10.4 Quality and innovation in youth work
On this page
-
Quality assurance
-
Research and evidence supporting Youth Work
-
Participate Youth Work
-
Smart youth work: youth work in the digital world
Quality assurance
Youth work in Malta is recognized through national law as a fully regulated profession. In this regard the Youth Work Profession Act – Chapter 533 of the Laws of Malta acts as a quality assurance mechanism for youth workers as it lays down the professional standards for youth workers and states what is youth work and who can or cannot profess youth work. Moreover to ensure quality youth work the law established a Youth Work Profession Board. This Board is responsible for establishing and assessing existing youth work standards and as well as keep an official register of all registered youth workers and youth work associations. The Board also made recommendations to the Minister for Youth so as to publish a Code of Ethics for the professional behaviour of youth workers. The aim of the Code of Ethics is to provide youth workers with a benchmark for good professional behaviour and practice. It is intended to guide and support youth workers in fulfilling their professional duties and responsibilities and to uphold professional standards and the continuous improvement of such standards. The Board can also inquire into any allegation of professional misconduct, negligence or incompetence by a youth worker and recommend to the Minister to take action against that youth worker.
Also Legal notice 522 of 2010 that established Aġenzija Żgħażagħ – the national youth agency - states that the agency is to carry out functions related to youth affairs and specifically to ensure the highest standards in youth work as well as to formulate, co-ordinate, manage and evaluate youthwork programmes. In this regard the agency set up a system of quality assurance by providing reflective supervision practice for all its youth workers. Such a system provides a space where youth workers are able to put forward any challenges or difficulties encountered in their practice, where good practice can be affirmed and where they can voice concerns to a senior youth worker. Supervision promotes learning, considers action and facilitates reflective practice. This process aims at underpinning youth safety, well-being and care, which allows for the effective and efficient achieving of the desired outcomes, goals and purposes, while emphasizing ethical and moral aspects of youth work. It is a foundational means to assess the quality of and judgement being made by the practitioner about and with young people. Thus, the process of supervision is based on sound youth work principles. Supervisors, working with and alongside supervisees identify areas and skills that need developing and situations where interventions from other professionals may be required or appropriate. Youth workers operate within the agency structure and supervision is a central means of ensuring that each youth worker understands where the potential and limits of their responsibility and activity lie.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ has implemented a structured supervision system to ensure quality and professionalism in its youth work practice and service provision. Each youth worker receives one-to-one supervision from a more senior youth worker, complemented by group supervision sessions that foster peer learning and support. To strengthen this approach, all youth workers have undergone training in both receiving and providing supervision, enhancing their ability to reflect on their practice and maintain high standards. This system serves as a key quality assurance measure, promoting continuous professional development, accountability, and the effective delivery of youth work services.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ prioritises quality in youth work by funding Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for all its youth workers. This initiative enables them to expand their knowledge, refine their skills, and stay updated with best practices in the field. By investing in ongoing training and learning opportunities, the agency ensures that youth workers continue to grow in their professional practice, enhancing the effectiveness and impact of their work. This commitment to CPD serves as a key quality assurance measure, fostering excellence, innovation, and the highest standards in youth work service provision.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ has developed a Self-Assessment Tool to help youth organisations evaluate and enhance the quality of their work with young people in Malta and Gozo. Quality youth work is built on meaningful interactions that empower young people, support their growth, and foster active citizenship.
The tool focuses on five key areas:
-
Centring young people in youth work
-
Prioritising safety and well-being
-
Promoting educational and developmental growth
-
Ensuring accessibility and inclusion
-
Providing quality information and guidance
Through a structured evaluation process, youth organisations can assess their strengths, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies to enhance their impact. Organisations are encouraged to establish an internal evaluation team to lead the process, ensuring a culture of reflection and continuous learning.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ also offers support through youth workers, guiding organisations in applying the framework effectively. This tool reinforces a commitment to high-quality youth work, helping organisations provide meaningful and empowering experiences for young people.
Research and evidence supporting Youth Work
In 2016 Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and the University of Malta, through the Faculty for Social Well-Being, signed a Memorandum of Understanding guided by the aims and strategies of the National Youth Policy Towards 2020. The Agreement was intended to consolidate and increase the collaboration between the two entities in research and the development of supervision.
In this regard the agency published research documents Mirrors and Windows 1, 2 and 3, and Voices of the Young and Vulnerable in Malta. These studies look at young people as they face the most significant transitions into adulthood and were intended to be used by policy makers when developing youth policies and in particular by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ while developing youth work programmes.
Similarly when the agency introduced the concept of detached youth work in Malta it engaged in a project with two other international youth work providers and part of the project was a research that laid the ground work for the eventual development of the guidelines for the detached youth work in Malta.
