Agenda of Youth Advisory Committee

Minutes of the Youth Advisory Committee

Meeting Date: Wednesday, 26 February 2020

Location: Jervis Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time: 10.05am

The following members were present:

Ms Pallas Retimana

Ms Coralie Bell - Acting Section Manager Recreation Community & Culture

Ms Fiona Phillips MP Representative – Matthew Norris

Others Present:

Torah Solari – Shoalhaven High School

Lachlan Hollier – Shoalhaven High School

Lilli Stiff-Marr – Shoalhaven High School

Rommey Hazell – St Johns High School

Pallas Retimana – St Johns High School

Jo-anne Coleman – St Johns High School

Holly Czislowski – Bomaderry High School

Brooke Furhagen – Bomaderry High School

Kai Minassian – Ulladulla High School

Mim Macdonell – Ulladulla High School

Holly Forbes – Ulladulla High School

Georgia Lowe – Ulladulla High School

Ebony Kay – Headspace Youth Reference Group

Courtney Flack – Headspace Nowra

Dylan Abraham – Headspace Youth Reference Group

Lincoln Smith – Headspace Nowra

Donna Corbyn – Shoalhaven City Council Community Development Officer

Ryan Schulter – Shoalhaven City Council Social Planner

Kate Munro - NSW Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People

Lilli Stiff-Marr was nominated and elected as Chairperson for the meeting.

Lilli Stiff-Marr gave an Acknowledgement of Country.

Apologies / Leave of Absence

An apology was received from Sebastien Riou and Clr White,.

Confirmation of the Minutes

RESOLVED (Jo-anne Coleman / Pallas Retimana)

That the Minutes of the Youth Advisory Committee held on Wednesday 23 October 2019 be confirmed.

CARRIED

Declarations of Interest

Nil

Presentations

YA20.1 Presentation - Drought and Bushfire Information and Feedback

HPERM Ref: D20/46739

Kate Munro – Manager-Participation from the NSW Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People addressed the meeting in relation to Drought and Bushfire Information.

Kate Munro is working with children and young people in relation to the impact of natural disasters such as the recent bushfires and floods. Kate addressed the committee and asked what messages the committee would like to be passed on to state Government. The committee had several ideas about what is going well and suggestions for improvement including:

What went well

1. That the fundraisers for firefighters and communities are helping children and young people.

2. The material donations have been helpful.

3. School children have more support by way of counselling services.

Suggestions

1. Big events that are accessible should be held so that people have somewhere to go to meet new people.

2. Numerous events including some for the whole community and some just for the young community.

3. An online counselling service/hotline people can ring specifically for young people and the elderly.

4. Elderly people may need extra assistance to clean up after the events. It was suggested that there could be an event where the community could be involved in this.

5. Public transport needs to be reviewed. For young people taking the bus to Nowra CBD the bus timetables are very limited meaning young people are either stranded in Nowra for very long days or, only have a limited amount of time to shop.

6. More mental health support was suggested. It was noted that whilst there are visits from headspace, these are not regular enough to reinforce Headspace as an avenue of help. There is also an extensive waiting period to be seen with Headspace.

7. A survey could be issued to schools to gain a broader view of what school children need to support them better.

8. Previous reach workshops and boxing programs run within schools have been helpful however, there is not enough of them.

9. Funding is requested for more opportunities for young people to get together at social events.

10. The recent floods have damaged roads resulting in damaged cars. The damage to the roads needs to be repaired.

Coralie Bell addressed the meeting and suggested that youth members email through any other suggestions they may have for Kate Munro to kate.munro@acyp.nsw.gov.au.

Kate Munro advised that applications are now open for the NSW Youth Advisory Council. You can apply if your aged between 12-24 years. See the below link for more information and to apply:

https://www.acyp.nsw.gov.au/nsw-youth-advisory-council-2020-application-information

One of the Youth Advisory Committee Members Archie, who is not in attendance today, is working to redesign an area that is a suicide hot spot. They are putting up lifeline signs and adding scenery/benches to make the area look nicer. This project has been important to Archie and he encourages other students to be involved in similar projects.

