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City of Mandurah Youth Strategy2014 – 2018

ContentsForeward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Methodology – Engaging withMandurah’s Youth to create a 2014 – 2018 vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8A Vision for Mandurah’s Youth 2014 – 2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Findings – Mandurah’s Challenges and Gaps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Background – Creating Opportunities for Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Action Plan 2014 – 2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Role and Areas of Influence forLocal Government in Developing Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Appendices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303

ForewardThe City of Mandurah prides itself on beinga leader in Local Government and has acommitment to embracing Mandurah as aunique regional City, which understandsthe complexity of social, economic andenvironmental issues that currently exist. TheCity is working towards delivering on itscommunities strategic directions, to provideopportunities for future generations of peopleliving in Mandurah and its surrounding areas.Mandurah is a rapidly developing coastalcommunity and over the past decade hassustained consistently high growth. Mandurahtoday has a youth population (aged 11 – 25years) of well over 16,500 and over the nextfive years many new families will move toMandurah. With this growth comes somechallenges, however also presents uniqueopportunities. The City’s role will be to leadthe way by helping to increase the capacity ofthe youth sector; engage with youth broadlyto ensure their opinion counts, and to delivera range of youth programs, projects andfacilities that develop and guide a growingyouth need.and unique challenges – challenges such asdifferent social and family patterns, rapidlychanging technology, an evolving labourmarket and climate change.Mandurah’s youth enjoy a relaxed coastallifestyle, with high quality amenity and serviceswithin a friendly and inclusive community.This strategy provides the City with a visionfor Mandurah’s Youth – a place where youthcan thrive. In continuing to address the needsand aspirations of youth within the community,the City once again sets its direction andcommitment for the next five years to deliverthe Youth Strategy 2014 – 2018.The City of Mandurah’s Youth Strategy 2014– 2018 framework positions itself under theCity of Mandurah’s Strategic Community Plan2013 – 2033 which is designed to reflect theMandurah communities broad visions, valuesand aspirations for the future and prioritisesstrategic directions for the next twenty years.The Youth Strategy provides a vision forcreating more opportunities, especially aroundeducation and careers, making Manduraha safer more inclusive place for youth andto promote the range of amazing things ouryouth achieve.The Youth Strategy takes into account the roleand responsibilities of Local Government inyouth development, whilst acknowledging therole and responsibilities of both the Federaland State Government, and the not forprofit sector. The City recognises that today’sgeneration of young Australians face newMark NewmanCEO, City of MandurahMarina VergoneMayor, City of Mandurah5

A Vision for Mandurah’s YouthMandurah is one of the fastest growing local governments in Australia and has a youth populationwhich is also expanding. For the City of Mandurah to secure its Strategic Community Plan’s vision forthe future as a place where the community is proud, inspired, inclusive and innovative, Mandurahneeds to be a place where youth can thrive and achieve their aspirations. This requires a coordinatedapproach to developing youth across governments, community sectors and business to ensure; opportunities are optimised; resources are coordinated and maximised; connections are formed; excitement for youth is generated and; the City leads into the future.In developing this strategy, youth in Mandurah were widely consulted and listed the ‘Best thingsabout living in Mandurah’, as the beaches and water, the wide range of things to do and that it isfriendly and inclusive. Male youth use their spare time to play computer games, play casual sportand frequent skate/BMX and scooter parks; while female youth enjoy shopping, photography andstudying/reading and both like catching up with friends, using social media and the beach.To create a better Mandurah, youth would like to see increased safety, for Mandurah to have animproved reputation and increased opportunities. All while enjoying the relaxed lifestyle, coastallocation and broad range of amenities and services on offer. Youth had four areas of key concernswhich included feeling safe in the community, money/finances, bullying and emotional wellbeing.Their main key youth issues were education, safety, employment and training.There are many challenges and opportunities for Mandurah’s youth today. A vision and plan for thefuture will ensure a holistic and targeted approach to addressing their needs and providing avenuesfor greater connections and opportunities.

BackgroundCreating Opportunities for YouthRole and Areas of Influence for Local Government in Developing YouthThe City of Mandurah provides a broad spectrum of youth programs and servicesthrough its Youth Development team and also supports a range of youth initiativesin conjunction with Recreation Centres and Services, Libraries and Arts, CommunityMuseum, City Events, Community Safety and Environmental Services. The focus ofthis strategy is to align the broad range of youth activities across the City under oneframework to deliver a more holistic approach towards creating opportunities for thebenefit of Mandurah youth.In considering the City’s approach to youth development, it is important to understandand where possible add value to, modes of delivering youth development across all ofGovernment – Federal, State and Local (including not for profit organisations).The Australian Governments National Strategy for Young Australians (adopted in 2010),recognises the challenges that young people face in today’s society with a vision for allyoung people to grow up safe, healthy, happy and resilient and to have the opportunitiesand skills they need to learn, work, engage in community life and influence decisionsthat affect them. The Strategy aims to empower young people to build their own lives,learn to take responsibility for their actions, build resilience in life’s challenges and builda healthier, safer and more productive Australia. To achieve the vision and aims theGovernment focuses on priorities, which include: improving the health and wellbeingof all young people, equipping young Australians to shape their own futures througheducation, take part and be active in their communities, increasing their skills andpersonal networks – to gain employment and enabling young Australians to participateKey themes were identified through a number of youth consultation processes to ensurea targeted approach. Actions have then been developed to address these areas andaligned to the City of Mandurah’s 20 Year Strategic Community Plan.The key focus areas for the Youth Strategy, following consultation, are as follows;1. Education, training and employment opportunities (Economic)2. Safety (Social)confidently and safely online.3. Public Transport (Infrastructure)The State Government of Western Australia through its Strategy Our Youth – Our FutureJuly 2012 builds upon the strength of efforts across State Government agencies andpresents a shared vision and priority directions, informed by young people and withsupport from the youth sector. The outcomes and priority areas are around havinghealthy, happy and safe young people, who live life to the full, make a difference andhave a focus on learning, work and future financial independence.4. Facilities and events for young people (Infrastructure, Social)5. Health and wellbeing (Social, Environment)6. Sense of community and identity (Identity)7. Community participation (Social, Economic, Infrastructure, Identity).The aim of the City’s Youth Strategy 2014 – 2018 is to provide a five year directionalplan reflecting the findings of a number of consultations with local youth and keystakeholders. The Strategy will provide a youth profile snapshot and a strategic responseto any specific trends or gaps identified and promote collaborative partnerships toaddress local needs. The plan will be reviewed in 2016 to assess achievements.The State Government also supports the role of the Commissioner for Children andYoung People, who provides advocacy for children and youth through research andconsultation with children, young people and key stakeholders across the State, makingrecommendations to the State Government.7

MethodologyEngaging with Mandurah’s Youth – tocreate a 2014 – 2018 visionIn developing the Youth Strategy 2014 – 2018 it wasimportant that Mandurah youth had a voice andthe growing number of service providers, includinguniversities, technical colleges and schools, were alsoengaged. To ensure the plan considered a broad range ofopinions the following youth and youth sector engagementwas undertaken:99 Review of the City’s Youth Services Business Plan2009 – 2013.99 Delivery of the Have Your Say Youth Survey targetingyoung people aged 12 – 25 years.99 Distribution of the Have Your Say Youth Survey,surveying 469 young people. The aim of the surveywas to understand:be improved? What are the key concerns for young people? What are the key issues young people arefacing today? How are young people participating in thecommunity? How can we reach young people withinformation?99 Face to face interviews to provide opportunities foryoung people to complete the Have Your Say YouthSurvey.99 A Youth Service Providers one day workshop.99 Feedback from one-on-one consultation from keyservice providers specifically relating to the delivery oftheir services and identifying their future focus youthareas. What do young people think about living inMandurah?99 Audit of existing Youth Services in the MandurahRegion (undertaken internally by City Officers). How do young people think Mandurah could99 Internal Business Review of the City of Mandurah’sYouth Development Team (Confidential Report – asadopted by Council, 2014).99 City of Mandurah Officers across key portfolio’s thatprovide any services to, or provide future planning foryouth – consulted.99 General surveying in key locations within the City ofMandurah i.e. Mandurah Centro Shopping Centre,Central Halls Head Shopping Centre, Miami Plaza,Skate Event on 02/11/13 held at the Billy BowlerSkate Park and a visit to Challenger TAFE to engagewith students.99 Metrix Marketing Consultants were commissionedas an independent agency to conduct the Have YourSay Youth Survey analysis findings into a report ‘TheVoices of Mandurah’s Youth’ in 2013 informing thedesign of the City of Mandurah’s Youth Strategy.

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