[ad_1]
Covid exacerbates employment challenges for disadvantaged young people
Another reminder that not everything is felt equally.
AAP reports that the Covid-19 pandemic has made it more challenging for young disadvantaged Australians to secure work or study after high school, a new survey has found.
The Smith Family surveyed 1,500 young people who finished year 12 in 2020 and were experiencing disadvantage.
Three in four young people went into work or study in their first year after high school, the survey released on Monday showed.
Just over half of the participants complete 35 hours of work or study each week, while 39% said they wanted to work more hours.
Covid-19 was identified as a major challenge during the participants’ final year of school and the year after.
“Covid has exacerbated the employment challenges facing young people, who are more vulnerable to entering the labour market in times of uncertainty,” The Smith Family’s head of research and advocacy, Anne Hampshire, said.
“These challenges are particularly acute for young people experiencing disadvantage.”
Young people experiencing disadvantage wanted more access to comprehensive and personalised career advice, mentors, and internships, the survey found.
The survey results should prompt schools, businesses and organisations to better support this cohort in their lives after high school, Hampshire said.
Supporting young people experiencing disadvantage to make positive post-school transitions is critical for their longer-term life outcomes and the contribution they can make to Australia’s economic and social wellbeing.
We all benefit from this. With the right, targeted support, we can help all young people to thrive post school.
Key events
The new monarch is being formally declared in Victoria.
Everyone sits around while a very dry proclamation is read. Then they will swear allegiance to the King Charles III so they can all, constitutionally, keep doing their jobs.
(This is only a Victorian thing – the state’s constitution demands it.)
The ballroom of Victoria’s Government House is packed with officials for the state’s official Proclamation Ceremony for His Majesty King Charles III. The full Cabinet, former Premiers and the Chief Commissioner are among those in attendance @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/G8cSA8xemJ
— Steph Anderson (@_StephAnderson) September 12, 2022
Anthony Albanese has called a press conference for 11.40am today.
Inquest begins into Melissa Caddick’s disappearance
Events leading up to fraudster Melissa Caddick’s mysterious disappearance before her foot washed up on a New South Wales south coast beach are set to be scrutinised in an inquest.
The purported investment broker disappeared in November 2020, hours after the Australian Federal Police and Australian Securities and Investments Commission raided her Dover Heights home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Three months later the 49-year-old’s decomposing foot, encased in a running shoe, was found on Bournda Beach.
Following this discovery NSW police stated they believed she was dead. But other theories circulating include her escaping undetected and living somewhere without one foot.
These theories will be tested at a two-week inquest into the conwoman’s disappearance, due to begin on Monday before Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan.
It is believed about 74 victims lost at least $23 million through Ms Caddick’s Ponzi scheme, over which she was set to face a string of charges.
They believed she would invest those funds on their behalf and she created fake documents to suggest she had done so, but instead used the money on her own lavish lifestyle.
Her multimillion-dollar home is being liquidated along with other valuables including two luxury cars, jewellery and designer clothes, to compensate victims.
But her parents, who say they were also scammed by their daughter, are fighting in the Federal Court against the repossession of an Edgecliff property they reside in.
– via AAP
People and businesses without water in Sydney’s north
I was unaware of this until I saw it on Twitter – but it seems like there are some pretty big water issues going on in Sydney at the moment:
Sydney Water crews are onsite at Epping Rd, Lane Cove where a break in the water main has been identified.
Network technicians are working to isolate the main which is taking some time due to the location and complexity of the break.
Up to 200 businesses and residents have experienced a loss of water or lower than normal pressure during this time, including customers in: Artarmon, Chatswood, Cremorne, Greenwich, Lane Cove, Lane Cove North, Lane Cove West, Neutral Bay, North Sydney, Waverton, Wollstonecraft.
Sydney Water is implementing alternative solutions to help boost water pressure across the zone and restore supply.
“We understand there has been a delay in rectifying the issue, but we are committed to finding a solution as quickly as we can in order to restore services to impacted properties.
“We acknowledge the impact this has had on our customers. We thank you for your patience and apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
This is true.
PM Albanese says the four sitting days will be picked up before the 25 October budget.#auspol
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) September 11, 2022
But at least one of these days will be taken up with condolence motion speeches for the Queen.
