Youth Affairs Network Qld (YANQ)

01/12/2025

How early ADHD treatment escalates into polypharmacy, why skills matter more than pills, and what must change to protect children’s mental health and long-term development.

28/07/2025

Australia's human rights are sliding backwards, with a new report submitted to the United Nations today from more than 150 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, human rights, legal, disability, refugee, LGBTIQA+ and climate organisations.

From First Nations justice and gender-based violence, to offshore detention, climate inaction, and the segregation of people with disabilities - Australia is falling far short of meeting basic human rights standards. The Albanese Government act urgently – starting with an Australian Human Rights Act – to ensure everyone is treated with dignity, equality and respect.

Read the report: https://www.hrlc.org.au/reports/upr-2025-26/

21/07/2025

LOS ANGELES, Calif., July 21, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) – The mental health industry watchdog Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR) is calling for sweeping reforms to inform …

02/04/2025

Siyavash Doostkah | Youth Affairs Network of Queensland | CEO Youth workers play a critical role in supporting young people facing mental health challenges. However, many in the sector feel ill-equipped to assess mental health concerns and often struggle with determining when and how to

28/03/2025

Youth Work Community of Practice presents
Young People in Distress
How as youth workers we engage with young people in distress.
When and how we consider referral to clinical mental health services?

An opportunity to discuss the online resources

Tuesday 1st April 2025 10am-12pm
Online via Zoom

As you would be aware, the Youth Affairs Network Queensland (YANQ) in partnership with Adelaide University’s Critical and Ethical Mental Health (CEMH) research group have developed training resources to help youth workers engage and support young people in distress, and also decide when and how to refer a young person to clinical mental health services such as hospitals and Headspace. The on-line training package includes modules containing videos, reflective exercises and templates.

The training resources were launched online on 25th February. If you missed out on joining the session, you can watch a recording of it here: https://youtu.be/0_OPExR5Qow

And here is a link to enroll and access the resources:
https://catalog.adelaide.edu.au/courses/youth-workers-and-mental-health

On the April 1st session of our Youth Work Community of Practice you will have a chance to ask any questions and provide feedback about the training resources as well as making suggestions for other resources that could help you with your work with young people. Professor Jon Jureidini the heads CEMH and the Paediatric Mental Health Training Unit (PMHTU) who headed the development of the training package will be joining us. CEMH promotes safer, more effective and ethical research and practice in mental health. PMHTU provides training in non-pathologising approaches to mental health primary care.

The Youth Work Community of Practice (CoP) is an initiative of Youth Affairs Network of Queensland. Participation in the forum is FREE.

To register for the April 1st session please follow this link: https://forms.gle/nu9o7GqDuxCxTiyr5

After you register, we will send you a Zoom link to participate in the forum.

On the April 1st session of our Youth Work Community of Practice you will have a chance to ask any questions and provide feedback about the online training resources which includes modules containing videos, reflective exercises and templates. This will also be an opportunity for you to make suggest...

10/03/2025

Here is the link to the latest Queensland Youth Sector News:

Here is the link to the latest Queensland Youth sector News: https://mailchi.mp/fe4b4c287f7c/yanq-e-bulletin-may-17434171​

10/03/2025

Community Development Training

The Jeder Institute are hitting the road with their national tour, this will be the first time since the pandemic that they have offered face to face Asset Based Community Development training with open registrations.

Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is a powerful approach to community development that focuses on discovering and mobilizing the resources that are already present in a community.

Get tickets on Humanitix - National Tour, Logan - Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) hosted by Jeder Institute. Tudor Park Community Recreation Centre, 71-81 Clarks Rd, Loganholme QLD 4129, Australia. Monday 28th April 2025. Find event information.

06/03/2025

Young People in Distress

An innovative package of online Youth Work and Mental Health Training Resources was launched by ​the Youth Affairs Network Queensland (YANQ) on 25th February 2025. For those of you who missed out on joining the launch session, here is a link to the recording: https://youtu.be/0_OPExR5Qow

And here is the link for you to access the Youth Work and Mental Health Training Resources: https://catalog.adelaide.edu.au/courses/youth-workers-and-mental-health

Background:
In October 2020, YANQ hosted an online forum focused on the role of youth workers in supporting young people with mental health issues. A key point raised by youth workers at this forum was that they felt ill equipped to assess mental health issue of young people, resulting in a large number of young people being refer to clinical mental health services.

It took YANQ a few years to secured the necessary funding (thanks to Gambling Community Benefit Fund) to proceed with developing resources that can assist youth workers when working with young people in distress and an agency level protocol for the youth sector to feel more comfortable about knowing at what stage they should refer young people to clinical mental health services.

