Esperance Youth Summit

Project Components

Esperance Youth Summit

The third element, the Esperance Youth Summit, was held over two half days on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th April 2016 during the last week of the school term. The timing and dates for the Summit were planned for this period with input from senior staff at both schools with aim to engage youth before they went away for school holidays. The objective of the Esperance Youth Summit was to actively engage young people to identify and develop a youth project (concept) proposal based from one of the priority areas to support a youth-friendly Esperance. In addition the Summit provided opportunity to develop leadership and team skills; network with local youth and Shire stakeholders; and develop friendships through fun and engaging activities. The Summit targeted young people aged 12 to 25 years with participation through a nomination process that could either be a written application or a short video clip. The youth could selfnominate or be nominated by some else briefly explaining how one (or more) of the following applied to the young person. • Regular leadership skills; • Proactive in making Esperance a better place to live through their contribution (e.g. volunteering, involvement in community events/ sporting groups, etc.); and/or • Notable commitment to their personal endeavours (e.g. education, sports, cadets, creative arts, dance etc.) A promotional pack was provided to the various stakeholders to promote to through their youth links. Numerous young people were also targeted including those who had participated in Stage 1 engagement processes and Stage 2 Survey. This aspect of the project supported themes 1 through to 8.

Participant Information

The Summit aimed to provide up to forty places Summit nominees however due to a number of factors twelve applied and were accepted, aging from 12 years to 25. The ‘delegates’ consisted of three boys and nine girls with ten nominating themselves and two nominated by someone else. Four were aged 12-13 years; two were 1415 years; three were 16 to 17 years; two aged 18 to 21; one was 22-25 years. Two delegates represented Indigenous youth. The nomination questions assisted with identifying individual passions and interests which included education; mental health; diversity; youth engagement, volunteering, environment, Indigenous engagement, employment and youth services/ facilities. Unfortunately one young person had to leave part way to care for a family member and as such eleven attended the full Summit event.

Feedback

Feedback with relation to nominating for the Summit was that young people were interested however if in year 11 and 12 they did not want to interrupt their classes; some preferred the Summit to be after school/in the evening and others wanted it on the weekend. Great consideration was placed in the pre-planning of the event regarding the most suitable timeframe for the event. Consideration was given to homework; exams; sports/club activities, training and games; transport; and the significant youth departure from Esperance during the school holiday break. Without a clear preference, partnering the Summit with the schools and running during school hours was deemed the better option. With relation to the actual Summit the delegate’s feedback was exceptionally positive with all greatly appreciating the opportunity. The stakeholders and Shire Councillors were also really grateful to have attended with lots of engagement activities and two way discussions around various youth based topics. Further details can be found in the ‘Key Outcomes’ section that follows.

Key Outcomes

The Summit produced a range of key outcomes that were anticipated and some beyond expectations. The key outcomes from the Summit are listed below. The detailed information developed through the activities is included in the Appendicies.

1. Developed a Community for Youth Vision for April 2021

• Delegates explored ideas and concepts as to what they wanted to see in the future with regards to a youth-friendly Esperance community. • A Vision was drafted whereby the delegates provided additional input and comment to define and attain a consensus within the group. • Key considerations for the Vision included all youth involved; lots of diverse activities (recreation, music, events); positive feedback from young people/community; good communications and engaged; accessible (e.g. wi-fi); a youth space; supportive community environment, and youth friendly (art, public places, less drugs/crime) is part of the community’s culture.

Communities for Youth Vision

In 2021, Esperance is a progressive youth friendly community built on a supportive, positive and diverse environment that actively engages all young people.

2. Brainstormed priority themes /strategies and identified three projects to develop

• Examined all four top priority themes/strategies and brainstormed various projects for all with five years as a timeframe. • Asked to identify those that were potentially realistic and achievable to deliver in a two year time frame with their active involvement (hence they needed to consider what time/effort they could contribute as well as resources, money, people, capacity etc.). • Narrowed these down into the top two projects for all eight themes. Final projects were selected by allocating a value (equated to potential volunteer hours required) to progress. They were also asked to consider a project that would interest them for ongoing commitment purposes. The detailed information developed through this activity is included in the Appendicies.

3. Development of three concept project proposals

The resulting three proposals are: 1. Event Coordination Team (relating to Theme 4, Strategy 4.2 and 4.3; plus Theme 8,

Strategy 8.1) 2. Mentoring and Support Program (relating to

Theme 2, Strategy 2.1 and 2.3; plus Theme 1, Strategy 1.3 and Theme 8, Strategy 8.1 and 8.3); and 3. Youth Precinct (relating to Theme 4, Strategy 4.2; plus Theme 8, Strategy 8.1) Note: • Using visual planning the delegates worked in three groups to develop a large scale mind map for each project. • Project teams clarified the project scope, considered beneficiaries and stakeholders, explored the required resources and potential risks and worked out the steps required to make it happen. • The project groups completed the activity fover a few sessions equating to 1.5 hours in timeframe. The detailed information developed through this activity is included in the

Appendicies.

4. Networked with youth stakeholders and gained project proposal support

• Met with youth stakeholders via a speed networking activity • Project teams and youth stakeholders shared projects ideas with aim to promote interest and partnerships. Morning tea break allowed time for this to develop further. • Each of the youth project proposals were of particular interest to the youth stakeholders who exchanged details to look at ways to develop and progress

Following the Summit, the stakeholders were asked if there had been any further updates or feedback they would like to provide as a result of this opportunity. Four responses were received and summarised below (Italics represent point addressed). • Was the speed stakeholder session was of benefit to you?

The speed networking had been a great opportunity to connect and find out more about the youth and youth interests however was rushed due to time constraints. As a result the stakeholders were not able to meet all the young people from the Summit and would have valued more time for this activity. • Did you learn anything from the session?

The young people had amazing ideas, relevant concerns and wanted to see more in the community. Also found out about youth activities planned for the Festival of the Wind. • Have you had any involvement with youth since the summit?

Three of the four responding stakeholders had had ongoing contact. Some stakeholders were now in partnership and were currently in the planning a number of youth–led activities including Youth Advisory Council, National Youth

Week in 2017 and a drop-in centre. • Has the opportunity changed your interaction with youth or identification of youth based projects?

Three of the four answered no, however the one that answered yes stated ‘it allowed me to see and hear them and want they believe will benefit the community by strengthening the local youth. I am so very excited for the future of Esperance!!!’

5. Project teams presented project proposals to Shire Councillors and Shire

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

• Each project team prepared and delivered their project proposal to Shire Councillors and CEO for their initial interest and awareness • Shire Councillors, CEO and Youth Delegates had opportunity to discuss further youth engagement including exploration of a youth advisory group (or similar) • Further discussions between youth delegates,

Shire Councillors and CEO occurred over lunch including building rapport and supporting growth of a youth friendly Esperance community.

6. Identified ways to engage more young people to support the growth of a youth friendly communities

• Using ‘Open Space’ the delegates created their own agenda based on the question topic • Groups were formed and two main ideas were developed, one looking at engaging all youth and other focusing on disengaged/ disadvantaged youth. The detailed information developed through this activity is included in the Appendicies.

7. Youth delegates meeting and developing friendships with other like-minded young people who are also committed and motivated to make Esperance a better place for young people.

• Participated in numerous activities together including developing ground rules, leadership opportunities, and engaged in team building, analysis, problem solving and decision making activities.