city of whittlesea youthplan2030 · · freeza program – supports the development of young people...

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City of Whittlesea YouthPlan2030 Summary & Action Plan, April 2007

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Aim of YouthPlan2030 YouthPlan2030 is the culmination of an extensive research and consultation program. It provides a framework to guide the development of the municipal service system that is responsive and effective in meeting the needs and aspirations of all young people in the City of Whittlesea. The Plan is more than a report outlining the future priorities of Council Youth Services Team; it is a whole of Council and whole of community approach, based on feedback from young people and stakeholders, and research on current best practice.

What is a Municipal Youth Service System?

In YouthPlan2030 the ‘municipal youth service system’ refers to all matters and structures that affect all young people. This includes systems within Council, external to Council, and local systems. It includes the physical infrastructure, for example open space, town centres and community facilities, as well as the full spectrum of services; i.e. universal, primary, secondary, tertiary, mainstream and targeted support services.

Table 1: YouthPlan2030: Defining Municipal Youth Service System

YouthPlan2030 Municipal Youth Service System

Infrastructure Built Environment

Natural Environment

Public Transport

Council All Directorates

Youth Services

Services Universal

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

Targeted.

Why develop a Youth Plan? It is important for Council to develop a Youth Plan for the following reasons:

· Young people not only represent a significant proportion of the Whittlesea population (21%), but are also a very large group in absolute terms with approximately 28,000 people aged 10 to 25. This age cohort will increase by 40% over the next 15 years and reach almost 40,000 young people by 2021;

· Council will continue to provide a range of direct services and programs to young people;

· Council is best placed to act as a conduit between young people and other institutions;

· Council has a key leadership and planning role in the municipality.

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· Most things Council has responsibility for have an impact on young people. Given the municipality is on the verge of significant growth the opportunity exists now to effectively ‘design in’ young people for long term benefit.

· Council also has a key role in advocating with, and on behalf of young people at state and federal levels;

Council’s current approach The Youth Services Team has a primary and secondary intervention service delivery focus. This work is delivered directly by the team, most often in partnership with schools and other agencies. Council takes a lead role in developing strategies to engage young people in civic participation activities, also in developing the service system for and with young people and local agencies.

In summary, the Youth Services Team responds to the needs of young people in the municipality in the following ways:

· Youth development and civic engagement;

· Youth support, information and referral;

· Service provision, agency support and co-ordination;

· Planning and advocacy;

· Developing partnerships, and the local service system.

The overall target audience of the Youth Services Team is all young people aged 10 to 25 years in the municipality.

Council’s Youth Services Model

The current Youth Services model is based on the team being responsible for ‘portfolios’ and ‘areas’. Portfolios are based on issues of priority, special needs population groups, or specific tasks, i.e. parenting, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI) and holiday programs. Youth Officers are responsible for responding to designated portfolios across the municipality. ‘Area’ responsibility involves staff also working with young people and stakeholders in specific geographic areas. See figure 1: Council Youth Services Area Map.

Table 2: Council’s Youth Services Model

Council’s Youth Services Model

Municipal focus Team Leader

Youth Planner

Intensive Support and Advocacy

ATSI Trainee

Youth Services Support Officer (Admin)

Area Work 5 Youth Officers designated to geographic areas.

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Portfolios:

Youth Engagement

NESB, newly arrived and refugee young people

ATSI young people

Parenting

Development of local clubs

Music development

Young women’s programs

Young men’s programs

Skate boards and BMX

Holiday programs

Website development

Planning

Built environment and facilities

Advocacy

These Portfolios are held by the Youth Service Team. Respective Officers are responsible for ‘driving’ the issue on behalf of Youth Services across the municipality.

The 2006/07 Council budget allocation for Youth Services was $720,258 which includes funding for 9 EFT.

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Figure 1: Council’s Youth Services Area Map

Source: City of Whittlesea

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Figure 2: Focus of Council’s Youth Services

Council Youth Services: Programs & Services

Council’s Youth Services currently provides a number of specific programs and events. Some examples are as follows:

· Youth Krew and Summits – the Youth Krew is a group of local young people engaged by the Youth Services Team to run a Leadership Camp and annual Youth Summit. The Youth Services Team then uses the information obtained from the summit exercise to design and implement appropriate programs.

110 young people from local schools attended the 2006 Youth Summit. They discussed racism, rights, facilities, adolescence and sexual assault. In response the Youth Services Team has delivered programs including self-defence, parenting adolescents and developed planning principles for town centres.

· Programs in Schools and the community – The Youth Services Team design and implement programs in conjunction with schools and other agencies. These programs, which are offered to young people in local schools settings currently include a Young Men’s Program, the Inter-Cultural Narrative Project, Understanding Racism Project and Young Muslim Women’s Community Development Group.

· School Holiday Programs – including Try Days, holiday Grab Bags and resourcing of a disability program. 800 Grab Bags were distributed in 2006.

· Parenting Programs – evening sessions for parents of adolescents. In 2006 these sessions were attended by more than 90 parents.

· Skate Park Outreach and Advisory Group – made up of young people to advise Council on user issues. This work has significantly reduced tension amongst users, and between local residents and young people. It has

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facilitated improved relationships between young people and local police, the reduction of graffiti on the site has been attributed to the work of this group.

· Young Women’s Self Defence Program – aims to develop confidence and assertiveness skills in young women;

· Freeza Program – supports the development of young people in the music industry. The Freeza Committee of young people organises 7 music events each year for local young people. Approximately 300 young people attend each gig.

· Participation in Major Events - Youth Services participates in Community Festivals and other events throughout the year. In 2006 this included the young people’s stage at the Whittlesea Community Festival. Youth Services also hosted the regional Northern Skate and BMX Titles.

· Information Advocacy and Referral Service (also offering intensive support) – direct support to individual young people. Assistance is offered to local young people during difficult times to negotiate access to specialised services. (Most often these are located outside the municipality.)

Service System Development

In addition to these specific programs the Youth Services Team has a broader strategic role in ensuring the development of the youth services across the municipality and region. This typically involves the establishment, facilitation and resourcing of a wide variety of networks focused on stronger partnerships to enhance local service provision and to attract resources and services for young people in the City of Whittlesea. For example:

• Whittlesea Youth Commitment: focuses on employment and training issues.

• Interface Council’s Youth Services Group: provides a platform to lobby the State and Federal Governments for youth services.

• Northern Regional Youth Advisory Network: feeds advice and concerns directly to the State Government Minister for Youth.

• Whittlesea Youth Service System Development Group: is a combined network of local agencies committed to working in collaboration towards filling gaps in services for young people.

• Whittlesea Youth Network: supports and facilitates linkages for youth service providers.

• Whittlesea Action Group for CLD Young People: generates partnerships and resources that deliver programs to NESB young people.

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Planning

It is also important to recognise that Council plays a key role in the lives of young people beyond what is delivered by the Youth Services Team. For example, Council’s responsibility as a key planner of local communities (both in established and growth areas) and as the major provider of leisure and open space infrastructure has a significant influence on the quality of life experienced by young people. Youth Services is currently working with young people at Laurimar linking them to the Developers to voice their needs in the development of the youth strategy for the estate.

Partnerships

Council is also ideally placed to provide leadership in strengthening partnerships with other local and regional agencies that have a focus on youth, strategically planning and advocating for services, encouraging youth participation and improving the outcomes for young people.

What’s different about YouthPlan2030?

While YouthPlan2030 reaffirms a commitment to the delivery of these programs, activities and broader strategic roles by Youth Services, it proposes to broaden and strengthen the role of Council in relation to young people. In line with international best practice YouthPlan2030 positions Council as a key player in positive youth development’1 by attempting to make youth engagement practices central to the way Council addresses the needs of young people.

