Youth Summary Action Plan - City of Whittlesea

City of Whittlesea 

YouthPlan2030 

Summary & Action Plan 

April 2007 

As adopted by Council on 9/10/2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

AIM OF YOUTHPLAN2030..............................................................................3 

WHY DEVELOP A YOUTH PLAN? .................................................................3 

COUNCIL'S CURRENT APPROACH………………………………………….....4 

WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT YOUTHPLAN2030?.........................................8 

KEY CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING THE PLAN .........................................9 

YOUTHPLAN2030 - BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS....................................10 

THE YOUTH SERVICE SYSTEM..................................................................11 

YOUTHPLAN2030 EVIDENCE BASE…………………………………….……..12 

YOUTHPLAN2030 APPROACH……………………………………………….…18 

RESOURCING IMPLICATIONS………………………………………………….25 

YOUTHPLAN2030 ACTION PLAN................................................................26 

LIST OF TABLES 

Table 1: YouthPlan2030: Defining the Municipal Youth Service 

System……………………………………………………………………………….3 

Table 2: Council's Youth Service Model…………………………………………4 

Table 3: Youth Targeted Services Currently in the City of Whittlesea………10 

Table 4: Council's Role in Developing the Youth Service System…………...11 

Table 5: SEIFA Table of Disadvantage by Precinct……………………….…..13 

Table 6: Comparison of 10 to 24 year old Population Forecasts from 2006 to 

2021…………………………………………………………….............................12 

LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure 1: Council's Youth Services Area Map………………………...…………5 

Figure 2: Focus of Council's Youth Services………………………………..…...6 

Figure 3: SEIFA Map of Disadvantage………………………………………….14 

2

AIM OF YOUTHPLAN2030 

YouthPlan2030 is the culmination of an extensive research and consultation 

program. It provides a framework to guide the development of a municipal service 

system that is responsive and effective in meeting the needs and aspirations of all 

young people in the City of Whittlesea. The Plan is more than a report outlining the 

future priorities of Council Youth Services Team; it is a whole of Council and whole of 

community approach, based on feedback from young people and stakeholders, and 

research on current best practice. 

What is a Municipal Youth Service System? 

In YouthPlan2030 the ‘municipal youth service system’ refers to all matters and 

structures that affect all young people. This includes systems within Council, 

external to Council, and local systems. It includes the physical infrastructure, for 

example open space, town centres and community facilities, as well as the full 

spectrum of services; i.e. universal, primary, secondary, tertiary, mainstream and 

targeted support services. 

Table 1: YouthPlan2030: Defining the Municipal Youth Service System 

YouthPlan2030 The Municipal Youth Service System 

Infrastructure Built Environment 

Natural Environment 

Public Transport 

Council All Directorates 

Youth Services 

Services Universal 

Primary 

Secondary 

Tertiary 

Targeted. 

WHY DEVELOP A YOUTH PLAN? 

It is important for Council to develop a Youth Plan for the following reasons: 

• Young people not only represent a significant proportion of the Whittlesea 

population (21%), but are also a very large group in absolute terms with 

approximately 28,000 people aged 10 to 25. This age cohort will increase by 

40% over the next 15 years and reach almost 40,000 young people by 2021; 

• Council will continue to provide a range of direct services and programs to 

young people; 

• Council is best placed to act as a conduit between young people and other 

institutions; 

• Council has a key leadership and planning role in the municipality. 

• Most things Council has responsibility for have an impact on young people. 

Given the municipality is on the verge of significant growth the opportunity 

exists now to effectively ‘design in’ young people for long term benefit. 

• Council also has a key role in advocating with, and on behalf of young people 

at state and federal levels; 

3

COUNCIL’S CURRENT APPROACH 

The Youth Services Team has a primary and secondary intervention service delivery 

focus. This work is delivered directly by the team, most often in partnership with 

schools and other agencies. Council takes a lead role in developing strategies to 

engage young people in civic participation activities, and also in developing the 

service system for and with young people and local agencies. In summary, the 

Youth Services Team responds to the needs of young people in the municipality in 

the following ways: 

• Youth development and civic engagement; 

• Youth support, information and referral; 

• Service provision, agency support and co-ordination; 

• Planning and advocacy; 

• Developing partnerships and the local service system. 

