Dear Friend of ACYP,

Welcome to 2024!

As we embark on this new year, our team is excited to continue to empower the voices of children and young people in NSW. With fresh goals in mind, we are always committed to making a positive impact.

Read on for an update on the events and initiatives we have coming up.

About us

The Advocate, together with Isabella Haigh filmed a new ‘About Us’ video for the ACYP website. The video, featuring Auslan sign language by Isabella, aims to increase the accessibility of ACYP for children and young people in NSW. You can watch the full video on the right.

Strategic Tracking Report

 Special Inquiry – private hearings with children and young people

If you are a child or young people who is currently in an alternative care arrangement (ACA), or has previous experience being in an ACA in the past 10 years, we want to hear from you.

The Advocate for Children and Young People has commenced hearings as part of the Special Inquiry into children and young people placed into alternative care arrangements (often referred to as ACAs or High-Cost Emergency Placements), which includes the use of hotels, motels, caravan parks, serviced apartments and other similar settings as emergency accommodation.

 RYSS Update

The Recovery Youth Support Service has hit the ground running in 2024!  We are continuing to work with flood effected children and young people in the Northern Rivers through our support program and have some exciting new projects underway based on recommendations from feedback received throughout 2023.

As a result of our successful youth led Disaster Recovery and Future Preparedness Roundtable held in November, we are excited to launch the report in the Northern Rivers in March.  This has been such a rewarding project led by young people and supported by RYSS and we can’t wait to share our findings!

Please subscribe to our newsletter and if you want to get in touch with our Northern Rivers team please email youthsupportservices@acyp.nsw.gov.au

Educate to Advocate (E2A) Workshop

ACYP invites you to attend Educate 2 Advocate, a comprehensive online training workshop that combines all of the knowledge and skills from our Advocacy, Participation and Child Rights training. Register for the first session on Thursday 4 April from 5 – 6.30pm.

Amplifying the voices of children and young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds

We will be focusing on amplifying the voices of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds for the first half of 2024. If you’re under the age of 25 years and keen to participate, please register. If you’re from the sector and want to partner with us, please reach out to participation@acyp.nsw.gov.au.

Stakeholder engagement and outreach

Calling all high school student video makers 

Do you have a brilliant idea for inspiring fellow students to get active? Are you in Year 7- 12?

Enroll now in the Youth Voices Get Active video competition to promote exercise before the Thursday, 14 March 2024.

Have you say about the NDIS Review report - CYDA Survey for parents and caregivers

Whether a NDIS participant or not, CYDA want to hear your thoughts on last year’s NDIS Review. 

CYDA has been working with the Review to make sure the needs and interests of children and young people with disability are properly represented in coming reforms. By taking part, you’ll be helping create a better system for all. 

 Could a video game stamp out vaping? Western Sydney students share ideas at first Health Hackathon

Students from Western Sydney recently spent two days immersed in a ‘Health Hackathon’ event at Westmead Hospital, developing campaigns to address key health issues and presenting these ideas to industry leaders.

Western Sydney Local Health District’s (WSLHD) Prevention Education and Research Unit (PERU), in collaboration with the Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) program, the NSW Department of Education, and the NSW Ministry of Health, co-hosted the Health Hackathon at Westmead Hospital.

Western Sydney Incubator for young people

The Australian School of Entrepreneurship have partnered with the City of Parramatta to bring to life the first ever incubator for Western Sydney young people - a four week program that will support young people aged 18-27 in Western Sydney to start their own businesses, and make revenue.

And the best part, it's free, thanks to the City of Parramatta. To find out more and register follow the link below.

Every local voice matters with TAFE NSW’s ‘Have your Say’ survey

If you’re a TAFE student over the age of 16 years, they would like to hear your ideas about how TAFE could better support you and your local community’s needs. Share your thoughts via their survey below. 

If you would like to know more about anything in this newsletter or have any questions, please get in touch by emailing us at acyp@acyp.nsw.gov.au.

Zoë Robinson
Advocate for Children and Young People