This yearlong course includes both a taught and a fieldwork component. In Semester 1, the taught elements of the course will raise students’ consciousness of youth in various life, work, and developmental contexts such as:
- institutions (educational, correctional, residential, health), making distinctions among types of institutions and routes to institutionalisation
- community settings, including contexts related to community development, crime and violence; and faith-based activities
- the family context, including issues related to supporting parenting processes
- settings in which ethnic, racial and religious minorities are found, and
- setting in which youth with different abilities are found.
Students will identify and assess factors which impinge on youth development and learn skills to mitigate negative impacts and maximise positive ones in the various settings explored.
In Semester 2, students will be required to implement a short project with young people to address a primary concern raised in a context or setting of their choice. Students will use participatory methods to:
· research and identify concerns and problems in the chosen setting;
· develop an action plan;
· implement and evaluate their actions and interventions;
· report on the outcomes of the intervention and reflect on their role in the process.
Students who are employed in the youth sector may pursue a project related to their professional role, provided permission is provided from both the academic and work supervisors.
Competencies:
YDWCYP0594: Coordinate and assess delivery of services to youth with special needs
YDWCYP0614: Design, develop and support the implementation of community youth development programmes
YDWCYP0664: Coordinate the implementation of youth development work projects
YDWCYP0684: Develop and implement protocols and procedures to safeguard the welfare of young people in youth development work
YDWCYP0714: Manage the promotion of healthy lifestyles among youth
YDWCYP0734: Network with other stakeholders to ensure sustainable national parenting education strategy
