Creative Youth Initiatives' annual ARTWORKS! exhibition coming up

Creative Youth Initiatives (CYI) will be holding their annual ARTWORKS! exhibition from Tuesday 8th December - Friday 11th December at “The Muse”, TAFE Ultimo, 695 - 731 Harris Street, Ultimo.

CYI is a unique service for young people, aged 16 - 25 years who are facing many and varied challenges in their lives, such as homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse, family breakdown and unemployment. CYI programs develop creativity through visual arts and music, as well as improving self expression and self esteem. Students progress at their own pace in a safe, non-judgmental and supported environment.

The exhibition in December is the culmination of many months of work by ARTWORKS! student, all of whom have been busy exploring different mediums of art including: creating concertina books, making masks from recycled cardboard, monotone paintings, papier-mâché sculptures, creating an image using text, calico stuffed sculpture animals and continuous line drawings.

Come along and bring your wallet as you are sure to find something you want to take home with you, maybe a Xmas gift for yourself or a friend! The gallery is open from 9.30am to 4.00pm from Wednesday 9th - Friday 11th December.  The exhibition's opening night will take place on Tuesday 8th December. 

For more information on the ARTWORKS! exhibition please click on the invitation below...

Drugs, suicide and body image - the issues of most concern to young Australians

Australia’s largest annual survey of young people has found that drugs, suicide and body image are the biggest worries for 11-24 year olds with one-in-four regarding each as major concerns.

The survey has also uncovered many 11-14 year olds feel unequipped to deal with the issue of drugs...

The national survey, conducted by Mission Australia, tested the views of close to 48,000 young people – its biggest group since the survey began in 2002 – between the ages of 11-24 (97.9 per cent aged 11-19).

When asked to rank their concern about 15 issues drugs was ranked most frequently in the top three by 26.8 per cent of respondents, closely followed by suicide at 26.3 per cent and body image at 25.5 per cent.

However, the concerns of respondents in this year’s poll were very evenly spread with eight of the 15 isssues surveyed considered a priority to at least one in five respondents.

The survey also detected decreases across all activities involving young people – particularly arts/cultural activities, and to a lesser extent, spectator sports and youth groups – which the charity suggests is an impact of the global financial crisis on Australian families over the past 12 months.

Mission Australia’s spokesperson, Anne Hampshire, said this year’s survey detected important differences between age groups and gender on some concerns.

Drugs was the primary concern for 11-14 year olds with 31 per cent including it in their top three – almost twice the proportion of 20-24 year olds.

For 15-19 year olds, body image was the major issue at 27.4 per cent, while for 20-24 year olds depression (30.5) and coping with stress (30.2) were at the top of the list.

For girls and young women, physical/sexual abuse topped the list of concerns with 27.5 per cent considering it a top three issue – compared to only 17 per cent of boys. Conversely, alcohol was the second biggest worry for young males at 27.6 per cent while only 19 per cent of girls considered it the same.

“Our survey suggests that 11-14 year old Australians don’t feel equipped to deal with the issue of drugs,” said Ms Hampshire.

“They not only have a significant level of personal concern about the issue but are also worried about the impact of drugs on friends, families and their community.

“This concern doesn’t equate to drug usage – only around 5 per cent of 11-14 year olds use drugs.

“What it does show is that while campaigns have raised anxiety among our teens about the dangers of drugs, they haven’t done enough to educate 11-14 year olds on how to handle peer pressure about the issue.

“There’s plenty of information about drugs out there, but information isn’t enough for a 12 year old. Drug education campaigns need to strengthen young people and give them the skills to respond appropriately if drugs enter their lives or the lives of friends and family.”

In terms of body image, Mission Australia’s survey has noticed the issue is less a personal concern and more a worry related to the unrealistic portrayal of ‘the perfect body’ in the media and elsewhere.

“Over the last few years we’ve seen governments, welfare groups and youth agencies tackle the issue of body image in a much more concerted fashion and from this year’s survey results we think it’s beginning to have an impact,” said Ms Hampshire.

