Australia’s Homeless Youth Project 2008:
THE OASIS
What
A multidimensional two-year initiative tackling the spiralling incidence of youth homelessness in Australia.
Why
Since the last inquiry into the issue (The Burdekin Report, 1989), youth homelessness has doubled in Australia. The Caledonia Foundation considered this downward trajectory unacceptable in a nation as prosperous as Australia.
How
A three-pronged approach comprising:
- collation of evidence based research collated through the National Youth Commission Inquiry into Youth Homelessness, an independent community inquiry process that generated 80 recommendations for action;
- an observational documentary filmed over two years, highlighting the plight of homeless youth and screened nationally on the ABC; and
- an education and outreach initiative involving the donation of The Oasis DVD and study guide to every secondary school and selected community agencies in Australia.
Outcomes
See:
- The National Youth Commission’s report Australia’s Homeless Youth (400 pages) NYC Report PDF
- NYC report project summary (60 pages) NYC Summary Report PDF
- http://www.theoasismovie.com.au/
- 1.1 million viewers of The Oasis on ABC TV1 08/04/08
- An example of media attention generated after broadcast of the documentary View Reviews and around release of the NYC’s report Hootville’s May media summary PDF
- Philanthropy Australia Journal Doing Philanthropy Differently PDF (Winter 2008, edition 69). See pages 10, 16 and 26.
Impact
The impact of this project continues to unfold, in both tangible and intangible ways. The unprecedented media attention generated by this project has raised awareness of the issue across the Australian community and helped to place youth homelessness high on the Government’s agenda. The findings of the NYC feed into the Federal Government’s Green and White Paper process. The White paper, due for publication in September 2008 will set out some parameters for government policy on homelessness. Ultimately, it is hoped that there will be a national plan and strategy for a community-wide response to youth homelessness in order to significantly reduce and alleviate youth homelessness by 2030. There are indications of increased interest from members of the community in support of The Salvation Army and other youth homelessness charities.
Partner Statement by David Mackenzie, one of the four National Youth Commissioners:
“The combination of the National Youth Commission Inquiry and the making of The Oasis was a bold big picture effort by philanthropy to make a difference on an issue such as ‘youth homelessness’. The inquiry itself was a response to neglect by Government over a long period of time and a model of gathering evidence in a rigorous way while at the same time engaging with the community through open public hearings and media. It could not have happened with funding from The Caledonia Foundation nor could it have been accomplished as a government-funded project. The independence of the Inquiry was a core foundation.
On the other hand, the timing was partly accidental, but as 2007 unfolded, it became clearer that a major report being published in the months after a change in Government could serve to stimulate government policy action. The National Youth Commission did not release a statement during the Federal election campaign but briefed both sides of politics on the emerging findings and some of the policy thinking coming out of the Inquiry. The NYC report Australia’s Homeless Youth has attempted to set down some of the key parameters for a long-range effort on youth homelessness with the ultimate goal of eliminating youth homelessness as the problem it is today.”
- David Mackenzie, Swinburne University, Melbourne.
Links to further web resources:
