Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How long has National Youth Week (NYW) been running?

A. Youth Week has existed in some States and Territories for a number of years.

In 2000, Youth Week went national, creating an event that young Australians across the country could call their own.

Held in April each year, NYW is now an ongoing feature on Australia’s youth calendar.

NYW 2008 is the ninth national celebration for young people.

Q. What’s on during NYW 2008?

A. Young people all over Australia are busy planning events for NYW 2008.

The national Calendar of Events will be up and running in February 2008 so watch this space!

Q. How do I get regular NYW updates?

A. Subscribe to the NYW e-newsletter for regular updates in the lead up to NYW 2008.

To subscribe, send us an email.

Q. Where can I get more information about NYW?

A. www.youthweek.com is the central source for all information about NYW 2008.

You can also get more information by:

• calling the NYW hotline (1300 663 500)
• emailing the NYW team at youthweek@facsia.gov.au or
• calling your State/Territory NYW representative.

Q. Who organises NYW?

A. NYW is a joint Australian, State, Territory and Local Government initiative.

NYW is coordinated by the Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA), in collaboration with the State and Territory Government Departments responsible for youth affairs.

The State and Territory Governments also selected a young person from each state to be a part of the NYW National Planning Group. These young people are referred to as Young Members. This year, there are also two Young Members selected to represent the Australian Government.

Meet the NYW 2008 Young Members.

Q. Who can I speak to for more information on NYW 2008?

A. You can call the NYW hotline (1300 663 500) and speak to a member of the NYW Team, or call your State/Territory NYW representative. See the Contact Us page for contact details in your State/Territory.

Q. What happened for NYW 2007?

A. NYW 2007 was a great success. Check out NYW 2007 in review for more information.

Q. Who are the National, State and Territory Youth Ministers?

A. Read the Ministers’ Messages to find out more about the National, State and Territory Ministers.

Q. How often will the NYW site be updated?

A. www.youthweek.com is updated regularly. Check in with us every now and then to find out more about NYW.

If you would like to receive regular updates subscribe to NYW e-news.

Q. Who created this site?

A. The look and feel of the NYW 2008 website is based on the winning design of thesource Design Competition which was created by Emily Harris of Victoria. The Communication and Media Branch of the Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) then applied elements of this design to create the website.

You can email the NYW team with any queries you have on this site's design at youthweek@facsia.gov.au

Q. What are the Online Polls about?

A. NYW is all about young people – the week celebrates the contribution young people make to their communities and provides an opportunity for them to have their voices heard on issues that are important to them.

One way for young people to participate in NYW and voice their opinions is to take part in the Online Polls. The answers are then posted up on the NYW website for all to see.

If you have an issue you would like to discuss as part of the Online polls, email the NYW team at youthweek@facsia.gov.au.

Q. Who are the NYW Young Members? What do they do?

A. The NYW National Planning Group selects a group of young people from around Australia to help plan, develop, implement and promote NYW. These young people are known as Young Members.

There are ten Young Members on the National Planning Group for NYW 2008. More information about the NYW 2008 Young Members.

The Young Members liaise with young people and community groups about NYW issues, events and activities, and provide feedback and input into the planning process.

Q. How are Young Members selected?

A. The National Planning Group is made up of representatives from the Australian Government and the State and Territory Government departments responsible for youth affairs.

Each State and Territory is responsible for selecting a young person to join the National Planning Group. For NYW 2008, the Australian Government has also selected two Young Members.

Contact your State/Territory NYW representative to find out about the Young Member selection process.

Q. How can I apply to become a NYW 2009 Young Member?

A. Contact your State/Territory NYW representative for more information about the selection process for NYW 2009 Young Members.

Q. Who are the NYW Supporters?

A. There are five official NYW Supporters for 2008.

Q. What do the NYW Supporters do?

A. NYW Supporters are young people who have a high profile in their respective fields, who support NYW’s objectives of recognising and celebrating young people.

NYW Supporters help promote and raise the profile of NYW by participating in media interviews and attending selected NYW events (where possible).

Q. What are the National Talent Competitions?

A. As part of NYW 2008, we’re holding five National Talent Competitions – RockIT, WriteIT, ShootIT, DesignIT and SnapIT – to help unearth some of Australia’s youngest and most dynamic musicians, writers, film-makers, designers and photographers.

Q. How do I enter? Where can I get an entry form?

A. Complete an entry form, check out the terms of entry, and remember to get your entry to us by 14 April 2006.

PLEASE NOTE: All entrants need to sign the entry form stating that you have read and agree with the Conditions of Entry. If you are submitting your entry via email, you will need to scan your signature or type your name in this section.

If you’re entering the junior age category, you will need to ensure you have your parent or guardian’s permission to enter. If junior age category entrants are submitting their entries by email, they will need to scan their parent/guardian’s signature or type their parent/guardian’s name in this section.

Q. When do the competitions open and close?

A. The National Talent Competitions open on Wednesday 30 January 2008 and close at 5.00pm (AEST) on 14 April 2007.

Q. Will late entries be accepted?

A. Unfortunately we are not able to accept late entries.

Q. Can anyone enter? How old do you have to be?

A. Anyone aged 12 to 25 years can enter the National Talent Competitions.

There are two age categories for each competition: 12-17 years (junior) and 18-25 years (senior).

