Queensland Youth Reference Group Information and Nomination Form2017

The Queensland Youth Reference Group provides young Queenslanders with opportunities to influence and inform decisions that affect their lives.

The group will:

  • help to develop a new Youth Charter
  • work out how we can get better at engaging with young people
  • advise the Queensland Youth Strategy Senior Officers Group that oversees the implementation of the strategy, coordinates across government, and makes sure we are working in line with the Queensland Youth Charter.

Who will be in the Queensland Youth Reference Group

The group will consist of 12 members who represent and advance the collective interests of young people aged 12 to 25 years. The group will be made up of 8 youth representatives and 4 sector representatives.

Eligibility

Youth representatives

Individual young people nominating to join the group must:

  • be between the ages of 12 and 25 years
  • have parental consent to nominate if under 18
  • reside in Queensland.

Representatives will be selected based on having the following attributes:

  • a community focus
  • connected to community
  • good communicator
  • considers others
  • resourceful
  • insightful.

We also encourage young people identifying as: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer; culturally and/or linguistically diverse; living with disability; being a carer; or having had contact with Child Safety.

Sector representatives

Sector representatives must:

  • have expertise in relation to one of the building blocks as outlined in the Queensland Youth Strategy – visit for more information
  • be able to represent other sector stakeholders across the state about the needs of young people with whom they engage
  • work with and/or advocate for the needs of young people aged 12 to 25 years
  • have consent from their organisation to nominate.

Sector representatives will be drawn from the business community, academia or human service peak bodies, and represent one of the 4 building blocks of the Queensland Youth Strategy:

  1. Supporting our most vulnerable young people
  2. Housing
  3. Healthy futures
  4. Education into employment.

Each representative must have the capacity to engage and network with significant groups of young people and other sector organisations.

How to apply

We are seeking Expressions of Interest for participation on the group for up to 2 years.

Youth representatives

To nominate for the Queensland Youth Reference Group:

  • complete the nomination form
  • attach a concise Statement of Experience (2 pages maximum, PDF or Word format) outlining the skills, knowledge and experience you would bring to the role in the following areas, for example:
    - your lived experience and capacity to represent young people who have similar backgrounds or identity
    - your experience in a youth/human services organisation or association
    - your involvement in community initiatives
    - your engagement in community/social networks with young people.
  • attach a resume (optional, 2 pages maximum in PDF or Word format)
  • provide contact details of 2 referees who have a thorough knowledge of your capacity to represent the views of young people and/or the youth sector and your involvement in the community as relevant.

Sector representatives

To nominate for the Youth Reference Group:

  • complete the nomination form
  • attach a concise Statement of Experience (2 pages maximum, PDF or Word format) outlining the skills, knowledge and experience you would bring to the role relating to at least 1 of the 4 key building blocks of the Queensland Youth Strategy, as well as:
    - your experience in a youth/human service organisation or association
    - your involvement in community initiatives or projects to advance the interests of young people (12 to 25 years) in the context of a Queensland Youth Strategy building block
    - your engagement in community/social networks with young people
  • provide contact details of 2 referees who have a thorough knowledge of your capacity to represent the views of young people and/or the youth sector and your involvement in the community as relevant.

How to submit your offline application

You can submit your offline application by email or post.

Email:

Post:
Community Engagement
RE: Queensland Youth Reference Group
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
GPO Box 806
Brisbane Qld 4001

Please note that you will need to provide proof of identity and a personally signed copy of your nomination form if your application issuccessful.

Nominations close at midnight on 4 June 2017.

Nominations will be assessed by an independent panel and recommendations provided to the Minister for Youth for endorsement. All successful and unsuccessful nominees will be advised in writing.

Youth Reference Group responsibilities

Membership details

Queensland Youth Reference Group members:

  • will be appointed for a single term of either 12 or 24 months (to be decided by the Minister for Youth)
  • may withdraw at any time by notifying the Secretariat with 4 weeks’ notice
  • will not be remunerated for attendance at meetings (however reasonable out-of-pocket travel and accommodation expenses will be paid to members)
  • must perform their role consistent with thePublic Service Code of Conduct
  • will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to the first meeting due to the nature of some items the group may deal with.

Meeting schedule

The group will formally meet 4 times each year, with additional requests for out-of-session consultations and engagement and/or special interest working groups likely.

Meeting attendance

Meetings will be co-chaired by a rotating young member of the group and a nominated representative from the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services (nominated by the Minister for Youth and appointed for 12 months).

The rotation of the young members as chair will be on a 6 month cycle, offering them a professional development opportunity.

Meeting outcomes

A public summary of the meeting outcomes will be circulated after each meeting outlining developments and achievements. As non-government members of the Queensland Youth Reference Group do not represent the Queensland Government, they are not permitted to make official, public comments on behalf of the group or the government.

Further information

For further information regarding the Queensland Youth Reference Group’s role or nomination process, please phone (07) 3037 2992 or email

Nomination form – Young representative

This form is to be completed by all applicants to be a young person representativeto provide advice to the department regarding your possible appointment to the QueenslandYouth Reference Group for up to a24 monthterm.