Westpac passes on 0.5% interest rate rise
It got missed in all that happened last week, but all the major banks announced they were passing on the RBA’s 0.5% cash rate rise – except Westpac.
Today, Westpac announced it is also passing on the interest rate rise, so that completes the big four.
Women’s Climate Congress is holding a conference in Canberra
Carlos Alcaraz wins first grand slam at age 19
You can read more on Carlos Alcaraz’s historic victory here:
Having spent much of the past few years breaking age records, he will now take the most impressive one of them of all, one that could stand for a long time. Alcaraz will rise to world No 1 on Monday for the first time in his career, making him the youngest player to achieve the feat in ATP history. At just 19 years and four months, the Spaniard is the first teenage No 1 the men’s game has ever had, more than a year younger than the previous record holder, Lleyton Hewitt.
Dangerous climate tipping points may already have been passed
Then there is also this from last week, published on the day the Queen’s death was announced, which also deserves your attention.
Some reasons for hope on the climate crisis
While we are on the issue of climate (which is something we should always be on) this from Adam Morton is well worth your time – why it is not all doom and gloom.
Emissions reduction not political, but how we do it is, Simon Birmingham says
The monarch is supposed to be politically neutral (there was that whole Cromwell thing that made it pretty clear) which has raised questions over how King Charles will handle his climate advocacy.
There are questions over whether climate advocacy even is political, given that it’s based in scientific fact (and we turned it political).
Opposition senator Simon Birmingham was asked on ABC radio what he thought about it all:
Supporting the general action that occurs to reduce emissions, to have a lighter footprint upon our environment anyway is not something that I see as particularly political, politically controversial. However, how that is done when governments start to enact different policies that can have an impact on businesses, on jobs, on economies, obviously, as we’ve seen in this country and many others have seen, too, they become politically controversial questions.
And so that’s where I say the new king, no doubt, will support community oriented measures that help to reduce emissions, that demonstrate a community drive for action on climate change and that sense of environmental sustainability. But I don’t see him weighing into the politics of how governments enact different pieces of legislation that may reduce emissions. And that’s the type of sensitive points of difference that he’s able to navigate, I’m sure.
Scientists gather in Adelaide to tackle pollution
Scientists have gathered in South Australia’s capital to try and solve some environmental issues affecting the world – including forever chemicals, like poly-fluoroalkyl substances, AAP reports.
More than 500 scientists have gathered in Adelaide to advance efforts to tackle some of the world’s biggest contamination problems.
The International CleanUp Conference will focus on the many forms of pollution that affect environmental and human health, from air and water pollution to microplastics and growing global concern about Pfas.
Pfas is shorthand for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, often referred to as forever chemicals because they don’t readily break down and accumulate in the environment and the bodies of animals and humans.
Much of the conference will be devoted to the Pfas problem, with countries worldwide grappling with what to do with chemicals that are so persistent, they’ve been found in rainwater and snow in the most remote parts of the world.
The Australian government is about to release the third draft of its national plan to manage Pfas, but so far few details are known about how regulations might be tightened.
Experts say the existing framework based on management at the state level must change and a stronger, national system is needed.
Pfas contamination has occurred at defence sites across Australia due to the historical use of firefighting foams that contained the chemical.
Pfas ends up in wastewater treatment plants, which reuse solids from the treatment process as fertiliser for Australian farms.
The new national plan for Pfas could include new limits on Pfas in material bound for reuse in agricultural settings.
The conference has evolved from the work of Australia’s cooperative research centre for contamination assessment and remediation of the environment.
The centre’s managing director, Prof Ravi Naidu, said the silence that once hindered efforts to address environmental contamination was changing.
The sector has grown in maturity and acceptance of the problem.
In the 1990s, the industry sector was aware that contamination was a problem, but generally didn’t address it or even talk about it for fear of alarming people and pressuring decision-makers.
Today, the impacts of contamination on the environment, human health and property values, and on society more generally, are openly discussed.
Naidu said this had led to increased efforts to prevent further contamination and greater investment in solutions.
The conference continues until Thursday.
Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz wins US open in four sets
Carlos Alcaraz has become the youngest world number one after winning the US Open.
Alcaraz is 19 years old. He beat Casper Ruud in four sets to take the title and the number one spot.
