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Youth Have Their Say

25 Wonthaggi Secondary College students took the opportunity today to tell their school and local Council what they really think.

By Bass Coast Shire Council - 17th August 2006 - Back to News

The consultation, a part of Bass Coast Shire Council’s Community Building Project, involved the group using state-of-the-art computer technology in the Secondary College’s new Flexible Learning Centre.

The students were asked for their input on a range of local issues.

These include how the Secondary College’s Dudley Campus may be better used as a community facility and their views on living in Bass Coast.

Council’s Community Building Facilitator, Tony Cornish, said the group’s responses would be presented to a panel of representatives drawn from state and local government and other community leaders.

"The panel will provide comment on the feasibility of any actions recommended by these young people.

"They will also suggest strategies to bring those actions to life, and generally provide a ‘reality’ check," informed Mr Cornish.

"The findings may also be incorporated into long-term Council plans."

Assistant Principal at the Dudley Campus, Barb Britten, said the school had taken a lead role in developing the consultation project.

"The Wonthaggi Secondary College Learning Support Team developed an interactive way to collect and present the ideas and suggestions of participating young people.

"This will hopefully offer a more interesting and ‘user friendly’ process for gathering and sharing ideas," said Ms Britten.

Youth Development Officer from Kilmany UnitingCare, Kylie Green, said she quickly accepted participating in the project, given its enormous potential.

"Encouraging both younger and older people in the community to create solutions is a great initiative.

"There are a number of key positives that will come from this project, including the potential to recognise and celebrate future young leaders, identifying current youth needs in the community and connecting different age and interest groups," explained Ms Green.

"The project empowers young people to have a voice.

"It is also a great opportunity to test a different method of consulting, in this case, with young people", she added.

Bass Coast Shire Council will trial a number of community projects this year as part of its overall Community Building initiative.

These include a Community Expo to take place in Inverloch later this year and workshops to help community groups learn to prepare funding submissions.

The initiative is being funded by a Department of Victorian Communities grant and is being steered by a working committee made up of representatives from Council and community groups.

Mr Cornish says it is hoped that each project will continue in some form within the community, once the overall project is completed.

"This may be other community representatives replicating the trial projects, or in the least, utilising any ‘tools’ that result.

"Additionally, we hope that there will be spin-off projects identified and developed that will progress under their own steam, so to speak," said Mr Cornish.

"Currently there are representatives from over a dozen groups and organisations who are participating or interested in taking part in the projects, but we’d still like to hear from more.

"If you would like to take part in one of the initiatives, such as the Inverloch Community Expo in November, we would certainly like to talk to you," he said.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to get involved please contact Council’s Community Building Facilitator, Tony Cornish, on 5671 2211 or 5951 3311.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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