Participate Youth Work
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ offers a number of opportunities where young people can work with a youth worker in different programmes through which they can develop initiatives for themselves or for other young people.
The Young People's Disability Forum
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, in collaboration with the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), runs the Young People's Disability Rights Forum (YPDRF), a platform dedicated to empowering young people with disabilities. The forum brings together young people with diverse skills and interests and a youth worker, providing them with the opportunity to become advocates for disability rights and social inclusion. Members actively participate in consultation exercises, sharing their experiences to highlight barriers faced by young people with disabilities while proposing recommendations to foster a more inclusive society. Through this initiative, the YPDRF supports young people in voicing their aspirations, promoting accessibility, and driving positive change.
The Young Migrant Consultation Forum
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ runs the Young Migrant Consultation Forum, a platform dedicated to young people with a migrant background. This initiative provides a space for young migrants to share their experiences, discuss challenges, and contribute ideas for a more inclusive society. With the support of a youth worker, participants engage in consultations to highlight barriers they face and propose solutions that reflect their aspirations. The forum empowers young people to voice their concerns, advocate for their rights, and actively participate in shaping policies that impact their lives, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, in collaboration with Mental Health Services, runs the Mental Health Ambassadors programme to engage young volunteers in promoting mental well-being. This initiative empowers young people to raise awareness about mental health and provide essential resources within their communities. With the support of professionals, youth ambassadors contribute to mental health campaigns, create impactful content, and encourage open discussions among their peers. Through this experience, participants develop leadership and communication skills while advocating for a more supportive and informed approach to mental health. The programme brings together dedicated young individuals who are passionate about making a positive difference in mental health awareness and support.
Also, the National Youth Council are given opportunities for such participation. The National Youth Council form part of the Youth Work Profession Board, a platform that is charged with regulating the youth work profession and assess the quality of young work provision. The National Youth Council together with representatives of youth work umbrella organisations are also part of the Youth Proofing Committee, the committee who is charged with formulating a system of Youth Checks in Malta.
Moreover, such opportunities are also given on an ad hoc manner to different young people. In 2024 Aġenzija Żgħażagħ partnered with ERYICA and EYCA in two campaigns, an initiative in anticipation of the EU Parliament Elections. Two youth ambassadors were nominated who actively spearheaded these campaigns in collaboration with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ to reach young people and provide them with information on the EU Parliament Elections.
Smart youth work: youth work in the digital world
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ launched VR LifeCraft which was an innovative youth work programme that harnesses digital and smart technologies to provide young people with immersive learning experiences. Through virtual reality, participants engaged in diverse scenarios beyond their everyday lives, developing essential skills such as problem-solving, communication, empathy, and critical thinking. Over four weeks, young people explored interactive VR environments designed to enhance these competencies while broadening their perspectives on various subjects. The programme integrated digital engagement with meaningful discussions and real-world activities, ensuring a holistic learning experience. By combining technology with youth work principles, VR LifeCrafts empowered young people to navigate an ever-evolving world, equipping them with the adaptability and skills needed for the future. The programme successfully brought together multiple groups of participants, with each young person receiving a certificate of participation in recognition of their commitment and growth.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ partnered in a project called Kissing Tartu, an innovative project that leverages digital and smart youth work to enhance sexual and health education beyond traditional classroom settings. Recognizing the need for comprehensive sexuality education, the project integrates technology-driven solutions to engage young people in meaningful learning experiences. Through the use of virtual reality (VR) and interactive digital tools, Kissing Tartu bridges the gap in formal and non-formal education, making sexual education more accessible, engaging, and relevant to today’s digital landscape.
The project delivers two key digital resources: a free-access e-quiz and an immersive VR experience, both designed to be used in formal and non-formal educational settings. These tools provide young people with an interactive and dynamic approach to learning about sexual health, relationships, and well-being. Additionally, Kissing Tartu reinforces the recognition of youth work in sexual education by fostering collaboration between youth workers, educators, and experts. Through this digital and smart youth work approach, the project empowers young people with knowledge, critical thinking skills, and a safe space to explore essential topics in an innovative way.
Kellimni.Com is an online space where young people can communicate in real time with youth workers and trained volunteers on issues that are of the young person’s concern. Contact with Kellimni.Com can be made in realtime 24/7 though email, smart messaging or online chat. The website also features an information section called Inform Yourself where the young person can find resources relating to the self, relating to others and what’s around me.
