With the highest percentage of young people in the Melbourne metropolitan area, Council places a high priority on its Youth Services Program. Conscious that youth need space for recreation and socialising that does not infringe on the amenity of other residents, Council aims to meet these needs by making full use of what young people themselves have to offer.
Younger residents have been actively encouraged to participate in Council activities, particularly in the planning and designing of facilities. Empowering young people to realise their own abilities is a cornerstone of Youth Services. A recent and highly successful program has led to a Skate park.
After a group of local teenagers approached Council they began working with Melanie Hayes, Council’s Youth Services Team Leader, to develop their ideas. They formed a committee and presented an extended report to Council of their needs. This resulting in a grant of $50,000 to provide a rollerblading and skateboarding facility.
Melanie stressed that both girls and boys were encouraged to participate in the process which helped them gain insight into the way Council operates. Moreover it broke down many of the barriers which often exist between kids and local authorities.
“Blades and the like are not generally regarded as authority friendly,” Melanie said. “This process has certainly helped establish a new relationship between local kids and the Council.”
Other programs include a Youth Outreach Service, Drug and Alcohol Education, Youth Activity Service, a hotline for special assistance and housing service. With extended family support not always available, the 6801 Youth Outreach service provides a valuable community service to assist people through the difficult period of adolescence. Within the service, volunteers provide an advice and counselling hotline. This operates between the hours of 8 am and 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The volunteers, themselves aged from 18 to 24, are aware of the difficulties faced by their peers. Council provides a training scheme to assist in their work and runs security checks to ensure safety.
Not only are recipients assisted by the program, but volunteers themselves develop very useful skills. Students from the Melton campus of the Victoria University of Technology, undertaking Community Services courses, gain valuable field experience through the program.
Among other services offered to youth in the district, Council runs camps, conducts a drug and alcohol education program in partnership with local schools, and liaises with local police and other agencies to provide a number of complementary programs of local entertainment for kids.
One of these is an under 18 music program. This is part of a pilot study for the State Government known as GLEAM (Great Live Entertainment and Music). With Council assistance, this program is organised and run by young people.
For further information contact David Marnie, Manager Family, Youth and Housing Services, telephone (03) 9747 7200.
