Projects

Time-frame: 2001 - 2005

Source: Commonwealth Youth Bureau/Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services.

The Commonwealth Youth Bureau (then in the Commonwealth Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs) contracted the Youth Research Centre to conduct a three-year study of a sample of young participants in State Government Sponsored Youth Development Programs. These programs operated in several states and involve young people (usually through schools) in activities and training with community and service organisations.

In the Centre's research, thirty young program participants in each of Victoria (in the Victorian Youth Development Program), South Australia (in the Activ8 Premier's Youth Challenge) and Western Australia (in Cadets WA) were interviewed several times during their involvement. Where possible, they will also be interviewed some time after they finish these programs. The research is interested to learn about the expectations and experiences of young people in Youth Development Programs, and about the impact of these programs on their lives.

In 2001, the research was in its 'set-up' phase, with instruments developed and approved, schools selected and some base-line information collected through interviews with students before they entered the programs. In 2002, interviews were undertaken in 12 schools with 60 young people. In 2003, the sample of schools was expanded to 18 (six in each state).

In 2005, the research concluded with the writing and publication of the final report. It is available in two forms - a shorter report: Doing Positive Things: You have to go out and do it and a more detailed Technical Report.

This project was carried out by the Centre in collaboration with Kathleen Stacey (South Australia), Murray Lake (Western Australia) and John Stafford (Victoria).

Contact: Roger Holdsworth