The Shire of Ashburton is developing a new Youth Strategy in partnership with the Youth Affairs Council of WA (YACWA).
Why we are developing a Youth Strategy
The aim of this Strategy is to better understand what is important to young people and identify what we need to do to make the communities where you live, work and play, the best places possible for young people over the next few years. We will be talking with:
- Young people aged 12 to 25 who live, work, study, volunteer or spend time in the Shire of Ashburton
- Parents and caregivers of young people
- Groups and organisations (including businesses) that work with or have a connection to young people
- Shire staff and elected members
How you can get involved in the Youth Strategy
Young people
Peer researchers
We want to talk with lots of young people to find out what actions to focus on and we want other young people to help us with this. We are looking for eight young people aged 16 to 25, who live, work, study, or attend organisations in the Shire to be peer researchers. We ideally want to select two young people from each of the four Towns: Onslow, Pannawonica, Paraburdoo, and Tom Price.
As a peer researcher, you will help us design a youth survey, vox pop interviews and youth workshops and give us advice on how to promote all of these to young people. You will go out into the community and each survey young people aged 12 to 25 and conduct a small number of ‘vox pop’ style interviews. We will provide you with training on how to do this.
This is a unique opportunity to develop your experience and skills as a changemaker in your local community, as well as help the Shire understand the issues that are important to young people. It is an excellent opportunity to build real-work ready skills that will look great on your resume, and we can provide a certificate at the end. As a peer researcher you will receive $600 for your work if you attend all training sessions, deliver the full number of surveys and interviews. You will be paid $200 on delivery of the first 15 surveys, $200 for the next 15 surveys and $200 after you hold the interviews and attend the de-brief session. If you can’t deliver all the surveys, or attend the final session, then this will be adjusted accordingly.
As a peer researcher you will need to commit to each phase of the project including training, co-design, survey delivery, interviews, and debriefing. There are three key sessions you will need to attend (listed below), and the fourth session is optional:
- Training & co-design session (in person) – Saturday 10th September, 10am to 4pm
- Training & co-design session (online) – Wednesday 14th September, 5pm to 7.30pm
- Consultation de-brief (online) – Wednesday 19th October 5pm – 7.30pm
- Final young changemaker workshop – week of 7th November (TBD) – optional
The survey and vox pop delivery phase will run for approximately four weeks and you will need to gather 30 surveys from young people in that time and hold two to three interviews.
The Peer Researcher applications for Tom Price and Paraburdoo are now closed. If you live in Pannawonica or Onslow and would like to become a Peer Researcher,
more information is located here. You can either apply online here or via a hard copy application form which you need to email to [email protected] by the closing date.
Shire of Ashburton - Application to become a Peer Researcher
Survey
There will be a youth survey co-designed by the peer researchers and distributed throughout the Shire. Be sure to keep an eye on our socials for more information regarding surveys.
Focus groups
There will be one youth-focus group held in each of the four Shire Town’s with already existing groups of young people (i.e., at services, recreation groups, educational institutions). More information about these will be distributed when these opportunities are finalised with participating organisations.
Young changemaker workshop
In November we will hold a virtual Young Changemaker workshop where young people who are interested in advocacy can learn the skills of ‘making’ change’ through a practical workshop, that also leads to solution ideation for the Youth Strategy. More information about this will be distributed closer to the time.
Parents and caregivers
Parents and caregivers of young people aged 12 to 25 in the Shire will have an opportunity to have their say on current service provision and ideas about opportunities for the future.
Organisations and businesses
One on one interviews
We will be holding one on one interviews via phone and via videoconference from August to October. These will take about 20 minutes and are for any organisation or business that connects with young people including youth services, community services, recreation services, faith groups, schools and other education providers and businesses.
Workshop
In November we will hold a virtual workshop with organisations and businesses to look at the consultation data and have a big picture look at the systems at play in the Shire (and beyond). We will explore how the Shire’s Youth Strategy can value add and piggyback off initiatives to ensure that it is a connected and embedded piece of work.
Community
Throughout October and November, we will be rolling out a postcard campaign where we ask for everyone in the community to share one wish or big idea they have for young people in the Shire. Look out for these through your local Shire services.
How I can get more information
The Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia (YACWA) is running the Youth Strategy development with the Shire of Ashburton. If you have any questions, please contact Lianda Gibson on 9227 5440 or email [email protected].
If you want to speak with someone at the Shire about this, please contact Bree Maher, Coordinator Communities on 0408 871 059 or [email protected]
Media
August 12 - Shire of Ashburton Youth Strategy engagement begins