This approach builds on:

1) what Council has already achieved to date; 2) what young people have said, and 3) the findings of an international literature review. YouthPlan2030 consolidates

and takes Council further in engaging young people in ways that are world’s best practice and provide exciting opportunities for young people and Council.

Youth Engagement

The Plan sets out a comprehensive framework to engage2 with young people in meaningful dialogue and ensure that not only are their views heard, but they are implemented and genuinely involved in the building of their local communities.

1 Youth Development refers to the multitude of realms and domains that impact on the lives of young people including:

Their transition from childhood to adulthood;

Their home and family experience;

Their engagement and attachment to the community;

Their access to services;

Their use of the built and natural environments and public space;

Their participation in recreation, leisure, cultural and social activities and events;

Their engagement in education, training, employment, social and community life.

2 In YouthPlan2030 youth engagement refers to informing young people of policy directions, consulting young people as part of a process to develop policy, awareness or understanding, involving young people through a range of mechanisms to ensure their concerns are considered in decision-making, collaborating with young people through partnerships to formulate options and recommendations, empowering young people to make decisions and to implement and manage change (adapted from Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2005, Effective Engagement: building relationships with community and other stakeholders: Book 1 an introduction to engagement. Community Engagement Network)

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By doing this Council hopes to achieve the following outcomes:

· Enhancing young people’s understanding about how their local community works;

· Harnessing the expertise that young people wish to offer in building the municipality;

· Enhancing young people’s sense of belonging; · Valuing and respecting young people; · Enhancing the way existing and future services, programs and activities are

offered to young people; and · Ensuring that young people’s perspectives and interests are embedded into the

work of Council.

Key challenges in developing the Plan

Developing a Youth Plan presents many challenges including:

· A widespread community view of young people which is often negative and which sees them as a group to be feared;

· The ‘Youth Service System’ is not easily defined and not cohesively structured around a universal framework in the manner of the early years sector;

· Much of the youth service system is ‘problem oriented’;

· The municipality’s population growth will continue to place pressure on youth service provision and highlight a broad range of social issues often associated with young people;

· The twin challenges of addressing the needs of growth areas and Whittlesea’s established communities;

· Addressing the well documented ‘pockets’ of social disadvantage;

· The cultural diversity of the municipality, whilst a key strength, simultaneously brings with it challenges associated with respecting difference and maintaining community harmony;

· The resources and breadth of skills currently available within the Youth Services Team will need to be expanded if Council is to effectively tackle the many complex issues and approaches outlined in YouthPlan2030;

· Young people are rarely vocal and included in the mainstream discussion, thus challenging Council on how to effectively implement whole-of-Council strategies to engage the voices of young people in the decisions that affect their lives. Also to support and promote the development of a culture of youth engagement throughout the municipality.

YouthPlan2030 - Background Documents YouthPlan2030 Summary and Action Plan is supported by a series of six comprehensive inter-related documents based on the outcomes of an extensive research process.

The 2006 Youth Summit Report and the Simple Statements Powerful Comments report will be produced as documents for use by young people, agencies, government and media. The other documents are intended as Council resources and operational guidelines.

· Part 1: Municipal Service System: A planning framework to guide the development of the municipal service system for young people.

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· Part 2: Research and Policy: Report on the progress on research findings and policy development.

· Part 3: 2006 Youth Summit Report: Report on the priority issues raised and discussed by young people and the programmatic responses of the City of Whittlesea Youth Services.

· Part 4: City Of Whittlesea Youth Services Forward Plan: Outlines the service model, practice framework and future plans for the development of the council’s youth service.

· Part 5: Youth Facilities Plan: Outlines the preliminary short and long term proposal for youth facilities across the municipality.

· Part 6: Simple Statements, Powerful Comments: What Young People Are Saying: This report brings together the key statements young people have made in local consultations, evaluations and reports over the past five years.

The Youth Service System As stated above the ‘municipal youth service system’ refers to all matters and structures that affect all young people. Outlined in the table below is a map of youth targeted services located within the municipality. While the scope of services identified is not considered to be exhaustive3 it does provide an overview of the services for young people.

Table 3: Youth Targeted Services Currently in the City of Whittlesea

Universal Primary Services Secondary Services

Tertiary Services

· Education services (Schools, TAFE, Tertiary)

· Libraries

· Health Services Sports facilities

· Leisure facilities

· Council Youth Services

· Police Youth Resource Officers

· School Focused Youth Services (Kildonan)

· Student Support Services (Local schools)

· Youth and Family Counselling (Plenty Valley Community Health, Kildonan, Centacare, Anglicare4)

· Youth support and programs (Kildonan)

· Council Youth Services

· Youth Pathways Program (NMIT TAFE)

· Employment and Training Providers

· Mentoring (RMIT and Kildonan)

· Managed Individual Pathways (Schools and Salvation Army)

· Reconnect (Kildonan)

· Services for Newly Arrived Migrants (Northern Migrant Resource Centre and Whittlesea

· Drug Services (Plenty Valley Community Health)

· Homelessness Service (Plenty Valley Community Health)

· Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Austin CAHMS - limited outreach; NEAMI)

3 E.g. It does not include mainstream services that young people may access such as PVCH dental services.4 All counselling is limited with waiting lists.

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· Sport clubs

· Youth clubs

· Whittlesea Youth Commitment/ Hume/Whittlesea Local Learning and Employment Network

Community Connections)

Council’s Role in Developing the Youth Service System

Council's work is greater than the programs and activities delivered by the Youth Services Team. The provision of infrastructure, such as leisure facilities, parks and gardens, skate parks and bike paths, and its role in activities, such as health promotion, are other examples of how Council contributes to the improved liveability of the municipality for young people and the broader community.

In the current environment of growth and renewal, Council is well placed to ensure communities, along with their services and facilities are built for the long-term benefit of all members. The role of Youth Services is to provide Council and stakeholders with informed and specialist advice and direction to achieve the best possible long-term outcomes for young people in the municipality.

Table 4: Council’s Role in Developing the Youth Service System

Council’s role in developing the Municipal Youth Service System

Infrastructure Built Environment

Natural Environment

Public Transport

‘Designing in’ young people into town centres, open space, community facilities.

Maintaining and managing the natural environment for current and future generations.

Lobbying State and Federal Governments to provide accessible and affordable public and community transport.

Council All Directorates

Youth Services

Involving young people to ensure their needs and interests are reflected in all aspects of the work of Council, and linking young people to community activities and resources.

Promotes the civic engagement of young people, delivers primary and secondary support to young people.

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Services Universal

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

Mainstream Targeted

Delivers services to young people through Youth Services and actively generates services for young people.

YouthPlan2030 Evidence Base

The evidence base and analysis of local data, issues, emerging needs and trends outlined below form the basis of the objectives and initiatives identified in the YouthPlan2030 Action Plan and highlight why young people are important in the City of Whittlesea.

The evidence base is built upon information including:

1) Demographic Profile; 2) Service Statistics and System Analysis; 3) Global, National, State Literature Review; and 4) Results from community consultations.

Demographic Profile

Population Projections

The City of Whittlesea is the fastest growing municipality in the north of Melbourne, recognised by Melbourne2030 as a growth area of significance. It is located 20 km north of the Melbourne Central Business District, with a population of 132,000 which is projected to almost double by the year 2030. Significant growth is expected in all age cohorts.

Young People in the City of Whittlesea

The City of Whittlesea is currently home to approximately 28,093 young people aged 10 to 24 years. This population is forecast to increase by 40% by 2021 to approximately 39,000. By contrast, the North West metropolitan region’s 10 to 24 year old population will only increase by 3% in that time and Victoria’s will actually decline by 3% (refer to Table below).

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Table 6: Comparison of 10 to 24 Year Old Population Forecasts from 2006 to 2021

Area 2006 2011 2016 2021

% Change from 2006 to

2021

City of Whittlesea 28,093 31,717 35,753 39,116 40%

NW Metropolitan Region 311,229 314,145 318,884 320,737 3%

Victoria 1,028,256 1,034,332 1,026,665 999,896 -3%

Households with Young People

The majority of 15 to 24 year olds in Whittlesea are dependent students living at home (41.7%) or non-dependent children (37.5%) living at home. What is most noticeable is that Whittlesea has a far higher percentage of non-dependant children living at home (37.5%) compared with metropolitan Melbourne (26.2%) and a much lower percentage of young people who live in group households (2.9% compared with 9.0% for metropolitan Melbourne).

Socio-Economic Indicators

Whittlesea ranks third lowest in metropolitan Melbourne’s Index of Education and Occupation and sixth lowest on the Index of Urban Disadvantage. According to the Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Disadvantage5, the City of Whittlesea, with a score of 962.4, was the eighth most disadvantaged area in Victoria. (ASB Census 2001). Figure 3 and Table 5 below indicate that Thomastown with a score of 884.8, was the most disadvantaged of the ten precincts within the City of Whittlesea, indicating the area has many low income families and people with little training and in unskilled occupations compared with the other precincts.

Figure 3: SEIFA Map of Disadvantage

5 SEIFA focuses on attributes such as low income, low education, and high unemployment.

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Table 5: SEIFA Table of Disadvantage by Precinct

Precinct Index of Disadvantage

Thomastown 884.8

Lalor 890.2

Epping 965.9

Bundoora 1008.2

Whittlesea Township 1009.9

Mill Park 1011.0

Mernda/Doreen 1032.9

Blossom Park 1043.2

Rural North 1053.8

South Morang 1057.0

Source: Figure 3 & Table 5: Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) ABS 2001

Multicultural Population

The City of Whittlesea is the third most multicultural municipality in Victoria, with almost 34% of its residents born overseas and nearly 46% of residents speaking a language at home other than English. The main countries of birth include Italy, Macedonia and Greece. The range of cultures and languages contributes greatly to the character and identity of the municipality. (ABS Census of Population and Housing 2001)

Approximately 55% of residents aged between 10 and 24 years of age have one or both parents who were born overseas. For children of one parent families this figure is 38%.

For residents in the age group 15 to 24 years, the highest represented birthplace was Australia (77.1% of male residents and 78.0% of female residents), followed by Macedonia (2.3% male and 2.6% female), and Vietnam (2.0% male and 1.9% female).

A comparison of the top five languages spoken in the City of Whittlesea by young people aged 10 to 24 years shows that English is the most commonly spoken language at home, followed by Macedonian, Italian, Greek and Arabic (ABS Census of Population and Housing 2001 and City of Whittlesea: Youth Statistics Bulletin, Issue #1, 2006).

Emerging Smaller Communities in Whittlesea

Between 1999 and 2005 there was a total of 753 new arrivals who intended to settle in the City of Whittlesea aged 12 to 24 years. The majority of young people aged 12 to 24 years arrived from Iraq, India, Macedonia, the Philippines, China and Vietnam.

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New arrivals to the City of Whittlesea for 2000-2003 indicate 37% were from Horn of African nations, Iraq, Iran, and states of former Yugoslavia. 57% of new arrivals were aged between 19 and 25 years. Over 40 other smaller communities contribute to the total of new settlers.

Indigenous Population

The Indigenous community in the City of Whittlesea is proportionally large compared to most other municipalities in the North Western Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. The most recently available census figures indicate that Indigenous people make up 0.6 percent of the local population (ABS 2001). The youth population is pronounced with 31.7% of Indigenous Australians in the municipality aged between 10 and 24 years.

Young Mothers

Birth rates for young mothers are very similar to the State rate of 10 births per 1000 young women aged 15 to 19 years old. However while the percentage decreased across Victoria in recent years, birth rates for young mothers increased in Whittlesea.

Leisure Participation

Approximately 1 in 5 people aged 12 to 24 years participates in a club or group, slightly more than the overall participation rate for the municipality as a whole. Of those participating in a club or group the overwhelming majority of 12 to 24 year olds belong to a sporting club (85%). (Household Survey 2006)

Employment and Training

Compared to Metropolitan Melbourne, young people living in Interface municipalities6:

· Are more likely to leave school earlier;

· Are less likely to complete Year 12;

· Have lower TER scores;

· Are less likely to attend post-secondary education; and

· Are more likely to disengage from school and employment

· (Interface Councils, Staying Connected).

14% of City of Whittlesea’s male labour force aged between 15 to 24 years is identified as unemployed, compared to 12% of the female labour force aged 15 to 24 years (Youth Issues Bulletin 2006). This is slightly higher than the Melbourne Statistical District.

Juvenile Justice

For the month of January 2007, Snapshot Data on Juvenile Justice from the North and West Metropolitan Region, showed the median age of juvenile justice clients was 17 years. 12% of the clients were female, 88% male. Indigenous young people and young people of Pacific Islander origin are significantly overrepresented.

6 The Interface Councils lie at the interface of metropolitan Melbourne and rural Victoria, sharing aspects of both urban and rural communities. These include the Cities of Cardinia, Casey, Whittlesea, Hume, Mornington Peninsular, and Wyndham, and the Shires of Nillumbik, Yarra Ranges, Melton. Staying Connected: solutions for addressing services and gaps for young people living at the Interface. A report of the Melbourne Interface Councils. 2006)

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Findings from National and International Literature

Based on an extensive literature review of national and international youth engagement and development practices the following key findings were identified:

· One of the critical success factors of youth engagement, in case studies undertaken in Canada, New Zealand and United Kingdom, is the support and involvement of people in senior leadership roles;

· A healthy vibrant youth population is a valuable economic and social asset;

· Young people are an under-utilised resource who are interested in contributing;

· Need to acknowledge changing contexts of young people and assist them to develop skills to cope with change;

· Young people can support wider society to understand and adapt to changes; and

· Need to incorporate youth development approaches across the whole municipality.

What Young People are Saying

A range of community consultation processes were undertaken as part of the development of the YouthPlan2030, both with young people and key agencies for whom young people are a key target group. Some of the main issues and priorities identified by young people (from YouthPlan2030: Part 6) are summarised below.

Themes Description of feedback

Community safety and the use of public space

Young people often feel unsafe in public spaces.

Young people are concerned about racism, violence, harassment and discrimination.

Substance issues – drugs and alcohol

Young people are concerned about smoking and drug and alcohol use.

Support services Young people want more services in the local area.

In particular they see a need for more support for families.

When young people need help, it is their families and friends that they turn to.

Health and wellbeing Young people value and are concerned about family relationships.

Young people would like better education about sexuality.

Young people are concerned about the incidence of youth depression and suicide.

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Transport Transport is a major issue for young people. The lack of transport in local areas impacts on all areas of their lives.

Social / recreation opportunities Young people need more youth-specific spaces and events.

Education & employment Young people would like more employment opportunities.

Being involved in the community Young people are eager to be involved in the community, and want to contribute to decision making.

YouthPlan2030 approach In order to most effectively and efficiently address the needs of local young people the YouthPlan2030 Action Plan outlines what is needed in the short–term to achieve the best outcomes for young people. It promotes a partnership approach between young people and key stakeholders, within and external to Council, in building all aspects of the service system over the long-term. The Action Plan includes building on the Council’s current Youth Services model of Area Teams and issue based Portfolios, and proposes a short and long-term plan to incorporate opportunities for young people in community facilities.

Underpinning the direction of the Plan is a fundamental shift in how Council and Youth Services undertake our work in relation to young people, i.e. through engagement strategies that develop partnerships with young people in building the municipality. The Plan also offers direction for key stakeholders in this approach to practice, that promises to build the City of Whittlesea as a place that embraces the development of young people.

In summary the approach outlined in YouthPlan2030 is characterised by:

· The introduction of youth friendly practices across Council

· Building on the capacity and skill base of Youth Services

· A major focus on facilitating partnerships in developing the municipal Service System

· Improving community facility outcomes for young people.

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YouthPlan2030 Vision

“A city that provides the social, physical and environmental resources and opportunities that facilitate and contribute to the development and wellbeing of

all young people within in the municipality”.

Guiding Beliefs and Practice Principles The guiding beliefs and practice principles underpinning the development of YouthPlan2030 have been developed in consultation with our young people and stakeholders. These include:

· Council is committed to contributing to the best outcomes for all young people.

· Young people are recognised as both vulnerable and resilient.

· Changes, complexity, challenges, and risk-taking behaviours are inevitable in the transition of young people towards independence.

· Young people need to be supported to define themselves and how they fit into the world.

· Diversity and difference is valued, embraced and respected.

· Young people need to be understood in the context of their identity, family, peers, community, culture, religion, social and political world.

· Young people are integral to the community.

· Young people have expertise that they are keen to contribute to the community.

· Engagement is central to practice; it promotes better outcomes, individual resilience, civic participation and social inclusion.

· The practice process is essential to the practice outcomes.

· Young people are the experts of their circumstances and are therefore central to solution finding.

· Ownership, connectedness and participation ensure individual and community resilience.

Responses

Based on the findings and outcomes of each stage of the research process the following priority issues were identified for YouthPlan2030. Each issue has a corresponding suggested direction.

Evidence and Emerging Issues Youthplan2030 Response

Youth Engagement

· A recurring theme identified in consultations with young people is their desire and interest to participate and contribute in practical ways to the development of the community. While young people appreciate being consulted they want to be more directly involved in planning and development initiatives (YouthPlan2030 Part 3 & 6: 2006 Youth Summit Report and What Young People Are Saying, 2007).

Facilitate young people’s direct involvement in the planning and development of their local communities, facilities and services.

These engagement strategies will target all stakeholders, internally and externally.

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· An ever increasing body of international literature emphasises the need to engage young people (YouthPlan2030 Part 2: Research and Policy, 2007).

Youth Development

· Young people have clearly expressed the pressure and anxieties they experience in relation to issues of sex, peer group pressure, bullying and drug taking. Having someone to assist young people negotiate their way through these complex issues was highlighted as a key priority by young people (YouthPlan2030 Part 3 & 6: 2006 Youth Summit Report and What Young People Are Saying).

· The approach articulated in State Government’s vision for young people (Future Directions: An Action Agenda for Young People).

· International literature promotes the practice of youth development (YouthPlan2030 Part 2: Research and Policy, 2007).

Through Council and Youth Services implement programs supporting adolescent development.

Promote adolescent development programs in local areas and with other stakeholders.

Advocate to State and Federal governments for Generalist Youth Work funding.

Indigenous Young People

· Second highest Indigenous population in North Western Metropolitan Region.

· Well documented socio-economic disadvantage.

· There are no Indigenous services located in the municipality.

· Northern Suburbs Aboriginal Association’s Community Plan (2005).

Engagement with local Indigenous young people and their community to support the identification and response to needs.

Advocate for resources to State and Federal Governments.

NESB Young People

· Newly arrived young people commonly experience bullying with a racial, ethnic or religious basis (New Start Study, 2005).

· They encounter lack of cultural understanding in relations with other students (New Start Study, 2005).

· Newly arrived young people often feel isolated; many would like more opportunities to be involved in the wider community in culturally appropriate ways (New Start Study, 2005).

· Many newly arrived young people experience stress and anxiety because of responsibilities they have in supporting their family during the settlement period

Engagement with local NESB young people and their communities (particularly newly arrived and refugees) to identify and respond to needs.

Initiate and support efforts by local agencies to develop the capacity to respond to this need.

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(New Start Study, 2005).

· Consultations were undertaken with the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues on behalf of the Whittlesea Action Group. These consultations identified a number of issues including improved educational outcomes, family support, access to sport, and support structures for newly arrived communities (YouthPlan2030 Part 6: What Young People Are Saying, 2007).

· The City of Whittlesea is the third most multicultural municipality in Victoria, with almost 34% of its residents born overseas and nearly 46% of residents speaking a language at home other than English.

· A significant number of young people aged 12 to 24 years have settled in the municipality over the past decade from countries such as Iraq, India, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Philippines, China and Vietnam.

Young People with Disabilities

Council’s Disability Access Unit is currently compiling a municipal profile of people with disabilities and a Disability Action Plan. The broad benchmark to ascertain the overall number of people with a disability is 20%. However more residents receive the Disability Pension than the Melbourne average. This roughly suggests that there are approximately more than 5,000 young people with a disability currently within the City of Whittlesea.

Contribute to developing a profile of young people in the municipality, and the assessment of the needs of young people with disabilities.

Ensure the needs of young people with disabilities are included in Youth Services programs and activities.

Access and inclusion strategies will continue to be developed and promoted with other stakeholders.

Mental Health

· Young people are concerned about depression and suicide (YouthPlan2030 Part 6: What Young People Are Saying, 2007).

· Whittlesea secondary school students reported higher incidences of depressive symptoms compared with the Melbourne Metropolitan area (Interface Councils, ‘Staying Connected’, 2006).

· Between 2000/2001 and 2004/2005 the number of public mental health clients aged 10 to 24 increased by 58% or 111 clients. (Municipal Youth Services Profile, 2006)

Facilitate local partnership and advocate to State and Federal Governments for an increased range of mental health services for local young people.

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· Very minimal existing mental health service provision for young people located in the municipality, exacerbated by high demand and long waiting lists.

· Large recent increases in demand will continue to increase significantly over the next 15 years due to population growth.

· School Focused Youth Services Survey highlights the need for mental health support services (School Focused Youth Service Needs Analysis, 2006).

· ‘Staying Connected’ report recommends increased State Government resources for the provision of locally-based, youth-specific mental health services, including: 1) Crisis outreach; 2) Multi-disciplinary staff, including youth-friendly GPs, case workers, psychologists; 3) consultant psychiatrists; and 4) Youth-specific intake services in each region.

Housing

· In 2005 there were 727 young people aged 6 to 24 living in all forms of social housing located in the City of Whittlesea. The majority lived in the suburbs of Mill Park, Epping and Thomastown.

· According to the “Counting the Homeless” census, young people 12 to 24 represent approximately 35% (1,201) of the total homeless population in the Northern DHS region.

· 55% of all daily requests to the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP: a supported accommodation program for young people) are not able to be met.

· The supply of low cost rental housing in the municipality is minimal and shrinking in neighbouring areas.

· There are few vacancies to provide housing options for young people as a pathway out of homelessness.

· There is a significant increase in the number of young people with housing needs presenting with multiple and complex needs.

Facilitate and advocate to State and Federal Governments for more emergency youth housing and supported youth housing services, and improving young people’s access to rental housing.

Youth Support

· Young people are asking for more support services in drugs and alcohol, housing and homelessness, family support and general counselling (YouthPlan2030 Part 6: What Young People Are Saying, 2007).

· Generalist youth workers support the healthy physical, social and emotional development of all young people, enhancing protective factors and

Facilitate and advocate for more Generalist Youth Workers and counselling support. This will include targeting State and Federal Governments.

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working with young people to develop their strengths, thus minimising the impact of risk factors (Interface Councils, ‘Staying Connected’, 2006).

· Importantly, generalist youth services provide a strong link to the range of other more intensive support services for young people and frequently facilitate partnership arrangements and networking between service providers. The provision of these services at a local level is critical for the development of an integrated, coherent and systematic approach to providing services for young people at the Interface (Interface Councils, ‘Staying Connected’, 2006).

· ‘Carrying the Can’ report (a joint report prepared by VCOSS and YACVic) recommends more funding of generalist youth workers and counselling provision.

Based on 1 worker per 3,000 young people aged 10 to 24 Years (Interface Councils, ‘Staying Connected’, 2006).the City of Whittlesea is currently deficient by 3 contact youth workers.

Family Support

· Support for and from families was the most significant concern expressed by young people in the City of Whittlesea Youth Needs Analysis (2003).

· Birth rates for young mothers increasing in the City of Whittlesea.

· Young people are most likely to turn to friends, parents and relatives for informal support (refer to Part 6: What Young People Are Saying).

· Young people are concerned about family relationships including family conflict and breakdown (YouthPlan2030 Part 6: What Young People Are Saying, 2007).

Provide greater support for young parents and the parents of young people, including support for migrant and newly arrived families.

Education and Training

· Overall, young people who live in Interface Councils have significantly lower educational achievements than their counterparts in metropolitan Melbourne (Interface Councils, ‘Staying Connected’, 2006).

· ‘Staying Connected’(Interface Councils) report recommends funding for a range of prevention and early intervention strategies to support young people to remain engaged at school, and to improve theeducational achievements of young people who live in Interface areas.

Work with local agencies to improve educational and training outcomes for young people.

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Sport and Leisure

· Young people see sport, participating in community activities and recreational activities as important ways to be physically active, and also important because social interaction and recreation are significant aspects of maintaining good mental health (Regional Youth Affairs Network Consultation on Victorian Government Youth Policy 2006).

· People are missing out on playing sport because they can’t afford to pay membership fees (YouthPlan2030 Part 3: 2006 Youth Summit Report).

· Increased leisure participation can decrease the social and economic cost of illness; improve mental health and wellbeing in the community, and create involved and active communities (VicHealth website, 2006).

Investigate barriers to young people accessing sport, leisure and fitness opportunities.

Promote awareness of what is available to young people of all ages, and also develop opportunities and strategies for young people’s participation in sporting, leisure and fitness activities.

Promote access to sport, fitness and leisure activities to newly arrived and NESB young people, and young people from low income family households.

Transport

· Transport is a major issue for young people. Lack of transport has enormous consequences for young people, including lack of access to health, education, employment and support services (Lalor North Citizenship Consultation 20057).

· Especially with rising petrol prices, young people want more buses and trams, free buses. Transport is especially a problem in South Morang, Epping and Mernda (Lalor North Citizenship Consultation 2005).

· Transport is important to provide access to employment opportunities (Lalor North Citizenship Consultation, 2005).

· Transport impacts on young people’s transition from dependence to independence (Lalor North Citizenship Consultation 2005).

· Transport is increasingly important as residents move into more outlying housing developments.

Advocate and support efforts for improved transportation and mobility opportunities for young people.

Research and Data

· There is an absence of agreed evidence based indicators within the youth services sector to inform youth service practice.

· Council is the one of the few agencies within the municipality with both the capacity and mandate to monitor and evaluate service utilisation trends by

Continue to undertake research and monitoring of young people’s circumstances and ways to improve the service system for young people and their families.

Provide data to other

7 The Lalor-Thomastown schools cluster, in partnership with City of Whittlesea Youth Services, delivered a

“Citizenship” seminar to Year 10 students at the City of Whittlesea Civic Centre.

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local young people. stakeholders to inform and strengthen the support system for young people.

A Service System for Young People

· As with research and monitoring, Council is one of the few agencies within the municipality with both the capacity and mandate to facilitate a coordinated approach to the development of a municipal service system for young people.

· Non-Council partners participating in the Whittlesea Youth Service System Development Group support Council’s lead role in facilitation, coordination, planning, research and advocacy.

· International research also highlights the importance of municipalities taking a key role in the development of the youth service system at a local level.

Facilitate and coordinate the development of municipal service system for young people

Built Environment

What young people are saying is consistent with our research findings the built environment and open spaces (2006 Youth Summit). World experts and advocates are saying that the challenge is to make open spaces and public places appropriate for the developmental stage and life style of young people, that is places that are youth inclusive and engaging, places that generate physical activity, enable publicly visible social and peer interaction, and foster cross-generational contact. Research also highlights that the absence of youth inclusive community facilities contributes to problems including obesity, isolation, lack of sense of safety and anti-social behaviour.

Developed planning principles on the built environment that promotes the inclusion of young people in planning indoor and outdoor places and spaces

Facilities for Young People

· Young people have expressed the need for youth specific and inclusive spaces and events as part of consultation processes (Whittlesea Youth Network Youth Needs Analysis and 2006 Youth Leadership Camp).

· Council’s Strategic Plan for Human Services Delivery in the City of Whittlesea proposes that facilities for young people be integrated with family services in four locations: Mernda / Doreen, Mill Park, Epping and Epping North.

· Extensive range of planned multipurpose community centers and several youth specific buildings incorporated into Mernda / Doreen and Epping North

Establish a network of facilities in locations that are accessible to all young people, 10 to 25 years old within the City of Whittlesea. It is envisaged that these will include youth-centred facilities and youth inclusive multipurpose community facilities.

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Strategic Plans.

· Potential to accommodate Non-Council services that assist young people in planned and redeveloped existing facilities.

YouthPlan2030 Action Plan

In response to the research findings a three year Action Plan has been prepared (see attached document). The Action Plan contains:

· Six strategic direction areas;· A long term goal for each;· Specific actions under each goal;· Proposed partners to help implement actions; · Timelines for undertaking each action;· Outcomes anticipated in implementing each action; and· Budget implications.

The six strategic directions areas are:

· Strategic Direction 1: Engagement: Promote young people as experts.· Strategic Direction 2: Partners: Generate partnerships and promote shared

responsibility for the development and support of young people.· Strategic direction 3: Planning: Promote planning that is inclusive of young

people and best practices. · Strategic direction 4: Services: Generate a comprehensive service system

that facilitates the development of all young people and is responsive to young people with complex needs.

· Strategic direction 5: Advocacy: Generate investment and practices towards building a strong municipality and a positive future for young people and their families.

· Strategic direction 6: Research: Exploring best practice in youth development

Some of the more significant initiatives outlined in the Action Plan include:

· Development of the Youth Equity Strategy (YES);

· Establishment of Koori, NESB and Local Area Youth Krews;

· Assisting agencies to address key service gaps in relation to:

- Youth counselling;- Family counselling;- Mental health;- Sexual assault;- Youth housing and homelessness;- Improved educational outcomes;- Cultural diversity; and- Improving community safety.

· Progressing the Municipal Youth Facilities Plan;

· Progressing the Council Youth Services Forward Plan;

· Contributing in an action research project to improve accessibility of leisure opportunities for young people;

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· Generating a strategic alliance of growth municipalities around Australia to raise profile of youth issues in growth areas at the federal level;

· Ongoing involvement in Interface Council work – ‘Staying Connected’; and

· Promoting the principle of ‘Designing in Young People’ through involving young people in the planning and development of local areas and neighbourhoods.

Conclusion

The strategies identified in YouthPlan2030 have been informed by local data, extensive research and engagement with young people. The strategies that emerge from the Plan aim to ensure young people feature as key contributors to all aspects in the planning and development of their community. The strategies will consolidate Council's role in the development of young people, and ensure young people have access to support and expertise when required, with many benefits to them, their families and the whole municipality.

Council will consider its contribution to resourcing the actions outlined in YouthPlan2030 as part of annual Council budget processes. Council will also seek partnership arrangements from State and Federal Governments and other sources. A range of funding opportunities will be explored including philanthropic trust funds and other non-government sources.

Council will continue to actively support the efforts of local agencies and other stakeholders to establish services for young people, especially secondary and tertiary services, e.g. mental health and homelessness. Access to these tertiary services for young people has been identified as an urgent gap in the service system that needs immediate attention.

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YouthPlan2030 Action Plan

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Strategic Direction 1: Engagement: Promote young people as experts. Long term goal 2030: Successful consideration of young people in the outcomes of the development of the municipality

Actions

Develop engagement strategies:

Proposed Partners Outcomes

1.1

The key engagement strategy within Council is the proposed Youth Equity Strategy (YES).

Aim: To expand and enhance the work of the Youth Krew, Youth Services propose to train a pool of young people to act as expert consultants on youth issues. This strategy is based on international good practice and would be unique in Australia.

The Youth Consultants would be called on to advise Councillors, work across Council and in partnership with other stakeholders. They will provide a youth perspective on significant municipal activities and Council functions, e.g. developing town centres, designing playgrounds and facilities etc.

Youth Awareness sessions would be delivered by the Youth Consultants and Youth Services. These sessions would involve the nomination of an officer from each directorate to act as a Youth Advocate and as the key link and mentor to the Youth Consultants.

The YES project will be coordinated by Youth Services, and implemented over three years. The project will expand in line with the growth in the Area Teams and Area Krews in the four Youth Service’s Local Areas. (Details in 4.1)

By the second stage of implementation, two YES Youth Consultants will be specifically designated to represent Indigenous and NESB young people’s issues.

Councillors

Council directorates and business units to be negotiated

Local agencies and networks

Business and Developers

Whittlesea Youth Service System Development Group (WYSSDG)

For young people

Connectedness and contribution to community.

Up-skilled through participation in real life decision-making.

Linked through Council directorates to businesses, opportunities and resources.

For Council and the municipality

Young people’s perspective and interests embedded into the work of Council and promoted in the wider business sector in the municipality.

Up-skilled officers and stakeholders through access to the expertise and capacities of young people.

Improved opportunities, infrastructure and service outcomes for all young people.

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Actions



1.2

Indigenous young people: “Koori Krew”

Aim: To establish the structures to engage Indigenous young people as partners with Youth Services, officers across Council, and other local stakeholder.

Youth Services plans to work with appropriate partners, to link to existing structures, and create a mechanism for young Indigenous people to participate in significant municipal activities and Council functions.

.

Victorian Indigenous Youth Affairs Council (VIYAC)

Darebin Council Youth Services

Northern Suburbs Aboriginal Association (NSAA)

Maternal Child and Health (MCH) Indigenous Liaison

For Indigenous young people

Contribution of their expertise in community business.

Up-skilled and linked to opportunities and resources through involvement in community activity.

Connectedness and community ownership.

For Council and stakeholders

Access to existing expertise within the municipality.

Up-skilled older people by exposing them to the expertise and perspectives of Indigenous young people.

Improved planning and service outcomes for Indigenous young people.

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Actions



1.3

Young People’s Krew for NESB young people.

Aim: To establish the structures to engage NESB young people as partners with Youth Services, across Council departments and other local stakeholders.

Youth Services plans to work with appropriate partners, to link to existing structures, and develop mechanisms for NESB young people, including Refugee and newly arrived young people, to participate in significant municipal activities and Council functions.

Whittlesea Action Group for CLD Young People (WAGCLDYP)

Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI)

Whittlesea Community Connections (WCC)

Kildonan Children and Family Services

For NESB young people


Up-skilled and linked to opportunities and resources through involvement community activity.


Improved services.



Up-skilled older people by exposing them to the expertise and perspectives of NESB young people.

Improved planning and service outcomes for NESB young people

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Actions



1.4

Young people in New Growth Areas (NGA)

Aim: To establish mechanisms to engage young people arriving in new growth areas as partners with Youth Services and other local stakeholders including Council departments and developers.

Youth Services plans to build on the partnership model currently being piloted in Laurimar. This pilot will inform the development of similar engagement strategies in new growth areas, which will be made possible with additional resources to develop Youth Services Area Teams.

The Community Futures partnership will also assist in developing service models for young people.

plans to

Council departments

Developers

Department Victorian Communities (DVC)

Whittlesea Community Futures Partnership

WYSSDG

For young people in new growth areas


Up-skilled and linked to opportunities and resources through involvement community activity.


Improved services.



Up-skilled older people by exposing them to the expertise and perspectives of Indigenous young people living in NGA.

Improved planning and service outcomes for NGA young people.

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Actions



1.5

Council Youth Service Local Area Youth Krews and Summits

Aim: To develop Local Area Youth Krews and Local Area Youth Summits to engage the voice of local young people in developing local area plans.

With additional resources and the gradual development of the Youth Services Area Teams, Youth Services will establish Local Area Youth Krews and implement Area Youth Summits to develop Local Area Plans.

Local Area Plans will inform the work of the Youth Services Team including program design and delivery, policy development and advocacy with relevant stakeholders.

Whittlesea Youth Network (WYN)

WAGCLDYP

WYSSDG

Council directorates

DVC

Federal Government

Private and public sector stakeholders

For young people in Local Areas

Contribution of their expertise to Youth Services, Council and broader community activity.

Up-skilled and linked to opportunities and resources through involvement in community activity.


Improved services.



Up-skilled older people by exposing them to the expertise and perspectives of local young people.

Improved planning and service outcomes for local young people

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Actions



1.6

Young people with Disability

Aim: Participate in the development of the Disability Action Plan to develop a municipal profile of young people with disability. Also to consult with young people to identify needs, establish a mechanism for the voice of young people, and identify strategic actions for Youth Services.

Disability Access Team

YACVic Disability Access Service.

Club Wild

Local networks, agencies and schools

Connection to young people.

Participation and engagement opportunities for young people

1.7

Hard to reach young people

Aim: To explore strategies to access hard to reach young people including young people who are unemployed, disengaged, young people in work, young people in TAFEs and tertiary institutions.

Hume Whittlesea Local Learning and Employment Network (HWLLEN)

Whittlesea Youth Commitment (WYC)

Economic Development

Connection to young people.

Participation and engagement opportunities for young people.

1.8

Stories of young people from the North.

Aim: To contribute to the combined Youth Summit strategy to produce ‘Stories of young people from the North” report with Northern Regional Youth Advisory Network (NRYAN).

The Regional Youth Advisory Networks (RYANS) have a direct link to the State Government through DVC and to the Minister for Youth Affairs, Sport and Recreation.

In the recent two year NRYAN Strategy Plan, the members have committed to collate the documented outcomes of their respective Local Government Youth Summits.

Department of Victorian Communities (DVC)

Office for Youth (OFY)

NRYAN member agencies

For young people

A regional platform to promote their voice and issues.

The strengthening of their voice throughcombined efforts.

For the region

Strong tool for advocating to achieve better outcomes for young people.

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Actions



1.9

City of Whittlesea’s combined strategies for the voices of local young people

Aim: To promote the engagement of young people in local agencies and to support and link with other strategies in the City of Whittlesea.

WYN

WYC

WAGCLDYP

WSSDG

WCC Community Engagement Project (WCEP)

Federation of Student Representative Committees (VicSRC)

For young people

A local platform/s to promote young people’s voice and issues

The strengthening of their voice through combined efforts.

Increased opportunities to influence service delivery and design.

Opportunities to influence real life community decisions.

For the City of Whittlesea

Strong tool/s for advocating to achieve better outcomes for young people in the City of Whittlesea.

Improved service delivery models and outcomes for young people and the whole community.

