Townsville Showcase
Palm Island Community Youth Centre Consultation Process
- Background
- What is different about this case study that shows how government, industry and communities can better engage with each other?
- What are the key outcomes of the case study for government, industry and community?
- What are the key learnings/insights about community engagement?
- What will sustain community engagement into the future in this case study?
Background
In May 2002, a survey of Palm Islanders was conducted to gather information about possible uses and preferred activities for a Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) Community Youth Centre. Two surveys were administered - one for families and households and one for children and young people. Surveys were administered by local interviewers in local community settings such as shops and schools as well as in people's homes. Interviews were conducted both during and after school hours. A total of 162 returns were collected from families/households and the youth survey collected views from a total of 261 young people (some survey forms collected views of multiple young people on the one form). About 30% more males than females were involved in the surveys. The surveys were analysed and entered into a database by Community Renewal.
The family surveys identified a range of indoor sporting and other activities that parents would like to participate in both as adults, and as a family group. Families were also asked to nominate the main activities that young people participate in on the Island and to suggest times that would be convenient for parents to drop young people to activities.
The survey of young people provided information regarding the sporting and recreational activities that young people would most like to participate in, and the times that they would prefer activities to be held. Survey respondents also identified a range of things that would encourage them to use the youth centre such as ensuring that the centre provided a safe environment, providing transport to the centre, providing interesting activities and entertainment and providing food.
The results were used as a basis for designing the next workshop and also informed the preparation of a draft architectural document.
What is different about this case study that shows how government, industry and communities can better engage with each other?
Another crucial tool that was used in the Palm Island Community Youth Centre consultation process was the Bwgcolman Speak Out Workshop. The workshop which was organised by Community Renewal built on the results from the earlier survey process and was held over two days in mid July 2002. The broad intention of the Speak Out workshop was to show that Community Renewal is committed to a transparent consultation process that is respectful of all the stakeholders especially young people and youth, and that consultation could be fun.
The Speak Out consultation workshop centred around the following key issues:
Day 1 Activities
- To get an impression of what young people on Palm Island value about Palm Island.
- To get a clear impression from young people and youth of what they perceive as the key issues, concerns and needs on Palm Island.
- Find out what these same young people think should happen in the new youth facility (PCYC).
Day 2 Activities
- Find out what these young people think the youth facility should be like. What would it look like? How will it relate to the culture of Palm Island people? What will it feel like inside? The architects wanted enough information to go away and attempt a first sketch design of the proposed facility.
A local Youth Council (10 people) carried out extensive consultation and promotional work in the lead-up to the workshop to encourage people to attend. Special effort was made to ensure that the workshop was attractive to young people; food was provided (traditional food included) and Troy and Trevelyn Brady who had recently appeared on the Popstars television series attend. The workshop was facilitated by two young women from the Commission for Children and Young People who applied a range of skills for engaging primary school aged children through games, art and craft activities and incentives.
Since the Bwgcolman Speak Out Workshop, Community Renewal has continued to hold events such as community days and community forums as part of its consultation process. Several councillors from the Palm Island Aboriginal Council were part of the government steering committee for this project and also part of the community consultation process. In recognition of local protocols, Council as the final authorising was briefed as a whole, separately each time that the Project Team visited the community. As key local stakeholder agencies the Coolgaree CDEP and both schools were also briefed separately to ensure maximum and appropriate information sharing about the project across the community.
What are the key outcomes of the case study for government, industry and community?
The establishment of this centre on Palm Island will address key priorities of the Queensland Government such as:
Community engagement and a better quality of life
- Thorough consultation has ensured that the youth centre/PCYC will be adopted as a part of the Palm Island community. The local people both want it and need it. It is intended that the Palm Island Community Council will own and maintain the facility which will be operated and managed by the PCYC.
- By enabling local people to identify their priorities for sport and recreation activities, it is hoped that participation will increase and that crime and drug and alcohol abuse will decrease and that community well-being will be improved.
- Young people were given a sense of ownership of the centre and were also educated as to how projects such as this are developed.
A safer, more supportive environment
- It is recognised that the young people of Palm Island are both victims and perpetrators of crime. By providing them with an opportunity to contribute to the design of a safe place in which to gather, and to recommend healthy activities in which to participate, this circle of crime can be broken. This will hopefully reduce hospital admissions, court appearances, imprisonment and economic problems relating to fines among islanders.
- Young people's respect for older members of the community, authority figures and themselves can be encouraged through joint contributions to planning processes such as this, making way for a more supportive - less threatening - community.
What are the key learnings/insights about community engagement?
Successful community engagement can only be achieved when all stakeholders are willing to become active participants and provide their contributions throughout the whole consultation process.
When working in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, it is important to take time to work at the communities pace, harmonising the pace of government timeframes and community timeframes.
The consultation process could have been more effective and more engaging if people had been shown models of the buildings rather than just drawings.
What will sustain community engagement into the future in this case study?
Future community engagement will be sustained by the active involvement of the Coolgaree Youth Movement Association in the joint management of the Palm Island Community Youth Centre. The use of local labour in the construction phase of the Youth Centre will also sustain community engagement and foster a sense of community ownership of the centre.
Further capacity building amongst groups of young people who aren't necessarily associated with established organisations will ensure that young people can continue to have a say about what happens at the Centre.
The establishment of a Youth Council would also enable young people to have a say in what happens at the centre.
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