City of Whittlesea YouthPlan2030

Summary & Action Plan

April 2007 As adopted by Council on 9/10/2007

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TABLE OF CONTENTS AIM OF YOUTHPLAN2030..............................................................................3

WHY DEVELOP A YOUTH PLAN? .................................................................3

COUNCIL'S CURRENT APPROACH………………………………………….....4 WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT YOUTHPLAN2030?.........................................8 KEY CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING THE PLAN .........................................9

YOUTHPLAN2030 - BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS ....................................10

THE YOUTH SERVICE SYSTEM..................................................................11

YOUTHPLAN2030 EVIDENCE BASE…………………………………….……..12 YOUTHPLAN2030 APPROACH……………………………………………….…18 RESOURCING IMPLICATIONS………………………………………………….25

YOUTHPLAN2030 ACTION PLAN ................................................................26

LIST OF TABLES Table 1: YouthPlan2030: Defining the Municipal Youth Service System……………………………………………………………………………….3 Table 2: Council's Youth Service Model…………………………………………4 Table 3: Youth Targeted Services Currently in the City of Whittlesea………10 Table 4: Council's Role in Developing the Youth Service System…………...11 Table 5: SEIFA Table of Disadvantage by Precinct……………………….…..13 Table 6: Comparison of 10 to 24 year old Population Forecasts from 2006 to 2021…………………………………………………………….............................12 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Council's Youth Services Area Map………………………...…………5 Figure 2: Focus of Council's Youth Services………………………………..…...6 Figure 3: SEIFA Map of Disadvantage………………………………………….14

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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 a 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 the Municipal Youth Service System

YouthPlan2030 The 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. • 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;

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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, and 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.

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 Skateboarding 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.

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The 2006/07 Council budget allocation for Youth Services was $720,258 which includes funding for 9 EFT. Figure 1: 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 provide 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 school 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.

Civic Participation

Area Work Programs

Intensive Support

and Referral

Information Portfolios

Planning,

Advocacy and Service System

Development

Low Risk YOUNG PEOPLE High Risk Resilient Vulnerable

PREVENTION EARLY INTERVENTION CRISIS INTERVENTION

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• 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 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.

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• 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.

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.

1Youth 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

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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. 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 providing Council with a challenge of how to effectively implement whole-of-Council strategies to engage the voices of young people in the decisions that affect their lives. A further challenge is to support and promote the development of a culture of youth engagement throughout the municipality.

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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YOUTHPLAN2030 - BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS YouthPlan2030 Summary and Action Plan is supported by a series of six comprehensive interrelated 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. • Part 2: Research and Policy: Report on the progress of 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 The ‘municipal youth service system’ refers to all matters and structures that affect all young people. Outlined in the Table 3 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. 3 E.g. It does not include mainstream services that young people may access such as PVCH dental services.

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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)

• Sport clubs • Youth clubs • Whittlesea Youth

Commitment/ Hume/Whittlesea Local Learning and Employment Network

• Council Youth Services

• Youth Pathways Program (Northern Metropolitan Institute of Technology)

• 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 Community Connections)

• Drug Services (Plenty Valley Community Health)

• Youth Housing (Plenty Valley Community Health)

• Adolescent Mental Health Services (Austin CAMHS - limited outreach; NEAMI. PVCH 18+)

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

4 All counselling is limited with waiting lists.

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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. Promoting the civic engagement of young people, deliveries primary and secondary support to young people.

Services Universal Primary

Secondary Tertiary

Mainstream Targeted

Delivering services to young people through Youth Services and actively generating 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

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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). 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

I n d e x o f D i s a d v a n t a g eC i t y o f W h i t t le s e a

1 ,0 5 3 .8 to 1 , 0 5 71 ,0 3 2 .9 to 1 , 0 5 3 . 81 ,0 0 9 .9 to 1 , 0 3 2 . 9

9 6 5 .9 to 1 , 0 0 9 . 98 8 4 .8 to 9 6 5 . 9

Whittlesea Municipality

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A significant proportion (29%) of refugee and new arrivals in 2003-04 were under the age of 19 and the 10- 19 age group represented 16% of the total new arrival population in Whittlesea alone (DIMIA 2005). New arrivals, refugees and a growing youth population in particular have meant that the average age structure in Whittlesea is substantially younger than Victoria (ABS 2001 Census) (Source: New Start study 2005) 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 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 Peninsula, 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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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. 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.

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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.

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.

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YOUTHPLAN 2030 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. 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.

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Emerging Issues 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).

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

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

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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Evidence and Emerging Issues

YouthPlan2030 Response

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 (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 with disabilities 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)

• 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

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

21

Evidence and Emerging Issues

YouthPlan2030 Response

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 and Homelessness • 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 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.

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

22

Evidence and Emerging Issues

YouthPlan2030 Response

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 the educational achievements of young people who live in Interface areas.

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

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 of the costs (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

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

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.

23

Evidence and Emerging Issues

YouthPlan2030 Response

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.

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 local young people.

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 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 the municipal service system for young people.

Built Environment What young people from the City of Whittlesea have expressed at the Youth Summits, in relation to the built environment, is consistent with research findings (2006 Youth Summit). World experts and advocates say that the challenge is to make open spaces and public places appropriate for the developmental stages and life style of young people i.e. 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.

Develop planning principles on the built environment that promote 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. (Whittlesea Youth Network Youth Needs Analysis, 2003, 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

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.

24

Evidence and Emerging Issues

YouthPlan2030 Response

and Epping North. • Extensive range of planned multipurpose community

centers and several youth specific buildings incorporated into Mernda / Doreen and Epping North 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 • Resource requirements 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 a action research project to improve accessibility of leisure

opportunities for young people; • Generating a strategic alliance of growth municipalities around Australia to

raise the profile of youth issues in growth areas at the federal level; • Ongoing involvement in Interface Council work – ‘Staying Connected’; and

25

• 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.

YouthPlan2030

Initial Action Plan

Strategic Direction 1: Engagem

ent: Promote young people as experts.

Long term goal 2030: S

uccessful consideration of young people in the outcomes of the developm

ent of the municipality

Actions D

evelop engagement strategies:

P

roposed Partners O

utcomes

1.1 The key engagem

ent strategy within C

ouncil is the proposed Youth Equity Strategy (YES). Aim

: To expand and enhance the work of the Youth K

rew,

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 w

ould be unique in Australia. The Y

outh Consultants w

ould be called on to work across

Council and in partnership w

ith agencies and other stakeholders. They w

ill provide a youth perspective on significant m

unicipal activities and Council functions, e.g.

developing town centres, designing playgrounds and facilities

etc. Y

outh Aw

areness sessions would be delivered by the Y

outh C

onsultants and Youth S

ervices. These sessions would involve

the nomination of an officer from

each directorate to act as a Y

outh Advocate and as the key link and m

entor to the Youth

Consultants.

The YE

S project w

ill be coordinated by Youth S

ervices, and im

plemented over three years. The project w

ill expand in line w

ith the growth in the A

rea Teams and A

rea Krew

s in the four Y

outh Service’s Local A

reas. (Details in 4.1)

By the second stage of im

plementation. Tw

o YE

S Y

outh C

onsultants will be specifically designated to represent

Indigenous and NE

SB

young people’s issues.

Councillors

Council directorates

and business units to be negotiated

Local agencies and netw

orks

Business and

Developers

Whittlesea Y

outh S

ervice System

D

evelopment G

roup (W

YS

SD

G)

For young people:

Connectedness and contribution to com

munity;

Up-skilled through participation in real life decision-m

aking;

Linked through Council directorates to businesses,

opportunities and resources.

For Council and the municipality:

Young people’s perspective and interests em

bedded into the w

ork of Council and prom

oted in the wider business

sector in the municipality;

Up-skilled officers and stakeholders through access to the

expertise and capacities of young people; Im

proved opportunities, infrastructure and service outcom

es for all young people.

28

Actions D

evelop engagement strategies:

Proposed Partners

Outcom

es

1.2 Indigenous young people: “Koori K

rew”

Aim: To establish the structures to engage Indigenous

young people as partners with Youth Services, officers

across Council, and other local stakeholders.

Youth S

ervices plans to work w

ith appropriate partners, to link to existing structures, and create a m

echanism for young

Indigenous people to participate in significant municipal

activities and Council functions.

Victorian Indigenous

Youth Affairs C

ouncil (V

IYA

C)

Darebin C

ouncil Y

outh Services

Northern S

uburbs A

boriginal A

ssociation (NS

AA

)

Maternal C

hild and H

ealth (MC

H)

Indigenous Liaison

For Indigenous young people:

Contribution of their expertise in com

munity business;

Up-skilled and linked to opportunities and resources

through involvement in com

munity activity;

Connectedness and com

munity ow

nership. For Council and stakeholders: A

ccess to existing expertise within the m

unicipality; U

p-skilled older people by exposing them to the expertise

and perspectives of Indigenous young people; Im

proved planning and service outcomes for Indigenous

young people.

