v.11 n.1, March 1992
Perceptions of the future: Australian adolescents and the Persian
Gulf War, by Cobie Knoblauch
Youth Studies Australia, 1992 v.11 n.1 pp.40-46.
The beginning of 1991 produced a number of significant issues for
Australian young people, not the least of which was the war in
the Persian Gulf. Their world, in a country at peace, could no
longer be considered a certainty. This study reports on a qualitative
interview-based survey investigating the psychological impact of
that war upon a sample of 27 Brisbane secondary students. The general
aim of the research is to provide information about adolescents'
views and concerns in relation to the war and the perceived effects
upon their lives. The results of this study indicate that young
people experienced war-associated personal and global concerns,
and in some cases, feelings of helplessness and powerlessness.
Is Youth Policy really new?: A review of government policies
affecting young people, by David Pyvis
Youth Studies Australia, v.11 n.1, pp.14-18.
This paper challenges the prevailing orthodox view that governments
in Australia have only recently recognised a need to isolate and
address youth as a distinct population. There is a long and sustained
history of government interventions with youth and the author suggests
that there is an enduring logic to the design of these youth-specific
policies - that youth policy is and for a long time has been characterised
by the recognition of youth as a potential resource or force of
the state. But the paper goes beyond claiming that youth is simply
utilised in the national interest and argues that the old govern
the young largely in the interests of preserving their own power.
The paper ultimately suggests that perhaps youth policy is not
only not of recent origin, but is also not usually a form of benevolent
intervention on behalf of youth. Rather youth policy is more commonly
developed in the interests of its makers.
Adolescent suicide: Reports on work done in South Australia
Youth Studies Australia, v.11 n.1, pp.20-32.
This is a three-part feature on adolescent suicide concerning:
- The effect on adolescents of the completed suicide of another student, by Graham Martin, Natash Kuller & Philip Hazell
- Postvention in a school, by Graham Martin;
- Imitation and the clustering phenomenon, by Graham Martin.
Suicide in isolation, by Henry Lohse
Youth Studies Australia, v.11 n.1, pp.33-38.
This paper is available for download
in full text. It reports on and discusses an investigation
into the suicide and attempted suicide records in Broken Hill over
the past 15 years, highlighting the differences to national trends,
suggesting some local influences and offering recommendations for
the future. While the research does not focus specifically on youth,
the data for that age group and the possible social factors contributing
to suicide make this research relevant to those interested in the
problem of youth suicide.
Core Curriculum development: Youth Sector Training Council.
Youth Studies Australia, v.11 n.1, pp.39 and 62.
This is the first in a series of articles on the Core Curriculum
Development Project which will appear regularly in Youth Studies
Australia over the coming months. Future articles will deal with
specific issues related to the development of a nationally accredited
core curriculum for workers with young people.
Perceptions of the future, by Cobie Knoblauch
Youth Studies Australia, v.11 n.1, pp.40-46.
The beginning of 1991 produced a number of significant issues for
Australian young people, not the least of which was the war in
the Persian Gulf. Their world, in a country at peace, could no
longer be considered a certainty. This study reports on a qualitative
interview-based survey investigating the psychological impact of
that war upon a sample of 27 Brisbane secondary students. The general
aim of the research is to provide information about adolescents'
views and concerns in relation to the war and the perceived effects
upon their lives. The results of this study indicate that young
people experienced war-associated personal and global concerns,
and in some cases, feelings of helplessness and powerlessness.
Aids update: The gap between knowledge, attitudes and behaviour,
by Louise Sullivan
Youth Studies Australia, v.11 n.1, pp.47-49.
The importance of HIV/AIDS education in schools, and sex education
in general, has gained momentum over the last five years. The following
represents the research trends of international and national researchers
whose work focuses on adolescence. This review concentrates on
the areas of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in general - there
are other important areas of research that are not addressed here,
such as disabilities and migrant research. It is also important
to note that the issue of the relationship between knowledge, attitudes
and behaviour is highly contentious and is by no means resolved.