Young people in Victoria
The state government has a number of youth policies that are designed to help the younger community to have better employment and education opportunities in Victoria. These policies refer to the aims and initiatives by levels of government in relation to young citizens.
The main priority of youth policies is to ensure the health and wellbeing young people and to get them involved in the community and improve their skills and confidence. The government also ensures that the youth of Australia have a representative Council in each state to address and raise awareness of issues common with youth. In this way, the youth have a means of making their voices heard and are allowed to have an impact on government ruling, even if they are not of voting age. Councils also advocate solutions for youth issues and ways of preventing them. Issues that the state is currently looking into are in regards to youth homelessness, and unemployment.
The main priority of youth policies is to ensure the health and wellbeing young people and to get them involved in the community and improve their skills and confidence. The government also ensures that the youth of Australia have a representative Council in each state to address and raise awareness of issues common with youth. In this way, the youth have a means of making their voices heard and are allowed to have an impact on government ruling, even if they are not of voting age. Councils also advocate solutions for youth issues and ways of preventing them. Issues that the state is currently looking into are in regards to youth homelessness, and unemployment.
The Hon. Jenny Mikakos is the Victorian minister in charge of issues affecting young people, families and children. This means she also deals with issues that affect young people.
The minister can be contacted through email, twitter or in person by directly visiting her office (319 Spring Street, Reservoir, VIC 3073).
The Victorian State Government offers many services for young people. Students who are struggling financially or are at risk of becoming homeless are eligible for a student scholarships provided by the state government that assists students in completing VCE and VCAL.
The state government also works with many not-for-profit organisations that help young people with their mental health as well as cases to do with domestic violence and abuse. Over $8 million of the government budget is allocated to funding youth initiatives in Victoria, though the actual figures can and do change.
A significant issue that young people are currently facing in Victoria is the closure of many TAFE courses, due to cuts on government funding. Because of this, the quality of TAFE courses has been brought down and many instructors and staff members have been made redundant. Hence the funding of TAFES affects not only education, but employment and local economy.
The state government provides for young people by funding organisations that ensure youth have access to facilities concerning recreation, education, and mental and physical health. The state government also provides the funding for the education of youth. This is why the state government should always be careful about how they choose to cut funds, and where from, as this will directly affect the futures and job opportunities of young people.
In this aspect it is difficult to wholeheartedly praise the state government's handling of the Victorian youth, as many young people experience a poor or lack of proper education, because they can’t afford it or because it is not available. However the Victorian government seems to be making some effort to improve the lives of its youth, with many new programs and services being implemented to assist young people
The state government policies can always be improved or altered, as the needs of the people change. Feedback and the contribution of new ideas will always help with these improvements.
The minister can be contacted through email, twitter or in person by directly visiting her office (319 Spring Street, Reservoir, VIC 3073).
The Victorian State Government offers many services for young people. Students who are struggling financially or are at risk of becoming homeless are eligible for a student scholarships provided by the state government that assists students in completing VCE and VCAL.
The state government also works with many not-for-profit organisations that help young people with their mental health as well as cases to do with domestic violence and abuse. Over $8 million of the government budget is allocated to funding youth initiatives in Victoria, though the actual figures can and do change.
A significant issue that young people are currently facing in Victoria is the closure of many TAFE courses, due to cuts on government funding. Because of this, the quality of TAFE courses has been brought down and many instructors and staff members have been made redundant. Hence the funding of TAFES affects not only education, but employment and local economy.
The state government provides for young people by funding organisations that ensure youth have access to facilities concerning recreation, education, and mental and physical health. The state government also provides the funding for the education of youth. This is why the state government should always be careful about how they choose to cut funds, and where from, as this will directly affect the futures and job opportunities of young people.
In this aspect it is difficult to wholeheartedly praise the state government's handling of the Victorian youth, as many young people experience a poor or lack of proper education, because they can’t afford it or because it is not available. However the Victorian government seems to be making some effort to improve the lives of its youth, with many new programs and services being implemented to assist young people
The state government policies can always be improved or altered, as the needs of the people change. Feedback and the contribution of new ideas will always help with these improvements.
Issues Collage
Hungry Jack's triples its number of children's food advertising code breaches
http://www.theage.com.au/business/retail/hungry-jacks-triples-its-number-of-childrens-food-advertising-code-breaches-20150831-gjbrmo.html
State Government Department/s responsible: Department of Health, AFGC
The effectiveness of an imposed children's food advertising code is being questioned, with TV broadcasting companies claiming that it is indeed effective and great progress has been made. But viewers beg to differ, as junk food companies are still continuing to break the code repeatedly by advertising during times when a large amount of children were watching.