29

Actions D

evelop engagement strategies:

Proposed Partners

Outcom

es

1.3 Young People’s K

rew for N

ESB young people.

Aim:

To establish the structures to engage NESB

young people as partners w

ith Youth Services, across Council departm

ents and other local stakeholders. Y

outh Services plans to w

ork with appropriate partners, to link to

existing structures, and develop mechanism

s for NE

SB young

people, including Refugee and new

ly arrived young people, to participate in significant m

unicipal activities and Council

functions.

Whittlesea A

ction G

roup for CLD

Y

oung People

(WA

GC

LDY

P)

Centre for

Multicultural Y

outh Issues (C

MY

I)

Whittlesea

Com

munity

Connections (W

CC

)

Kildonan C

hildren and Fam

ily Services

For NESB

young people:

Contribution of their expertise in com

munity business;

Up-skilled and linked to opportunities and resources

through involvement com

munity activity;

Connectedness and com

munity ow

nership; Im

proved services. For Council and stakeholders: A

ccess to existing expertise within the m

unicipality; U

p-skilled older people by exposing them to the expertise

and perspectives of NE

SB

young people; Im

proved planning and service outcomes for N

ES

B young

people.

30

Actions D

evelop engagement strategies:

Proposed Partners

Outcom

es

1.4

Young people in New

Grow

th Areas (NG

A)

Aim:

To establish mechanism

s to engage young people arriving in new

growth areas as partners w

ith Youth Services and other local stakeholders including C

ouncil departments and developers.

Youth S

ervices plans to build on the partnership model currently

being piloted in Laurimar. This pilot w

ill inform the developm

ent of sim

ilar engagement strategies in new

growth areas, w

hich will

be made possible w

ith additional resources to develop Youth

Services A

rea Teams.

The Com

munity Futures partnership w

ill also assist in developing service m

odels for young people.

Council departm

ents

Developers

Departm

ent Victorian C

omm

unities (DV

C)

Whittlesea

Com

munity Futures

Partnership

WYS

SD

G

For young people in New

Grow

th Areas:

Contribution of their expertise in com

munity business;

Up-skilled and linked to opportunities and resources

through involvement com

munity activity;

Connectedness and com

munity ow

nership. Im

proved services. For Council and stakeholders: A

ccess to existing expertise within the m

unicipality; U

p-skilled older people by exposing them to the expertise

and perspectives of Indigenous young people living in NG

A;

Improved planning and service outcom

es for NG

A young people.

31

Actions D

evelop engagement strategies:

Proposed Partners

Outcom

es

1.5

Council Youth Service Local Area Youth K

rews and

Summ

its

Aim: To develop Local A

rea Youth Krew

s and Local Area Youth Sum

mits to engage the voice of local young people

in developing local area plans.

With additional resources and the gradual developm

ent of the Y

outh Services A

rea Teams, Y

outh Services w

ill establish Local A

rea Youth K

rews and im

plement A

rea Youth S

umm

its to develop Local A

rea Plans.

Local Area Plans w

ill inform the w

ork of the Youth S

ervices Team

including program design and delivery, policy

development and advocacy w

ith relevant stakeholders.

Whittlesea Y

outh N

etwork (W

YN

)

WAG

CLD

YP

WYS

SD

G

Council directorates

DV

C

Federal Governm

ent

Private and public

sector stakeholders

For young people in Local Areas:

Contribution of their expertise to Y

outh Services, C

ouncil and broader com

munity activity;

Up-skilled and linked to opportunities and resources

through involvement in com

munity activity;

Connectedness and com

munity ow

nership; Im

proved services. For Council and stakeholders: A

ccess to existing expertise within the m

unicipality; U

p-skilled older people by exposing them to the expertise

and perspectives of local young people; Im

proved planning and service outcomes for local young

people.

32

Actions D

evelop engagement strategies:

Proposed Partners

Outcom

es

1.6

Young people with D

isability

Aim: Participate in the developm

ent of the Disability Action

Plan to develop a municipal profile of young people w

ith disability. Also to consult w

ith young people to identify needs, establish a m

echanism for the voice of young

people, and identify strategic actions for Youth Services.

Disability A

ccess Team

YA

CV

ic Disability

Access S

ervice.

Club W

ild

Local networks,

agencies and schools

Connection to young people.

Participation and engagem

ent opportunities for young people.

1.7 H

ard to reach young people Aim

: To explore strategies to access hard to reach young people including young people w

ho are unemployed,

disengaged, young people in work, young people in TAFEs

and tertiary institutions.

Hum

e Whittlesea

Local Learning and E

mploym

ent Netw

ork (H

WLLE

N)

Whittlesea Y

outh C

omm

itment (W

YC

)

Econom

ic D

evelopment

Connection to young people.

Participation and engagem

ent opportunities for young people.

1.8 Stories of young people from

the North.

Aim: To contribute to the com

bined Youth Summ

it strategy to produce ‘Stories of young people from

the North” report

with Northern R

egional Youth Advisory Netw

ork (NRYA

N).

The Regional Y

outh Advisory N

etworks (R

YA

NS

) have a direct link to the S

tate Governm

ent through DV

C and to the M

inister for Y

outh Affairs, Sport and R

ecreation. In the recent tw

o year NR

YA

N S

trategy Plan, the m

embers have

comm

itted to collate the documented outcom

es of their respective Local G

overnment Y

outh Sum

mits.

Departm

ent of V

ictorian C

omm

unities (DV

C)

Office for Y

outh (O

FY) N

RY

AN

mem

ber agencies

For young people: A

regional platform to prom

ote their voice and issues; The strengthening of their voice through com

bined efforts. For the region: S

trong tool for advocating to achieve better outcomes for

young people.

33

Actions D

evelop engagement strategies:

Proposed Partners

Outcom

es

1.9 C

ity of Whittlesea’s com

bined strategies for the voices of local young people Aim

: To promote the engagem

ent of young people in local agencies and to support and link w

ith other strategies in the C

ity of Whittlesea.

WYN

WYC

WAG

CLD

YP

WSS

DG

WC

C C

omm

unity E

ngagement P

roject (W

CE

P)

Federation of S

tudent R

epresentative C

omm

ittees (V

icSR

C)

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 com

munity decisions.

For the City of W

hittlesea:

Strong tool/s for advocating to achieve better outcom

es for young people in the C

ity of Whittlesea;

Improved service delivery m

odels and outcomes for young

people and the whole com

munity.

Youth S

umm

it 2006

34

Strategic Direction 2: Partnerships: G

enerate shared responsibility for the development and support of young people.

Long term goal 2030: P

artners and stakeholders providing the environment and opportunities for healthy youth developm

ent, early intervention

and support for transitions and difficult times to young people. A

lso, to have expertise available to respond to young people with com

plex

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

Proposed partners:

Outcom

es

2.1 W

hittlesea Youth Services System D

evelopment G

roup Aim

: Facilitate and coordinate the development of

municipal service system

for young people. C

ouncil is the only agency within the m

unicipality with both

the capacity and mandate to facilitate a coordinated

approach to the development of a m

unicipal service system

for young people. C

ouncil’s role includes: Linking young people to partners, i.e. YE

S and K

rews,

planning, research, and advocacy and development of

partnerships to fill the service gaps.

WY

SS

DG

D

VC

Com

bined services in partnership developing the service system

with and for young people.

Targeted advocacy around gaps. Identification and pursuit of funding opportunities. P

roject and resource development for youth services in the

municipality.

Increased services for young people. This resource w

ill enable Council to actively pursue

resources that will fill current service gaps for young people.

2.1.1 Youth Counselling and M

ental Health

Aim: To facilitate the establishm

ent of a working group

on mental health and counselling young people.

Current services are scarce and out of the m

unicipality. P

roviding tertiary level counselling is not the core business of C

ouncil. Youth S

ervice’s role is to work w

ith agencies and netw

orks to address this gap in the service system for young

people in the municipality.

WY

SS

DG

P

VC

H

North E

ast Association

for Mental Illness

(NE

AM

I) D

VC

D

epartment of H

uman

Services (D

HS

)

Developm

ent of a strategy that includes the service model

and advocacy plan. S

ervices accessible to an increased number of young people.

Services located w

ithin the municipality.

35

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

Proposed partners:

Outcom

es

Federal G

overnment

Austin C

hild and A

dolescent Mental

Health S

ervice (C

AM

HS

)

2.1.2 Youth Hom

elessness and Youth Housing

Aim: To facilitate the establishm

ent of a working group

on youth housing and homelessness

The City of W

hittlesea municipality has no em

ergency housing available for hom

eless young people. S

upported 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 em

ergency accomm

odation and social housing is not the core business of C

ouncil. Youth S

ervice’s role is to w

ork with agencies and netw

orks to address this gap in the service system

for young people in the municipality.

WY

SS

DG

P

VC

H

Whittlesea Y

outh H

ousing N

orthern Region

Hom

elessness Council

(NR

HC

) D

VC

D

epartment of H

ousing

Developm

ent of a strategy that includes the service model

and advocacy plan. E

stablishment of em

ergency beds for young people. A

chievement of a range of suitable sustainable housing

options for young people.

36

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

Proposed partners:

Outcom

es

2.2 Youth in C

omm

unity: 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 fam

ilies. Y

oung people in Whittlesea have low

er than average achievem

ent in secondary education and lower num

bers are entering tertiary education. Initial discussions have been undertaken internally and w

ith tw

o local schools. The overall plan is to develop a supportive hub linked to tw

o local secondary schools. From

the onset this project will engage young people in the

development of the project.

Youth

Service’s

role is

to w

ork w

ith the

Whittlesea

Com

munity

Futures P

artners, agencies

and netw

orks to

address this gap in the service system for young people in

the municipality.

Local schools

SR

C S

tudents

Australian Industry

Group

Council’s E

conomic

Developm

ent Unit

HW

LLEN

/WY

C

Whittlesea C

omm

unity Futures P

artnership G

roup W

YS

SD

G

Increased numbers of young people rem

aining attached to schools and entering tertiary education. A

n 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. Y

oung people in the municipality have expressed concern

that they “don’t feel safe”.

Epping P

olice S

chools Local agencies

Improved feelings of safety for young people through

personal skills and planning outcomes.

37

Strategic direction 3: Planning: Promoting young people inclusive planning and practices.

Long term goal 2030: P

lanning: Outcom

es that demonstrate the specific needs of all young people are em

bedded in all aspects of the physical

and social infrastructure of the municipality

Actions

Planning strategies

Proposed partners O

utcomes

3.1 Linking young people to Com

munity Futures Project and

Whittlesea Tow

nship Project Comm

unity Building Initiative

(CB

I) Aim

: This project aims to design and pilot an integrated

(youth inclusive) sustainable service system m

odel.

Com

munity Futures

Project

Whittlesea Tow

nship P

roject

Young people em

bedded in the planning and service delivery outcom

es, the findings, and the action plans of the C

omm

unity Futures Project and W

hittlesea Township C

BI

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 establishm

ent of a m

inimum

of 3 youth-centred facilities, an additional 5 youth friendly and inclusive facilities i.e. C

AC

s, and several specific purpose built spaces. These purpose built spaces m

ay be incorporated into other facilities. They include band rehearsal spaces and a shared com

munity events space that can

accomm

odate 400 young people. The Y

outh Facilities plan proposes the concept of a ‘Youth

Precinct’ in the vicinity of the P

lenty Valley Tow

n Centre to build

on the presence of existing youth services providers and facilities in the area. This includes K

ildonan Children and

Council

Youth K

rew

Council’s P

lanning &

Sustainability U

nit W

SSD

G

Strategically located facilities accessible to young people

throughout the municipality.

Facilities to deliver a full range of early, secondary and tertiary program

s to young people. R

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

38

Actions

Planning strategies

Proposed partners O

utcomes

Family S

ervices (KC

FS), S

alvation Arm

y, the skate park, and the proposed public transport hub. Further w

ork to progress the Y

outh Facilities Plan 2030 includes:

• C

onsulting with young people, the Y

outh Krew

, local agencies and other stakeholders.

• C

onducting further research that will inform

design and location issues.

• E

xploring the opportunity for a youth facility in the High

Street grow

th corridor, i.e. Epping N

orth.

• E

xploring further opportunities for youth inclusive facilities in the densely populated areas of the m

unicipality, i.e. Mill

Park, Lalor, Thom

astown.

• C

onsidering the best model for the M

ernda-Doreen youth

designated facility.

• Integrating the Y

outh Facilities Plan 2030 w

ith local agency plans.

• E

xploring specific purpose needs i.e. local band rehearsal space, youth events space, m

ultimedia resources and

space.

• P

rogressing the proposal for the central youth facility within

the Plenty V

alley Town C

entre.

• Involving young people in the design and subsequent stages.

39

Actions

Planning strategies

Proposed partners O

utcomes

3.3

Integrating local agency plans

Aim: To inform

and support the future plans for youth services provision by other local stakeholders and agencies.

WYS

SD

G

KC

FS

Uniting C

are P

VC

H

WC

C

Other stakeholders

as they arise.

Improves service opportunities and outcom

es for young people. E

nsuring efficiency. Filling service gaps.

3.4 The Built Environm

ent 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 tow

n centres; designing young people into com

munity facilities;

and designing young people into open spaces. This w

ork is currently in the form of three w

orking documents of

research findings undertaken to date. This w

ork will contribute to the form

ation of Family S

ervices design principles.

Family S

ervices P

arks and Gardens

Sustainability and

Planning

Family S

ervices design principles and guidelines document

will be developed:

“Designing in C

hildren and Young P

eople 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 renew

al and new public

projects. e.g., parks and gardens, open space, town centres,

neighbourhoods, estates, recreational and leisure facilities, C

omm

unity Activity C

entres and youth focussed and inclusive facilities.

40

Strategic direction 4: Services: Generate a com

prehensive service system to facilitate the developm

ent, and provide the required support of all young people. Long term

goal

2030: A

com

prehensive range

of services, facilities,

programs,

events, resources

and activities

responding to

the developm

ental and special needs of young people Actions Service D

elivery Strategies Proposed Partners

Outcom

es

4.1

City of W

hittlesea 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, dem

ands, 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, A

rea Krew

s, Area S

umm

its, Area

Stakeholder N

etworks and integrated A

rea Plans. This w

ill develop in parallel w

ith the proposed YE

S (Y

outh Equity

Strategy) program

.

Stage 1 Initiate A

rea Sum

mit and Area Plans. Integrate and support the

development of Y

ES

Increased capacity to deliver programs at the local level and

respond to emerging issues.

Stage 2: C

onduct Area S

umm

its, develop Area P

lans and design program

responses. Increased capacity to respond to em

erging issues, and to drive issue based portfolios. Stage 3: E

valuate stages1 and 2. Review

resources required.

4.2

Youth Services 2006 Youth Summ

it Programm

atic responses

Youth S

ervices has designed a number of program

s in response to the 2006 S

umm

it.

Kildonan

SFY

S

WAG

CLD

YP

Schools

Service outcom

es responding to Sum

mit issues. M

ost notably: R

acism: Inter-cultural N

arrative project; R

ights, Young M

en’s Program

; Facilities: B

uilt environment principles ;

Adolescence: P

arenting Adolescence sessions;

Violence: Y

oung Wom

en’s Self D

efense workshops.

41

Actions

Service Delivery Strategies

Proposed

Partners

Outcom

es

4.3

Promoting healthy lifestyles w

ith young people

Aim: To provide opportunities for young w

omen and

young men to acquire know

ledge and skills to develop healthy lifestyles.

The initial program w

ill be the Girls G

o for it program. Y

outh S

ervices will w

ork with schools and agencies to im

plement this

project.

WYS

SD

G

DV

C

PV

CH

P

articipating partnerships to be negotiated

Improved body im

age and self esteem.

Improved physical and m

ental health. The G

irls Go for it m

odel will inform

the development of a

program targeting young m

en.

4.4

Parenting strategy

Aim: To support young people w

ho are parents, and parents of adolescents.

The new enhanced M

CH

model w

ill also focus their work on

young parents and parenting adolescents.

Family S

ervices P

articipating partnerships to be negotiated

Opportunities for young parents and parents of adolescents.

This will include:

Connection to generalist and specialist services;

Skill developm

ent in parenting; A

ccess to early intervention; S

upport with com

plex challenges; S

ocial connection to peers.

4.5

Linking youth service provision to the Early Years Service System

Aim: To increase know

ledge on adolescent brain developm

ent and life stages, and the implications of this

for planning a continuum of care and support.

Hum

e Youth

Services

Council’s E

arly years Team

Children’s

Foundation Fam

ily Services

WYS

SD

G

Other stakeholders

Research and training briefs w

ill be designed. Training delivered by experts in the field w

ill improve practice,

program developm

ent, service development and developm

ent of the service system

. Investm

ent in the Early Y

ears will be m

aximised and extended

into the transition to adulthood.

42

Actions

Service Delivery Strategies

Proposed

Partners

Outcom

es

4.6 R

ecreation 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 R

efugee and newly arrived

comm

unities as a significant means to connect w

ithin com

munity, also providing the first point of access and

connection to the wider com

munity.

Council’s Leisure

Services and

Planning

YM

CA

W

AGC

LDYP

C

MY

I O

FY

Leisure, sport and recreational opportunities available to young people w

ho are currently disadvantaged. Identification of barriers to access by R

efugee and newly arrived

comm

unities, and strategies to redress these barriers. D

evelopment of successful m

odels for the provision of leisure, sport and recreational program

s, especially for the Refugee and

newly arrived com

munities.

43

Strategic direction 5: Advocacy: Generate investm

ent and promote im

proved practices towards building a strong m

unicipality and a positive future for young people and their fam

ilies. Long term

goal 2030: A com

prehensive service system for all young people in the C

ity of Whittlesea.

Actions:

Advocacy strategies

Proposed partners O

utcomes

5.1 Interface C

ouncils Youth Services Group

Aim: To continue to lobby for resources to fill the gaps in

the social and physical infrastructure. W

hittlesea Youth S

ervices has initiated a partnership with

Municipal A

ssociation of Victoria (M

AV

), Royal M

elbourne Institute of Technology (R

MIT) and Y

outh Affairs Council

Victoria (Y

AC

Vic) 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 N

ational Youth A

ffairs C

onference in May 2007. A cam

paign directed at the Federal G

overnment w

ill be considered.

Interface Council’s

Youth S

ervices Group

Interface Council’s

Hum

an Services

Meeting

Youth service providers

in the other states M

AV

V

CO

SS

Y

AC

Vic

Strategic alliance of grow

th areas around Australia to raise

the comm

on issues with the A

ustralian Governm

ent.

44

Actions:

Advocacy strategies

Proposed partners O

utcomes

5.2

Generalist Youth W

orker Cam

paign

Aim: To m

aintain the Generalist Youth W

orker campaign

calling for more, and higher skilled youth w

orkers funded by State G

overnment.

Also advocate to governm

ents to develop a universal platform

for Youth W

orkers 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.

YA

CV

ic Interface C

ouncil Youth

Services G

roup V

CO

SS

W

YSS

DG

Improved outcom

es for young people and their families

through greater access to professional youth workers at

challenging and difficult times during transition from

childhood to adulthood.

5.3

Transport

Aim: To support the advocacy efforts to im

prove the public transport system

in the City of W

hittlesea.

Consultations w

ith 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. Im

proved provision of public transport to enable young people to independently access social, educational, w

ork, recreational and other places.

Strategic direction 6: Research: E

xploring evidence based best practice in youth development

Long term goal 2030: A

pplication of evidence based practise in the municipality.

Actions

Research Strategies

Proposed partners O

utcomes

6.1 W

hittlesea Youth Service System

Aim: To resource and strengthen the developm

ent of the m

unicipal Youth Service System through research and

data.

DV

C

WYS

SD

G

Improved services through shared know

ledge.

6.1.1 M

onitoring 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 w

ith local agencies and young people.

RM

IT Y

AC

Vic

OFY

C

MY

I

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 framew

ork 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 Y

outh Services and the m

unicipal youth service system.

This will include assessm

ent of the 40 Developm

ental Assets.

This research will assist agencies to consider a suitable set of

indicators for the City of W

hittlesea, and contribute to linking to the E

arly Years service system

.

Family S

ervices P

VC

H

WYS

SD

G

The key tool for linking provision to young people to Early

Years and the broader service system

. D

ata that indicates needs and gaps as they emerge.

46

Actions

Research Strategies

Proposed partners O

utcomes

6.1.3 Planning B

enchmarks

Aim: to identify youth planning benchm

arks that will

inform the developm

ent of the service system and built

environment.

This will involve:

Scanning existing program

s and literature on benchmarks,

identifying existing work, identifying relevant developm

ents that are em

erging, what new

work w

ill need to be undertaken, and w

hat Whittlesea Y

outh Services can achieve.

Academ

ic resources D

VC

Planning benchm

arks will guide the level of infrastructure

and service resources needed for young people in a progressive and system

atic manner as the m

unicipality grow

s over the next 25 years.

47

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 Victorian Indigenous Youth Affairs Council VIYAC Youth Affairs Council Victoria YACVic