YA20.6 Presentation - Headspace

Lincoln Smith from Headspace addressed the meeting

The focus from Headspace at the moment is the bushfire response. Headspace has secured more funding to cover an area from Kiama to Batemans Bay. The wait list in Nowra is long and Headspace recognise transport to Nowra could be difficult for some. They have been organising more events like the skate demo, and the thrasher team doing a demo. They are involved with Youth Week and are looking for people to join the Youth Reference Group. See the below link for more information or contact Headspace.

https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/nowra/youth-reference-group-applications-now-open/

Headspace has been given an additional $150,000 a year for 2 years to add more staff and decrease wait times. Also, Medicare have doubled the number of sessions they offer from 10 to 20 a year to assist with youth mental health.

Reports

YA20.2 New South Wales Youth Week 2020 Information and Update

HPERM Ref: D20/4270

State Government supports Youth Week across NSW and provides a small amount of funding to deliver Youth Week locally. The funding is used to provide opportunities to celebrate and covers events, such as couch surfing to raise awareness about youth homelessness, from Bomaderry to Ulladulla.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Youth Advisory Committee receive the report for information.

RESOLVED (Pallas Retimana / Mim Macdonell)

That the Youth Advisory Committee receive the report for information.

CARRIED

YA20.3 Council's Active Kids BMX Bike Workshops

HPERM Ref: D20/4427

Previous years workshops have been successful with positive feedback received from parents and kids.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Youth Advisory Committee:

1. Receive the report of Council’s Active Kids BMX Workshops for their information.

2. Support the promotion of the Workshops via schools and organisations where individual members can have input.

3. Attend Workshops where possible as representatives of the Committee to promote the Youth Advisory Committee and its membership.

RESOLVED (Holly Forbes / Lilli Stiff-Marr)

That the Youth Advisory Committee:

1. Receive the report of Council’s Active Kids BMX Workshops for their information.

2. Support the promotion of the Workshops via schools and organisations where individual members can have input.

3. Attend Workshops where possible as representatives of the Committee to promote the Youth Advisory Committee and its membership.

CARRIED

YA20.4 Youth Advisory Committee Actions: Status Report - February 2020

HPERM Ref: D20/6358

There is an opportunity for youth to speak to community members about what they think about Nowra CBD and what could be done to improve it.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That:

1. The Youth Advisory Committee Receive the Status Report for information

2. The following actions be noted as completed and removed from the action table:

a. YA19.9 - Youth Advisory Committee Actions: Status - Report Received

b. YA19.14 - Notification - Council Resolution - Re-establishment of Youth Advisory Committee

RESOLVED (Holly Forbes / Rommey Hazell)

That:

1. The Youth Advisory Committee Receive the Status Report for information

2. The following actions be noted as completed and removed from the action table:

a. YA19.9 - Youth Advisory Committee Actions: Status - Report Received

b. YA19.14 - Notification - Council Resolution - Re-establishment of Youth Advisory Committee

3. In relation to YA19.12, the Committee recommend the Representatives make representations to the next available agenda of the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee and report back to the Youth Advisory Committee afterwards.

CARRIED

YA20.5 Additional Item - Youth Representation at Council Events

Council has contributed a significant amount of money to the community for events.

Youth Advisory Committee have an opportunity to make suggestions on behalf of the youth of the Shoalhaven.

The committee discussed holding small events around the area that would help young people take their minds off the recent horrible events. These could be held at schools during lunch time.

That the Youth Advisory Committee would like noted, when considering events that:

· In response to bushfires, bushfire specific events may not attract young people.

· Events that celebrate everyday life that allow young people to come together are important.

· A consideration needs to be given to transport.

· Where possible council advocate for funding and support for these events.

· More access to informal mental health support through events rather than clinical sessions would be appreciated.

· Consideration should be given to youth in schools and their availability for example utilising lunch breaks for events or holding ‘Colour Runs’ at schools.

· The Youth Advisory Committee like the idea of bringing schools together for social events

· Rather than focus on the what the bushfires took from people - the summer holidays, that activities such as surfing, paddle boarding, beach wheelchairs, bands, food would be uplifting.

· Additional funding for already existing events would be appreciated.