The overall target audience of the Youth Services Team is all young people aged 10 

to 25 years in the municipality. 

Council’s Youth Services Model 

The current Youth Services model is based on the team being responsible for 

‘portfolios’ and ‘areas’. Portfolios are based on issues of priority, special needs 

population groups, or specific tasks, i.e. parenting, Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

Islanders (ATSI) and holiday programs. Youth Officers are responsible for 

responding to designated portfolios across the municipality. ‘Area’ responsibility 

involves staff also working with young people and stakeholders in specific geographic 

areas. See figure 1: Council Youth Services Area Map. 

Table 2: Council’s Youth Services Model 

Council’s Youth Services Model 

Municipal focus 

Area Work 

Portfolios: 

Youth Engagement 

NESB, newly arrived and refugee 

young people 

ATSI young people 

Parenting 

Development of local clubs 

Music development 

Young women’s programs 

Young men’s programs 

Skateboarding and BMX 

Holiday programs 

Website development 

Planning 

Built environment and facilities 

Advocacy 

Team Leader 

Youth Planner 

Intensive Support and Advocacy 

ATSI Trainee 

Youth Services Support Officer (Admin) 

5 Youth Officers designated to 

geographic areas. 

These Portfolios are held by the Youth 

Service Team. Respective Officers are 

responsible for ‘driving’ the issue on 

behalf of Youth Services across the 

municipality. 

4

The 2006/07 Council budget allocation for Youth Services was $720,258 which 

includes funding for 9 EFT. 

Figure 1: Youth Services Area Map 

Source: City of Whittlesea 

5

Figure 2: Focus of Council’s Youth Services 

Low Risk YOUNG PEOPLE High Risk 

Resilient 

Vulnerable 

PREVENTION EARLY INTERVENTION CRISIS INTERVENTION 

Civic Participation 

Area Work 

Programs 

Intensive Support 

and Referral 

Information 

Portfolios 

Planning, 

Advocacy and 

Service System 

Development 

Council Youth Services: Programs & Services 

Council’s Youth Services currently provide a number of specific programs and 

events. Some examples are as follows: 

• Youth Krew and Summits – the Youth Krew is a group of local young people 

engaged by the Youth Services Team to run a Leadership Camp and annual 

Youth Summit. The Youth Services Team then uses the information obtained 

from the summit exercise to design and implement appropriate programs. 

110 young people from local schools attended the 2006 Youth Summit. They 

discussed racism, rights, facilities, adolescence and sexual assault. In 

response the Youth Services Team has delivered programs including selfdefence, 

parenting adolescents and developed planning principles for town 

centres. 

• Programs in Schools and the community – The Youth Services Team 

design and implement programs in conjunction with schools and other 

agencies. These programs, which are offered to young people in local school 

settings currently include a Young Men’s Program, the Inter-Cultural Narrative 

Project, Understanding Racism Project and Young Muslim Women’s 

Community Development Group. 

• School Holiday Programs – including Try Days, holiday Grab Bags and 

resourcing of a disability program. 800 Grab Bags were distributed in 2006. 

• Parenting Programs – evening sessions for parents of adolescents. In 2006 

these sessions were attended by more than 90 parents. 

6

• Skate Park Outreach and Advisory Group – made up of young people to 

advise Council on user issues. This work has significantly reduced tension 

amongst users, and between local residents and young people. It has 

facilitated improved relationships between young people and local police. The 

reduction of graffiti on the site has been attributed to the work of this group. 

• Young Women’s Self Defence Program – aims to develop confidence and 

assertiveness skills in young women. 

• Freeza Program – supports the development of young people in the music 

industry. The Freeza Committee of young people organises 7 music events 

each year for local young people. Approximately 300 young people attend 

each gig. 

