Youth Plus

Albert Park FLC Students

Deception Bay FLC Staff

"Radical Acceptance" : Youth+ Whole Staff Days

"Our call is to create communities of learning and inclusion where all who choose to participate become aware of their individual, creative and civic potential. This requires environments of radical acceptance; that is, places where we are challenged to accept difference, encourage and maintain choice and places that celebrate the unique gift of each community member."

The key message of the two day national gathering of staff across Youth+ Flexible Learning programs, including Flexible Learning Centres and associated Outreaches, the Bridge Program, and Life Without Barriers, was to consider how we continue to advocate with and for young people who for a variety of complex reasons and the impact of unjust systems, do not experience social inclusion on many different levels including education, housing, health and well-being. Participants came from across the nation from as far as Geraldton in W.A, Mt Isa and Townsville in Nth Qld, South-East Qld, New South Wales and Victoria.

The richness of sharing story was clearly established through the Welcome to Country by Aunty Vi McDermott, a well loved and highly respected community Elder in the greater Inala area and a recognized story teller in the south east Queensland community. This rich and powerful thread of authentic life stories was experienced throughout the two days from a range of speakers, who told of their work with young people.

Beautiful images of place and space from Vancouver, shared by Professor Jennifer Vadeboncouer in a videoconference link, set the scene for sharing insights about her own journey with young people and her research work in education. This helped locate the work of Youth+ within an historical context of education. She emphasised the need to work with young people in an inclusive and relational way, moving beyond the 19th century industrial factory model of schooling that in many ways still influences education systems in Australia and across the world. She emphasised that the construction of knowledge and identity needs to be informed by values and in social communities where young people feel respected and valued.

Other keynote speakers from across Australia such as Bernie Gearie, the Child Safety Commissioner of Victoria, Tim Costello, CEO, World Vision Australia, Fr Wally Detlefs, Project Officer for Marginalised Youth at Brisbane Catholic Education and longtime youth advocate, and Alan Luke, renowned international educator and researcher from QUT, shared inspiring personal stories from their work with young people over forty years in a wide range of contexts. These speakers inspired staff to connect passion and energy, principles of social justice and inclusion and continue the work of advocating for and with young people in our nation who still experience significant social exclusion, through no fault of their own, but often as a result of systems of power and exclusion that are deeply entrenched in our society.

Thanks to the many workshop presenters from within Youth+ and other agencies across the nation, for their input and insights to support the work with young people. Special thanks also to the organisers and participants of the Whole Staff Days, whose passion and commitment to this work with young people, made the two days such a success. Finally, thanks for the musical performance by the young people from Albert Park Flexible Learning Centre, supported in their preparation by Ms Lucie Garlik. Their music created a wonderful atmosphere as staff gathered for the conference dinner.

The key questions of the first morning reflection led by Dale Murray, Director, Youth+, remain critical in the ongoing work of Youth+ Flexible Learning programs, reengaging young people. These questions must continually be considered, in the context of our learning communities:

What if all relationships within our communities were based on unconditional acceptance – there were no strangersWhat if we were truly able to hold the difference that each individual brings to our communityWhat if we were able to cater for each community member's emotional circumstanceWhat if all Young People were accepted and loved because that's the way one treats community membersWhat if Knowledge is valued and learned for its own sake, not just a means to get something or go somewhereWhat if being literate was viewed as a right and achieved by allWhat if the bonding relationship ties helps the FLC become a community of place, mind and spirit