Coming up: Saturday 20th February - Pool Competition at 2pm and Table Tennis Competition at 4pm. Midnight Basketball at the Tamworth Basketball Stadium from 7-11pm – contact Marg Hombsch for more information on 6764 6612.

Youth Into Action: We are currently looking for contributors/volunteers for the youthintoaction.com.au website. The main tasks is to write articles for the resources section at www.youthintoaction.com.au/articles. This volunteer role will suit University graduates or school leavers who are looking at getting experience in journalism, social sciences or youth studies. This is a chance to place something on your resume! The topic of interest is youth employment, education and training. The topic will be up to you. Volunteers must have good writing skills, have good english and most of all be enthusiastic. Please email all submissions of interest to contact@youthintoaction.com.au. Youth into Action is a social enterprise, with the aim to reducing youth unemployment in Australia.

Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP): Youth Challenge Australia along with The Department of Families, Housing,Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) will be funding five Indigenous youth to participate in a six week community development project in Vanuatu this June 2010. The five Indigenous Australian youth will travel to Vanuatu to work with Ni-Vanuatu youth on a leadership, education and infrastructure project (such as building a school). Along with this, they will be able to participate in cross cultural events, leadership activities and  environmental projects with the Indigenous youth and communities of Vanuatu. This falls in line with Youth Challenge Australia’s aim to enhance the leadership, personal and professional skills development for all Australian youth through grass roots community development opportunities, both nationally and internationally. If you or someone you know would be interested in applying for a place in the program, please take a look at our website (www.youthchallenge.com.au) and feel free to pass this on to those who may be interested. Have a read about the YCA program, the IYLP Position Descriptions and/ or fill in the IYLP application form. Please be aware that applications for volunteer places close on the 25th of February at 5pm. The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program is also taking applications for a Field Staff position in conjunction with this project. The position description, selection criteria and the application form can be downloaded from the Employment section of the Youth Challenge Australia’s website at www.youthchallenge.org.au/field-staff.

Coming up: Saturday 20th February - Pool Competition 2pm and Table Tennis Competition 4pm. Midnight Basketball at the Tamworth Basketball Stadium form 7-11pm – contact Marg Hombsch for more information on 6764 6612.

Winners are Grinners! Damien Berry beat David Ifield in the final of the Youthie Pool Competition on Saturday 6th February. Damien also won the table tennis competition beating Jackson O’Brien in the final at the Youthie on Saturday 6th February. The Youthie/CDAT Touch Football team had a win beating The Longyard 7-6 on Wednesday 10th February.

Youth Into Action: We are currently looking for contributors/volunteers for the youthintoaction.com.au website. The main tasks is to write articles for the resources section at www.youthintoaction.com.au/articles. This volunteer role will suit University graduates or school leavers who are looking at getting experience in journalism, social sciences or youth studies. This is a chance to place something on your resume! The topic of interest is youth employment, education and training. The topic will be up to you. Volunteers must have good writing skills, have good english and most of all be enthusiastic. Please email all submissions of interest to contact@youthintoaction.com.au. Youth into Action is a social enterprise, with the aim to reducing youth unemployment in Australia.

IGNITE: If you'd like a free copy of the latest issue of IGNITE! the e-newsletter for enterprising young people, you can download it at www.frankteam.com.au/downloads/ignite_61_2010.pdf
or email anna@frankteam.com.au for a copy. IGNITE is FREE, monthly and packed with great opportunities and contacts to help young people turn their ideas, business, & career goals into a reality!

Coming up: Wednesday 10th February - Youthweek planning meeting at the Youthie from 4pm.
Saturday 13th February - Pool Competition 2pm and Table Tennis Competition 4pm.

Inquiry report about children and young people: The NSW Parliamentary Committee on Children and Young People recently released a Kids' Version of its inquiry report about children and young people 9-14 years. As the full inquiry report is about 350 pages long, the aim of the Kids' Version is to make the findings of the report more accessible to children and young people, particularly those aged 9-14. Feedback was sought from children and young people in this age group  about the 4 page Kids' Version while it was being developed. Two versions with the same text but different graphics were produced, as they appealed to different subgroups of children and young people. Copies of the Kids' Version can be viewed via the Committee's website at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/children.

Calling all writers, artists and creators: Culturalista Volume 5 is open for Submissions. Submissions close February 28th (no word limits, no restrictions). The theme for the next issue is hope and we welcome all creative responses and interpretations. Hope, it can be an amazing thing, but what does it mean to you? A great opportunity to get published, with prizes up for grabs! Culturalista is a collaborative project that publishes the diverse voices of Australia in a printed and online zine that reaches thousands of people throughout Australia. Submissions can include: paintings, photography, stories, or anything else that we can print! Previous issues of Culturalista are available at www.culturalista.org.au. Don’t blame the media become the media.
Contact info@culturalista.org.au for further details.

