Guides: Community Services: Children & Youth

eBooks

101 Things to Do on the Street : Games and Resources for Detached, Outreach and Street-Based Youth Work (2011) 101 Things to Do on the Street is packed with creative and innovative ideas for street games and activities to help young people aged 11--19 explore personal, social and emotional issues.
Child Protection (2018) The reported prevalence of child maltreatment - neglect; physical, emotional and sexual abuse; and exposure to family violence - is at unacceptable levels in Australia.
Child Protection : The Essential Guide for Teachers and Other Professionals whose Work Involves Children (2012) This exceptionally well-researched book's intention is to reveal what is really happening in our society and to spur people into action to turn this shameful and complex problem around so that abuse stops and healing can begin. It should be a compulsory handbook for all whose work involves children, especially in the legal system, all human services, schools, pre-schools and foster care. It covers all aspects of child abuse and neglect and presents recent case studies of acts of abuse and the ways they have been dealt with in recent times. It is books such as this that 'get the message out there' so that something is done in this supposedly enlightened age.
Children and Young People at Risk (2017) Many Australian children and young people are at significant risk of abuse and neglect. The reported prevalence of child maltreatment (neglect, and physical, emotional and sexual abuse) is at alarming levels.
Children Living in Poverty (2014) Examines the problems of child poverty from a global and Australian perspective.
Mental Health and Growing Up (2012) Collection fact sheets of various mental health issues. Explains the problem, causes and effects, practical tips to deal with it, the treatments available, available evidence and sources of further help.
Self-Harm and Young People (2012) Explores the prevalence of self-harm, identifies the warning signs, and addresses the many myths and misconceptions. Advice is also presented on how to deal with these behaviours for people who self-harm and their concerned friends and families.
Single Parent Families (2017) Explores the changes and challenges for the parents and children of single parent households, and confronts the myths about single parent families. Additionally the book addresses the emotional impacts, financial costs and the issue of welfare dependency.
Youth Crime (2017) Presents the latest statistics on young offenders. It also provides an overview of the juvenile justice system in Australia, including current trends in the detention and diversion of young offenders.
Youth Unemployment (2015) Presents youth employment statistics and report findings, explores a range of strategies aimed at tackling youth unemployment and underemployment.

Journals

Australian & NZ journal of family therapy Aims to represent not only family therapy, but any clinical approaches that can broadly be described as innovative or contextual.
Child Welfare Articles on any aspect of administration, supervision, casework, group work, community organization, teaching, research or interpretation that extends knowledge in any child-family welfare or related service.
Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal Published by the Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies and NSW Family Services Inc. The journal is issued three times per year and is aimed at practitioners and managers who provide programs and services for vulnerable children, young people and families.
Family Matters Australian Institute of Family Studies. ‘Family Matters’ is a lively and informative journal for students, family service providers, policy makers, and anyone interested in families. Readers will find the latest Australian and international research on family trends, family breakdown, what makes for strong and enduring marriages, child development, economic and social policy, and a range of other family-related issues.
Journal of Family Studies The 'Journal of Family Studies' is a refereed international journal with three issues per year. The focus of the Journal is on the wellbeing of children in families in process of change. It publishes research articles and practical papers of interest to academics, researchers, administrators, educators, mediators, lawyers, and clinicians.

