Monash City Council is engaging community youth with the release of a Draft Monash Youth Plan 2013-2016 for public consultation.
The plan outlines Council’s commitment to supporting the young people of Monash and helping them achieve their full potential.
It was developed following extensive consultations with 400 young people, along with other key stakeholders.
The information gathered was used to shape a plan that covers issues which matter most to the youth of Monash.
Monash Mayor Micaela Drieberg said the plan would help strengthen the relationships between young people, the community and Council.
“Young people are the future of our community and Council is committed to ensuring we support the growth and development of our youth.
“We have recognised that adolescence is a time of change and this plan will help us provide services and facilities to assist our young people through this period of their lives.”
The plan was designed to recognise the diverse needs and interests of young people in the community.
Council developed three vision statements to succinctly summarise the plan’s focus and aims: Engaged and Connected; Valued and Respected; and Happy and Healthy.
To achieve these objectives, Council is supporting the implementation of a new Youth Foyer in Glen Waverley, an integrated model of supported student accommodation aimed at sustainable education, employment and housing for young people at risk of homelessness.
The City is also considering the development of a regional active space to offer accessible, affordable activities for young people, and has promised to strongly advocate to local health authorities for a more responsive mental health system in Monash.
The success of the plan will be evaluated against three priority actions and performance measures, one in each of the three vision areas.
“Young people make up over one fifth of our population so it’s important to recognise that they are a major consumer of Council services,” Councillor Drieberg said.
“We need to ensure we are providing facilities and services that are tailored to their needs.”
