A Joint Declaration by Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers for Education, Training, Employment, Youth and Community Services
In July 2001, the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs established a Ministerial Subcommittee on Young People's Transitions. The Subcommittee, Chaired by the Honourable Matt Foley, MP, Minister for Employment, Training and Youth, Queensland, was comprised of Ministers from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and the Commonwealth responsible for education, employment, training and youth and community services. The terms of reference for the Subcommittee were focused on developing practical options to strengthen transition pathways for young people who are disconnected or at risk of becoming disconnected from society.
The development of a Ministerial Declaration, Stepping Forward – improving pathways for all young people has been one of the most significant outcomes of the Subcommittee contributing to this aim. The Declaration, which was endorsed by MCEETYA at the July 2002 meeting in Auckland, demonstrates Ministers' commitment to providing leadership and establishing a common direction in developing transition opportunities for young people, particularly those most at risk.
Copies of the declaration can be obtained by contacting:
The Secretary, MCEECDYA PO Box 202, Carlton South Vic 3053 Australia Tel: (03) 9639 0588 (International: +61 3 9639 0588) Fax: (03) 9639 1790 (International: +61 3 9639 1790) E-mail: enquiries@mceecdya.edu.au
The Subcommittee also developed a stocktake of the initiatives being undertaken by States, Territories and the Commonwealth that address recommendations 16–23 from the Footprints to the Future report concerning young people who are disconnected or at risk of becoming disconnected from society.
A companion to the Ministerial Declaration, Stepping Forward – sharing what works, is a collection of case studies which provides a national picture of current activity aimed at youth at risk across all jurisdictions.
The MCEETYA Taskforce on Transition from School has developed an Action Plan that implements the Ministerial Declaration Stepping Forward – improving pathways for all young people. The Declaration outlines Ministers' commitment to young Australians and provides a common direction for improving social, educational and employment outcomes for all young people.
The Action Plan is intended as an enabling framework to guide jurisdictions in their implementation of the Ministerial Declaration in the areas for which MCEETYA has responsibility. In implementing the Action Plan, it should be noted that:
For jurisdictions, activities may already be in place or in progress, but may need to be expanded upon and enhanced.
Although Areas of Activity are suggested under each of the five Key Areas for Action, these are examples only and are not intended to be prescriptive and binding on jurisdictions.
The intent of the Declaration and its Action Plan is to promote a holistic approach to the range of options that young people face as they move towards independence. This can only be realised if there is a commitment to greater cross-agency collaboration and cooperation.
It is recognised that there are many initiatives and programs – proposed or underway – that address to varying degrees the intended outcomes of the Action Plan. In late 2001/early 2002 jurisdictions undertook a process of identifying initiatives that address the needs of vulnerable young people. This work is documented in the report Stepping Forward – sharing what works.
A progress report on the implementation of the Action Plan is to be provided to MCEETYA in 2004.
Action Plan Structure
The Action Plan is guided by a set of principles and comprises five tables, one for each of the five Key Areas for Action around which the plan has been developed:
Education and training as the foundation for effective transition for all young people
Access to career and transition support
Responding to the diverse needs of young people
Promulgating effective ways to support young people
Focused local partnerships and strategic alliances.
A Checklist for New Initiatives has also been designed as a practical guide to ensure that initiatives aimed at supporting young people's transitions complement and build on each other.
Stepping Forward: Key Areas for Action (67 kb) Stepping Forward: Information matrix: Key Area for Action: Education and training as the foundation for effective transition for all young people, Access to career and transition support, Responding to the diverse needs of young people, Promulgating effective ways to support young people, Focused Local Partnerships and Strategic Alliances.
