of sustainable outcomes.”
Ms Turley called on political leaders – including Federal Community Services Minister, Senator Nigel Scullion; Shadow Minister for Human Services, Housing, Youth and Women, Tanya Plibersek; and Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne – to acknowledge the existence and impact of policy shortcomings and put the needs of disadvantaged young people on the national agenda.
“To get the ball rolling, we want the Federal Government to convene a bi-partisan National Youth Summit in partnership with community organisations and the corporate sector.
“It’s time to start talking about the issues and ways to harness Australia’s economic prosperity so that we can put a real dent in the rate of youth homelessness and reduce the barriers that prevent young people from full social and economic participation.”
Melbourne Citymission’s call for a National Youth Summit is part of ‘A Plan for Change’ – a 10 point plan to improve the life chances of Australia’s most disadvantaged young people.
The plan tackles a number of themes or youth policy domains, including:
- the status of young people;
- equitable access to education, employment and training;
- affordable housing; and
- income support and the impact of welfare reform on disadvantaged young people.
ENDS
Media inquiries
Anne Turley, Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Citymission, Tel 8625 4444
Claire Nyblom, General Manager, Youth Services, Melbourne Citymission, Tel 8625 4467
Deborah Fewster, Media and Advocacy Adviser, Melbourne Citymission, Tel 0403 839 427
Attachments
‘A Plan for Change’ – Melbourne Citymission’s 10 Point Plan
‘A Plan for Change’ – policy paper
