Ø   To provide an opportunity to work together and network, to meet workers sharing this work in Government and non-Government agencies, to augment and extend the networks that enhance the services provided to the clients, and to show how real partnerships work at a local level.

Ø     To identify partnership opportunities that will enhance local service provision to young people at a local level.

Ø     To provide an opportunity to discuss new ideas, share resources and to become inspired and energised in our work.

Ø     To provide an opportunity to work together on issues in the field and come to a common understanding and develop strategies to address the issues.

Ø     To deliver training to staff that responds to the changing needs and issues in the field of youth work.

The Illawarra & South Coast Youth Services conference is organised bya volunteer organising committee. The committee is made upofpeople representing various organisations across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. Conference organising committee members are drawn from a diverse range of youth services and include professionals who are employed in youth specific: housing, health, community development, child protection and activity/ recreational organisations.

Committee members do not receive any special privileges for their roles on the organising committee, and invariably attend meetings as a role within their current paid employment and/or volunteer their time. Organising committee members pay full fees to attend the conference. The committee is open to anyone to join, however, numbers are capped at 10 members at any one time, and members must agree to a “Memorandum of Understanding”.

The conference organisation can be divided into four specific stages.  

Stage one:      

-                      Initial research of youth agencies to identify training needs as identified by workers in the local and regional youth organisations.

-           Collation of responses directs what training is to be organised.

-                      Submissions for sponsorship.

-                      Development of a budget and conference plan

Stage two:

-                      Organisation of keynote speakers and training workshops.

-                      Development of the conference day and evening program

-                      Organisation of venue

-                      Website organisation

-                      Delegate collection and collation records

-                      Invoicing and receipting.

Stage three:

-                      Overseeing staging of conference over a two day period.

-                      Assisting delegates, workshop trainers and conference venue staff

Stage four:

-                      Evaluation of conference

-                      Planning for next annual conference

Liam O’ Sullivan is employed as a Community Development officer with Shoalhaven Department of Housing. He has over 6 Years experience in the sector including 12 months with Shoalhaven City Council as the Youth Development Officer and  3 years as a Youth Worker in the Blue Mountains and 6 months as a researcher in the Kimberley region. Liam has a M.A App Sci (Social Ecology) is passionate about addressing social imbalance and is committed to empowering local communities to address issues and find solutions in a consultative process.

Berenice Murphy has Diplomas in Social Sciences (Community Welfare) & (Youth work) and has completed a B.A. and Graduate Diploma of Education. Berenice has worked in the community sector for over 16 years predominantly as youth worker, project coordinator and service manager with local youth agencies. Currently teaching in the community Services Section at Shellharbour TAFE she is committed to ensuring young people have access to professionally trained youth workers who will empower, advocate, educate, inform and support young people as they make decisions in their lives.

Nick Higgins is Manager of Youth Services & Development at Shellharbour City Council. He has Diplomas in Sport & Recreation & Management. Nick has been involved in youth & community work for 27 years and has been involved with the Youth Services Conference organisation since its inception. Nick has very strong links with other youth services coordinating the Shellharbour Youth Network. His main area of expertise with young people is performing arts being involved in over 15 youth productions. Nick is a very strong believer in young people’s links to the community through positive involvement and active participation.