To enter the junior age category, you must be over 12 and under 18 on 30 January 2008. If you are under the age of 18, you will need your parent or guardian’s permission to enter. They will need to sign your entry form as proof of their permission.

To enter the senior age category, you must be between 18 and 25 years on age on 29 January 2007.

PLEASE NOTE: All entrants need to sign the entry form stating that you have read and agree with the Conditions of Entry. If you are submitting your entry via email, you will need to scan your signature or type your name in this section.

If you’re entering the junior age category, you will need to ensure you have your parent or guardian’s permission to enter. If junior age category entrants are submitting their entries by email, they will need to scan their parent/guardian’s signature or type their parent/guardian’s name in this section.

Q. Are there any other restrictions on who can enter?

A. You must be an Australian resident, and not already signed with a recording label (RockIT), video production agency (ShootIT), publisher (WriteIT) or design agency (DesignIT).

Q. Can groups enter the National Talent Competitions, and what happens if members of groups fall into both age categories?

A. Yes, groups can enter the National Talent Competitions. Groups can consist of no more than 5 members. If members of the group fall into both the 12 – 17 and 18 – 25 year age categories, the entry will be judged as part of the 18 – 25 age category.

Q. How do I submit my entry?

A. You can submit your National Talent Competition entry by post or email.

Stay tuned for more details…

PLEASE NOTE: All entrants need to sign the entry form stating that you have read and agree with the Conditions of Entry. If you are submitting your entry via email, you will need to scan your signature or type your name in this section.

If you’re entering the junior age category, you will need to ensure you have your parent or guardian’s permission to enter. If junior age category entrants are submitting their entries by email, they will need to scan their parent/guardian’s signature or type their parent/guardian’s name in this section.

Q. Can I enter more than once?

A. Yes, you or your group can submit up to three entries in any or all of the competitions.

A separate entry form must be completed and submitted with each entry.

Q. When does judging take place?

A. The National Talent Competitions close at 5:00pm (AEST) on 14 April 2008.

Judging will take place between April and May, with the winners announced in June 2008.

Q. How will the winners be selected?

A. Two awards are issued – the People’s Choice Awards and the Industry Awards.

Once the competitions have closed and all the entries are in, a panel of judges will review the entries and shortlist the top five finalists from each competition’s age category (junior 12 to 17 years; senior 18 to 25 years).

The top five finalists will be published on www.youthweek.com. Young people across Australia will have the chance to vote for the entry they think is the best in the NYW 2008 People’s Choice Awards. Prizes will be awarded to the top entry in each competition’s age category.

A panel of industry experts will also judge the shortlisted entries and select winners for the Industry Awards in each competition’s age category.

Q. When and how will the winners be notified?

A. The People’s Choice and Industry Awards for the NYW 2008 National Talent Competitions will be announced on www.youthweek.com on 23 June 2008.

Where possible, winners will be notified prior to the national website announcement.

Q. What are the prizes?

A. Keep an eye on the website – more information about prizes will available in January 2008.

We can tell you that each competition category will offer fantastic prizes to help you to develop your skills and talents.

Q. I want to submit a group entry, but I’ve noticed that some prizes can only be claimed by one person?

A. If you are the overall winner with a group entry, you will need to agree on which members of the group will accept or claim the prize/s.

Q. What is Win Free Stuff?

A. The Win Free Stuff competitions give young people a chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Keep an eye on youthweek.com for details of the prizes. Win Free Stuff will run from 30 January to 5:00pm AEST 14 April 2008.

To enter, all you need to do is answer a simple question. A panel of judges will review all entries and select the best to win the prize.

Q. How do I enter?

A. It’s easy! Once the competitions open, all you have to do is go to the Win Free Stuff page and follow the directions.

Q. Who can enter?

A. To enter Win Free Stuff, you must be 12 to 25 years and an Australian citizen.

Q. Can I enter more than one Win Free Stuff competition?

A. You can enter any or all of the Win Free Stuff competitions, but we will only accept one entry per person per competition.

Q. Can I enter more than once?

A. You can only enter each competition once. Multiple entries will be removed and not considered during judging.

Q. When do the competitions open and close?

A. The competitions open on 30 January 2008, and close at 5:00pm (AEST) on 14 April 2008.

Q. When and how will winners be notified?

A. Winners of the Win Free Stuff competitions will be announced on www.youthweek.com on Friday 23 June 2008.

Winners will be notified in writing (email or post) prior to the national website announcement.

Q. I won! When and how do I get my prize?

A. Once the winners have been announced on www.youthweek.com, we’ll arrange prize delivery with you.

If you have moved since entering the competition(s), you will need to let us know you’re new address. You can either email your new address to us at youthweek@facsia.gov.au or call us on the NYW hotline – 1300 663 500.

Q. I’ve looked through the FAQs and still can’t find the answer to my question…

A. We’ve tried to answer all the questions we think you might have about NYW, but if there’s something we’ve missed please let us know. You can email your question to youthweek@facsia.gov.au or call the NYW hotline on 1300 663 500.