The Wellspring

Oxfam Australia is an Australian, independent, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisation. They are currently recruiting for a Youth Engagement Program Officer.

The position is a full-time 12 month contract based in Sydney. Requests to undertake duties part-time will be favourably considered. The salary is $48,360 pro rata plus benefits and access to salary packaging.

Oxfam is looking for an individual with a “capacity to engage and inspire young people to promote sustainable social change. You will have:

• A record of success implementing youth engagement projects and/or activities
• Knowledge of current youth issues and trends
• Experience with a range of tools and techniques to engage youth
• Awareness of social justice and international development issues”

Oxfam Australia is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

For further information and an application form, see http://www.oxfam.org.au/jobs/ or contact Claire Busse via claireb@oxfam.org.au or 03 9289 9441.

Applications close 26 March, 2007.

For further information on other Oxfam Australia jobs, see http://www.oxfam.org.au/getactive/work/jobs/index.html.

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia is the Australian national peak body that promotes multiculturalism, community harmony, unity, and social justice.

The 2007 FECCA Congress will be held at the Wrest Point Casino in Hobart, Tasmania from 30 - 31 July. The theme for the Congress is ‘Australian Cultural and Social Diversity Within A Global Context’, which will be explored through plenary addresses, panel discussions, workshops and presentations.

The Keynote Address will be delivered by Jane Elliott, American teacher and anti-racism activist famous for her controversial and startlign ‘Blue Eyes / Brown Eyes’ diversity exercise that exposes prejudice and bigotry.

Early bird registration for students and concession card holders is $200, and closes 18 May, 2007.

For more information and to download a registration form, visit http://fecca.fims.com.au/congress/Home.cfm.

Biofutures is a week long residential forum for year 11 and 12 students, held annually in July. The aim of Biofutures is to inspire young Australians towards careers developing cutting edge technologies to solve the world’s biggest health problems.

Biofutures is currently looking for an enthusiastic person with an interest in project or event management to chair a volunteer committee of committed individuals to organise Biofutures 2007.

Biofutures is organised by a committee of volunteers, most of which are tertiary students in the fields of biomedical engineering, biotechnology and health sciences. A large majority of committee members over the last few years were themselves Biofutures students. With Biofutures now entering its 8th year, there is a wealth of experience and knowledge to draw on for this year’s committee. The Chair of the committee will be responsible for:

• Committee selection
• Leading, and giving direction to the committee
• Task delegation and project management
• Coordinating sponsorship acquisition
• Liaising with key stakeholders- Sponsors, Universities and Industry Bodies
• Public face of Biofutures at special events such as the Keynote Speech, and other media
  events

Biofutures is looking for someone who:

• Is passionate, and enthusiastic about making a difference!
• Is passionate about leading a dedicated, enthusiastic team
• Has an interest (but not necessarily a background) in world health issues, bioethics,
  biosciences or Australian health equality
• Experience (volunteer or professional) in project management, team management or events management is desirable
• Believes in the aims of Biofutures!

For more information or to express interest in getting involved with any of the Biofutures 2007 committee positions, contact Philip Terrill at at biofutures@gmail.com or mobile: 0417 516 915 before Friday, 2 March, 2007.

Changin’ It, Lovin’ It is YWCA Australia’s national forum for young women aged 18-30, to be held in Melbourne from 13 - 14 April, 2007.

The conference offers young women the opportunity to develop their professional and personal skills, discuss issues specific to young women and get involved in the community through policy and advocacy initiatives at both the local and national level.

The program includes activities ranging from panel discussions focusing on contemporary issues for young women to hands on workshops on topics including campaigning, business management, environmental strategies, politics and careers. All workshops will be led by successful women in their field.

For more information, see http://www.ywca.org.au/young_womens_conference.php.

Insight is a weekly program on SBS TV that involves 50 people in a studio audience in a discussion of a current affairs issue for an hour. They are currently looking for young people to participate in a program about P-plate laws across the nation.

The program is keen to look at the approaches taken in each Australian state and territory and wants to ask young Australians aged 16-21 whether they think rules like passenger limits and curfews are fair and effective. The program is looking for a diverse group of young people of different ages and backgrounds, including those from regional centres as well as cities.

Filming will be completed in Sydney on the evening of Monday, 19 March, with interstate guests to be flown in for the recording.

For more information or to volunteer to be involved, email Associate Producer Christine El-Khoury directly at christine.elkhoury@sbs.com.au. Be sure to tell her a bit about yourself and your views on the subject.

Young Australians aged 16 - 23 can now apply to sail the tall ship Young Endeavour for a youth training program in 2007. Voyages are for 11-days with departures from Townsville, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Bundaberg, Brisbane, Southport, Newcastle, Hobart, Devonport, Adelaide, Port Lincoln and Sydney, available from June – October 2007. Participants do not require any sailing experience.

Over the course of a voyage, 24 youth crew learn from a professional Royal Australian Navy crew all aspects of sailing a 44-metre, square-rigged tall ship on the open sea including climbing the 30m mast, setting sails, navigating, keeping watch and taking the helm.

A voyage on the Young Endeavour develops skills in teamwork, communication, leadership and motivation while getting the opportunity to explore wilderness regions and remote coastlines.

Applicants need to be Australian citizens or permanent residents, aged 16 - 23 on the day of departure of the voyage, able to swim 50 metres and be in good health. Youth Crew members are selected via a ballot.

11 day voyages cost $1,495 with financial assistance available to low-income applicants – conditions apply. Travel assistance is available to residents of WA and NT.

For more information and to apply, see http://www.youngendeavour.gov.au/. You can also freecall 1800 020 444 for an application form.

Applications close 1 April, 2007.

The Future Sustainability Leaders Program is a Melbourne-based year-long program that aims to equip environmentally-aware young people with the political skills and knowledge required to become leaders.

In 2007 the program will run between May and December, with weekly skills and project workshops, a weekend project planning session in early June and eight day residential retreat in mid-July. Most of the cost of participation is sponsored, with delegates required to contribute $500 to accommodation and food at the retreat.

The next intake of the Future Sustainability Leaders program is happening now, and they are looking for people with the passion and energy to take the fight for a better future into the boardrooms and conference chambers of the world.

For more information, see their website at http://www.fel.monash.edu.au/, or talk to past participants at their Sustainable Living Festival stall at Federation Square in Melbourne from 16th-18th February, 2007. Details of further information sessions will be published on their website soon. Details of how to apply can be found at http://www.fel.monash.edu.au/apply.shtml.

Applications close 30 March, 2007.

Tania Major (Queensland) has been named 2007 Young Australian of the Year. The official website has still to be fully updated, but here is what it says about about Tania:

‘Tania Major came to public attention three years ago as the youngest person ever elected to ATSIC. She broke the ice of public discussion about a number of issues concerning the welfare of young Indigenous people when she was featured on national television programs such as Four Corners and 60 Minutes. She made some people feel very uncomfortable, and was happy to do so. She spoke directly and very publicly to the prime minister and other opinion leaders about the appalling secrets of domestic violence in her community in the belief that the best way to represent her people was to tell the truth. Tania is the only person within her community to complete a university degree; indeed, she’s the only one to have successfully completed Year 12. Tania has become a role model not only for Indigenous youth, but also for all young Australian’s.’