Coming up: Friday 5th February - Live bands at the Youthie featuring Romero’s, Red Letter Day and 4 Degrees Hotter. Entry cost is $6 and the event is from 7-10pm.
Saturday 6th February - Pool Competition 2pm and Table Tennis Competition 4pm.
Wednesday 10th February - Youthweek planning meeting at the Youthie from 4pm.

Calling all writers, artists and creators: Culturalista Volume 5 is open for Submissions. Submissions close February 28th (no word limits, no restrictions). The theme for the next issue is hope and we welcome all creative responses and interpretations. Hope, it can be an amazing thing, but what does it mean to you? A great opportunity to get published, with prizes up for grabs! Culturalista is a collaborative project that publishes the diverse voices of Australia in a printed and online zine that reaches thousands of people throughout Australia. Submissions can include: paintings, photography, stories, or anything else that we can print! Previous issues of Culturalista are available at www.culturalista.org.au. Don’t blame the media become the media.
Contact info@culturalista.org.au for further details.

Give up alcohol for a whole month? We double dare you! FebFast is a national health and charity campaign that dares Australians to banish the booze during February, the shortest month of the year. After the indulgent festive season, FebFast gives your liver a break while raising money for organisations that help young people with serious alcohol and drug problems. Giving up grog for 28 days can seem daunting to some, so in 2010 FebFast “double dares” you – sign up for FebFast with a friend, partner or family member and do it together. Funds raised from FebFast go to The Australian Drug Foundation, Youth Substance Abuse Service (VIC), Ted Noffs Foundation (NSW and ACT), Mater Hospital Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Service (QLD) and several community organisations. During February, FebFasters will receive a range of discounts and goodies including free Step into Life group fitness sessions, discounts at GNC LiveWell stores and Endota Spa, and concession price tickets at Moonlight Cinema. Kick-start your fundraising by paying the $25 ($10 concession) registration fee, then create your own page where your friends and family can donate online. All donations over $2 are tax deductable. While FebFast is a challenge, we don’t want to spoil the party – participants can purchase a date stamped ‘Time Out Certificate’ to celebrate a special occasion with alcohol. Take up the challenge and sign up today at www.febfast.com.au.

Think before you post: ‘Think before you post’ is the theme of Safer Internet Day 2010, the international cybersafety event supported in Australia by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Safer Internet Day is the annual event which aims to raise awareness about the safe and responsible use of online technologies by children and young people. It is organised by Insafe, an international network for internet safety.  The ACMA will hold a number of activities in the lead up to Safer Internet Day which takes place on 9 February 2010. For more information about Safer lnternet Day and the Cybersmart program or for copies of internet safety resources, please call the Cybersafety Contact Centre on 1800 BB0 176 or email cybersafety@acma,gov.au. The cybersmart website can be found at www.cybersmart.gov.au.

Youth Services Toolkit: In 2009 Communities NSW Sport and Recreation developed a free online resource called Youth Services Toolkit which is aimed at assisting community youth workers and sporting clubs. Our aim is to have this resource widely used throughout the community to help empower sporting clubs and volunteers. The website can be found at www.youthservicestoolkit.com.au.

Coming up: Wednesday 13th January – open 12 noon – 7pm. Jewellery making workshop 2pm. Art & Cavalcade Float Workshop at 3pm with Terry Allen. 3 on 3 Basketball Competition at 5pm – win a movie voucher.
Thursday 14th January – open 12 noon – 7pm. BBQ at 1pm. DJ & Dance Workshop 5pm.
Friday 15th January – open 12 noon – 9pm. PS2 on the BIG screen Competition at 3pm – win a movie voucher.
“Not a Country Music Event” at the Tamworth Skate Park from 5-9pm. Proudly supported by The Tamworth Community Drug Action Team (CDAT). Featuring live bands with competitions on the new freestyle BMX park and prizes up for grabs.
Saturday 16th January – open 12 – 7pm. BBQ at 1pm. Pool Competition from 2pm. Table Tennis Competition 4pm. Live bands at the Youthie featuring Crouching 80’s, Romeros and Red Letter Day. Entry cost is $6 and the event is from 7-10pm.
Monday 18th January - Annual Cultural Showcase official opening at 2pm featuring Loren Ryan, Kelsey Strasek, Goori Knox and much more!
Tuesday 19th January - Annual Cultural Showcase all day featuring performances and workshops by the Gomeroi Dancers, Johnny Huckle and Buddy Knox. See www.culturalshowcase.info for the full details.

Christmas School Holiday Program: The Christmas School Holiday Program for the Tamworth Youth Centre is now available for viewing and downloading on our website at www.theyouthie.org/holidays. Come along and get involved! Remember to sign up for the monthly Youthie newsletter “The Sounding Board” and receive regular updates for activities and events organised by the Tamworth Regional Council Youth Centre.

