Festival of Empowered Minds 2024
Young people across Australia are overrepresented in a range of societal and economic issues. Several key pieces of research have been released in the past five years detailing the issues young people consider to be key concerns to their generation. A common theme across this research is the concern of negative mental health outcomes. The 2022 Mission Australia Youth Study listed the top challenges faced by young people as school and education, mental health, and relationships. With this in mind, our festival, called Empowered Minds, is a leadership and empowerment project designed and delivered by young people aged 16-25 aimed at increasing self-worth, inner-strength, leadership, and agency. Empowered Minds will contribute to a more equitable and safer community, promoting mental health literacy, social, emotional and physical wellbeing of the Parramatta community. This youth-led initiative will offer a range of free activities, including yoga, music, art and craft, among other activities alongside services that can assist young people in their personal growth journey.
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Resolutions to Results | Tips to Maintain Your Fitness Goals Year-Round
Picture this. You started the new year with health and fitness goals but now your motivation has started to wane, life has thrown you a curveball or two and, suddenly, you’re just not feeling it anymore. Where to from here?
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Youth Parliament Sponsorship Program | Department of Regional NSW Announced As Newest Sponsor
This year the Y NSW established a sponsorship component to Youth Parliament for youth experiencing marginalisation and disadvantage. The Y has secured funding from the Department of Regional NSW. This will support 35 participants who may have otherwise been unable to partake in the program by covering or assisting with their entry fees into the 2024 Youth Parliament.
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Balancing Work and Family | Practical Tips for Working Parents
Juggling being a parent and working can be tough. It’s a constant balancing act between work, family, and personal time. We’re sharing five tips to make working parents’ lives easier.
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Swim carnival success: A guide to helping your child overcome nerves
A quintessential part of Australian children’s school days are swim carnivals; an exciting event for children providing opportunities for them to showcase their swimming skills, race in a relaxed environment, and foster a sense of team spirit.
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Navigating the Start of Kindy | Tips for a Smooth Transition
As the school year kicks off, many families will soon experience a significant milestone – the first day of Kindy. According to NSW Education, over 63,000 students will embark on their Kindy journey in NSW public schools in 2024.
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Youth Parliament | Youth Voices. Powerful Choices
Make a difference for young people facing adversity. Youth Parliament is the Y NSW’s flagship youth leadership and engagement program.
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Invite Students to apply for Youth Parliament program
“I believe everyone needs to experience this program because it opens a new world of possibilities and opportunities for self-expression that can not be easily found in the real world.” The next generation of youth leaders is invited to apply to participate in the Y NSW's Youth Parliament program in 2024 with submissions now open.
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School Suspensions | A Social Justice Issue
Louisa McKay, Executive Leader Purpose & Impact for The Y NSW explores current suspension practices, the current alternatives, and more.
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Alternative Suspension Roaring Success, But Funding Needed To Meet Demand
"The program made him turn up, talk with youth workers and make him understand what he does is wrong. He even told me he really enjoyed it". - The Y NSW's new program shows great success but requires funding to continue and grow.
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Youth Mental Health Forum - 6 October 2023
The Y NSW hosted Youth Mental Health Forum with Minister Rose Jackson and MP Donna Frances Reeman Davis today.
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Young People Participate in Mental Health First Aid
Members of the Y NSW’s Youth and Community team facilitated more than 200 young people in a course on how to provide mental health first aid to their friends in a program to be rolled out across the Snowy Monaro and Central Coast in 2023.
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Young Leaders Shine in Legislative Assembly for Youth Parliament 2023
This week more than 90 young people from far and wide across the state of NSW will take a seat in the Legislative Assembly for a four-day sitting in the Parliament of NSW, as part of the Y NSW's iconic Youth Parliament program. Read all about this program which has been running for 20 years, by young people and for young people, empowering them with skills, knowledge and confidence to raise their voices on issues that are important to them and their communities.
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Parents Rave About Camp Jaribu 2023 At Yarramundi
Camp Yarramundi recently welcomed over 120 children and young people with neurodiverse conditions for The Sensory Gym’s® Camp Jabiru 2023, making it another successful week at the camp. See what parents had to say about the camp.
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Camp Yarramundi Celebrates 10 Years of Hosting Recovery Camp
Since 1937 Camp Yarramundi has been providing outdoor education, camping and community engagement programs to groups across NSW, but over the last 10 years it is one camp in particular that has made one of the biggest impacts on both participants and outdoor instructors alike – that is Recovery Camp. In May we celebrated the tenth anniversary of Recovery Camp and the amazing collaboration with the Y NSW.
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When John’s son is suspended from school, he usually plays video games. This time was different
When John’s* son was suspended from his public high school last term, it wasn’t the 14-year-old’s first time.
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Hundreds Apply For The Y NSW Youth Parliament Program
From hundreds of applicants, Stephanie Ovington of Narooma and Lucy Allen of Cobargo have been selected to represent the Bega electorate at The Y NSW Youth Parliament Program later this year.
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Spotlight On Our Staff - Nicole Banning
"It’s clear that the Y likes to give young people opportunities whenever possible.” - At just 26 years old, Nicole is the Centre Coordinator for the Wingham Memorial Swimming Pool.
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Indigenous Scholarships Available for the Y NSW’S 2023 Youth Parliament
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are now able to apply for scholarships to represent their electorate in the Y NSW’s 2023 Youth Parliament program as part of the Y’s commitment to First Nations people.
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