1. yn
Peter Young’s Resume
8/201 Caloundra, Qld., 4551
Telephone: (07) 5492 6528 0499
Mob. Phone 0499 207 939
E-mail: young.peter81@yahoo.com.au
Objective I am looking for a position where I can utilize my interpersonal skills and knowledge base so I can contribute in
enabling the process of assisting people with disabilities and more broadly speaking, people who find
themselves disenfranchised, socially, physically and psychologically. In addition to wanting to do this, I look
forward to and enjoy working with people on a face-to-face level, recognizing and learning from them (both the
people I work with, and the people I work for) that every person has something personally valuable to not only
people immediately around them but the rest of society too. In short, I gain immense satisfaction in facilitating –
or at least going some in the way facilitating other people find fulfillment and in being able to garner in them a
sense of empowerment; having ultimate control, self-determination and stewardship over their lives, but at the
same time recognizing that their own knowledge is an important part in any transformation, too. As I am a
person with a disability, my initial realm of focus where I feel that I am able to make a difference at some level
with other people with disabilities. I believe that as a by-product of having Cerebral Palsy and in having faced
many complex and emotionally/psychological difficulties throughout my life, I am somewhat in a position
where I believe I can meaningfully empathize and utilize the skills, as well as theoretical knowledge I have
acquired that I shall be able to apply them in an employment situation where outcomes are what drives success
in people’s lives.

2. 2
Experience Much of my experience I have in the community work sector is based upon youth work I used to be involved in
on the Sunshine Coast before I began to undertake full-time study at the University of The Sunshine Coast. I
used this opportunity I was given in the youth work sector to understand the social and psychological issues
facing young people today on the Sunshine Coast. Even though the Sunshine Coast is far from being an accurate
representation or portrait of young people in Australia or even the whole of Queensland, I had a very keen
interest in youth work. I believe part of this was due to at least three things.
Firstly, I am one child of a very large family by modern standards so I knew what it was like to have many
younger people around me and how they interacted with each other, having their own unique sets of
characteristics. Secondly, together with my disability always being closely associated with who I was as a
person (but, it is important to point out, not totally determining it) and the fact I had many younger brothers
and sisters I let it govern my whole life outlook), I felt and, still feel, fortunate enough to begin to understand
‘what makes people tick’ and how people in groups interact with each other, at a reasonably young age. Thirdly,
I believe that by the very nature of growing up with a physical disability which even though, for better or worse,
resulted in me having a less than typical social life with my peers, actually helped cultivate what I call, the
“observer” or “spectator” skills I need to try to the best of my ability understand, empathise and relate to them.
What is interesting is is that the original reasons why I decided to try youth work and empower young people
was to lift the profile and raise the awareness level of young people with disabilities on the Sunshine Coast. It
turns out that my enthusiasm for helping people become more equipped and feel supported to deal with life’s
difficulties is universal.
Hobbies/Interests Computing & I.T., advocating strongly on social justice, political science, sociology, psychology, understanding
culture and the world, playing chess socially, spending time with family, keeping up-to-date on news and
current affairs, helping others in need and facilitating self-determination and empowerment, being a
disseminator of information & facts, enjoy food & w, occasional social drinker, Facebook and other social media
platforms.

3. 3
Skills Inherent to living with Cerebral Palsy for all of my life (I am 32 years old), naturally I have encountered many
social and physical barriers as a result. Tempting as it would be otherwise, I see quite a few personal
advantages of having a disability, which I feel if I’m presented to utilize them to this position, in some shape or
form. Firstly, as mentioned before, through instances of life experiences and interacting with others, I think it is
safe to say that I’m at a very clear departure in what constitutes a lot of people with disabilities but at the same
time, have enough familiarity with having a disability to still nonetheless understand their situation and how
disability affects them mentally and psychologically whilst still trying in earnest to achieve good outcomes for
them. The tools I have acquired in life as a result of applying a strengths-based approach to how I see myself
and my disability has given me, I believe, one particularly useful skill suited to this and other community sector
work. This is, a very honed ability to perceive certain intricate nuances about people, how they interact and
how, most importantly, how they see themselves and how, in the context of life and their respective
circumstances, they can try to attain better outcomes than they may not be experiencing in the present.
My other skills include and are not limited to:-
 I believe that I have a high motivation level and enthusiastic
 I see myself as a team player and am known for the positive affect on others
 I am computer literate (proficient with MS Office, internet etc.)
 I am diligent with responsibilities and committed to fulfilling them to the best of my ability
 I have the ability to work with a variety of people harmoniously & constructively
 I am flexible enough to adapt to different tasks should it be required
 Good-natured, punctual, conscientious, well-groomed & have a good work ethic
 I appreciate the importance of cultural sensitivity and highly value equality
 I am strongly opposed to any form of discrimination and intolerance
 I can empathise with people and find ways to problem solve
 I appreciate everyone for who they are and what they can add to life
 I am always willing to learn from others, including people I work for and with
 I am receptive to instructive and constructive criticism / feedback

4. 4
Community
Involvement
August 1999 - December 2001, Member of State Youth Advisory Council
June 2000, Member of the National Youth Week Sunshine Coast Steering Committee
November 2001 – October 2002, Member of Queensland Youth Parliament
March 2002, Nominated to be the United Nations Youth Representative for Australia
February 2000 – November 2004, Member of the University of the Sunshine Coast Student Council
October 2003, 2004 & 2005, competed in the Sunshine Coast Chess Open
January 2005, Member of the Sunshine Coast Australia Day Council
April 2006, Guest writer for the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Festival at Cooroy Butter Factory
April 2006, Guest writer for a Sunshine Coast youth magazine
June 2007, Member of Queensland Disability Network
May 2009, Guest writer for the inaugural opening of the Cooroy library
October 2011 – present, Member of the Australian Labor Party
June – September 2013, Facebook Campaign participant for the election of Rudd