A youth plan that is owned and operated by young people and the wider community is the aim of a new initiative in Western Australia. Two young Indigenous people have recently joined the City of Geraldton to work on a project to gauge the needs of young people in the community.
Musician Jasson Bartlett, aged 22, and Becky Jones, aged 26, joined a Community Development Employment Program organised by Wila Gutharra Community Aboriginal Corporation. They will work with Youth Development Officer, Yvonne Lovedee, who also recently joined Council as part of a six month project, aimed at building stronger families and communities.
The Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services funds the project.
The two new youth workers are well known in the community and have helped organise several events, including Youth Week, which finished on 3 April. In the longer term, they will consult with the community to determine the needs of young people.
Yvonne Lovedee said that at the end of six months the team aimed to have developed a strategic plan that would guide the development of youth initiatives for the next five years.
“The idea is that the community and young people in particular have ownership of that plan and that they are the ones that will make it happen,” Yvonne Lovedee said. “Council’s role is to be there for guidance on how they can turn that dream into reality.”
Council’s Community Development Manager, Glenys McDonald, said Jasson and Rebecca were chosen for their enthusiasm, their ability to relate easily with people, and their determination to make the job a first step to building solid careers. Glenys McDonald said it was an important role as the strategic plan will be a blueprint for youth development for the whole of Geraldton.
Both Jasson and Rebecca said they were looking forward to working in a supportive team environment and accomplishing the most they could for their community.
For more details contact Yvonne Lovedee or Glenys McDonald on (08) 9956 6600.