• Participation in Major Events - Youth Services participates in Community 

Festivals and other events throughout the year. In 2006 this included the 

young people’s stage at the Whittlesea Community Festival. Youth Services 

also hosted the regional Northern Skate and BMX Titles. 

• Information Advocacy and Referral Service (also offering intensive 

support) – direct support to individual young people. Assistance is offered to 

local young people during difficult times to negotiate access to specialised 

services. (Most often these are located outside the municipality.) 

Service System Development 

In addition to these specific programs the Youth Services Team has a broader 

strategic role in ensuring the development of the youth services across the 

municipality and region. This typically involves the establishment, facilitation and 

resourcing of a wide variety of networks focused on stronger partnerships to enhance 

local service provision and to attract resources and services for young people in the 

City of Whittlesea. For example: 

• Whittlesea Youth Commitment: focuses on employment and training issues. 

• Interface Council’s Youth Services Group: provides a platform to lobby the 

State and Federal Governments for youth services. 

• Northern Regional Youth Advisory Network: feeds advice and concerns directly 

to the State Government Minister for Youth. 

• Whittlesea Youth Service System Development Group: is a combined network 

of local agencies committed to working in collaboration towards filling gaps in 

services for young people. 

7

• Whittlesea Youth Network: supports and facilitates linkages for youth service 

providers. 

• Whittlesea Action Group for CLD Young People: generates partnerships and 

resources that deliver programs to NESB young people. 


It is also important to recognise that Council plays a key role in the lives of young 

people beyond what is delivered by the Youth Services Team. For example, 

Council’s responsibility as a key planner of local communities (both in established 

and growth areas) and as the major provider of leisure and open space infrastructure 

has a significant influence on the quality of life experienced by young people. Youth 

Services is currently working with young people at Laurimar, linking them to the 

Developers to voice their needs in the development of the youth strategy for the 

estate. 

Partnerships 

Council is also ideally placed to provide leadership in strengthening partnerships with 

other local and regional agencies that have a focus on youth, strategically planning 

and advocating for services, encouraging youth participation and improving the 

outcomes for young people. 

WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT YOUTHPLAN2030? 

While YouthPlan2030 reaffirms a commitment to the delivery of these programs, 

activities and broader strategic roles by Youth Services, it proposes to broaden and 

strengthen the role of Council in relation to young people. In line with international 

best practice YouthPlan2030 positions Council as a key player in positive ‘youth 

development’ 1 by attempting to make youth engagement practices central to the way 

Council addresses the needs of young people. 

This approach builds on: 

1) what Council has already achieved to date; 

2) what young people have said, and 

3) the findings of an international literature review. YouthPlan2030 consolidates and 

takes Council further in engaging young people in ways that are world’s best practice 

and provide exciting opportunities for young people and Council. 

1 Youth Development refers to the multitude of realms and domains that impact on the lives of young people 

including: 

Their transition from childhood to adulthood; 

Their home and family experience; 

Their engagement and attachment to the community; 

Their access to services; 

Their use of the built and natural environments and public space; 

Their participation in recreation, leisure, cultural and social activities and events; 

Their engagement in education, training, employment, social and community life 

8


The Plan sets out a comprehensive framework to engage 2 with young people in 

meaningful dialogue and ensure that not only are their views heard, but they are 

implemented and genuinely involved in the building of their local communities. By 

doing this Council hopes to achieve the following outcomes: 

• Enhancing young people’s understanding about how their local community 

works; 

• Harnessing the expertise that young people wish to offer in building the 

municipality; 

• Enhancing young people’s sense of belonging; 

• Valuing and respecting young people; 

• Enhancing the way existing and future services, programs and activities are 

offered to young people; and 

• Ensuring that young people’s perspectives and interests are embedded into the 

work of Council. 