'Harassed' into debt: Dodgy colleges still target vulnerable students, inquiry told
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/harassed-into-debt-dodgy-colleges-still-target-vulnerable-students-inquiry-told-20150902-gjdqzt.html
State Government Department/s responsible: Department of Education, Australian Police Force
The Senate are looking into cases of immigrant students being harassed into signing up for unnecessary courses that they were told are free, but are actually very expensive. Some former students had also received their qualifications without any proper training or education for their profession. Because of this, many certificates and qualifications were recalled from former students.
Primo among pork brands caught making false 'free range' claims, says ACCC
http://www.theage.com.au/business/retail/primo-among-pork-brands-caught-making-false-free-range-claims-says-accc-20150902-gje08h.html
State Government Department/s responsible: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has found that many pork brands are misleading in their claims of their pigs being ‘bred free-range’, which is only technically true. The sow are raised free-range only until the piglets are born, and are then raised in a barn until slaughter. The ACC has stated that the claims were purposely misleading, as it led unsuspecting consumers to assume that the pork they were eating is free range, when it is not.
Parents push for greater access to program to help children with learning disabilities
http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/parents-push-for-greater-access-to-program-to-help-children-with-learning-disabilities-20150827-gj954a.html
State Government Department/s responsible: Department of Education
Though a suitable education is available to most Australians, this seems to not be the case for children with learning disabilities. Schools can run programs for such students, but at an extra cost that they may not have the funds or will for. In doing so, many parents are finding that their children are left helpless or must consider moving to a completely different state or country and have to pay thousands of dollars in school fees and boarding. Concerned parents and teaching staff are urging the Australian government to take responsibility and to provide better options for children with learning disabilities.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/retail/hungry-jacks-triples-its-number-of-childrens-food-advertising-code-breaches-20150831-gjbrmo.html
State Government Department/s responsible: Department of Health, AFGC
The effectiveness of an imposed children's food advertising code is being questioned, with TV broadcasting companies claiming that it is indeed effective and great progress has been made. But viewers beg to differ, as junk food companies are still continuing to break the code repeatedly by advertising during times when a large amount of children were watching.
'Harassed' into debt: Dodgy colleges still target vulnerable students, inquiry told
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/harassed-into-debt-dodgy-colleges-still-target-vulnerable-students-inquiry-told-20150902-gjdqzt.html
State Government Department/s responsible: Department of Education, Australian Police Force
The Senate are looking into cases of immigrant students being harassed into signing up for unnecessary courses that they were told are free, but are actually very expensive. Some former students had also received their qualifications without any proper training or education for their profession. Because of this, many certificates and qualifications were recalled from former students.
Primo among pork brands caught making false 'free range' claims, says ACCC
http://www.theage.com.au/business/retail/primo-among-pork-brands-caught-making-false-free-range-claims-says-accc-20150902-gje08h.html
State Government Department/s responsible: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has found that many pork brands are misleading in their claims of their pigs being ‘bred free-range’, which is only technically true. The sow are raised free-range only until the piglets are born, and are then raised in a barn until slaughter. The ACC has stated that the claims were purposely misleading, as it led unsuspecting consumers to assume that the pork they were eating is free range, when it is not.
Parents push for greater access to program to help children with learning disabilities
http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/parents-push-for-greater-access-to-program-to-help-children-with-learning-disabilities-20150827-gj954a.html
State Government Department/s responsible: Department of Education
Though a suitable education is available to most Australians, this seems to not be the case for children with learning disabilities. Schools can run programs for such students, but at an extra cost that they may not have the funds or will for. In doing so, many parents are finding that their children are left helpless or must consider moving to a completely different state or country and have to pay thousands of dollars in school fees and boarding. Concerned parents and teaching staff are urging the Australian government to take responsibility and to provide better options for children with learning disabilities.
References
http://www.yacvic.org.au Youth Affairs Council of Victoria
http://www.vic.gov.au/contactsandservices/directory/ Victorian Government Directory
http://www.theage.com.au The Age: Latest & Breaking News Melbourne, Victoria
Collage Images from:
https://dsf.net.au DSF Literacy & Clinical Services
http://greens.org.au/safer-kids-ads Australian Greens: Safer Advertising to Children
http://www.humanemyth.org/alvexposesthemyth.htm Humane Myth
Google Images
http://www.vic.gov.au/contactsandservices/directory/ Victorian Government Directory
http://www.theage.com.au The Age: Latest & Breaking News Melbourne, Victoria
Collage Images from:
https://dsf.net.au DSF Literacy & Clinical Services
http://greens.org.au/safer-kids-ads Australian Greens: Safer Advertising to Children
http://www.humanemyth.org/alvexposesthemyth.htm Humane Myth
Google Images