The Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) on Youth Affairs was established in 1988 to assist with the co-ordinated development of the Government's longterm youth policy.

Since then, membership has been expanded to include senior policy representatives of departments and agencies dealing with youth issues. Current membership comprises the Department of School Education; Training and Employment; Housing; Health; Directorate of the Drug Offensive; Police; Family and Community Services; Attorney Generals; Cabinet Office; Treasury and the office of Youth Affairs.

Ministerial policy advisers are also invited to attend meetings. This has been valuable to the work of the IDC, to ministers and to the Government. The IDC is convened and serviced by the office of Youth Affairs in the ministry of Education, Youth and Women's Affairs.

The IDC gives high priority to developing co-operative relationships which assist articulation between programsprovided by different government departments and agencies. It also develops co-operative inter-portfolio ventures so that specific issues are dealt with in a comprehensive and co-ordinated manner. An example of this is the Circuit Breaker program designed to assist young people of non-English speaking background make the transition from school to employment. This program involves the Office of Youth Affairs, the Ethnic Affairs Commission, the Department of School Education, the Technical and Further Education Authority and community organisations.

IDC working parties and sub committees, such as the Sub-Committee on Juvenile Crime, Migrant Youth Working Party, Western Sydney Youth Committee, Youth Sector Training working Party etc, have provided valuable insights into youth affairs and will continue to assist in the co-ordination of Government strategies for specific issues.

The IDC reports to the Government through the Minister for School Education and Youth Affairs.

I have attached Terms of Reference, which I have ratified, for your information. Your continued co-operation and support in the deliberations of the IDC would be appreciated.

Further advice and assistance can be obtained by contacting Jillian Skinner in the office of Youth Affairs on 561.8171.

Yours sincerely,