ACT youth strategy no solution
By Kerryn Williams
CANBERRA — A July 24 forum organised by the Ministerial Youth Advisory Council to discuss a draft ACT Youth Strategy was attended by the Australian Youth Policy Action Coalition, the youth information service Pathways and the Migrant Resource Centre.
While the strategy contains many positive proposals, including increasing employment and education opportunities, the ACT government has made no commitment to plan for, fund or achieve them.
Youth unemployment is increasing in the ACT, and most young people who do find work are receiving wages below the poverty line. Young people also confront decreasing opportunities to study or get training. Despite this, since the election of the ACT Liberal minority government, more than a dozen youth services have been closed.
Most forum participants expressed impatience at more discussion of problems that have been identified time and time again, and frustration with the government's unwillingness to act to solve them.