To develop these resources, YANQ partnered with Adelaide University’s Critical and Ethical Mental Health research group which promotes safer, more effective and more ethical research and practice in mental health.

During the first stage of the project we administered a survey, holding focus groups and conducted interviews of youth workers in order to find out key issues about working with young people in distress including drivers that instigate a clinical referral. During this stage, YANQ also conducted interviews with Headspace and hospitals to attain patterns of referral by youth workers.

The data was analysed by Professor Jon Jureidini and based on the findings, an on-line training package was developed with modules containing videos, reflective exercises and templates. Jon Jureidini is a child psychiatrist who heads CEMH and the Paediatric Mental Health Training Unit (PMHTU). CEMH promotes safer, more effective and ethical research and practice in mental health. PMHTU provides training in non-pathologising approaches to mental health primary care. Jureidini is one of the most highly regarded researchers and educators in the field of mental health.

The project was made possible by with funding support from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund

06/01/2025

Young People in Distress

How as youth workers we engage with young people in distress.
When and how we consider referral to clinical mental health services?

Online forum & Launch of online video resources

25th February 2025 10am-12pm

The Youth Affairs Network Queensland (YANQ) in partnership with Adelaide University’s Critical and Ethical Mental Health (CEMH) research group have developed training resources to help youth workers engage and support young people in distress, and also decide when and how to refer a young person to clinical mental health services such as hospitals and Headspace.

During the first stage of the project in 2024, we administered a state-wide survey, holding focus groups and conducting interviews of youth workers, to find key issues about working with young people in distress including drivers that instigate a clinical referral. We also conducted interviews with Headspace and hospitals to better understand patterns of referral by youth workers.

The data was analysed by Professor Jon Jureidini and based on the findings, an on-line training package was developed with modules containing videos, reflective exercises and templates. Jon Jureidini is a child psychiatrist who heads CEMH and the Paediatric Mental Health Training Unit (PMHTU). CEMH promotes safer, more effective and ethical research and practice in mental health. PMHTU provides training in non-pathologising approaches to mental health primary care. Jureidini is one of the most highly regarded researchers and educators in the field of mental health. He humbly says that he has learnt most of what he knows about psychiatry growing up in a pub, from being a father, and from reading novels. He is also the chair of Australian-Palestinian Partnerships in Education and Health.

The Youth Work Community of Practice (CoP) is an initiative of Youth Affairs Network of Queensland. Participation in the forum is FREE.
To register for the online launch and training email [email protected] with:
•“Register to attend Young People in Distress Forum” in the subject line
• Your preferred email address
• Your postal address

Closer to the forum date (25/02/2025) you will receive a Zoom link to participate in the forum.

After attending the session, you will receive a free copy of the book ‘Language Matters’, written by Anthony Smith and Melissa Raven, which is a guide for using appropriate language when supporting people in distress.

04/12/2024

"We need to shift from an industrial model of education to an organic one."

In "Creative Schools," Sir Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica explore innovative approaches to education that prioritise creativity and individual learning styles. 7 lessons from the book:

1. Rethink Traditional Education Models
Robinson argues that traditional education systems often stifle creativity and fail to meet the diverse needs of students. He advocates for a fundamental reappraisal of how education is structured, emphasising the need for more flexible and personalised learning environments.

2. Emphasize Creativity in Learning
The authors stress that creativity should be at the heart of education. They believe that fostering creative thinking not only enhances learning but also prepares students for the complexities of the modern world, where innovation is crucial.

3. Focus on Individual Learning Styles
Robinson highlights the importance of recognising that each student has a unique learning style. By tailoring education to accommodate different ways of learning, educators can engage students more effectively and help them thrive.

4. Encourage Collaboration and Community
The book emphasises the value of collaborative learning. Robinson and Aronica suggest that schools should foster a sense of community where students can work together, share ideas, and learn from one another, enhancing their social and emotional development.

5. Integrate Arts and Humanities
Robinson advocates for the integration of arts and humanities into the curriculum. He argues that these subjects are essential for developing critical thinking and creativity, and they should not be sidelined in favor of standardized testing and core subjects.

6. Empower Teachers as Innovators
The authors believe that teachers should be empowered to innovate within their classrooms. By giving educators the freedom to experiment with new teaching methods and curricula, schools can create more dynamic and engaging learning experiences.

7. Involve Parents and Communities
Robinson and Aronica stress the importance of involving parents and communities in the educational process. Engaging families and local organizations can provide additional support and resources, creating a more holistic approach to education that benefits students.

These lessons provide a roadmap for transforming education into a more inclusive, creative, and effective system that nurtures the potential of every student.