Victoria to hold proclamation ceremony for King Charles today
A Victorian proclamation ceremony will be held from 11am, so the lieutenant governor, chief justice and other senior officer holders can swear oaths to the new King.
A quirk of the Victorian constitution means senior office holders and MPs have to swear new oaths. They are the only ones in Australia who need to do so.
Covid reporting has moved to weekly updates
Just a reminder that covid numbers reporting has moved to weekly as of last Friday. It was a national cabinet decision agreed to by the state and territory leaders. So there will be no more daily updates.
Covid exacerbates employment challenges for disadvantaged young people
Another reminder that not everything is felt equally.
AAP reports that the Covid-19 pandemic has made it more challenging for young disadvantaged Australians to secure work or study after high school, a new survey has found.
The Smith Family surveyed 1,500 young people who finished year 12 in 2020 and were experiencing disadvantage.
Three in four young people went into work or study in their first year after high school, the survey released on Monday showed.
Just over half of the participants complete 35 hours of work or study each week, while 39% said they wanted to work more hours.
Covid-19 was identified as a major challenge during the participants’ final year of school and the year after.
“Covid has exacerbated the employment challenges facing young people, who are more vulnerable to entering the labour market in times of uncertainty,” The Smith Family’s head of research and advocacy, Anne Hampshire, said.
“These challenges are particularly acute for young people experiencing disadvantage.”
Young people experiencing disadvantage wanted more access to comprehensive and personalised career advice, mentors, and internships, the survey found.
The survey results should prompt schools, businesses and organisations to better support this cohort in their lives after high school, Hampshire said.
Supporting young people experiencing disadvantage to make positive post-school transitions is critical for their longer-term life outcomes and the contribution they can make to Australia’s economic and social wellbeing.
We all benefit from this. With the right, targeted support, we can help all young people to thrive post school.
Head of parliamentary security and intelligence committee travels to US
Peter Khalil said he’ll be attending meetings in Washington to talk all things security and intelligence:
On Monday 12 September I will depart to the United States for a series of meetings in Washington D.C.
I will be meeting with senior Biden administration, intelligence and security officials as well members of the US Senate and House of Representatives.
I look forward to productive discussions focused on the many issues of common interest for Australia and the US including countering foreign interference, strengthening our cyber security and our ongoing work to secure a stable, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
New high commissioner to UK chosen but not announced, PM says
Over on Sky News, Anthony Albanese says the decision on who will be the Australian high commissioner to the UK has been made, but won’t be announced as yet:
Well that decision will be announced in the fullness of time. It wouldn’t be appropriate to announce it at the moment. The focus right now is very much on paying tribute for the 70 years of loyal service that Queen Elizabeth gave Australia as our head of state. And also yesterday, of course, the proclamation of King Charles III as Australia’s new head of state. So it’s a very historic day here in Australia, as well as in the United Kingdom and in commonwealth nations around the world.
Eight years since William Tyrrell’s disappearance
AAP has a story on a very sad anniversary:
It has been eight years since three-year-old William Tyrrell went missing at his foster grandmother’s home on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
But police have not given up on finding out what happened to the boy, who was wearing a Spider-Man suit.
Strike Force Rosann detectives are continuing to prepare a brief for the coroner to determine what happened to William who vanished on 12 September 2014.
“Every effort is – and should be – channelled toward finding William Tyrrell,” NSW Det Supt Danny Doherty said in a statement on Monday.
“Our investigation is very much active and ongoing,” the police homicide squad commander said.
“Various activities, including those under coronial orders, are being undertaken every day.”
Police are working with a large volume of information and methodically exploring and exhausting every line of inquiry.
“This is all for William, and if it takes time and effort to get it right, it’s worth it,” he said.
In December 2020, a highly publicised month-long search for the possible remains of the missing toddler concluded without any apparent breakthroughs.
Police dug up the garden at his foster grandmother’s former Kendall property, where he disappeared.
They examined a concrete slab laid after that time, drained a nearby creek and sifted through soil in bushland and around the home.
Heavy rainfall at times thwarted the probe, which involved divers, mechanical diggers and dozens of police.
The $1m reward for information leading to the recovery of William and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remains in place.
[ad_2]
Source link
