The three youth centres and four vacation care centres across the Walgett Shire provide an opportunity for young people to engage in diversionary activities and provide the young people with a space of their own to recreate and hang out. The Teens Library and Stories from the Floor initiatives involve promoting the use of libraries and accessibility to reading materials, utilising alternative learning methods and tools of engagement.

Just a few of the shire’s youth council’s objectives are to foster a better understanding between young people and Local Government, be a co-ordinating body to assist and implement community-focused events, create a sense of community amongst young people and to assist Walgett Shire Council in policy formulation on youth affairs.

The school to work program offers young people the opportunity to engage in paid work following an extensive training and introductory process assisting young people to gain much-needed experience and ethics relating to employment and expectations in the workplace.

Building capacity through participation has resulted in young people making significant decisions about issues that affect them and their fellow young people by formulating and developing strategies to address these issues.

Being recognised at a national level outlines the strategic and innovative approach council adopts to youth and community development.

The strategy’s success is underpinned by a commitment by councillors, youth development and community services staff to the value of our young people and the belief that all young people have the ability to reach their full potential.

YOUTH COUNCIL

Due to mid-term exams at schools throughout our shire and other commitments of the youth, the Youth Development Team has found it difficult to identify a suitable meeting time for Youth Council. The Youth Development Officer is investigating a suitable time in the near future.

YOUTH PARLIAMENT PROGRAM 2010

Both local participants of the NSW Youth Parliament program Danielle Rennie (Lightning Ridge) and Brent Richards (Walgett ) have completed the program and recently returned from Sydney where they presented their bills to Parliament.

Danielle represented our shire on the Youth Affairs committee and Brent served on the Sport and Recreation committee.

These two youth council members are the first representatives from the Barwon/Parkes electorate in the seven-year history of the Youth Parliament.

Brent “ blew them away” at Parliament House with his presentation and was awarded “ best speaker’’ of the program. We congratulate both participants as they have represented our shire, young people and communities proudly.

YOUTH ENGAGE IN ANTI-GRAFFITI

PROGRAM

Walgett Shire Youth Development implemented an anti-graffiti initiative during Clean Up Australia Day.

Under the supervision of youth workers a team of 33 young people from Collarenebri took to the task of painting over and removing graffiti at Lions Park and sites in the main street.

In Walgett a team of 13 young people supervised by youth workers targeted Gray Park in Walgett.

SUPPORT FOR RURAL HEALTH PROGRAM

The Youth Development Team is currently in the process of working in partnership with the University of Western Sydney’s Rural Health Club RHUUWS.

The project involves student health professionals visiting the three larger schools and youth centres.

The Rural High School Visit (RHSV) program is a National Rural Health Students Network (NRHSN) initiative run nationally by Rural Health Clubs in each state and territory.

Clubs visit country high schools throughout their state and territory to promote health careers to high school students.

Research indicates that students from country towns are more likely to return to a rural setting to practice after graduating.

The Youth Development Team, in partnership with RHUUWS and local service providers, envisage school workshops with young people and health students followed by a less formal meet and greet at each youth centre across our shire.

The youth centre barbecues at Lightning Ridge, Walgett and Collarenebri will give our young people the opportunity to meet these students in “their” environment.

They will be talking to the kids in a very laid-back and fun way about different professions in health and what it’s like to study at uni, away from home and living on-campus for example. They plan to also play lots of fun games with the kids.

It’s also an opportunity for the “city” health students to get a taste of rural life and what it might be like working in some of these areas.

It’s a great way to get these future doctors out in the rural communities that so desperately need them.

For more information contact the Youth Development Officer, George McCormick on 0439 024 902.