Anglican Youthworks, otherwise known simply as Youthworks, is the youth and education department of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, Australia. It exists to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the young people of Sydney and beyond in partnership with the churches and schools of the diocese.
It is one of the largest resources for youth ministry and childrens ministry outside of the U.S.A. and employs close to 200 staff in its three main areas of publishing, training and outdoor centres with operations overseen by CEO Zachary Veron.
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The Anglican Department of Youth and Education was established in 1919, separate from the Anglican Board of Education. The Anglican Board of Education changed names in 1994 to become the Anglican Education Commission shortly before it combined with the Anglican Youth Department and the Anglican Education Commission to become Anglican Youthworks.
The Anglican Youth Department focus had been in youth ministry and Christian camping, while the Anglican Education Commission’s key activities were publishing religious education materials, advocacy to the government, children’s and adult education.
The new organisation brought together ministries to children and youth in different contexts – church, school and at camp. Anglican Youthworks is a major division of the Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney. The charter and framework was set out in a document known as an ordinance.
Media division is headed by Marshall Ballentine-Jones and developing printed materials as well digital content for children, youth and families. It produces a range of school scripture (SRE) material called Connect, Sunday School material called Kids at Church as well as commentaries and evangelism material. Its published resources have grown since 2004, when the popular John Dickson books A Spectators Guide to World Religions and a A Spectators Guide to Jesus were produced. Ken Moser and Dr Paul Barnett have also published books through Youthworks. The Media division are the key developer of the online youth magazine Fervr and online parenting magazine Growing Faith.
Its training division equips people to teach the Bible through training courses and through Certificate and Diploma courses at Youthworks Training College. They also run numerous annual conferences similar in nature to Katoomba Christian Convention such as TWIST Music Conference (in partnership with Emu Music), Youth Ministry Conference and Leaders in Training. They also run Safe ministry courses for youth and children’s workers throughout the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. As well as youth and children's ministry advisors Youthworks recruits Christians into the profession of teaching, runs a Year 13 program as an alternative to a Gap year and trains people for ministry on TAFE and school campuses. Youth ministry and children's ministry intensive courses are also run at Youthworks Training College that focus on core skills and philosophy for ministry to children and young people.
Horizon Education school camps are run at Youthworks conference centres across New South Wales including the flagship site Waterslea on the Shoalhaven River and Port Hacking Conference Centre (Chaldercot, Deer Park, Telford and Rathane) on the Port Hacking River, at Warumbul. Other services include the Challenge program for youth at risk, Youthworks Holiday Camps (formerly Camp Howard) and HSC Study Conferences.