The Community Action Party is committed to a culture that values young people and encourages them to use their energy and enthusiasm to participate in their local communities. We consider this to be vital to the wellbeing of the ACT.
The Party believes that government and the wider community can do more to support young people, particularly for those who live in poverty or are functionally illiterate (about 11% of the total in each case), Indigenous, and refugee youth.
The Party will work with young people, their families and communities, and government and non-government agencies to help make the ACT a safe, supportive, and enjoyable place to live for all.
The Party will promote special efforts to assist young people whose education or career has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
Community
The Party will work with youth and the wider community to develop leadership skills in youth and give them a voice in political, community and other forums.
The Party will promote cross-generational programs in schools and in the wider community whereby young and old can learn new skills together and develop a mutual respect.
The Party supports programs that help youth avoid anti-social and addictive behaviours.
Family
The Party will work with existing community organisations and governments to identify and support families in need to keep families together wherever possible.
The Party believes that the interests of the children should be paramount in responding to dysfunctional families. The Party supports the greatly increased provision of resources to the overstretched ACT child protection services.
The Party will support effective measures to reduce youth homelessness, including working with crisis accommodation providers to increase the supply of crisis accommodation for young people and families to meet the growing need.
Education
The Party is committed to equipping young people with the skills required to function in a dynamic job market in a way that is suited to their individual skills and abilities.
The Party will provide the resources for assessment and support so that children with disabilities and other learning needs receive the level of support they need in the classroom.
The Party will work with schools and colleges to provide better counselling support to students.
The Party supports the inclusion of at least 30 minutes of physical activity in every child's school day to have fun, exercise and develop basic sporting skills.
Health
The Party supports age-appropriate health education in schools and colleges.
The Party supports improved services for youths with mental illness, including provision of a separate residential acute-care facility.
The Party will work with communities to provide integrated health and community services.
Leisure
The Party will provide accessible youth centres in every district, and will incorporate such facilities in new developments where none exist. The Party will support improved facilities for Youth Centres and make them more appealing by involving youth in their design.
The Party supports affordable and accessible practice, rehearsal, display, and performance spaces at district and neighbourhood venues to encourage a vibrant arts culture for youth.
The Party supports investment in developing coaching and training skills in the wider community for the benefit of people of all ages, including junior sport.