“In 2007, just over 32 per cent of participants had body image top of mind compared to 25.5 this year.

To view the 2009 reports please visit our document downloads section:  www.missionaustralia.com.au/document-downloads/cat_view/132-annual-mission-australia-youth-survey

Celebrating 150 years: the 2008-09 Annual Review

Released today, the 2009 Mission Australia Annual Review details the key achievements of the organisation over the last financial year and celebrates its dynamic 150 year history. Much may have changed since 1859 but the purpose of Mission Australia remains the same - to transform the lives of Australians in need.

The review was also an opportunity to profile the very people who have kept Mission Australia in operation for so long: its supporters. Steven, Noel, Margaret and Colin share their stories, and a special message is included from Margaret McKay - the great granddaughter of Sydney City Mission founder Benjamin Short.

Highlights of the review
In 2008-09 Mission Australia:

• Transformed the lives of 311,261 Australians in need
• Increased company revenue to $308,570,336
• Increased fundraising by $3 million
• Grew our net assets by 2%
• Established Mission Australia Housing
• Established Mission Australia Early Learning Services

To view the 2009 Mission Australia Annual Review, please visit the dedicated website:  missionpromotion.com/annualreport-2009

Council 'Golf day' supports local Mission Australia service

Port Macquarie Hastings Council (PMHC) recently held their annual staff golf day to to raise money for local charities. This year the local Mission Australia service was the very grateful recipient of funds raised by this event.

The event consisted of a Shot Gun Start, 4 Person Ambrose competition with 40 teams competing for prizes in the stifling heat. Mission Australia Port Macquarie staff members gave their time to sell raffle tickets. The prizes for this Golf Day competition and raffle were generously donated by local businesses in the Hastings Region.

Over $2000 was raised and 'Team Mission Australia' placed seventh overall in the nett (with handicap deducted) score competition.

MA Housing joins the Camperdown Project

MA Housing – a division of Mission Australia  – has been announced as the community housing provider of Sydney’s innovative social housing initiative, the Camperdown Project.

The NSW Minister for Housing, David Borger, made the announcement yesterday at a media conference held to discuss the Development Application for the Camperdown Project with the City of Sydney.

The initiative – based on the successful Common Ground model in New York – provides formerly homeless people with long-term housing and in-house access to support services.

New York’s Common Ground has reduced the city’s chronically homeless by 50% in just five years.

MA Housing will work collaboratively with project partners, Housing NSW and the building’s developer, Grocon Consortium, to provide ongoing tenancy and building management for the project.

MA Housing’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew McAnulty, said breaking the cycle of homelessness has become increasingly difficult in recent years because of the lack of affordable and appropriate long term housing for clients.

"The Camperdown Project will bring together a mix of long-term accommodation for people who have been chronically homeless and affordable rental housing for low-income workers,” Mr McAnulty said.

“From our experiences, we know what works in affordable housing for workers and in short-term housing for homeless people. The Camperdown Project takes a long-term approach to dealing with homelessness, and we’re looking forward to being involved.”

Minister Borger said MA Housing had demonstrated a strong capacity to manage complex tenancies on a long term basis.

“This is particularly important for this new integrated supportive social housing model, designed to help people who are homeless or on low incomes,” Mr Borger said.

"MA Housing will be involved in the development of a support services model with a range of community support providers and Housing NSW, to ensure that future tenants receive the support services they need to sustain their tenancies.”

David Malouf visits Mission Australia Centre

Author David Malouf at the Mission Australia Centre, Surry Hills

One of Australia's greatest authors, David Malouf, visited the Mission Australia Centre in Sydney's Surry Hills yesterday to take part in a groundbreaking program which offers university-accredited study to support and inspire disadvantaged and marginalised people.

The Catalyst-Clemente program is a joint initiative between the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and Mission Australia and uses the Arts and Humanities - eg: literature, drama - to build participants' self-esteem, create a feeling of community engagement and develop new possibilities for the future.

The visit - which had been kindly arranged the Australian Catholic University - coincided with the current Catalyst intake's study of one of Mr Malouf's best known novels, the Booker Prize-shortlisted, Remembering Babylon.

