The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator David Feeney, today launched Defence’s new Youth Development Framework at the University of Melbourne.

“Defence runs a number of youth engagement and development programs across Australia, especially through Australian Defence Force (ADF) Cadets programs,” Senator Feeney said.

“Such programs not only engender an interest in Defence but also help young Australians deal with the challenges and choices of adolescence.”

“This Framework brings together over 400 reports and best practice from around the world,” Senator Feeney said. 

“Now that this Framework is complete, Defence and the University of Melbourne will continue to collaborate and create a Cadet-specific Youth Development Framework.

“This will involve extensive survey and focus group work at Cadet camps and meetings in 2011.  It is anticipated that the Cadet Framework will be produced in 2012,” the Senator said.

“Defence is looking forward to creating closer ties with other community youth organisations both nationally and internationally and sharing this cutting-edge research,” Senator Feeney said.

Professor Field Rickards, Dean of the Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne and Professor Johanna Wyn, Director, Youth Research Centre, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne both attended and spoke at the launch.  

The Framework has been cited by the Youth Research Centre, University of Melbourne as perhaps the most contemporary study of its kind since the development of the AusYouth Good Practice in Youth Development: a Framework of Principles, 2001. 

This new research has already been shared with the Scouts, Girl Guides, NSW State Emergency Services, Duke of Edinburgh Award, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, the Canadian Department of National Defence and the New Zealand Ministry of Defence. 

Media Contact:                      Lorna Clarke    0408 345 730