Recommendation (Torah Solari / Holly Forbes)

That when funding or running community events aimed at recovery after the bushfires that Council consider:

1. Having a youth element to events that would appeal to young people.

2. Opportunity to have Youth Advisory Committee representatives involved in the planning.

CARRIED

Waste Survey

Ulladulla High school spoke to YA19.16 from the Youth Advisory Committee Actions: Status

Report - February 2020, and requested students fill out a survey about how their schools are managing their waste.

Petition

Holly was brought to the attention of a petition on installing solar panels to Government Schools (see below link) and requested others consider signing.

https://www.change.org/p/matt-kean-mp-nsw-govt-should-install-solar-panels-led-lights-in-all-public-schools-and-save-45m-bf91b772-3096-4bcd-934d-244077c79c86?recruiter=64393533&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_abi&recruited_by_id=f2723715-7b32-462a-9154-d06fdd9689fb&share_bandit_exp=abi-19515072-en-AU&share_bandit_var=v3

Lilli Stiff-Marr also suggested that the documentary 2040 which highlights things people can do to minimise their effects on the environment be viewed by young people.

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 11:45 am.

CHAIRPERSON

Lilli Stiff-Marr

Youth Advisory Committee – Wednesday 10 February 2021

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YA21.1 Community Grants Program 2021 Update

HPERM Ref: D21/31121

Department: Community Connections

Approver: Jane Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles

Attachments: 1. Community Grants Program Guidelines 2021 FINAL (under separate cover) ⇨

Reason for Report

Update the Youth Advisory Committee on the Community Grants Program 2021.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Youth Advisory Committee:

1. Receive this report on The Community Grants Program 2021 for information.

2. Nominate the following representative to sit on the Youth Inclusion Grant assessment panel:

a. [insert name]

Options

1. Note for information.

2. As recommended.

3. Adopt an alternate recommendation.

4. Request more information.

Background

The Community Grants Program provides small grants of up to $2000 - $5,000. The program supports collaborative efforts between community groups and organisations that are based in the Shoalhaven Local Government Area to deliver local projects that support the vision of Council.

The Community Grants Program has been updated and now offers a range of grants, each with a specific focus for our community. Every year brings new and emerging needs for our community and The Community Grants Program aims to build capacity by assisting organisations and community groups to respond to these needs.

The Community Grants Program 2021 is offering 5 small grants to community to develop projects, events or activities which respond to an identified area or need.

Available grants:

· Community Wellbeing Grant for community groups and organisations to design, implement and complete projects that support and enhance the lives of residents in the Shoalhaven in line with the Shoalhaven Community Strategic Plan.

· Youth Inclusion Grant for youth-led and youth-driven community projects that have a positive youth development focus and give young people the opportunity to develop a range of skills. Grants need to address young people’s identified needs in an innovative way and increase young people’s connections to the community.

· COVID-19 Social Inclusion Grant focused on assisting communities to rebuild and reconnect as a result of COVID-19 isolation. Ensuring delivery could be during isolation via digital channels, or face to face.

· Bushfire Recovery Grant aims to support social recovery from bushfires for affected local communities to be more resilient for future disasters and improve general wellbeing.

· Youth & Seniors Grant as part of the Youth Week and Seniors Festival 2021. These grants are available for organisations and groups to deliver events and activities which celebrate and connect Youth and Seniors during Youth Week and Seniors Festival 2021.

Applications for Community Wellbeing, Youth Inclusion, COVID-19 Social Inclusion and Youth & Seniors Festival Grants are now open as of 2 February 2021. Bushfire Recovery Grants will launch later in the year.

Financial Implications

The Youth Inclusion grant budget is $8,000 which will come from the Youth Advisory Committee Budget. Organisations and community groups can apply for small grants of between $500 - $1000 to design, implement and complete their project. The combined Youth Week and Seniors Festival Grant Budget is $10,000 which comes from Youth Week and Seniors Festival grant contributions with matched funding from Council.

Applications for both Youth Week and Youth Inclusion Grants will be assessed and approved by a panel of Officers from Council’s Community Capacity Builders Team. The Youth Advisory Committee will be invited to nominate a member to join this panel to offer feedback and insight.