Class members had the unique opportunity to ask Mr Malouf a range of questions related to the novel and it's structure, formation of characters and writing style.

Catalyst-Clemente is based on the belief that poverty is more than just exclusion from material goods - it's also about social exclusion.

Accordingly, the way out of poverty is about giving people access to more than just a wage or vocational training, it's also about engaging them in activities that lead to social interaction, learning and community participation.

Since beginning in 2003, Catalyst-Clemente is now offered in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra, Perth, Melbourne and with Adelaide soon to follow.

Mission Australia wins a National Crime Award!

Receving the award: The Hon Brendan O'Connor, Senior constable Renee Bloomfield (Vic Police), Dr. Annelies Kamp (MA) and Assistant Commissioner Victoria Emmett Dunne (Vic Police).

The Youth Assist Program (YAP) which is run in Frankston, Victoria, in partnership with Victoria police, has won a coveted National Crime Award.

The program was one of 8 winners and was selected from a field of 60 national nominations.  The awards this year focused on domestic violence, youth, alcohol-related crime and community safety and were presented by the Hon. Brendan O'Connor at Parliament House in Canberra at 10:30am on Friday 30th October. Dr Annelies Kamp was there to represent Mission Australia and accept a certificate on our behalf.  We received a beautiful framed certificate as a recognition of excellence for the Project: Frankston Police, Mission Australia and Community Youth Assist Program.

The awards are aimed at rewarding good practice in the prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crimes in Australia, to encourage public initiatives and to assist governments in identifying and developing practical projects that will reduce violence and other types of crime in the community.

The annual Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards are sponsored by the heads of Australian governments and members of the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management - Police, as a joint Australian Government, state and territory initiative.

On behalf of Mission Australia, we would like to acknowledge the wonderful partnership we have with Victoria Police and also acknowledge the dedicated staff who brought this program to fruition.  We would like to especially recognise Jennifer Bain, Youth Transition Worker, for her tireless and expert work on the program, and her also for her perseverance and dedication to the program's youth.

Mission Australia promotes healthy living to youth at risk

A Mission Australia program being trialed in South Australia’s Riverland region is helping young people at risk improve their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Jumpstart is an eight-week healthy living program funded by the Federal Government’s Department of Health and Ageing.

The Berri-based program is one of 12 Mission Australia has conducted across metropolitan and regional South Australia during 2009.

Mission Australia’s spokesperson, Michael Harris, said Berri's Jumpstart would help 22 participants – all from disadvantaged backgrounds – stay healthy and in touch with their community.

“The young people we help at Jumpstart have no knowledge of how to cook and eat healthily,” Mr Harris said.

“A major aim of the program is to make these young people aware of the benefits of good personal health, lifestyle and well-being, good food, their overall diets and exercise play in achieving health.  Getting those basics in order provides benefits that flow through in terms of good mental health and self-esteem.”

He said that in weekly sessions, the young men and women were learning to identify nutritious food options, prepare and cook healthy meals, and find ways to increase their daily physical activity. Each participant is also required to develop and complete a recipe book including options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks from the selections they make during the practical cooking element.

“By the time the program concludes on mid-December, we hope to see all participants thinking about their food and exercise choices; where they can go to learn more about eating wisely; and to have completed their individual recipe books as on-going reference tools,” Mr Harris said.

“The program has already been running for two weeks it’s obvious there has been an increased recognition about the value of healthy eating and a really enthusiastic response to the information. There’s real evidence the message is getting through.”

Mission Australia’s Learning Unlimited Southern Adelaide team leader, Nicole Black, said similar responses were evident among participants of the other Jumpstart programs in Whyalla, Christies Beach and across metropolitan Adelaide.

“Participant feedback is part of the information that is now being collated as part of an evaluation of the program and its potential for rollout across Mission Australia services in other regions,” Ms Black said.

“We’re working toward creating a program that can be introduced where and when needed in the many and diverse communities Mission Australia helps across South Australia - and possibly the country.”