Section 2.3            Using relevant approaches appropriately to the culture and background of the young person

With young people looking to gain their identity often in ways that society called counter cultural, the outcome is that there are many ways that young people are marginalised from our society. Marginalisation occurs when people do not have equal access to power and are excluded from some social processes.  They might be excluded because of their sexuality, race, mental health, their culture, their appearance. etc.

For this reason, workers need to be aware of and actively pursue basic principles of social justice in their work practices, in their organisational practices and for young people in the broader community. 

Advocacy

One of the ways of addressing the power imbalances for young people is advocacy. Historically, adults have governed, with young people having few opportunities to affect policies that apply to them.

Young people possess the skills necessary to make decisions about important matters in their lives and should be assisted in making these decisions. It is the opportunity to participate that young people often lack.  Their participation in matters that affect or interest them requires encouragement and support, to provide active involvement in the decision-making process.

For young people, advocacy can assist in:

• representing the interests of young people
• ensuring young people’s voices are heard
• ensuring young people are part of the decision-making processes
• helping young people make informed choices
• effecting social policy
• ensuring that you and the young person are working towards same/similar goals and outcomes.

One of the essential characteristics of advocacy processes includes supporting the young person’s view. Young people want their view supported, whatever it is. This might raise issues for you. However, it is essential for the advocate to ‘stick by’ the young person, to address any issues of risk to the young person.

Ideally, advocacy is NOT doing something for a young person, it is doing something with a young person. Young people can also be advocates for themselves and this is one of the desired outcomes of advocacy undertaken by workers.

Young people and participation

The idea of including peers in working with young people has recently received much attention. The World Health Organisation (WHO) proposes that the active involvement of young people is one of the most important principles of successful programs. Young people’s involvement in planning, implementing and evaluating programs ensures that activities address the real needs of young people.

This process also contributes to the development of those young people who are actively involved.

The Life Focus Package (Queensland Health, 1999) outlined a number of principles that provide a guide for anyone wishing to work with young people in a collaborative way. Some of these include:

• Young people should be actively involved in all levels of the program, from the identification of issues, solutions and strategies to implementation and evaluation.
• The interests of the young person should be central in this process. Their involvement should not be tokenistic or coercive.
• Young people should be free to choose their level of participation.
• Young people should be given the opportunity to develop their personal skills and experience.
• Decisions should be inclusive of all young people involved in the process.
• goals set should be achievable and young people should be made aware of any limitations of their decisions.
• Participation should encourage young people to see their role in the wider community.
• Via participation young people should be encouraged to see the influence that they have.
• Young people should be encouraged to see the role they have as advocate for other young people
• Participation should not only be challenging and educational, but it should also provide young people with a sense of fun and accomplishment.