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Strategic Direction 2: Partnerships - Generate shared responsibility for the development and support of young people Long term goal 2030: Partners and stakeholders providing the environment and opportunities for healthy youth development, early intervention

and support for transitions and difficult times to young people. Also, to have expertise available to respond to young people with complex

needs.

Actions:

Facilitate partnerships to develop actions and resources to address current service gaps:

Proposed partners:

Outcomes

2.1 Whittlesea Youth Services System Development Group

Aim: Facilitate and coordinate the development of municipal service system for young people.

Council is the only agency within the municipality with both the capacity and mandate to facilitate a coordinated approach to the development of a municipal service system for young people

Council’s role includes:

· Linking young people to partners, i.e. YES and Krews · Planning, research, and advocacy · Development of partnerships to fill the service gaps

WYSSDG

DVC

Combined services in partnership developing the service system with and for young people

Targeted advocacy around gaps

Identification and pursuit of funding opportunities

Project and resource development for youth services in the municipality.

Increased services for young people.

This resource will enable Council to actively pursue resources that will fill current service gaps for young people.

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Actions:


Proposed partners: Outcomes

2.1.1

Youth Counselling and Mental Health

Aim: To facilitate the establishment of a working group on mental health andcounselling young people.

Current services are scarce and out of the municipality.

WYSSDG

PVCH

North East Association for Mental Illness (NEAMI)

DVC

Department of Human Services (DHS)

Federal Government

Austin Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

Development of a strategy that includes the service model and advocacy plan.

Service accessible to an increased number of young people

Services located within the municipality.

2.1.2

Youth Homelessness and Youth Housing

Aim: To facilitate the establishment of a working group on youth housing and homelessness

The City of Whittlesea municipality has no emergency housing available for homeless young people.

Supported housing stocks are not able to meet current demand.

Affordable housing in the private rental market is scarce and out of reach of most young people.

Providing emergency accommodation and social housing is not the core business of Council. Youth Service’s role is to work with agencies and networks to address this gap in the service system for young people in the municipality.

WYSSDG

PVCH

Whittlesea Youth Housing

Northern Region Homelessness Council (NRHC)

DVC

Department of Housing

Development of a strategy that includes the service model and advocacy plan.

Establishment of emergency beds for young people

Achievement of a range of suitable sustainable housing options for young people

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Actions:


Proposed partners: Outcomes

2.2

Youth in Community: School hub Pilot Project

Aim: To address early school leaving and strengthen success at school through providing early intervention opportunities to vulnerable young people and their families.

Young people in Whittlesea have lower than average achievement in secondary education and lower numbers are entering tertiary education.

Initial discussions have been undertaken internally and with two local schools. The overall plan is to develop a supportive hub linked to two local secondary schools

From the onset this project will engage young people in the development of the project.

Youth Service’s role is to work with the Whittlesea Community Futures Partners, agencies and networks to address this gap in the service system for young people in the municipality.

Local schools

SRC Students

Australian Industry Group

Council’s Economic Development Unit

HWLLEN/WYC

Whittlesea Community Futures Partnership Group

WYSSDG

Increased numbers of young people remaining attached to schools and entering tertiary education

An integrated service model that can be adapted to other locations

2.3

Living Safe Aim: To explore and address a range of safety issues as they affect young people.

This project is in the conceptual stage.

Young people in the municipality have expressed concern that they “don’t feel safe”.

Epping Police

Schools

Local agencies

Improved feelings of safety for young people through personal skills and planning outcomes.

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Strategic direction 3: Planning: Promoting young people inclusive planning and practices. Long term goal 2030: Planning: Outcomes that demonstrate the specific needs of all young people are embedded in all aspects of the physical

and social infrastructure of the municipality

Actions

Planning strategies

Proposed partners

Outcomes

3.1 Linking young people to Community Futures Project and Whittlesea Township Project Community Building Initiative (CBI)

Aim: This project aims to design and pilot an integrated (youth inclusive) sustainable service system model.

Community Futures Project

Whittlesea Township Project

Young people embedded in the planning and service delivery outcomes, the findings, and the action plans of the Community Futures Project and Whittlesea Township CBI Project.

3.2 Youth Facilities Plan 2030

Aim: To provide an overall long-term plan of facilities to deliver programs and services for young people. It proposes a network of accessible youth facilities in strategic locations throughout the municipality.

The Youth Facilities Plan 2030 proposes the establishment of a minimum of 3 youth-centred facilities, an additional 5 youth friendly and inclusive facilities i.e. CACs, and several specific purpose built spaces. These purpose built spaces may be incorporated into other facilities. They include band rehearsal spaces and a shared community events space that can accommodate 400 young people.

The Youth Facilities plan proposes the concept of a ‘Youth Precinct’ in the vicinity of the Plenty Valley Town Centre to build on the presence of existing youth services providers and facilities in the area. This includes Kildonan Children and Family Services (KCFS), Salvation Army, the skate park, and the proposed public transport

Council

Youth Krew

Council’s Planning & Sustainability Unit

WSSDG

Strategically located facilities accessible to young people throughout the municipality.

Facilities to deliver a full range of early, secondary and tertiary programs to young people.

Resources to enable young people to develop and express their talents and capabilities.

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ActionsPlanning strategies

Proposed partners

Outcomes

hub. Further work to progress the Youth Facilities Plan 2030

includes:

· Consulting with young people, the Youth Krew, local agencies and other stakeholders.

· Conducting further research that will inform design and location issues.

· Exploring the opportunity for a youth facility in the High Street growth corridor, i.e. Epping North.

· Exploring further opportunities for youth inclusive facilities in the densely populated areas of the municipality, i.e. Mill Park, Lalor, Thomastown.

· Considering the best model for the Mernda-Doreen youth designated facility.

· Integrating the Youth Facilities Plan 2030 with local agency plans, i.e. Uniting Church, Salvation Army and KCFS.

· Exploring specific purpose needs i.e. local band rehearsal space, youth events space, multimedia resources and space.

· Progressing the proposal for the central youth facility within the Plenty Valley Town Centre.

· Involving young people in the design and subsequent stages.

3.3Integrating local agency plans

Aim: To inform and support the future plans for youth services provision by other local agencies

WYSSDG

KCFS

Uniting Care

PVCH

Improves service opportunities and outcomes for young people.

Ensuring efficiency

Filling service gaps.

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Actions Planning strategies

Proposed partners

Outcomes

WCC

3.4

The Built Environment and Young People: ‘Designing in Young People’

Aim: To produce guidelines on: designing facilities for young people; designing young people into neighbourhoods;designing young people into town centres; designing young people into community facilities; and designing young people into open spaces.

This work is currently in the form of three working documents of research findings undertaken to date.

This work will contribute to the formation of Family Services design principles.

Family Services

Parks and Gardens

Sustainability and Planning

Family Services design principles and guidelines document will be developed:

“Designing in Children and Young People zero to 25”. It will include overarching principles, with specific attention to the engagement and inclusion of young people in the planning and development processes of renewal and new public projects. e.g., parks and gardens, open space, town centres, neighbourhoods, estates, recreational and leisure facilities, Community Activity Centres and youth focussed and inclusive facilities.

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Strategic direction 4: Services: Generate a comprehensive service system to facilitate the development, and provide the required support of all young people. Long term goal 2030: A comprehensive range of services, facilities, programs, events, resources and activities responding to the developmental and special needs of young people

Actions

Service Delivery Strategies

Proposed Partners

Outcomes

4.1

City of Whittlesea Youth Services Forward Plan

This Plan outlines the future direction of Council’s Youth Services and how it proposes to grow in line with population growth, demands, and emerging issues. The Youth Services model is based on Local Areas and Portfolios.

