Defending youth development

With 24,500 12 to 19-year-olds participating in Australian Defence Force Cadets every year, the Department of Defence takes youth development seriously. Its recently launched Generic Youth Development Framework, produced by the Melbourne Graduate School of Education’s Youth Research Centre, demonstrates the extent of this commitment.

Director of Defence Youth Strategies, Ross Hicks, explains the need for the framework is twofold.

“We needed this framework for pragmatic reasons, first and foremost,” he says. “With so many young people across Australia involved in Defence’s cadet programs, we need to be able to define the value of these activities in a youth development sense. This will help reinforce cadets as a youth development organisation, not a quasi-military one, which is a common misconception.”

The generic framework brings together over 400 reports and best practice from around the world and can be used by any community-based organisation offering youth development programs to 12 to 19-year-olds, especially if staffed by volunteers. For Mr Hicks it was important to develop a framework that can be widely used, as a basis for developing a Cadet-specific framework.

“Producing this resource really illustrates our commitment and helps earn us a seat at the youth development table,” he says. “I’ve been really pleased with the number of colleagues who have shown interest in receiving a copy; organisations like Scouts, Guides, Duke of Edinburgh, The Smith Family, Oxfam and Wesley Mission.”

Led by Professor Johanna Wyn and Dr Ani Wierenga, researchers at the Youth Research Centre are already working on the next stage of the project – producing a Cadet Youth Development Framework. Extensive survey and focus group work has already taken place at cadet camps, and the framework is anticipated for early next year.

Professor Wyn said she has been surprised and impressed by the data the team has gathered so far.

“We are finding that young people speak very highly of their participation in cadets. They like the fact that this is a space where they are valued and respected by their peers and leaders, that they have fun and that there is a clear structure for their activities,” she syas.

According to Professor Wyn, youth development programs like the ADF Cadets and the Scouts movement play a valuable role in young people’s development. “Young people seek to be involved in programs where they are able to connect with others, and to be involved in activities that are fun and worthwhile.”

For Ross Hicks, the Australian Defence Force Cadets serve another important community role.

“In many small regional areas the only Defence representative is cadets,” he said. “On days like Anzac Day, it’ll be the cadets that lead the ceremony at the local town cenotaph. We can’t underestimate the importance of these activities, how much they bring the local community together and how much we learn from the young participants.”

The Department of Defence is seeking feedback on the Generic Youth Development Framework. To request a copy of the Framework and/or provide feedback, please contact Ross Hicks
ross.hicks@defence.gov.au,
+ 61 2 6127 4639.
http://www.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/yrc/