Townsville Showcase
Speak Out 2003 - Bridges: North, Far North and North West Youth Council Conference
- 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
Youth Towers (Charters Towers Youth Council) members attended a Speak Out Conference for Youth Councils in 2003 at Gayndah (Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast area). Given the tyranny of distance, Youth Towers decided that they would like to organise a similar event in North Queensland as often, these events are held in southern regions and are not very accessible for young people.
Youth Towers chose to focus on the idea of building 'bridges' between the local government (local Councils, Councillors), young people and community members.
What is different about this case study that shows how government, industry and communities can better engage with each other?
- This event was instigated, developed and run by members of Youth Towers. They chose the content, speakers, venue, hand-outs, activities, even the menu. The event was also chaired by a young person.
- Young people also planned a range of support activities such as pizza and movies, a disco and a trip to the local swimming pool. They also created a warm-up activity and initiated the writing of personal letters which will be mailed in six months time. These letters, written by the conference participants to themselves are designed to sustain, or reignite the energy young people felt as a result of their participation in the conference. The Youth Develop Officer will post these letters to the participants 6 months after the conference.
- All Local Governments within the north of Queensland were emailed regarding this conference and each was invited to nominate up to 4 young people to attend the conference. A list of almost 40 people including youth workers and teachers has now been created. Weekly update emails were sent to all on this list.
- This conference brought together many young people from across North, Far North and North West Queensland.
- The Department of Employment and Training, Office of Youth Affairs provided funding to cover transport costs for a number of young people travelling from more remote communities to attend.
- This conference brought young people and local government representatives together to discuss opportunities and strategies for developing events and programs in local communities.
- The energy and motivation of youth representatives was outstanding.
- It was obvious from the comments made by young people from diverse communities such as Wonga Beach and Mount Isa that young people wish to take an active role in their community and have a desire to engage with elders from their communities to develop local projects.
- Participants heard how to engage the press and local Councillors, were provided with information on funding programs and how to attract funds from these programs and developed their organisational skills. A motivational speaker also addressed the group.
- Young people received support from adult mentors to analyse the basic planning elements of a project, timelined these components and transferred them to a forward planning tool.
- Work has begun on a website with an online forum to help young people stay connected after this conference. Young people have been invited to assume the role of webmaster for this site.
What are the key outcomes of the case study for government, industry and community?
- Local Councils / Councillors wish to engage with young people and to have them act as a bridge between Local Government and their peers.
- Several Councillors present at the conference felt that young people could provide input to Council during the planning phases of projects and decisions affecting young people.
- Young people developed knowledge to assist them to engage their local community and will continue to receive support via an online forum.
- Information on the forum and its outcomes will be posted on the Local Government Association of Queensland website so that other young people in other communities might learn from the experiences of Youth Towers.
What are the key learnings/insights about community engagement?
A number of learnings emerged from this process including:
- That young people have the skills and insight regarding community development that is necessary to create change.
- That young people have a desire to be a part of the decision making process when decisions impact on young people at the local level.
- That a Youth Council that is representative of the various groups of young people in the community and that is accorded due legitimacy and status by Local Government can effectively create change for young people and create attitude change with older members of the community.
- Effective youth engagement strategies such as Youth Councils require support from dedicated staff who are skilled in the area of youth engagement.
- It is important to provide food and refreshments during meetings with young people.
- It is important to use 'trial and error' in identifying appropriate venues for engaging young people.
What will sustain community engagement into the future in this case study?
- The establishment of a website / on-line chat facility will ensure continuity of support and advice from young people, local government representatives, youth development workers and mentors.
- Young people who hear success stories from other young people via the on-line forum are likely to be inspired to get involved themselves.
- Spreading the message of achievements by young people throughout Local Government Association Queensland, will encourage Councils to see the benefit of engaging with young people.
- Young people accepting a leadership role in their community will support more engaged processes in the future.
Last updated 4 December 2003
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