Websites

ABS - Children and Youth Statistics
AIHW - Child protection Child protection data Educational outcomes for children in care etc
Applying community capacity-building approaches to child welfare practice and policy It is recognised that the welfare of children and families cannot be separated from the health of their community. However, much child welfare practice focuses on individual children and families, with limited resources devoted to influencing community-level factors. Community capacity-building is an approach that attempts to increase a given community's capacity to solve collective problems. It aims for "grassroots", "bottom-up", and sustainable solutions to problems.
Ask Izzy Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counselling and much more. It is free and anonymous, with over 370,000 services listed across Australia. And if you're on the Telstra or Vodafone mobile networks, you can access Ask Izzy on your phone even if you don't have credit or access to wifi.
Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited, or ANROWS, is a unique research organisation, being one of the only national organisations across the world tasked with building, translating and disseminating the evidence base to inform policy and practice on women’s and children’s safety.
Australian Institute of Family Studies The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) is the Australian Government's key research body in the area of family wellbeing. AIFS conducts original research to increase understanding of Australian families and the issues that affect them.
Child Family Community Australia CFCA is an information exchange for practitioners, policy-makers, service providers and researchers working with children, families and communities. CFCA provides evidence-based resources and interactive assistance for professionals working to protect children, support families, and strengthen communities across Australian jurisdictions.
Child Protection Australia 2014-15 AIHW
Children & Youth 2018 Reports and statistics on children & youth
Child Rights Information Network We are a creative think tank producing new and dynamic thinking on human rights, focusing on children and young people. We believe children deserve to have their rights fully recognised and respected, just as all humans do.
Commissioner for Children and Young People. Western Australia The Commissioner works closely with children and young people, their families, community and government to make Western Australia a better place for 0 to 17 year-olds. (Website)
Family and Relationships Links from government and non-government sources.
Longitudinal Surveys' of Australian Youth The Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) track young people as they move from school into further study, work and other destinations. It uses large, nationally representative samples of young people to collect information about education and training, work, and social development.
SNAICC : National Voice for Children For the last 40 years, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children has been a passionate national voice representing the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Teenagers and Communication Negative communication is a common cause of conflict between a parent and teenagers. Appreciate that your teenager has a different view of the world and respect their opinions. Establish reasonable house rules in consultation with your teenager.
YMCA Family and Children's Services The Perth YMCA Perth is committed to offering a safe, affordable, age-appropriate environment for children and their parents with professional, caring and motivated staff.
Youth Affairs Counsel of WA To be a bold, trusted, go-to advocacy and systems shaping body for young people, the sector and communities that support them.
Youth justice Legislation, facts, publications and data.

Streaming Videos & DVDs

Child abuse and neglect The programs in this award-winning three-part series utilize case studies in which the environment of the child is explored, the characteristics of the perpetrators and victims are discussed, the signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect are delineated, and resources for professionals and families are provided.

A sense of identity Child Psychologist Andrew Fuller hosts a frank, honest discussion of identity with a panel of teens of various ages, gender and cultural background
Old People's Home for Teenagers: Series 1 - Ep 1 As a new group of seniors are introduced and they meet on a bus for the very first time, they share some of their stories around loss, depression and isolation. But in a groundbreaking experiment they are meeting teenagers.
Old People's Home for Teenagers: Series 1 - Ep 2 Week two is all about brainpower, with activities including a spelling bee and a flat pack building challenge designed to draw out the seniors and teenagers from isolation.
Old People's Home for Teenagers: Series 1 - Ep 3 In an attempt to build confidence, the group tackle TikTok dances and an intergenerational debate on ageism, held in front of the teens' parents at an open day.
Old People's Home for Teenagers: Series 1 - Ep 4 This episode, it's time to get physical. The aim of the game is to raise the group's step count and have some fun along the way. The group undertake activities for both body and mind, culminating in a fun and messy Colour Walk.
Old People's Home for Teenagers: Series 1 - Ep 5 After six weeks, it's the end of the global first experiment in which two lonely groups, teens and elders, were brought together. At the end of the week, they'll see if they have reduced their sense of loneliness and isolation.

