12 September 2016 – Media Release
Cumberland Council Administrator Viv May has announced the development of a new Youth Strategy at the Council Meeting on 7 September. Council has recently increased its engagement with the community and a common thread through recent consultations has been the need for more facilities and services to support local young people. Council has now officially made it a priority to begin a Youth Needs Assessment Study which, coupled with an audit of Council owned youth facilities, will:
- address the needs, expectations and aspirations of local young people
- provide Council, youth service providers and community organisations with a valuable information resource
- identify current and required services and programs for young people
- inform funding allocations to be made under the Stronger Communities Fund
- identify duplication and assist in avoiding a waste of resources.
As part of the assessment, Council will be directly engaging with young people across Cumberland to hear their views on what Council’s priorities should be. This will involve visiting schools and also engaging 6 `Youth Consultants,’ aged 18-24 years old, from a range of backgrounds across the area. Each Youth Consultant will meet with young people in the area to inform Council’s Strategic Plan and Youth Strategy.
Mr May explained the importance of the assessment and the strategy in his Administrator’s Minute at the latest meeting of Cumberland Council.
“There are approximately 40,000 young people who reside in our community, representing 20% of the population in Cumberland. There is currently limited data and research painting a clear picture of the needs of young people across Cumberland. Clearly this is just not good enough.
“By engaging young people to find exactly what is needed, we are getting the right answers straight from the source, which will enable us to make a strategy that is perfect for the area.”
“This Strategy will ensure that young people are serviced in a more coordinated and efficient manner” said Cumberland Council Administrator Viv May.
Once this process is complete, Cumberland Council will prioritise youth projects, programs and services based on the priorities identified.
