Partners and Research Affiliates

Partners

Youth Action

Youth Action is the peak organisation representing young people and youth services in NSW. Our work helps build the capacity of young people, youth workers and youth services, and we advocate to see positive change on issues affecting these groups.

We give a particular focus to regional young people, First Nations young people, those doing it tough, those with disability, LGBTIQA+ and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including migrants and refugees.

We use a rights-based lens to focus on programs, policy and advocacy that achieve meaningful outcomes, embed strengths-based approaches and are informed by data and evidence.

We are an ally to the self-determination of First Nations communities, are led by the expertise of young people and the Sector and are a trust-worthy partner and collaborator.

Samaritans

Supporting Newcastle & NSW with emergency services, disability support, youth counseling and more since 1984. Samaritans work began as a few key services including emergency relief, a family centre and op shops. As an organisation they grew significantly since the early 1980s, and now operate over 100 support services throughout the Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Mid-North Coast regions. Samaritans has over 800 staff and more than 380 volunteers across the regions in which we work.

Samaritans are a partner organization in the NYSC ‘Regional youth in precarious times: Work, wellbeing and debt’ FEDUA funded research program and are an end user of the project’s findings.

GambleAware

GambleAware Hunter New England is a free service that supports people to gamble aware with information about how to gamble safely, plus free confidential support for people who gamble and their families and friends.

Greater Bank Finance Lab

The University of Newcastle and Greater Bank have established a five-year partnership to build financial literacy in the community. With combined strengths in education, banking, community engagement and regional focus, the partnership between Greater Bank and the Newcastle Business School provides community education programs and experiential facilities that support informed financial decision making when it comes to managing money. Located on level one of the University’s new state-of-the-art CBD vertical campus, the Greater Bank Finance Lab is a hands-on learning environment, enabling University of Newcastle Business School students to build their skills in financial decision making, risk management and economic systems. The Greater Bank Finance Lab also hosts community clinics.

Greater Bank Finance Lab are a partner organization and end user in the NYSC ‘Regional youth in precarious times: Work, wellbeing and debt’ FEDUA funded research program.

Home in Place

Home in Place is one of Australia’s largest non-government social housing providers with over 35 years experience in providing secure and affordable housing, as well as delivering housing products for disadvantaged people who have difficulties sourcing adequate housing. Home in Place provides tenancy and/or property management for over 7800 social, affordable and disability housing properties in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand. The Home in Place Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) team manages 1500 places for people with high support needs. Home in Place is an enterprising and socially committed not-for-profit organisation that undertakes all aspects of tenancy and property management, including allocations and wait-list management and have extensive experience in providing tailored tenancy services and tenant development initiatives. As a geographically dispersed organisation, Home in Place has worked hard to contribute to our local communities and neighbourhoods through a number of ongoing programs and individual projects.

Home in Place is a partner organisation in the NYSC ‘Regional youth in precarious times: Work, wellbeing and debt’ CHSF funded research program, and are an end user of the project’s findings.

Research Affiliates

Centre for Alternatives to Social and Economic Inequalities

The Centre for Alternatives to Social and Economic Inequalities (CASEI) is based in the Sociology Department at Lancaster University and thinks globally and acts locally in researching the causes of, and offering solutions to, a range of inequalities. There are alternatives to these challenges and we are committed to producing and practicing them. CASEI is an inter-disciplinary venture across Lancaster University which connects with collaborators in Lancaster and across Morecambe Bay. The Centre is directed by the internationally acclaimed Distinguished Professor Beverley Skeggs.

Centre for Urban Youth Research, Canada

The Centre for Urban Youth Research (or CUYR) is a hub for critical and justice-oriented youth scholars, activists, and community organizations focused on tackling inequalities experienced by young people in urban centres. With both Canadian and international affiliates, CUYR seeks to provide a bridge for those working towards the expansion of social justice for young people who are most marginalized under contemporary capitalism. CUYR values and prioritizes meaningful youth engagement in research and practice, alongside a deep scrutiny of embedded power relations and the potential for reproducing inequalities.

David Farrugia and Steven Threadgold are International Affiliates, and the Newcastle Youth Studies Network is an Organizational Affiliate.

Finnish Youth Research Society

The Finnish Youth Research Society carries out research activities through the Finnish Youth Research Network that was established in 1999. The Finnish Youth Research Network produces multidisciplinary research data and participates in discussion in society, offering perspectives on practical work with young people in the fields of administration and politics. The Finnish Youth Research Network’s research is funded by ministries, international providers of research funding, the Academy of Finland, foundations, organisations and municipalities, etc. Cooperation is carried out with universities, universities of applied sciences, research institutes, organisations, scientific societies and many other partners. The organisational model of the Finnish Youth Research Society and the Finnish Youth Research Network as a scientific association is in many ways unique.

David Farrugia visited the network in 2019. Network members Kaisa Vehkalahti, University of Oulu, Finland, and Mikko Piispa, The University of Helsinki, presented in our seminar series in 2020.

Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation

The Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI) is a leading humanities and social sciences research institute based at Deakin University, creating cutting-edge knowledge about citizenship, diversity, inclusion and globalisation which informs scholarship, debate and policy. ADI research is structured around four key research streams: People, Place and Heritage; Governance, Development and Peace; Mobilities, Diversity and Multiculturalism; Culture, Environment and Science.

Former NYSC Director Pam Nilan is a member of ADI. Anita Harris, Rose Butler and Sherene Idris have presented at several NYSC organised seminars and conferences.

Youth Research Collective, University of Melbourne

The Youth Research Collective takes a holistic approach to children’s and young peoples’ lives, seeking to understand and improve their learning, participation and wellbeing. The Centre’s research and development programs use a strength-based style and emphasise mixed-method approaches where appropriate, in international and local settings. The Centre conducts projects in partnership with a range of stakeholders, and engages in teaching and postgraduate research supervision, drawing on interdisciplinary methods that include the arts, health sciences, education and history. Projects focus on the early years through to young adulthood and on the institutions and organisations that serve their needs.

Julia Cook, Julia Coffey and David Farrugia completed their PhDs at the YRC. Julia Cook is currently collaborating with the Life Patterns project based in the YRC.

Consortium for Youth, Generations and Culture

The Consortium for Youth, Generations and Culture, directed by Anita Harris, is a national, collaborative initiative of universities and scholars leading cutting edge, interdisciplinary research on contemporary issues in youth studies. It brings together a network of critical youth studies scholars to promote and connect innovative youth research and inform policy and public debate. It promotes youth research across Australasia and beyond. The Consortium supports four main programs of research: Education, Employment and Transitions; Health and Wellbeing; New Media and Youth Cultures; and Globalisation, Citizenship and Social Inclusion.

NYSC members Steve Threadgold, Julia Coffey and David Farrugia are members of the Consortium.