In the time of Covid
As a response to the Covid-19 pandemic Aġenzija Żgħażagħ shifted some of its services online. These services, falling within the agency’s Digital Youth Work Services, created safe online spaces where young people can engage with youth workers. The Virtual Youth Hub is an interactive space where young people aged 16 to 18 and over could come together virtually to engage between themselves and with a youth worker. This project was intended to replace the physical youth hubs that the agency has in post-secondary schools in Malta.
Similar to this was the creation of a virtual youth café. Beat the Boredom, was a safe online space for young people between the ages of 13 and 15. This project was intended to replace the physical youth cafes that the agency has around Malta, to ensure that young people still have the opportunity to benefit from the services of youth workers
Another digital project was "Alone? #inthistogether". Through this project the agency provided an online space where young people aged 18 and over can interact.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ also developed two live, online programmes focusing on young people using social media platforms. Go Live with Malcolm used Facebook as a platform. Through this live session a youth worker engaged with young people and together they discussed current affairs. The other live programme was Instapoint which used Instagram as a platform. During this live session, youth workers engaged with young people and focused on particular life-skills such as teamwork, leadership or critical thinking and explored how youth work can enhance such skills.
Also as a reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic Aġenzija Żgħażagħ organised two online school transition programmes aimed at young people starting middle school and secondary school in the 2020/2021 scholastic year. These online programmes, intended to smoothen the transition to these new schools through this particular period, were called My Next School Adventure and Secondary School Survival Kit.
My Next School Adventure targeted young people who were transiting from primary to middle school for their first two years of secondary schooling. During the online sessions these students had the opportunity to meet up with other youngsters who are going through the same school transition. The 8 sessions programme aims to explore different issues that these students might face through online interactive games, crafts, drama, quizzes, group work and discussions.
Secondary School Survival Kit aimed at equipping young people with essential life-skills for a smooth transition to their final 3 years of secondary schooling. The kit is presented in the form of a playlist. Each song on the playlist launches a theme that will prompt a discussion around transition, change, celebrating self and friendships, and how to navigate the inevitable stresses associated with these years. The Secondary Schools Survival Kit encourages students to look ahead and start building toward their future goals as individuals and as members of their respective communities.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ uses its website, Facebook page, Instagram page, and email newsletter to provide comprehensive online youth information.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ organised a training, entitled Social Media Training as part of Being Online, a Eurodesk MT funded project, for youth workers and other professionals working with young people as part of their professional development. During this training youth workers and other professionals working with young people had the opportunity to explore various effective ways to interact with young people online. Also, during the training youth workers were provided with the opportunities to sharpen their skills when using digital tools such as Zoom, Streamyard, Instagram or Facebook while engaging with young people.
Social media is one of the tools used by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ to reach out to young people. In this regard, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ looks at innovative ways, such as online methods, on how to work with young young people and involve them in the decision-making processes. The OPIN platform is one such medium. Through the OPIN platform, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ strives to involve a wider range of young people using online tools including polling, text reviewing, idea generation and agenda setting. Through OPIN, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ collects young people’s views, opinions and ideas on a wide range of issues.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ uses OPIN mainly through its community services. Young people are invited to participate on OPIN and have a say in the decision-making processes. The platform offers a number of advantages such as the possibility to see and reply to other people’s comments and knowing how this information is going to be used.
As part of this project Aġenzija Żgħażagħ attended the Open Summit in Berlin held in early December to discuss the results of the OPIN platform. During the summit the partiicpants looked at the need for e-participation, active involvement of young people, effective strategies to involve young people in the decision process and the importance of following up on policy makers. During the summit, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ experience was presented as a good practice of an e-participation project.
In October 2019, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ engaged in a project called ‘Digital youth particiption made easy’ (DiGY). Digital youth participation empowers young people to become active citizens from local to European level. The positive effects only unfold when the participation process is run professionally – just to use digital tool is not enough to inspire young people, administrations and youth organisations to collaborate.
The results of the project will be developed by a consortium of 7 partner from all over Europe, who bring in valuable country-specific knowledge and experiences. Nexus will be the coordinator with Liquid Democracy providing technical support. Youth organisation from Macedonia, Slovenia, Georgia and Malta will be working with on the project from a practical aspect. Creativitas will be focusing on project dissemination.
This Erasmus+ strategic partnership project ‘DiGY’ – ‘Digital participation made easy’ aims to tackle this problem by delivering qualification and capacity building to initiators of digital participation projects. The materials designed will be integrated into the OPIN platform, a professional online toolbox for digital youth participation that is already available in 10 European languages. Thus, the European- wide infrastructure is strengthened and enriched by modules to increase the for digital youth participation project. Aġenzija Żgħażagħ’s role in the project will be that of piloting digital participation projects on OPIN, contribute to development of e-learning materials, establishing guidelines for best practices and redesigning of the OPIN platform.