Who are Young People?

Adolescence

Profile of Young People in Queensland

Profile of Young People in Your Community

Who are Young People?

Within an Australian context, Young People are usually defined as being aged between 12 – 25 years of age.  This is generally accepted as the age group of young people but variances occur across international, state and community legislation, policy and practice.  These variances are a reflection of the enormous age and developmental span between a 12 year old and a 25 year old. 

Some important international, state and local organisations and policy documents define young people as:

12 – 25 years

• Queensland Youth Charter
• Queensland Department of Communities
• Department of Families and Community Services

Under 18 years

• United Nations Convention in the Rights of the Child
• Queensland Department of Child Safety
• Queensland Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian 

Adolescence

The period between the ages of 12 – 25, a young person often undergoes enormous physical, psychological and emotional changes.  Whilst each person is different with their own individual experiences, there are a number of common or normal experiences for young people.  These are often connected to age, stage, personal and emotional development. 

Information about some of the common experiences that are age and stage appropriate have been identified in the Young People-in General section for Young People and Cultural Diversity Resource.  It explores the normalities of adolescence - some common experiences.

These include behaviours in relation to friends, family and space and personal milestones or rites of passage.

Profile of Queensland Young People

	Queensland had a population of about 1,200,000 children and young people aged 0 - 24 years, representing 34.4% of the states total population
	Males slightly outnumber females in the 0 -24 years age group with 641,200 males compared to 616,577 females - a ratio of 51:49
	58.3 % of Queensland’s Indigenous population were aged 0 -24 years compared with 34.4% of the total population
	Over 100,000 persons aged 0 -24 years in Queensland were born overseas
	Youth Unemployment rates in Queensland have been trending downwards in recent years, especially among 15 - 19 years age group
	More than 140,000 people aged 0 -24 years spoke a language other than English at home
	Retention rates in Queensland secondary schools are increasing, and are higher than for Australia as a whole
	The retail trade industry and accommodation, cafes and restaurant industry had the highest proportion of the workforce aged 15 - 24 years

Profile of Young People in your Community

Generally, it is great to know about the people who make up your community.  This is a good idea because it helps you to plan policy and services, determine needs and resources, evaluate emerging issues, develop a planned approach to service provision, connect with other agencies that work with young people, more coordinated approach to young people in your community.  Sometimes it is a great way to compare a region with the rest of the state or another region.

Furthermore, knowing your community helps you to effectively respond to their needs and issues rather than what you think are the needs and issues.

If you are new to a community it is really important that you take your time in getting to know the community, ask permission and don’t be too full on.  Trust takes time to build.

Some of the ways to get to know your community includes: