8. Respect and Inclusion

• Not all young people had access to a mobile phone or the internet and relied on other means to attain information. There was a couple of key signage locations near schools otherwise around town. • Young people felt that advertising materials for events or activities needed to be bigger and located in more places. Suggestions for design included colourful, bright, 3D, simple, glitter and eye-catching (as one young person said ‘makes you hungry’) and potentially ask young people to design. Wording had to make the activity sound exciting and ‘cool’ and the sponsors could also be an attractor to the promotion. • The online Youth Survey asked ‘What are the best ways to advise you about things available or happening in Esperance?’ Young people responded to a list of potential methods by answering

“Really Great, Good, Just Okay or ‘Poor”, each of these with a weighted score. First was Facebook (2.73); then word of mouth (2.43); posters/flyers (2.2); flyers at community places (2.13); newspaper (1.86); email (1.79); sms/text (1.77); Shire website (1.36); and postal mail (0.79).

Stakeholder Response

Stakeholders identified that there needed to be diverse targeting methods to reach young people and working with schools and clubs/groups as well as signage at frequented youth locations around town and at events was important. It was also important to consider their style and usage of language.

6.3 Youth Online Presence Youth Responses

• The young people provided an a variety of technology based methods to communicate and promote information through including Social Media, Skype, Snapchat, Mobile phone, Instagram and a youth website. Facebook was the most popular in workshop feedback and the online survey. • Some young people knew of the Esperance Youth Events Facebook page which had previously been overseen by a young person working for a service agency. This person had since left and it was not certain who was managing the page now. There was a good portion of young people who were also not aware of this page. • Not all young people had access to a mobile phone or the internet and many were not on social media due to not having this access of or other reasons such as personal choice. • As popular as social media is among many young people cyber bullying was also raised as an issue and as such was a potential or real concern for those who used this communication tool.

Stakeholder Response

A supervised/monitored social media presence, in particular a youth face book page, was recognised as a good way to connect with youth and support information exchange.

6.4 Other Youth Comments

• The Navy and Army Cadets (youth) recognised the potential and the opportunity to promote their organisation and other clubs directly to other young people. • There was a couple of concerns regarding phone usage including phone billing and unwanted calls from sales people, hence young people may find advantage in better understanding phone contracts, accounts and their rights.

7. Civic Participation and Volunteering

7.1 Volunteering Youth Response

• A number of young people were volunteers and shared their experiences as well as the personal reward that had experienced that came with volunteering. • Young people identified an extensive range of volunteering activities that they either had been involved with, knew of or thought would be a good idea (volunteering included participating in fundraising activities). Of particular mentions was animal shelters, sports clubs and community service organisations. • The young people felt that their needed to be better advertising for volunteers, in particular those that wanted young people to volunteer. They felt that a number of promotional avenues needed to be included such as Facebook, signage/posters and through schools and clubs. • Some felt there was a need for youth volunteer workshops to inform young people about what is involved, expected and provide more information about volunteering/opportunities in general. • Young people said that volunteering needed to be flexible so that they could offer what they felt comfortable with (e.g. timeframe, level of commitment) and not over extend themselves. They also did not want to be in a position where it was compulsory as it would become a chore and that it was much better to promote the positives and introduce it to young people. • They were more likely to volunteer if it was something they were particular interested in or good at. Some young people felt volunteering was more appealing if it had an incentive such as a social get-together afterwards, it was a fun activity or by helping out they would get something free in exchange (e.g. free entry, free ride at the show). • There was an extensive list of personal rewards noted with relation too volunteering including leadership opportunities, gaining self-worth and self-awareness, find out more about your community, new experiences, make new friends, become more confident, getting the warm and fuzzies by helping someone else, credit towards TEE, adds to resume, was fun and the feeling of being appreciated.

Stakeholders Response

Promoting the benefits of volunteering to young people was important as was creating volunteer opportunities and promotion targeted at young people. Promotion needed to be through various means such as school newsletter and radio and was to also provide information about the types of volunteering activities. It was important to look at volunteer management and consider offering short-term volunteer opportunities in addition for community and organisations to look at how they can support youth volunteering. Benefits were similar to that identified by the young people.

7.2 Youth Engagement Youth Response

• Young people wanted to be engaged and have their perspectives heard and views considered. They wanted to have opportunities to talk about issues and ideas, to be listened to and be provided the opportunity to be involved in the decision making. • On a few occasions the CfY workshops were acknowledged as a good start to engaging young people and seeking their opinion. They said that this was a great start to feel included and valued as a young community member and they wanted more of these opportunities. • Young people wanted to be learn skills so they could be more effective in contributing too. • Ownership and experience in event/activity planning, coordination and management was also seen as another way to be engaged, particularly if the ‘project’ was aimed at youth. • Seeking their opinions could include simple surveys, online polls and/or suggestion box in a community place. They also wanted to be able to directly report problems (i.e. email) to the Shire with their support. • One young person suggested a gathering of key people from the Shire and police to meet with young people to build mutual rapport, mutual respect and encourage ongoing communications.