| Creator: |
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| Earliest: |
1960 |
| Latest: |
1960 |
| History : |
The National Youth Council of Australia was established in 1960 as a national consultative body for non-government youth organisations, student groups and representatives of community service organisations to promote the interests and needs of young people. Membership of NYCA was comprised of national youth organisations, other organisations with a substantial youth participation and state or territory Youth Councils. Aims of NYCA included making representations at a national level to government and other bodies on matters concerning young people; assisting in the development of youth activities; initiating research programs into the needs of young people; collecting and exchanging information and ideas on young people; publishing literature on youth and youth work; arranging for the representation of Australian youth at international meetings and implementing programs for the Asian Youth Council. Activities of NYCA included conducting series of Australian assemblies of youth and youth forums to discuss topics of social importance to young people; conducting an extensive survey for the Australian Department of Tourism and Recreation into the recreational priorities of young people, known as the Youth Say Project; and the publication of its school leaver's magazine Way out and a series of annotated bibliographies on youth studies in Australia. The 1960 constitution outlined the structure of NYCA as consisting of the Council, Executive Committee and Divisional Committees (established by Council). The Council was comprised of a President, Deputy President, one representative from each member organisation and one representative from each Divisional Committee. The Council formulated policy, received reports of Executive Committee activities and prepared a biennial report. The Executive Committee was composed of a President, Deputy President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and six other members elected by Council. The Executive Committee was responsible for implementing policy formulated by Council, preparing annual reports and employing and supervising staff who serviced Council. Executive Directors of NYCA included Neil Sleep (1973-74), Fay E. Lewis (1975-78), Michael Cusack (1979-80) and Jan Owen (1983-4). In 1979 a Steering Group was formed to investigate the formation of a Youth Affairs Council of Australia (YACA). It was intended that YACA would have a stronger national emphasis while NYCA concentrated on supporting locally based youth processes in each state. After the establishment of YACA in 1980, NYCA became a member forum of YACA and continued its work as 'a nationwide union of youth organisations and young people promoting and enabling effective participation of young people, between the ages of 12 and 25 years, in national decision-making on issues affecting the current and future lifestyles' (NYCA Constitution, 1982). In 1981 the structure of NYCA was altered to consist of the Council Meeting, Management Group and Issue Task Groups. The member groups covered a wide range of interests including religious, political, student, social, recreational and specific interest. NYCA ceased to operate in 1988.
Source: http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/9077.html |
| Activities/Occupation: |
Welfare organisations |
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