South Australia’s Young People: Emerging Issues and Priorities

The findings from this project will inform the development of YouthCONNECT, the new strategic policy framework for South Australia that will replace South Australia’s Youth Action Plan (2005–2007).
YouthCONNECT aims to foster a collaborative and holistic approach between government agencies, the community and young people to address issues affecting young South Australians. Recognizing that issues affecting young people today are multidimensional and complex in both their causes and their consequences, the new policy framework has sought to combine an integrated approach and innovative multidisciplinary based solutions.
In addition the Office for Youth has acknowledged the significance of consultation in developing the new framework based on the idea that many issues faced by young people can only be comprehensively addressed when all the relevant stakeholders work together to develop a solution. Accordingly, the Office for Youth undertook extensive consultation with various stakeholders in the youth sector that was focused on the opportunities and barriers faced by young people in the state. The consultation involved eight government departments, 13 local councils and seven community organisations.