The 2024 NYCI Conference brought youth workers, managers, volunteers and other stakeholders together to focus on two critical aspects of the sector’s Vision for Youth Work: Aspect 5 – People: Capacity, Support, and Diversity and Aspect 7 – Recognition and Resources.
As the sector faces challenges in recruitment and retention, the conference launched the year of #YouthWorkersChangeLives, spotlighting the vital contributions of youth workers and exploring ways to elevate the recognition and support of youth work across Ireland.
📁 Presentation Materials
Explore the details of the sessions and access digital copies of presentation slides and relevant materials.
Valuing youth work and youth workers
Presenter: Dr Hilary Tierney
National to European Agenda – The Bonn Process
Presenters: Janice McGarry, Dermot O’Brien, and Megan Atkinson
🔊 Stories of Youth Work Soundscape Experience
Have a listen to the immersive soundscape experience that set the tone for the day – emotive stories from young people and youth workers alike about how youth work changed their lives.
🖼️ Images from the day
Take a look back at some of the key highlights from the day.
🎤 Speaker Bios
Learn more about the inspiring individuals shaping the conference.
Hilary Tierney
Dr. Hilary Tierney is Associate Professor of Community and Youth Work and co-Director of the Centre for Youth Research and Development (CYRD) in the Department of Applied Social Studies in Maynooth University (MU). She gets to work every day with amazing people who are committed to sustainable social change, to developing our capacity for critical curiosity and informed action, to create a world worth living in for all who share the planet. Hilary has had a lifelong commitment to youth work.
Mark Hammond
Dr Mark Hammond is a senior lecturer in Community Youth Work at Ulster University. He has worked in the field of youth work and peacebuilding for over 30 years with various statutory and voluntary sector youth work agencies such as YMCA Ireland, Corrymeela and the Education Authority. His PhD study explored the purpose of youth work and the processes in which it engages. Mark has a passion for learning and teaching and seeing the development of students in the academic, professional, and personal journey.
Aidan Farrelly
Youth Work educator and research in Maynooth University. Elected Member of Kildare County Council. DSocSc student. Member of Kildare LCDC, SICAP Sub-Group. Kildare Health and Well-being Sub-Group Chair.
Janice McGarry
Janice McGarry, Coordinator of the European Youth Work Agenda – Bonn Process Project, Aspire2 Director, Freelance youth work consultant, facilitator and trainer for European initiatives. Over the past 20+ years Janice has been involved at all levels of youth work. Her journey into youth work started as a young person. She firmly believes that her participation in youth work has changed her own life & the lives of her family members as a result. Janice has achieved her degree in youth and community & her Masters in Equality Studies.
Dermot O’Brien
Dermot is an international trainer and facilitator who has been working in the Development Education, Youth Work and Further Education sectors for many years. He has been involved in co-authoring the last five Development Education resources for the National Youth Council of Ireland’s ‘One World Week’ as well as delivering training and hosting events for NYCI. He has also been involved in designing and delivering training, supporting events and organising activities with a variety of organisations in the Development Education and Global Citizenship field. As a tutor in the Liberties College Dermot teaches the Social Justice Principles module on the Youth and Community studies course.
Dublin Youth Theatre
Since its foundation in 1977, by Educational Psychologist Paddy O’Dwyer, Dublin Youth Theatre (DYT) has forged a unique contribution to the worlds of theatre and youth work, consistently breaking new ground in youth theatre. Always progressive, a little radical, and always forward thinking, we provided a space for young people from a wide range of backgrounds, interests and identities to have a voice. DYT’s focus and drive is the personal, social and artistic development of young people aged 14-22 in Dublin, through the medium of theatre.
The Vision for Youth Work
Get your copy of the full document and poster to help you bring the Vision to life in your work, and translate the vision into a reality for all our young people.
Programme for Government Asks
Get the full breakdown of our policy asks and why they are crucial to building a better future for young people.