Home| Idx | Terms Ref | Exc Sum | Recommendations | Chp 1 | Chp 2 | Chp 3 | Chp 4 | Chp 5 | Apx | Disclaimer | Copyright VOLUNTEERING AND UNPAID WORK PLACEMENTS AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN NSW COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Cg CHP 2 - BEST PRACTICE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEERING C2 Chapter Two - Volunteering among young people Cd Introduction Ce Existing government measures to promote and support volunteering among young people Cf Existing measures by volunteer organisations and other agencies to promote and support volunteering among young people 1 Committee Comment - Recommendation 1 Cg Best practice in other jurisdictions to support and promote safe and beneficial volunteering opportunities for young people THIS PAGE 1 Committee Comment BEST PRACTICE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE SAFE AND BENEFICIAL VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 2.20 NSW Education and Communities provided evidence about measures to promote volunteering in other jurisdictions, including in the USA, where service-learning is widely utilised in schools across the country. The evidence indicated that service-learning yields significant positive impacts on students’ academic engagement, civic engagement and social-emotional development, and is strongly linked to academic engagement and school attendance. The Department also submitted that Germany and other EU countries have replaced compulsory military service with voluntary community action.19 2.21 The Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) made reference to the United Kingdom’s ‘Step up to Serve’ campaign, which is billed as a national program ‘to inspire a generation of young people’ through increasing the quality, quantity and frequency of social action for all young people aged between 10 and 20. In addition, the OCG noted that in Scotland and Canada ‘social action’ is established in school curriculums to support high levels of student engagement with volunteering. For example, in Ontario high school students must complete 40 hours of service to graduate.20 2.22 The OCG also stated that a number of organisations in the UK and Australia have set up youth-friendly websites to link young people with a diverse range of projects to engage with as volunteers. Further, the OCG considered that organisations, such as vInspired in the UK, also provide good models for meaningful engagement of young people as volunteers, with a stepped approach which leads to work.21 Committee comment 2.23 The Committee notes the best practice in other jurisdictions to promote and support volunteering among young people, in particular the UK Government’s ‘Step up to Serve’ program. 2.24 The Committee suggests that NSW Education and Communities and other relevant agencies note the best practice in other jurisdictions when developing local policies and programs to promote and support young peoples’ volunteering. 19 Submission 13, NSW Education and Communities, p. 6. 20 Office of the Children’s Guardian, Response to additional questions, 1 October 2014, question 1, p. 1. 21 Office of the Children’s Guardian, Response to additional questions, 1 October 2014, question 1, p. 2. This is an example of how all Committee Information like Agendas, Minutes and Reports can be "On-line" with the RUBAC TM Electronic Committee Information Management [ECIM] Process and provide Committee Metrics including Participation and Contribution eCredits Home | Idx | Terms Ref | Exc Sum | Recommendations | Chp 1 | Chp 2 | Chp 3 | Chp 4 | Chp 5 | Apx | Disclaimer | Copyright