Youth Advisory Committee – Wednesday 10 February 2021

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YA21.2 Youth Advisory Committee Membership Expression of Interest - Member Recommendation Report

HPERM Ref: D21/32797

Department: Community Connections

Approver: Jane Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles

Attachments: 1. Youth Advisory Committee - Application For Membership EOI - December 2020 ⇩

2. Youth Advisory Committee - Membership Expression Of Interest - Applicant Report Redacted Personal Information - January 2021 (Confidential)

Reason for Report

To present applications from the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) Membership Expression of Interest (EOI) to the YAC and put forwards recommendations to the group.

Recommendation

That the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) recommend to Council that:

1. Membership appointments are offered to applicants who are not eligible to fill the 18 places delegated to school students.

2. Applicants who currently attend High Schools to attend the Youth Advisory Committee as part of school delegations.

3. Remaining vacant position to be kept open and young people from the workplace or traineeships given priority to ensure YAC is represented by a diverse range of young people.

4. A second Expression of Interest to be conducted to fill the remaining vacant member position following the review of Terms of Reference (TOR) at the YAC planning day in March.

Options

1. Adopt the recommendations as written.

Implications: The Youth Advisory accept the appointment recommendations and fill 5 of the 6 vacant membership positions under Section 3.3. b) of the TOR.

2. Advise alternative recommendations.

Implications: Members of the Youth Advisory Committee will provide an alternative recommendation.

Background

Under section 3.3 Membership of the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) Terms of Reference:

a) A maximum of 26 youth members comprising:

i) 18 students from Year 9 and above from local high schools, be appointed as members. A maximum of 5 students may be elected from each local high school, however only a maximum of 2 students from each school may attend and vote at any meeting.

ii) A maximum of 8 young people aged between 15 and 21 years, from the community and/or Youth Services be appointed as members.

Currently, the 26 youth membership positions are occupied by the 18 school places and 2 community members. An EOI was advertised between 3 December 2020 to 4 January 2021 with the aim of filling the 6 open community member positions to encourage a more diverse group of young people to join the YAC and represent young people in the Shoalhaven. The focus of this EOI was to increase representation from the following groups which are currently either underrepresented or do not have any representation at all: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD), Aboriginal, LGBTQIA+ and young people with a disability. Attached is the EOI which was advertised.

Council received 11 membership applications from young people who wish to become members of the YAC. 5 of the young people who applied were either from TAFE, University or on their Gap year while 6 were students at high schools in the Shoalhaven LGA.

The applications from the YAC EOI are attached for review and consideration by the Committee.

Council staff make the following recommendations:

1. Membership appointments are offered to applicants who are not eligible to fill the 18 places delegated to school students.

2. Applicants that currently attend High School's to attend the Youth Advisory Committee as part of school delegations.

3. Remaining vacant position to be kept open and young people from the workplace or traineeships given priority to ensure YAC is represented by a diverse range of young people.

4. A second Expression of Interest to be conducted to fill the remaining vacant member position following the review of TOR at the YAC planning day in March.

Community Engagement

A membership Expression of Interest was conducted between 3 December 2020 and 4 January 2021. This was advertised with a Get Involved page and sponsored social media posts.

Youth Advisory Committee – Wednesday 10 February 2021

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YA21.3 Youth Advisory Committee - Planning Day

HPERM Ref: D21/33721

Department: Community Connections

Approver: Jane Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles

Reason for Report

To present a proposal for the Youth Advisory Committee to participate in a planning day and request that members review the Terms of Reference and re-evaluate how Council works with young people moving forwards.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Youth Advisory Committee

1. Members attend a planning day to review the Terms of Reference and re-evaluate how Council works with young people moving forwards.

2. Put forward topics for discussion at the planning day.

3. Suggest a suitable time and day for the meeting.

Options

1. That the Youth Advisory Committee participate in the planning day

2. Each school nominate students to attend the planning day.

3. Request further information.

Background

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is a Section 355 Committee of Council and is a mechanism for Council to consult with its young constituents. Council staff have identified that due to the events of 2020 with Bushfires and COVID-19, engagement has been more difficult and there are opportunities to improve how Council works with the YAC and young people from across the Shoalhaven.

