what do YOU think about media reporting on illicit drugs?

What do YOU think about media reporting on illicit drugs?
If you’re aged 16-24 and live in Australia we want to hear YOUR views on media reporting on drug issues. Is it BALANCED – BIASED – MISLEADING – WHATEVER?
Option 1: Online survey
Visit http://www.drugmediasurvey.com/ and give us YOUR reactions to media stories. The survey takes only 10-20 mins. You could WIN a $200 MUSIC VOUCHER!
Option 2: Join a discussion on drugs in the media
Focus groups will be held in Surry Hills, Sydney, in January – February 2010 and will last 60-90 mins. You will RECEIVE $70 CASH for your time! To find out more contact Caitlin on (02) 9385 0132 or 0468 914 050.
http://www.drugmediasurvey.com/

This study is being conducted by DPMP, UNSW.
You don’t need to have tried drugs to participate.
Information supplied by Bridget Spicer, Research Officer
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
University of New South Wales
Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia
Tel: +61 2 9385 0481
Fax: +61 2 9385 0222

Do you need $$$'s to get an idea going?

The Youth Participation Grants Program is now running into its third year. Having been initially set up as a pilot program targeting only 4 regions in NSW in 2007, the grants program was expanded to cover the entire state last year.

Over the past few years, YAPA has been fortunate enough to help fund an extremely diverse range of projects which were all set up and run by young people. Some of the highlights from last year include the establishment of a youth space in the Corowa Shire, the opening of a late night café for young people in Dubbo, a series of dance workshops in Wollongong, a festival of plays in Fairfield, and a massive break dance competition in Bankstown.

These examples, plus all of the other projects that have been run so far, clearly demonstrate that when it comes to putting on fun and interesting stuff for young people, it's often young people themselves who know what's best. The possibilities for the types of projects that may be funded are limited only by the imagination of young people and their dedication to seeing it through.

So if you, or a group of young people that you know, have some great ideas for a project in your community, then why not check out our website:
http://www.yapa.org.au/yapa/ypp for more information about how you can apply for a grant.
The closing date for this year's funding round is 24 April 2009.
Information from the YAPA newsletter
posted by Louise McMorland, Youth Librarian, Manly Library

Have Your Say about GLOBAL POVERTY

The Australian Youth Forum wants to hear what you have to say about Global Poverty , follow this link to the site: http://www.youth.gov.au/ayf/Ideas/TopicsList.aspx

The Australian Youth Forum (AYF) is run by the Australian Government as a communication channel between the Government, young people (aged 15 – 24) and the organisations that work with, for and on behalf of young people. On the website are listed the current debates/topics, you have your say and when the topic closes the information is forwarded to the Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis MP.

The AYF would also like to thank those who have contributed to the discussion topics of 'Violence and Safety', 'Contributing to Democracy' and 'Human Rights'. These boards are now closed and all the ideas, views and opinions have been sent to the Minister. The Forum is all about young people engaging in on-going public debate inputing into policy and decision making on issues that affect your life now and in the future.
Louise McMorland, Youth Librarian, Manly

On-line Game for Youth Week

National Youth Week launches Don't Turn A Night Out Into A Nightmare online game.
The Don't Turn A Night Out Into A Nightmare online game was launched today as part of National Youth Week (March 28 – April 5 2009).
The game is fun, user-friendly and utilises cutting-edge digital technology to encourage young people to understand the repercussions of binge drinking.
Players negotiate their way through a typical Saturday night party and make important decisions about their drinking along the way. As their night evolves they will experience the direct onsequences of their decisions.
The game presents players with a variety of situations where alcohol, peer pressure and unacceptable behaviour can have dangerous social and physical consequences unless responsible decisions are made.
You can play the Don't Turn A Night Out Into A Nightmare online game at http://www.youthweek.com/
posted by Louise McMorland, Youth Librarian, Manly Library

ANZAC DAY

The Anzac day website can be found at http://www.anzacday.gov.au/.

The Premier's ANZAC Memorial Scholarship program has the purpose of ensuring that the Gallipoli story remains a living part of Australian history. Twelve scholarships have been awarded for 2009 to students from throughout NSW enrolled in government and non-government schools. The Premier and Mr Don Rowe, the President of the NSW Branch of the Returned and Services League, will accompany these students and two supervising teachers to Gallipoli to participate in ANZAC Day commemoration activities. The tour will be of approximately one week's duration and will take place in the second week of the 2009 autumn school vacation -

follow the 12 winning students Tom, Dragana, Lionel, John, Olivia, Kenneth, Lauren, Emmie, Ashlee, Ian, Aaron, and Tori at their blogs at: The ANZAC Memorial Scholarship Blog

The photo on this blog has recently been discovered and is an Anonymous photograph taken by a soldier in the trenches at Gallipoli. From the State Library of NSW. [PXB 250]

Louise McMorland, Youth Librarian, Manly

Australia and the Vietnam War

The Australia and the Vietnam War website is run by the Dept of Veteran Affairs and can be found at

http://vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au/ included are sections on topics such as, Australia enters the war, combat, Royal Australian Navy, Conscription, Royal Australian Air Force, War myths and Pulling Out.

Louise McMorland, Youth Librarian, Manly Library

World War II and Australia

http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/

is the Australian World War II site. It holds fabulous information and resources on the Declaration of War, various battles fought by Australians and Victory.

Special features include the Rats of Tobruk, Kokoda Track, Indigenous Service, war photographer Frank Hurley and posters/art work from war-time.

Louise McMorland, Youth Librarian, Manly