Launch of an empowering new Internet site for young people

30/6/99

Young Western Australians have been empowered by easier access to information affecting their lives with the launch of a new Internet site today.
Youth Minister Mike Board this morning launched the Youth Services Directory - an on-line facility designed to support young people in accessing information and services.
The Minister said young people, parents and youth agencies would now be able to access the whole range of appropriate services, using the directory as a first point of reference.
"Young people are constantly telling me that they want to take greater responsibility for their lives and become more involved in the delivery of youth services," Mr Board said.
"This is one answer to their plea. Knowledge is power and information from this site will empower young people to make better decisions about their lives and to better understand the options that they have to live more effectively."
The Youth Services Directory is located on the Office of Youth Affairs' dotU website http://www.dotu.wa.gov.au. For those without Internet access there are CD-ROM copies of the directory available.
The Minister said the project was the fulfilment of an election promise the Government had made to expand and develop the dotU website to provide more information to Western Australia's 365,000 young people.
The directory provides almost 1,300 listings, including 29 State and Federal Government agencies, which will be updated regularly. It will give young people, and those working with them, the most up-to-date information available on Government and non-Government services.
The information touches on all aspects of youth activities including health, education, employment, legal advice, crisis accommodation, recreation, emergency relief, financial assistance, help-lines and counselling.
The Office of Youth Affairs will regularly maintain the site so that the information available is up to date and as relevant as possible. The Minister said input was welcomed on further useful additions to the directory.
"We are committed to a two-way communication process with young people throughout the State, as the success of the Youth Advisory Council network has proven," Mr Board said.
"I welcome young people getting in touch with me, via the Hey Minister web-page on the dotU site or via my ministerial web-page, to let me know their ideas for updating or improving the directory."
There is also a handy credit card sized concertina booklet (or Z-card) that accompanies the directory, with emergency and crisis numbers. This "Eeezy Link" mini-booklet will be widely distributed to young people through schools, tertiary institutions and youth agencies.
Media contact: Jody Robb 9222 9211