Proposal

That Shoalhaven City Council (SCC) host a planning day for the YAC to review the Terms of Reference, YAC Strategy/Action Plan and to suggest how SCC can better engage with Young People throughout the LGA

It is proposed that the Planning Day includes discussions as outlined below:

Membership of the YAC

1. Should membership be extended to include Year 7 Students to University aged students ensuring representation from Young People aged 12-24?

2. How can schools maintain consistent voting membership whilst ensuring that the opportunity to engage in the YAC is open to as many students as possible?

3. Should the YAC extend membership to out of area High Schools? – i.e., Batemans Bay High – that are servicing young people in the LGA.

4. Should the YAC extend membership to include representatives from local TAFE / University / Independent Schools?

5. Should the YAC Membership be reviewed annually?

Capacity Building

1. How can we ensure that the Chairperson is prepared for the meetings and is aware of their role and responsibilities?

2. Are the Agendas accessible for Young People? Should they be presented in an alternate way?

3. Should we start each meeting with a round table discussion to encourage participation and break the ice. Discussions could be along the lines of ‘What is happening in your school, community, workplace etc…’ to encourage open and inclusive discussion and can set agenda items for future meetings.

4. Would the YAC like to participate in training to upskill the membership - for example in Public Speaking or Networking?

Timings and Mechanism to Engage

1. What are the best times of day to ensure that most members can attend that would work for schools / young people in employment / Uni and TAFE students?

2. Should we be using video technology for the meetings?

3. How can the YAC ensure they are representative of all young people in the area? Would working or regional groups that feed into the Committee work?

4. Should we consider different physical locations for each meeting. For example, rotating meetings between areas and holding meetings in host schools?

Other

The YAC are encouraged to consider other topics for discussion at the planning day and submit these to Carly McWalters prior to the planning day.

Youth Advisory Committee – Wednesday 10 February 2021

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YA21.4 Update on Actions - February 2021

HPERM Ref: D21/33735

Department: Community Connections

Approver: Jane Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles

Attachments: 1. Youth Advisory Committee - Action Table February 2021 ⇩

Reason for Report

To report on status of actions from the last Youth Advisory Committee meeting.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That:

1. The Youth Advisory Committee Receive the Status Report for information.

2. The following action be removed from the Action Table due to the time that has lapsed since the introduction of the project.

a. In relation to YA19.12, the Committee recommend the Representatives make representations to the next available agenda of the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee and report back to the Youth Advisory Committee afterwards.

Options

1. Adopt the recommendation as written.

Implications: The Youth Advisory Committee is kept updated about progress towards the completion of identified actions.

2. Request further information.

Implications: Members of the Youth Advisory Committee will be provided additional information as requested and available.

Background

This report is to update the Youth Advisory Committee on actions and resolutions of Council from previous reports.

Attachment 1 provides information regarding the status of actions and resolutions made at previous meetings, including items which are still works in progress. Staff are able to provide an update at the meeting, should members have any further questions on the status of actions.

Nowra CBD Revitalisation

During April 2019, a Councillor Briefing was conducted as part of Youth Week. Shoalhaven students from year 9 and above were invited to speak for 3 minutes on the following topic “The most important thing Shoalhaven City Council needs to address is …”

One issue of particular concern to the Council was the perceived lack of community pride in Nowra CBD, as presented by one young person from Nowra High School, who had surveyed students at his school.

Following the May 2019 Youth Advisory Committee meeting a resolution of the Ordinary Meeting of Council, resolved (MIN19.342) that:

“3. In relation to YA19.12, the Committee recommend the Representatives make representations to the next available agenda of the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee and report back to the Youth Advisory Committee afterwards.”

It was recommended that the Youth Advisory Committee present the engagement plan to the Committee for advice prior to proceeding. The Chairperson of the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Committee has advised that he would like young people to present in person when COVID-19 restrictions are eased, and the meeting can be held in person.

There has been no progress made on this, due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 as there were no Youth Advisory Committee meetings after February 2020. In addition, unsuccessful attempts have been made to contact 2 of the 3 young people involved in presenting this report. It is recommended that this action is postponed until it can be addressed at the YAC Planning Day to discuss whether this is still a relevant issue for the young people of Shoalhaven and a decision is made on how they would like to move forwards.