1. Education for Vulnerable Children and Young People ACWA 2002 Conference “What works? Evidence based practice in child and family services” Monday 2 September 2002 Robin Sullivan Commissioner for Children and Young People Swiss Grand Hotel, Bondi Beach Sydney

2. Vulnerable Young People Source: National Education and Employment Forum, 2002

3. Indigenous and non-Indigenous year 8-12 full-time students, July 2001 Source: EQ Corporate Data Warehouse 2001 & Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training Centre Information System 2001 Queensland retention rates

4. Create’s Educational Report Card 2002 19,783 on child protection orders 18,241 in out-of-home care placements Young People in Care Source: Create Foundation. (2002).

5. Australia in 2001 26,060 homeless young people This represents 1.4% of the total youth population Increase of 8.4% between 1994 and 2001 of homeless 12 to 18 year olds Homelessness Source: Chamberlain & MacKenzie (2002).

6. Number of homeless young people by education or employment School student ……...…………….. 8,485 TAFE student ……………………… 2,148 Unemployed ……………………… 15,038 Full-time work ………………………... 389 Education or employment Source: Chamberlain & MacKenzie (2002).

7. Universal, as well as targetted programs should provide education entitlements for children and young people These programs should be coordinated, where applicable, with those providing housing, health and other support options. Implications: policy & practice

8. Source:National Youth Affairs Research Scheme 2002 Present tension Between adulthood and exclusion

9. Source:National Youth Affairs Research Scheme 2002 2015 tension Between adulthood and exclusion

10. Having a steady job…………..……1 –involvement in work as a career…….…………….7 –doing well in studies………………...…………...…8 –earning a lot of money…………….……………...10 Family relationships……..……………..2 Developing friendships….. ……..……..3 –marriage or living with a partner………..……...…9 –having children………………..…………..…..…..12 Personal priorities Source: Dwyer, Harwood & Tyler (1999).

11. Involvement in leisure time activities…4 Owning your own home……….………5 Travelling to different places……….…6 Being physically attractive…….……..11 Working to correct social problems....13 Involvement in community activities...14 Staying in my local area……………...15 Personal priorities cont. Source: Dwyer, Harwood & Tyler (1999).

12.  $74,000 = Lifetime cost of each early school leaver (ESL)  1/2 cost = monetary & 1/2 = social  Cost of one year’s ESL = $2.6 billion  Reducing ESL = sound investment: –individuals –government –country  Yield 12.5 % rate of return Dusseldorp Skills Forum Source: Spierings (2000).

13. Total discounted direct monetary costs of early school-leaving: Australia, 1999 Source: Dusseldorp Skills Forum

14. Employment and Education Status Source: Bridging the Gap between the “Haves’ and the “Have Nots” - Report of the National Education and Employment Forum (NEEF)

15. Industry distribution in Aust Source:OECD (2001).

16. 4 Domains Source:Pitman, J.A. & Herschell, P. (2002). p 65. Worthwhile learning

17.  Flexible non-time based education and training should be option.  Knowledge and skills acquired through voluntary or service based activities, as well as paid employment accepted for education and training accreditation and certification Implications: policy & practice

18. Protection resistance to health compromising or future-jeopardising behaviour Enhancement promotes thriving, greater positive outcomes, buffers youth against adversity and builds on young people’s innate abilities Resiliency promotes ability to beat the odds, to ‘bounce back’ or “recover Asset Taxonomy Source: Search Institute (1997).

19. Reframing Behaviours Positively Source:Family Services Australia. (2001, October).

20.  Programs should incorporate asset identification and building with a focus on the development of personal and social capital Implications: policy & practice

21. EET Consultants

23. PO Box 12671 Brisbane George Street Q 4003 Level 14, T&G Building 141 Queen Street Brisbane  (07) 3247 5525 or 1800 688 275 (outside metropolitan area) 1800 113 611 (employment screening hotline) www.childcomm.qld.gov.au  wmaster@childcomm.qld.gov.au Our contact details