Privacy Statement:
The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services is collecting your personal information in this form for the purposes of administering the Queensland Youth Reference Grouprecruitment process, and to assess your suitability for nomination or appointment to the group. If you are a recommended candidate, your personal information will be provided to the Minister for approval and may be disclosed to the Queensland Police Service for the purpose of conducting a criminal history check. Your personal information will be handled in accordance with theInformation Privacy Act 2009.
  1. Personal information: To allow our office to communicate with you.

Salutation: Mr Mrs Ms Miss Other
Family name / Given name(s) / Preferred name
Residential address(if applicable)
Suburb / State / Postcode
QLD
Postal address (if different from above)
Suburb / State / Postcode
Email address
Telephone (daytime) / Mobile
  1. Do you identify as belonging to any of the following?(you may select more than one)

Aboriginal
Torres Strait Islander
Living with a disability
Person with carer responsibilities / Culturally and linguistically diverse background
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer
Living in a regional, rural or remote area
  1. Referee details

1st Referee’s name / Relationship / Contact number / Email address
2nd Referee’s name / Relationship / Contact number / Email address
  1. Attachments
Please attach the following to your nomination:
-Your resume (optional, 2 pages maximum, in Word or PDF format)
-Your Statement of Experience (required, 2 pages maximum, in Word or PDF format)
  1. Parental Consent (only required for people under 18 years old)

I give my consent for ______to participate in the Queensland Youth Reference Group meetings and any ad hoc working group meetings and to travel to and from the event, as required.

Every effort will be made to ensure a young person’s safety and wellbeing as part of participation in the Queensland Youth Reference Group. I acknowledge and understand that the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services accept no responsibility for the supervision of the applicant during the Youth Reference Group meeting times or any working group meetings.

Name: ______

Relationship to applicant ______

Signature: ______

Date: / /2017

  1. Declaration

I,
[insert your full name]

verify, confirm and declare that:

I consent to provide the above information in respect to myself and understand that there is no legal obligation for me to do so.

I declare that the personal information provided by me in this form is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge.

I understand that I may be asked to consent to a criminal history check being undertaken in respect of myself and that the results of that check may be taken into account by the Queensland Government in assessing my suitability for appointment.

I wish to be a member of the Youth Reference Group for up to a 24 month term.

I will endeavour to attend all scheduled reference group meetings.

I will perform my role consistent with the Public Service Code of Conduct – available at

Signature / Date

Please forward your completed nomination using one of the following options:

Email:

Post:
Community Engagement
RE: Queensland Youth Reference Group
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
GPO Box 806
Brisbane Qld 4001

Please note that you will need to provide proof of identity and a personally signed copy of your nomination form if your application is accepted.

Nominations close at midnight on 4 June 2017.

Nomination form – Sector representatives

This form is to be completed by all applicants to be a youth sector representative to provide advice to the department regarding your possible appointment to the Queensland Youth Reference Group for up to a24 month term.

Privacy Statement:
The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services is collecting your personal information in this form for the purposes of administering the Queensland Youth Reference Grouprecruitment process, and to assess your suitability for nomination or appointment to the group. If you are a recommended candidate, your personal information will be provided to the Minister for approval and may be disclosed to the Queensland Police Service for the purpose of conducting a criminal history check. Your personal information will be handled in accordance with theInformation Privacy Act 2009.
  1. Personal information: To allow our office to communicate with you.

Salutation: Mr Mrs Ms Miss Other
Family name / Given name(s) / Preferred name
Residential address (if applicable)
Suburb / State / Postcode
QLD
Postal address (if different from above)
Suburb / State / Postcode
Email address
Telephone (daytime) / Mobile
  1. Do you identify as belonging to any of the following? (choose all that apply)

Aboriginal
Torres Strait Islander
Living with a disability
Person with carer responsibilities / Culturally and linguistically diverse background
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer
Living in a regional, rural or remote area
  1. Which Queensland Youth Strategy building block are you best able to represent? (you may select more than one)

Supporting vulnerable young people
Housing
Healthy futures
Education into employment
  1. Referee details

1st Referee’s name / Relationship / Contact number / Email address
2nd Referee’s name / Relationship / Contact number / Email address
  1. Attachments
Please attach the following to your application:
-Your Statement of Experience (required, 2 pages maximum, in Word or PDF format)
  1. Employment details
Please provide signed approval for your participation on the Queensland Youth Reference Groupfrom your organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, Board Chairperson or similar.
I give my approval for this nominee’s participation on the Youth Reference Group for up to a 24 month term if appointed:
Name / Position held / Name of organisation
Signature / Date / Telephone number / Email address
  1. Declaration

I,
[insert your full name]

verify, confirm and declare that:

I consent to provide the above information in respect to myself and understand that there is no legal obligation for me to do so.

I declare that the personal information provided by me in this form is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge.

I understand that I may be asked to consent to a criminal history check being undertaken in respect of myself and that the results of that check may be taken into account by the Queensland Government in assessing my suitability for appointment.

I wish to be a member of the Youth Reference Group for up to a 24 month term.

I will endeavour to attend all scheduled reference group meetings.

I will perform my role consistent with the Public Service Code of Conduct – available at

Signature / Date

Please forward your completed nomination using one of the following options:

Email:

Post:
Community Engagement
RE: Queensland Youth Reference Group
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
GPO Box 806
Brisbane Qld 4001

Please note that you will need to provide proof of identity and a personally signed copy of your nomination form if your application is accepted.

Nominations close at midnight on 4 June 2017.

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