Over the next three years the plan is to increase staff capacity to develop Area Teams, Area Krews, Area Summits, Area Stakeholder Networks and integrated Area Plans. This will develop in parallel with the proposed YES (Youth Equity Strategy) program.

Stage 1 Initiate Area Summit and Area Plans. Integrate and support the development of YES

Increased capacity to deliver programs at the local level and respond to emerging issues.

Stage 2: Conduct Area Summits, develop Area Plans and design program responses.

Increased capacity to respond to emerging issues, and to drive issue based portfolios.

Stage 3:

Evaluate stages1 and 2. Review resources required.

4.2

Youth Services 2006 Youth Summit Programmatic responses

Youth service has designed a number of programs in response to the 2006 Summit

Kildonan

SFYS

WAGCLDYP

Schools

Service outcomes responding to Summit issues. Most notably:

Racism: Inter-cultural Narrative project

Rights, Young Men’s Program

Facilities: Built environment principles Adolescence: Parenting Adolescence sessions

Violence: Young Women’s Self Defense workshops.

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Actions


Proposed Partners

Outcomes

4.3

Promoting healthy lifestyles with young people

Aim: To provide opportunities for young women and young men to acquire knowledge and skills to develop healthy lifestyles.

The initial program will be the Girls Go for it program. Youth Services will support schools and agencies to implement this project

WYSSDG

DVC

PVCH

Participating partnerships to be negotiated

Improved body image and self esteem

Improved physical and mental health

The Girls Go for it model will inform the development of a program targeting young men.

4.4

Parenting strategy Aim: To support young people who are parents, and parents of adolescents.

The new enhanced MCH model will also focus their work on young parents and parenting adolescents.

Family Services

Participating partnerships to be negotiated

Opportunities for young parents and parents of adolescents.

This will include:

Connection to generalist and specialist services

Skill development in parenting

Access to early intervention

Support with complex challenges

Social connection to peers

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Actions


Proposed Partners

Outcomes

4.5

Linking youth service provision to the Early Years Service System

Aim: To increase knowledge on adolescent brain development and life stages, and the implications of this for planning a continuum of care and support.

Hume Youth Services

Council’s Early years Team

Children’sFoundation

Family Services

WYSSDG

Other stakeholders

Research and training briefs will be designed

Training delivered by experts in the field will improve practice, program development, service development and development of the service system.

Investment in the Early Years will be maximized and extended into the transition to adulthood.

4.6

Recreation Action Research Project:

Access to leisure, sport and recreation opportunities

Local consultations confirm that access to sporting opportunities and sport and leisure facilities are a high priority.

This is a significant issue for the Refugee and newly arrived communities as a significant means to connect within community, also providing the first point of access and connection to the wider community.

Council’s Leisure Services and Planning

YMCA

WAGCLDYP

CMYI

OFY

Leisure, sport and recreational opportunities available to young people who are currently disadvantaged.

Identification of barriers to access by Refugee and newly arrived communities, and strategies to redress these barriers.

Development of successful models for the provision of leisure, sport and recreational programs, especially for the Refugee and newly arrived communities.

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Strategic direction 5: Advocacy: Generate investment and promote improved practices towards building a strong municipality and a positive future for young people and their families. Long term goal 2030: A comprehensive service system for all young people in the City of Whittlesea.

Actions:

Advocacy strategies

Proposed partners Outcomes

5.1

Interface Councils Youth Services Group

Aim: To continue to lobbying for resources to fill the gaps in the social and physical infrastructure.

Whittlesea Youth Services has initiated a partnership with Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) to generate dialogue with youth services in the growth areas of the other states.

It is proposed that a “young people in growth areas” conference theme be included at the National Youth Affairs Conference in May 2007. A campaign directed at the Federal Government will be considered.

Interface Council’s Youth Services Group

Interface Council’s Human Services Meeting

Youth service providers in the other states

MAV

VCOSS

YACVic

Strategic alliance of growth areas around Australia to raise the common issues with the Australian Government

5.2 Generalist Youth Worker Campaign

Aim: To maintain the Generalist Youth Worker campaign calling for more, and higher skilled youth workers funded by State Government.

Also advocate to governments to develop a universal platform for Youth

YACVic

Interface Council Youth Services Group

Improved outcomes for young people and their families through greater access to professional youth workers at challenging and difficult times during transition from childhood to adulthood.

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Actions:

Advocacy strategies

Proposed partners Outcomes

Workers to support the development of all young people, 10 to 25 years, in partnership with parents, schools and other institutions.

Lobby government to address the service gap for 8 to 12 year olds.VCOSS

WYSSDG

5.3

TransportAim: To support the advocacy efforts to improve the public transport system in the City of Whittlesea.

Consultations with young people consistently emphasise that transport is a major issue to them, as it impacts on all areas of their lives.

Support partners as opportunities arise.

Improved provision of public transport to enable young people to independently access social, educational, work, recreational and other places.

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Strategic direction 6: Research: Exploring evidence based best practice in youth development Long term goal 2030: Application of evidence based practise in the municipality.

Actions

Research Strategies

Proposed partners

Outcomes

6.1

Whittlesea Youth Service System Aim: To resource and strengthen the development of the municipal Youth Service System through research and data.

DVC

WYSSDG

Improved services through:

Shared knowledge

6.1.1

Monitoring and Evaluation

Aim: To identify appropriate tools for monitoring and evaluating Council’s Youth Services, and the municipal Youth Service System.

This will be done in collaboration with local agencies and young people.

RMIT

YACVic

OFY

CMYI

Improved data for planning and advocating

Improved reporting and accountability

6.1.2

Indicators Project

Aim: To shift the local youth service system into an evidence based framework to enable regular adjustment and review.

This will be done by identifying or creating indicators that monitor and show local needs, gaps, direction and approaches for Youth Services and the municipal youth service system. This will include assessment of the 40 Developmental Assets

This research will assist agencies to consider a suitable set of indicators for the City of Whittlesea, and contribute to linking to the Early Years service system.

Family Services

PVCH

WYSSDG

The key tool for linking provision to young people to Early Years and the broader service system

Data that indicates needs and gaps as they emerge.

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Actions Research Strategies

Proposed partners

Outcomes

6.1.3

Planning Benchmarks

Aim: to identify youth planning benchmarks that will inform the development of the service system and built environment.

This will involve:

Scanning existing programs and literature on benchmarks, identifying existing work, identifying relevant developments that are emerging, what new work will need to be undertaken, and what Whittlesea Youth Services can achieve.

Academic resources

DVC

Planning benchmarks will guide the level of infrastructure and service resources needed for young people in a progressive and systematic manner as the municipality grows over the next 25 years.

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Full Name Acronym

Austin Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

Austin CAMHS

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse CLD

Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues CMYI

Department of Human Services DHS

Department of Victorian Communities DVC

Federation of Student Representative Committees

VicSRC

Hume Whittlesea Local Learning and Employment Network

HWLLEN

Kildonan Child and Family Services KCFS

Maternal and Child Health MCH

Municipal Association Victoria MAV

Northern Area Consultative Committee NACC

North East Association for Mental Illness NEAMI

Northern Region Homelessness Council NRHC

Northern Region Youth Advisory Network NRYAN

Northern Suburbs Aboriginal Association NSAA

Office for Youth OFY

Plenty Valley Community Health PVCH

Regional Youth Advisory Network RYAN

Whittlesea Action Group for CLD Young People WAGCLDYP

Whittlesea Community Connections WCC

Whittlesea Youth Commitment WYC

Whittlesea Youth Network WYN

Whittlesea Youth Services System Development Group

WYSSDG

Victorian Council of Social Services VCOSS

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Victorian Indigenous Youth Affairs Council VIYAC

Youth Affairs Council Victoria YACVic