Published on Wednesday, 2 August 2023 at 3:43:34 PM
Following the adoption of the 2023/2024 Annual Budget at a Special Meeting of Council held this week, youth services within the Shire of Denmark are set to get a much-needed boost.
Community feedback from the Strategic Community Plan major review in 2022/23 showed there is a strong expectation of improved service provision for youth in the Shire of Denmark.
In recent years, Council has supported youth outreach for young members of our community at risk by funding a Youth Outreach Officer position through Albany Youth Support Association (AYSA), and by coordinating school holiday programs and other events targeted at the local youth.
These services are set to be bolstered by work funded in 2023/24 to build the foundations of a robust youth services framework, developed in close consultation with youth voices in our community.
This will include the development of a community-informed Youth Strategy to guide Council decision-making into the future, setting up communications channels between the Shire and members of our youth community and building key relationships with relevant support agencies.
Denmark Shire President Ceinwen Gearon said providing additional funding was a meaningful step forward.
“Looking at the results from our recent community engagements for the Strategic Community Plan, we know we need to lift our game in the youth space here in our Shire,” Dr Gearon said.
“This funding isn’t going to change our world this financial year, but we do believe these funds have been allocated strategically to set us up to identify what the specific needs are and how we can plug those gaps in the years ahead.”
McLean House, located near the new beach volleyball courts and pump track, is also set to return to a youth focus in 2023/24 in direct response to community feedback that it should be reinstated as a youth hub.
“In the coming months, we’re looking forward to turning McLean House back into a youth hub that feels like it belongs to our youth,” Dr Gearon said.
“We hope to pack it with an on-going variety of community-led programs targeting young people out of school hours and during school holidays.”
“We’ll also look at offering youth support and advocacy services like Palmerston, AYSA, Can Do Support Services and Albany Pride dedicated space in Denmark to do their work locally.”
Increased funding has also been allocated to focus on youth services and facilities with the design stage of the Berridge Park revitalisation project already underway, in addition to funding support allocated to turning the much-talked about Turner Road site into a mountain bike trails hub.
Important Links:
Register to receive updates about upcoming Youth Services engagements: https://www.yourdenmark.wa.gov.au/youth-voices
Strategic Community Plan Our Future 2033 and community feedback: https://www.yourdenmark.wa.gov.au/lets-talk
Image by SERENA KIRBY
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