General assembly proclaims 2010 international year of youth, to encourage dialogue, understanding across generations: In efforts to highlight their contribution to society and help address the challenges they face, the United Nations is dedicating a year to young people by proclaiming 2010 the International Year of Youth, commencing on next 12 August. Under the theme “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”, the Year will aim at encouraging dialogue and understanding across generations. It will promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and freedoms, as well as solidarity. It will also aim to encourage young people to dedicate themselves to achieving the objectives of progress and development, including the Millennium Development Goals. Several international events are already scheduled throughout the year. They include the Fifth World Youth Congress, to be held from 31 July to 13 August 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey, and the World Conference for Youth, in Mexico City from 24 to 27 August. Both gatherings will focus on youth and sustainable development in the context of the Millennium Development Goals. The inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore (14-26 August), will aim at inspiring youth around the world to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. For further information, contact Nicola Shepherd, United Nations Programme on Youth, youth@un.org or visit http://www.un.org/youth.

Youth with attitude wanted: Are you an opinionated young person? Tell the world in unleash magazine! Not a top English student? Doesn't matter. You can write in your own style (correct spelling optional) – anything from 500 words to just 5 words. Or why not draw what you want to say. Got a camera? Photograph your world and add some captions. Then just send it in. unleash magazine is where young people under 20 years get to say (write/draw/photograph) what they think. All published contributions get a $50 voucher and a free unleash subscription. www.yapa.org.au/yapa/unleash/index.php. Email unleash@yapa.org.au or ring Jess at YAPA on (02) 9281 5522 ext. 7 to chat about your ideas.

Photo 1: From left, Tyson, Brandon and Tyriil show off the movie vouchers theywon in the 3 on 3 basketball competition at the Youthie on Wednesday 6th January.

Coming up: Monday 11th January – open 12 noon – 7pm. Movies on the big screen all day. Art & Cavalcade Float Workshop at 3pm with Terry Allen. Hip hop workshop using Reason/Record 4pm.
Tuesday 12th January – open 12 noon – 7pm. BBQ at 1pm. Art & Cavalcade Float Workshop at 3pm with Terry Allen. Karaoke Competition 4pm – win a movie voucher.
Wednesday 13th January – open 12 noon – 7pm. Jewellery making workshop 2pm. Art & Cavalcade Float Workshop at 3pm with Terry Allen. 3 on 3 Basketball Competition at 5pm – win a movie voucher.
Thursday 14th January – open 12 noon – 7pm. BBQ at 1pm. DJ & Dance Workshop 5pm.
Friday 15th January – open 12 noon – 9pm. PS2 on the BIG screen Competition at 3pm – win a movie voucher.
“Not a Country Music Event” at the Tamworth Skate Park from 5-9pm. Proudly supported by The Tamworth Community Drug Action Team (CDAT). Featuring live bands with competitions on the new freestyle BMX park and prizes up for grabs.
Saturday 16th January – open 12 – 7pm. BBQ at 1pm. Pool Competition from 2pm. Table Tennis Competition 4pm.

Winners are grinners: A huge congratulations goes out to Jarryd Knox who took out the Quinella by winning both the 2009 Youthie Pool Championship and the 2009 Youthie Table Tennis Championship.

Christmas School Holiday Program: The Christmas School Holiday Program for the Tamworth Youth Centre is now available for viewing and downloading on our website at www.theyouthie.org/ holidays. Come along and get involved! Remember to sign up for the monthly Youthie newsletter “The Sounding Board” and receive regular updates for activities and events organised by the Tamworth Regional Council Youth Centre.

Earn or Learn: As of 1 January 2010, young people must stay at school until they complete Year 10, and they will be required to participate in approved education, training or employment up until the age of 17 years. The Youth Action Policy Association of NSW (YAPA) has prepared a brief overview of the proposed changes to the education, training and employment requirements for young people. This information is based on Centrelink and Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) sources, and a recent meeting between YAPA, the Youth Justice Coalition (YJC), and staff from the NSW Department of Education on the education, training and employment requirements for young people. This overview can be accessed at www.yapa.org.au/earnlearn.php.

Who pushes your buttons? If you have sexual feelings for people of the same sex, whether or not you have ever acted on those feelings, the La Trobe University are interested in finding out about you, your family and friends, school, relationships, how people treat you, sexual health and the fun things about your life. The results of this research will be used to improve education and services and focus more attention on how to make Australia a more inclusive place regarding sexual diversity. This is the 3rd national Writing Themselves In questionnaire. It has been put together by a team of researchers from the Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society (La Trobe University), Melbourne, with the help of a number of young people and youth workers from a range of different organisations. It is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging and Vic Health. Any questions regarding this project may be directed to Dr Lynne Hillier at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society at La Trobe University, ph: (03) 9285 5360 or email: l.hillier@latrobe.edu.au. This survey will take about 20 minutes to complete and is anonymous. This means there will be no information which can identify you on any of the publications which come out of the research, including perhaps, a collection of your stories. The survey can be accessed at www.wti3.org.au.

