Shire wants views on its strategy for youth

THE Surf Coast Shire has drafted its Youth Strategy for the next three years and has released it for public feedback.

Informed by community consultation, the draft Youth Strategy aims to create a community and environment that empowers young people to thrive

The strategy’s vision is “to create a community and environment that empowers young people to thrive”, and the strategy includes six focus areas:

• Recreation
• Arts
• Culture
• Mental health support
• Alcohol and other drug support, and
• Environment.

The shire’s Youth Development Team will seek public comment on the draft Youth Strategy 2022-2025 from internal and external stakeholders, including members of the local community in the youth demographic (12-25 years), and the shire has opened a section in the Your Say page on its website for four weeks.

Councillors officially endorsed the draft strategy at their September 27 meeting.

In their report to councillors, officers stated it would be “imperative” to “engage our local school students (through the Surf Coast Secondary College and Lorne P-12 Principals), key partners, parents and caregivers of young people to provide comment”.

Cr Gary Allen said the Surf Coast Shire was home to around 5,200 young people aged 12 to 25 years, who made up 14 per cent of the local population.

“The issues that young people face now are vastly different to those of the generation before, so the strategy is tailored to the needs of today’s youth.

“It has largely been informed by the results of our Surf Coast Youth Census, completed late last year.”

“A total of 1,084 young people from across the shire completed the questionnaire component of the survey, which equates to just over 20 per cent of our youth population.

“Pleasingly, 97 per cent described living on or near the Surf Coast as good, great or amazing, and 95 per cent said they were excited about the future.”

Several key themes regarding what matters to young people emerged from the Youth Census, including environmental issues, a need for diverse recreation facilities, and support for social and emotional issues.

Cr Allen said the draft strategy set the direction and long-term structure for the shire’s work with young people.

“It sets out how we will partner with experts, other organisations and groups to ensure our young people can reach their full potential in life.

“I encourage anyone with an interest to read the strategy and provide feedback.”

To read the draft strategy and provide feedback until October 30, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/YouthStrategy