I volunteered at the Youth Summit by Barang Regional Alliance, on Darkinjung Country, on the Central Coast of New South Wales. It was a wonderful experience. I delivered the project plan for this event whilst on secondment with them late … Continue reading Volunteering
NT royal commission finds girls in youth detention subjected to ‘inappropriate sexualised behaviour’ Continue reading Girls in youth detention
A new study finds that there are wide discrepancies in the mental health outcomes of young people living in rural and urban areas.
Continue reading “Strengthening Youth Services”
“The secret message communicated to most young people today by the society around them is that they are not needed, that the society will run itself quite nicely until they – at some distant point in the future – will … Continue reading Social Science of Youth
Continue reading “Empathy in Youth Work”“Empathy is vital in understanding the needs and issues facing young people, and it is important to recognise the potential they have.”
Young Entrepreneurs Make a Change
Continue reading Young Entrepreneurs Make a Change
Social policy makers need ongoing research into the social behaviour of crowds. This is partly about urban planning, such as management of landscapes, improving infrastructure, decreasing traffic congestion and so on. Governments also need to understand crowd behaviour because local communities need to improve social service delivery.
Continue reading “Social Science of Crowds”
Australian social psychologist Hugh Mackay‘s new book The Good Life critiques the “outbreak” of positivity as a consumer industry. I share with you Mackay’s interview with Radio National as an example of public social science.
Continue reading “Critique of ‘The Happiness Industry’”
Societies make many negative assumptions about the types of young people who are forced into criminal activity, and why this might occur. Yet, as Sociology professor Randy Blazak points out, youth voices are often missing from these discussions. Professor Blazak talks about the problem of labelling at-risk youth “gang members.” He notes that not listening to these youth’s experiences can become a “self-fulling prophecy.” He explains: “People don’t get better when you focus on the bad stuff.” In sociology, we know this as labelling theory.
Continue reading “Including Youth in Community Consulting”
Social Science Insights 