The Youth Self-Reliance Project
More and more young people are giving up.
Rising physical and mental health issues. Declining trust in the government. Declining opportunities for secure employment. The cost of living crisis. The climate crisis.
This potent cocktail of challenges has resulted in dramatically increased feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, with young people today lacking the tools and structured education to navigate so much uncertainty.
The flow-on effects will only become exponentially more damaging to society as a whole as these youths grow and contribute to society.
We want to stop the cycle.
The Youth Self Reliance Project is an initiative designed to create an appetite for change among young people.
By addressing psychological, sociological and environmental factors of behaviour change, this project will guide young people through a process to become more self-reliant, leading to overall more positive outcomes on an individual and societal level.
Interested in helping youth reclaim agency in their lives?
A structured approach to drive real change.
To provide the educational resources and practical experiences necessary for young people to become self reliant, all aspects of the Five Pillars of Self-Reliance (as defined by Richard Krohn) must be addressed. The Five Pillars comprise:
- Lifestyle
- Work Satisfaction
- Financial Security
- Sense of Self
- Person Integrity
To support, develop and teach all five pillars, we have developed a Four Element Framework.
The Four Element Framework
Element 1: The National Day for Goal Setting
Goal setting is a key aspect of achieving success and helps provide purpose and focus. A National (and eventually international) Day of Goal Setting will provide a focal point for building awareness and education about goal setting, generating an appetite for change which will catalyse goal setting.
Element 2: The Self-Reliance Matrix
Once young people have been instilled with an appetite for change, the Self-Reliance Matrix will help them measure their current state of self-reliance. Clarity around their current state will be the starting point for them to map out their goals and achieve their future desired state.
Element 3: Youth Self-Reliance Program
To help young people continue on their journey of self discovery and self-reliance, the Youth Self-Reliance program will provide resources and activities to help young people define who they are, identify their values, set goals, track their progress, and celebrate their success over time.
Element 4: National Youth Self-Reliance Index
Finally, a way to track the large-scale impact. The National Youth Self-Reliance index will measure and compare the self-reliance status of youth in Australia, and measure the cumulative outcomes of the National Day
Invest in our youths today. Invest in our community’s future.
Through addressing all the areas outlined above, the anticipated long-term impact of this project will include:
- Reduced numbers of young people on Youth Allowance or Jobstart
- Increase in savings. Young people improve their financial security by saving a buffer or nest egg to survive 3, 6 or 12 months of unemployment, or to support themselves during a financial challenge or emergency.
- Reduction in prevalence of mental health issues. As young people become more self-reliant, they have a better sense of self and improved lifestyle that supports their mental health and wellbeing.
- Work satisfaction. Completion of tertiary studies, traineeships and apprenticeships. Increased workplace participation. Work aligned with goals. Increase in entrepreneurship.
Reduction in crime statistics or legal proceedings for this cohort.