The Office of Children and Youth Affairs (OCYA) aims to assist the effective development and coordination of policies, programs and information for children and young people (aged 0-25 years) across the three levels of government and relevant service providers in the community sector.
The objectives of OCYA are to:
- Be a resource for, and advisor to, the Minister on policy issues and practices affecting Tasmania’s children and young people
- Assist with information about programs, services and issues
- Work to improve access by young people to government decision making.
OCYA meets these objectives by coordinating key projects concerning children and youth, such as:
- Grant programs
OCYA administers three grant programs: the Children and Youth Advisory Services Funding Program, the Innovate. Include. Develop. Local Government Grant Program and the National Youth Week Grants program.
- National Youth Week (NYW)
OCYA coordinates National Youth Week (NYW) each year, including the NYW grants programs. National Youth Week is the largest single celebration of young people on the Australian calendar, with thousands of people aged 12-25 getting involved in events and activities throughout the country.
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The Tasmanian Early Years FoundationThe Foundation supports and promotes the wellbeing, development and learning of Tasmanian children up to the age of six years. The Foundation administers an annual grant program to meet its objectives.
- Southern Cross Young Achiever Awards
OCYA supports the Southern Cross Young Achiever Awards by participating on the Executive Judging Panel and working with Awards Australia to promote the Awards.
- Youth Network of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Youth Forum pilot
OCYA funds and supports the Youth Network of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Youth Forum pilot
- Linkzone
OCYA provides information to young people and to the youth sector through Linkzone, a youth web portal that provides links to services and information for young Tasmanians 12 – 25 years, and a public access database.
- Youth Groups and Committees
(View a diagram showing OCYA's networks in the children and youth sectors.) 
(PDF, 108 KB)
OCYA staff attend various regional and youth group meetings (information on these is available on the Youth Network of Tasmania website), including Youth Actions Priorities (YAP), Northern Youth Co-ordinating Committee (NYCC), North West Action for Youth Committee (NWAY) and the Statewide Youth Collaborative Group (SYC).
- Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) and the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme (NYARS)
The Office of Children and Youth Affairs represents the Tasmanian Government on these two national bodies.
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Further information:
