The Port Stephens Youth Advisory Panel is celebrating the goals it has kicked in the past 18 months while looking ahead to the future.
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Adrian Solomons, who has been with the YAP since 2013, said the panel not only gives youth of the area a voice, but a chance to work with Port Stephens Council to achieve concrete outcomes.
“At the end of the day the actions of council is for the future of young people,” he said.
“If we’re wanting young people to stay living in an area like this, having young families, then we don't want them going away.
“We’re needing to work on plans that keep young people here, whether that's around employment, education, keeping mental health and well-being in tact.”
Port Stephens YAP was established in October 2013.
In the past three and a half years, the panel has advocated for young people in Port Stephens, predominately in the area of mental health.
It has done this by hosting youth mental health forums and creative challenges and by connecting with local and state government organisations and committees at the forefront of the issue.
Last year Port Stephens YAP was involved in the development of the first ever NSW Strategic Plan for Children and Young People.
This included attending forums hosted by Andrew Johnson, the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, in Raymond Terrace and YAP members attending the 2016 Speak For Yourself Forum.
Currently, panel members are working with James Campbell and his team from the council to review and rewrite the Port Stephens Youth Strategy plus plan events for 2018 such a youth forum.
The forum gives young people from across the local government area an opportunity to have their voices heard.
The 2017 youth forum, hosted in March, saw 70 students from seven high schools in the area attend.
To help recruit new members and achieve their plans for the future, the panel has now been restructured to include a Port East and Port West YAP ‘crew’ each.
The idea is to make it easier for 15 to 24-year-olds spread across Port Stephens to attend YAP meetings and get involved with the panel.
“Splitting the panel into a Port East and Port West crew for three of the meetings will reduce the amount of travel for those who want to get involved and will give youth from each area the opportunity to discuss issues that directly affect them,” Liz Akerman, Port Stephens Council’s acting community development and engagement coordinator, said.
“Port West YAP will cover the western and central areas of the local government area, including Raymond Terrace, Karuah, Tilligerry, Medowie and rural west, while the Port East YAP will cover the Tomaree area.
“We will still get the entire YAP together three times a year to discuss the big issues affecting youth in Port Stephens, including a review of the Port Stephens Youth Strategy, planning for Youth Week, as well as leadership and personal development workshops.”
In the past year YAP has also worked with Caring for Our Port Stephens Youth (COPSY) to address mental health in youth, an “issue that the panel has been intrinsically involved in since being established” Mr Solomons said.
In 2016, COPSY commissioned a needs analysis study, funded by the Hunter New England-Central Coast Primary Health Network with in kind support from Port Stephens Council and East Ward funds from councillor Sally Dover.
Key recommendations from this study are currently being considered by a community working party, including Port Stephens YAP members.
What the panel has worked on in the past 18 months:
- Address limited transport options and geographic isolation through the development and promotion of localised initiatives;
- Promote council grants and funding programs to encourage youth-specific events and competitions in localised areas, rather than large events in central locations (PS24 Challenge during Youth Week)
- Investigate and implement ways for support services and local networks to be promoted and utilised by young people across the LGA (youth forums)
- Facilitate opportunity for community and youth sector organisations to develop place based youth initiatives including youth week program (PS24 Challenge)
- Improve opportunities for young people to make a meaningful contribution to public life and decision making processes.
- Support the Youth Advisory Panel to advocate and lobby on issues that are important to them (PS24 Challenge, youth forums)
Future YAP projects:
- Review and re writing of the Port Stephens Youth Strategy; the annual youth forum will, in 2018, be an opportunity to hear from young people from across the LGA.
- Planning, supporting and if required, hosting Youth Week 2018 events.
- Supporting activities that take place at local high schools. These projects will be projects that school leadership groups are passionate about as well as YAP members.
- Leadership and personal development workshops and forums.
For more information on YAP or to join phone Port Stephens Council on 4980 0255, email james.campbell@portstephens.nsw.gov.au or visit the PSC Youth Advisory Panel Facebook page.
