Youth Policy Committee

The ECCV Youth Policy Committee (YPC) provides a vehicle for our member organisations and those with a specific interest in issues of concern to young people to meet and discuss matters affecting youth.

The YPC:	• identifies emerging issues related to youth
	• aims to address those issues through the development of policies and practices
	• acts as an advocacy body for youth from culturally diverse backgrounds and from new and emerging communities
	• provides a formal channel for young people to communicate with ECCV, government and non-government sectors

Current YPC activity

In 2010 YPC focused on two key issues: young carers and CALD youth social engagement. In 2011 mental ill health in CALD youth will be the priority issue

Young Carers: The YPC has developed a partnership with ‘Centre for Multicultural Youth’ and ‘Carers Victoria’ to address this issue. This partnership has produced:

a background paper on caregiving for young people download (101 KB)
a young carers forum to inform debate on challenges facing young ethnic carers download (237 KB).

There was substantial interest and positive feedback from the forum. Therefore ECCV and the YPC will:

continue to work the partnership with CMY and Carers Victoria
develop the background paper into a policy discussion paper, utilising data generated from the consultation that took place at the forum
produce a tip sheet on resources.

Social Engagement: The YPC has developed a partnership with ‘Springvale Neighbourhood House’ and ‘Sports without Borders’.

in-depth consultations with migrant communities in the South East of Melbourne.
A multicultural youth engagement strategy and position paper is being prepared. This important paper will highlight the substantial decline in CALD youth engagement, the challenges faced when trying to access council managed facilities and recommendations on how to encourage youth engagement.

Other achievements:

Participation in consultations where the YPC provided advice and support on access and equity issues relating to CALD youth to the Department of Justice, Department of Health, and the Brimbank City Council.

YPC Background

In 2009 the YPC prioritised the issues of biculturalism, belonging and young carers.

The YPC scoped and developed an eccv Research Paper "Kaleidoscopic Kultures: Exploring the Self-Identity of Young people in a multicultural and Globalised Society" (Apr 2010) Download or for a summary report click here

Prior to 2009, the YPC ran a number of forums to raise awareness on issues affecting young people.

Wesa Chau
Chairperson of the Youth Policy Committee