Getting young people involved in their community, or in the council that represents the community, is no mean feat.
In 2010 the City of Melville in Western Australia completed an innovative youth research project, involving peer to peer consultation and engagement, that has gone on to become a benchmark for other local government agencies, both national and international.
The research team, called RESET, was made up of a group of 15 to 22 year olds who collectively volunteered 2000 plus hours over the 12 month project. A further 700 young people who lived, worked and/or studied in the City of Melville contributed to the research, ensuring that the data was an accurate reflection of the region’s diversity.
A variety of strategies were used to conduct the research, such as surveys, focus groups, online discussions and strategic conversations held around the City of Melville. In the process, the RESET team identified a number of common ‘domains’ that were of concern to young people, such as entertainment, recreation and education.
The findings of the research have been published in a document titled Directions from Young People 2010-2013, which outlines what changes, services and programs young people want and how they want to see these delivered. This document now informs the City of Melville’s Corporate Plan and drives activities in relation to the engagement, support and consultation of young people.
Not only do the young people of the City of Melville benefit from this in depth investigation into their concerns; the RESET team gained important skills in research methods, data analysis and cultural sensitivity training. All participants in the research team received a Certificate II in Leadership Development and one of the team members has become an elected member for the City of Melville, making her one of the youngest female elected members in the country.
