I've been involved in work behind the scenes to help save YAA, and the lack of support from our politicians and the bureaucrats has been pathetic. They spend their time hand-balling the small team that makes this organisation happen each year for thousands of student from the education portfolio, over to jobs and employment, then back to education, with the result being no-one is supporting them in government.
This is the same mob spending billions (re)building classrooms, but they can't come up with half a million to help something as worthwhile as YAA survive this tight period where much of their corporate support has disappeared due to the GFC. For the cost of one science lab in one school, the government could ensure tens of thousands of students across the country have access to entrepreneurship education. They're even wasting almost $190M on more bureaucrats who's job it is to try and connect schools to industry, but all of this money is going into funding full time staff and office expenses. They won't actually deliver a single program for a students with all this money. Shameful. YAA makes a real difference, is great value, and provides what I believe is some of the most important school-age education kids can get. The teamwork, the business experience and the introduction to entrepreneurship are worth so much, and there is no way they're being taught about entrepreneurship in 'business studies' by someone who's never been in business and more often than not thinks profit is evil. So, if you care about entrepreneurship and making sure our next generation have a chance to learn about entrepreneurship, visit http://www.yaa.org.au/page/national-news/ and then take 10 minutes to email your local member as well as Julia Gillard, the Minister for the supposed education revolution, and voice your concern about what losing this incredible program would mean. The team from YAA have provided a few email addresses to use if you want to make your point on this subject: samuel.wal...@aph.gov.au julia.gillard...@aph.gov.au senator.ar...@aph.gov.au jmacklin...@aph.gov.au senator.c...@aph.gov.au kate.ellis...@aph.gov.au kevi...@updates.kevinpm.com.au -----Original Message----- From: silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com [mailto:silicon-beach-austra...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Phil Evans Sent: Friday, 9 October 2009 1:06 AM To: Silicon Beach Australia Subject: [SiliconBeach] Re: Brainwash the kiddies. Hi all. I think you guys are on the money. The good news is that this is already happening, but more (as always) is required. First up, there is a mob called Young Achievement Australia (http:// www.yaa.org.au/) that is all about year 11 students setting up companies, making someing, selling something, and liquidating in a 6 month period. It's a pretty good programme, we've been involved for the last 3 years. YAA need some help right now. They survive on sponsorship from commercial entities and the sponsor funds were way down last year and YAA may not survive to see 2010 without intervention. There's info on their web site about how you can lend a hand. Second, the Universities are already approaching secondary schools. Prof. Philip Ogunbona, the Dean of Informatics at University of Wollongong, has some sort of roadshow running where he goes around talking to (I think) year 10 students in the area. I don't know if what they are saying is high quality, but they are out there. So if you guys think this is important, do what you can for YAA (mentor, sponsor, and/or write to your local member) and perhaps engage with the Universities to see if you can be involved in helping them to drum up some business. Phil. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. Guidelines on discussion: http://tr.im/ujKF No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself: http://tr.im/ujMm To post to this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