Calling artists under 20 years old: If you get unleash magazine (see www.yapa.org.au/yapa/unleash/index.php) you will have seen the fantastic young people's artwork featured on its cover. Where do we find it? Young people just send it in and we have to choose what to use! The artwork can be a drawing, a painting, aerosol art or photographic - anything that you can send in as a JPEG file. We cannot pay artists for using their work. However the selected artist can have their details listed inside - eg. name, website, email etc - whatever details they wish. We also give them a $50 gift voucher. Right now we are looking for more art – so feel free to send in artwork, by artists aged under 20, to Jess at unleash@yapa.org.au.

Photo 1: Zak (on left) beat Jesse in the final of the Youthie Pool Competition on Saturday 12th December.

Coming up: Friday 18th December: Disco at Nundle Pool 6-9pm - contact 6769 3111 for full details.
Saturday 19th December: Pool Competition 2pm and Table Tennis Competition 4pm.
Live bands at the Youthie featuring I Escape, Deception Prevails, Your Name On A Toe Tag and The Spontaneous Kevin Costner. Entry cost is $6 and the event is from 6-10pm.
Monday 21st December: BBQ at 1.30pm and movies on the big screen all day.
Tuesday 22nd December: BBQ at 1.30pm and Xbox 360 on the BIG screen Competition at 3pm – win a movie voucher.
Wednesday 23rd December: BBQ at 1.30pm, doubles Table tennis Competition at 3pm – win a movie voucher and 3 on 3 Basketball Competition at 7pm – win a movie voucher.
Thursday 24th December: BBQ at 1.30pm and doubles Pool Competition at 2pm – win a movie voucher.
Please be aware that the Youth Centre will be closed Friday 25-12-09 to Monday 4-1-10 Inclusive.

Winners are grinners: Zak Skinner beat Jesse Raschke in the final of the pool competition on Saturday 12th December. Jarryd Knox continues to lead the 2009 Pool Championship with 140 points ahead of Googoorewan Knox with 32 points, and Shaquille Ervine with 16 points. Kyle Livermore beat Braden Bennett in the final of the Table Tennis competition on Saturday 12th December. Jarryd Knox leads the Table Tennis Championship with 111 points ahead of David Ifield on 35 points and Shaquille Ervine in 3rd Place with 28 points.

Christmas School Holiday Program: The Christmas School Holiday Program for the Tamworth Youth Centre is now available for viewing and downloading on our website at www.theyouthie.org/holidays. Come along and get involved! Remember to sign up for the monthly Youthie newsletter “The Sounding Board” and receive regular updates for activities and events organised by the Tamworth Regional Council Youth Centre.

Merry Christmas: The Tamworth Youth Centre wishes all who have contributed to a great year at the Youthie a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We look forward to a bigger and better 2010.

Coming up: Wednesday 16th December: Annual Cultural Showcase planning meeting at the Youthie at 2pm.
Friday 18th December: Disco at Nundle Pool 6-9pm - contact 6769 3111 for full details.
Saturday 19th December: Pool Competition 2pm and Table Tennis Competition 4pm.
Live bands at the Youthie featuring I Escape, Deception Prevails, Your Name on a Toe Tag and The Spontaneous Kevin Costner. 6-10pm, entry cost is $6.

Smart Online Safe Offline? SMART ONLINE SAFE OFFLINE (SOSO) is a unique, non-profit social initiative bringing together the community and the digital media industry as partners to deliver online campaigns, aimed at educating young internet users about the dangers in their online environment. The SOSO initiative raises awareness and educates kids about how to be smart online in a relevant and engaging way, operating within the online space. SOSO campaigns will target online threats such as predation, grooming, cyber bullying and identity theft. Visit the website at www.soso.org.au.

Christmas School Holiday Program: Do you have any ideas for the activities and events the Tamworth Youth Centre can hold for the 2009/10 Christmas School Holidays? If so, visit the forum’s at www.theyouthie.org/forum and put your ideas up for discussion. The next Tamworth Youth Advisory Committee meeting will be taking place on Thursday 19th November at 4pm at the Youthie and the program for the Christmas Holidays will be the main agenda item. Come along and get involved! Remember to sign up for the monthly Youthie newsletter “The Sounding Board” and receive regular updates for activities and events organised by the Tamworth Regional Council Youth Centre.