Youth Stakeholders Weekend (YSW) is an annual weekend of meetings, presentations and fun with members of the National Cadet Officers Group (NCOG), Australian Youth Council (AYC) and state/territory youth council chairs. It provides an opportunity to review priorities and plans for youth in St John in preparation for the year to come. This year the focus was on reviewing the National Youth Plan, AYC and NCOG priorities and Key Performance Indicators for our respective groups. Another focus is to build stronger ties between and within the groups given the diversity of members with a common goal.

This year YSW was held in Blaxland, NSW. The weekend began on Friday evening with short presentations from each state and territory about their achievements and a joint project they will collaborate on. Some fantastic ideas come out of this session including the use of Youth Liaison Officers in New South Wales to complete project specific duties and Casualty Simulation competitions in South Australia. The NT received excellent feedback when we presented information on the Youth Communication Network, our joint project, as well as the exiting news that we are trialling a Youth Division.

Saturday was a very busy and productive day for NCOG and the AYC. We spent the morning reviewing the current National Youth Plan with a view to create a new Plan for 2010 - 2013. The key themes, vision and other contents of the current plan were discussed as well as the actual structure of the document. Dr Neil Conn, the Chancellor visited us and provided direction from his (and the Board's) perspective as to what the Plan should be and not be. He spoke highly of what youth can provide to St John as well as what St John can provide youth.

The day's focus then changed to engaging young people in Indigenous communities. Kieran Brown, the Deputy Chief Commissioner, presented a compelling array of information on Indigenous people with a strong argument that St John has a lot to offer Indigenous communities. He spoke highly of divisions in the Northern Territory (particularly Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy Cadet Divisions) that have a number of Indigenous members. It is Kieran's vision that St John has Indigenous Cadet divisions, outback eye health programs and integrated membership across the country.

The afternoon saw the two groups break to focus on their own specific business. The NCOG group reviewed the 2009 priorities and agreed to the priorities for the group in 2010. These are:

• To better engage the 16-18 year old age group
• Retention of adults leaders in Cadet divisions
• Internal promotion of the Cadet program

NCOG also reviewed the proof for the long awaited new Cadet Handbook which will be launched at the National Cadet Camp in January 2010. The new handbook is vibrant and fresh with content from across all jurisdictions (including photos of NT Cadets - hopefully!).

Saturday night provided an opportunity to socialise and have some fun at a medieval themed games night. We bobbed for apples, played "Pin the shield on the knight", had sword fights, played Rock Band (my band won - I am awesome at Guitar Hero. Bet you didn't know that!) and swung at a piniana.

On Sunday NCOG reviewed our Key Performance Indicators for 2009 and made a few changes for 2010.

We discussed our success in implementing a consistent award system for the Cadet of the Year (COTY) and Peter Falkland Awards with the next step handed to the AYC, suggestions for long term recognition of COTYs. Cadets attached to adult divisions was discussed, in particular the need to ensure the cadet is supported to complete proficiencies and cadet level first aid training, not expected to be a 'mini adult' as this is not what the Cadet program is about. Finally, Cadets transitioning to adults was discussed. It is NCOG's intention to make the process as seamless as possible for Cadets turning 18.

I can confidently say that the weekend was a great success. NCOG has reviewed their achievements, identified what improvements are necessary, identified issues to be concentrated on and continued to strengthen ties with youth council members.  

Article by Kimberlee McKay