Page 699 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 1991
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MR SPEAKER, A SHORT TIME AGO I OPENED AND SPENT SOME TIME AT THE YOUTH AFFAIRS NETWORKS ANNUAL A.C.T. CONFERENCE AND I WAS PLEASED WITH FEEDBACK I GOT ON EXISTING SERVICES. I WAS PARTICULARLY PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE TO THE . STREETLINK PROGRAM. .
STREETLINK WILL HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO OUR MOST DISADVANTAGED YOUNG PEOPLE. IT WILL HE THE FIRST GOVERNMENT PROGRAM WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY SECTOR. AS SUCH IT -OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE FURTHER LINKS AND CONNECTIONS. IT WILL CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE WHERE THERE ARE GAPS AND OVERLAPS IN THE SYSTEM AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL INDICATE WHERE THE PRIMARY SUPPORT SYSTEMS COULD BE MODIFIED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND IN THIS REGARD I 00 NOT EXPECT THAT THIS GOVERNMENT WILL REST ON ITS LAURELS. FORWARD PLANS ARE CONTINUING TO HE REEVALUATED AND MODIFIED AND PERHAPS I COULD TAKE THIS TIME TO INDICATE SOME DIRECTIONS MY DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY HAS UNDER CONSIDERATION.
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY NEED TO LOOK AT LONG TERM SOLUTIONS, EXAMINE HOW THE YOUTH LABOUR MARKET HAS CHANGED AND THINK CREATIVELY.
WHO CURRENTLY FILL JOBS THAT WERE HISTORICALLY FILLED BY YOUNG PEOPLE?
ANOTHER SOLUTION MIGHT BE TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING PAID WORK PLACEMENTS THROUGH TO ALL TERTIARY COURSES OF STUDY. THIS WOULD FREE UP CASUAL POSITIONS CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY FULL TIME STUDENTS AND MAY HELP IN CREATING A MORE WORK READY GRADUATE. PART OF THE CLEVER CANBERRA.
I AM ALSO EXAMINING WAYS TO UTILISE YOUNG PEOPLES ENTERPRISE AND INITIATIVE. THIS MIGHT HE THROUGH JOINT VENTURES BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY ENTERPRISES. IT MIGHT INCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS AND CITY-SCAPE PROJECTS. IT COULD ALSO INCLUDE SUPPORT THROUGH FURTHER EDUCATION. AND 8Y THIS I DO NOT NECESSARILY MEAN TRADITIONAL EDUCATION OF THE FORMAL KIND BUT THAT OF A MORE ADVENTUROUS NATURE IN THE WORKING WORLD THAT USED TO HE AVAILABLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE OF MY GENERATION.
MR SPEAKER, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO REMAIN FORWARD THINKING AND INNOVATIVE IF WE ARE TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES IN OUR CURRENT ECONOMY. THIS GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE REAL PROBLEMS, THE THREAT THEY POSE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND INTENDS TO KEEP ON TOP OF THEM.
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