Articles

Antisocial behaviour during the teenage years: Understanding developmental risks Individuals are far more likely to engage in antisocial behaviour during adolescence than any other period of their life. This paper presents selected results from two studies which used secondary data analysis to provide a theoretically informed picture of youths’ decision-making process in relation to delinquency.
Bad therapy or cruel world? How the youth mental health crisis has been sucked into the culture wars Retrieved 30 August 2024 from The Conversation
Child abuse, neglect and maltreatment health service in Australia: A literature review This paper reviews child abuse, neglect and maltreatment health service practice in Australia. Child abuse, neglect and maltreatment and the need to protect children from harm and prevent abuse and neglect, has become a significant public health concern.
Code of Ethics - Youth Affairs Council of WA The YACWA and Western Australian Association of Youth Workers Youth Work Code of Ethics outlines a set of youth work principles and practice responsibilities for youth workers, identified through consultation with the youth sector. The Code also includes very useful case scenarios developed by youth workers to illustrate some of the finer points of each principle when translated into practice.
Culturally responsive work with indigenous children and families Indigenous families throughout the world share parallel world views which can clash with the beliefs and methods of professionals trained in Western cultural traditions. This article provides signposts for building cultural safety in work with indigenous groups.
Cultural safety in child protection: Application to the workplace environment and casework practice Cultural safety is a term that originated in the nursing profession in New Zealand. Common definitions focus on participants (whether clients or workers) feeling safe; feeling they can express their cultural identity; feel respected and listened to. The present study describes the concept of cultural safety and how it is applied in statutory child protection in Alice Springs.
Generation overwhelmed Whether it’s in the suburbs, out bush or on country, today’s teens are grappling with a mental health crisis. Experts say big, bold changes are needed, but what do we all do in the meantime?
Have smartphones created an 'anxious generation'? Jonathan Haidt sounds the alarm From The Conversation 29 April 2024
Offending behaviour among young people with complex needs in the Australian Out-of-Home Care System The link between childhood maltreatment and subsequent offending behaviour is well established, and data from the child welfare system is commonly used to examine the maltreatment-offending association. This study used data from the first national comparative profile study of high-support needs children undertaken in Australia to determine which factors differentiate offenders from non-offenders among a sample of high support needs young people.
Teens who vape more likely to have poor mental health, new report shows A study of 5,000 students has found teenagers who vape are more likely to have poor mental health. Experts say being curious with teenagers can help open conversations about vaping and teaching life coping skills may also assist.
Trends in non-drinking among Australian adolescents Explores the decline of teenage drinking, observes socio-demographics to identify causes.
Young, in love and in danger: Responding to conflict and violence in teen partner relationships in Tasmania This research project investigated the experiences of young Tasmanians who had been abused by a partner when under the age of 18. It is the first Tasmanian research of its kind and one of few studies nationally.

Books in the Library

At Risk Youth (2016) This text provides the conceptual and practical information on key issues and problems that you will need to prepare effectively for work with at-risk youth. Each chapter has resources that direct you to interesting and informative You Tube, TEDTalk, and research sites to expand upon and illustrate the written information. The authors describe and discuss the latest research-supported, evidence-based prevention and intervention techniques that will help you perform your job successfully and improve the lives of young people at risk.
Child Protection (2020) This book is important reading and a timely reminder that professionals who ignore child abuse something that happens far too often in Australia collude with abusers. It contains comprehensive information for both parents and professionals on how to help children stay safe.
Child, Youth and Family Health: Strengthening Communities (2013) This title aims to: situate child and family health and nursing within the environmental, social, economic, and political contexts; Acknowledge diversity and difference as they influence child and family health and health care; critically analyse contemporary approaches to child and family health promotion; provide a practice development framework for improving effectiveness in child, youth and family nursing; and provide evaluative tools for assessing health-promoting programs.
Emotional Literacy for Adolescent Mental Health (2013) This book offers a diversity of non-verbal experiential exercises, skills, and interventions for working with adolescents who may be facing particular challenges at a complex time in their lives.
Youth Work & Youth Issues (2010) Looks at: youth participation, youth partnerships and the participation of marginalised young people; youth researching youth, health and wellbeing, young deaf people, suicide prevention, primary health care; mental health, services for homeless young people, and services for people with complex needs; sex and sexuality, including sexuality education, sexual health, masculinity, HIV/AIDS, sexual coercion, same sex attracted people; homelessness and accommodation; and alcohol and drugs.