KEY CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING THE PLAN 

Developing a Youth Plan presents many challenges including: 

• A widespread community view of young people which is often negative and 

which sees them as a group to be feared; 

• The ‘Youth Service System’ is not easily defined and not cohesively structured 

around a universal framework in the manner of the early years sector; 

• Much of the youth service system is ‘problem oriented’; 

• The municipality’s population growth will continue to place pressure on youth 

service provision and highlight a broad range of social issues often associated 

with young people; 

• The twin challenges of addressing the needs of growth areas and Whittlesea’s 

established communities; 

• Addressing the well documented ‘pockets’ of social disadvantage; 

• The cultural diversity of the municipality, whilst a key strength, simultaneously 

brings with it challenges associated with respecting difference and maintaining 

community harmony; 

• The resources and breadth of skills currently available within the Youth 

Services Team will need to be expanded if Council is to effectively tackle the 

many complex issues and approaches outlined in YouthPlan2030; 

• Young people are rarely vocal and included in the mainstream discussion, thus 

providing Council with a challenge of how to effectively implement whole-of- 

Council strategies to engage the voices of young people in the decisions that 

affect their lives. A further challenge is to support and promote the 

development of a culture of youth engagement throughout the municipality. 

2 

In YouthPlan2030 youth engagement refers to informing young people of policy directions, consulting young people 

as part of a process to develop policy, awareness or understanding, involving young people through a range of 

mechanisms to ensure their concerns are considered in decision-making, collaborating with young people through 

partnerships to formulate options and recommendations, empowering young people to make decisions and to 

implement and manage change (adapted from Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2005, Effective 

Engagement: building relationships with community and other stakeholders: Book 1 an introduction to engagement. 

Community Engagement Network) 

9

YOUTHPLAN2030 - BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS 

YouthPlan2030 Summary and Action Plan is supported by a series of six 

comprehensive interrelated documents based on the outcomes of an extensive 

research process. The 2006 Youth Summit Report and the Simple Statements 

Powerful Comments report will be produced as documents for use by young people, 

agencies, government and media. The other documents are intended as Council 

resources and operational guidelines. 

• Part 1: Municipal Service System: A planning framework to guide the 

development of the municipal service system for young people. 

• Part 2: Research and Policy: Report on the progress of research findings and 

policy development. 

• Part 3: 2006 Youth Summit Report: Report on the priority issues raised and 

discussed by young people and the programmatic responses of the City of 

Whittlesea Youth Services. 

• Part 4: City Of Whittlesea Youth Services Forward Plan: Outlines the 

service model, practice framework and future plans for the development of the 

council’s youth service. 

• Part 5: Youth Facilities Plan: Outlines the preliminary short and long term 

proposal for youth facilities across the municipality. 

• Part 6: Simple Statements, Powerful Comments: What Young People Are 

Saying: This report brings together the key statements young people have 

made in local consultations, evaluations and reports over the past five years. 

THE 

SERVICE SYSTEM 

YOUTH 

The ‘municipal youth service system’ refers to all matters and structures that affect all 

young people. Outlined in the Table 3 is a map of youth targeted services located 

within the municipality. While the scope of services identified is not considered to be 

exhaustive 3 it does provide an overview of the services for young people. 

3 

E.g. It does not include mainstream services that young people may access such as PVCH dental services. 

10

Table 3: Youth Targeted Services Currently in the City of Whittlesea 

Universal Primary Services Secondary 

Services 

• Education 

services 

(Schools, 

TAFE, Tertiary) 

• Libraries 

• Health Services 

Sports facilities 

• Leisure 

facilities 

• Council Youth 

Services 

• Police Youth 

Resource Officers 

• School Focused 


(Kildonan) 

• Student Support 

Services (Local 

schools) 

• Youth and Family 

Counselling 

(Plenty Valley 

Community Health, 

Kildonan, 

Centacare, 

Anglicare 4 ) 

• Youth support and 

programs 

(Kildonan) 

• Sport clubs 

• Youth clubs 

• Whittlesea Youth 

Commitment/ 

Hume/Whittlesea 

Local Learning and 

Employment 

Network 

• Council Youth 

Services 

• Youth Pathways 

Program (Northern 

Metropolitan 

Institute of 

Technology) 

• Employment and 

Training Providers 

• Mentoring (RMIT 

and Kildonan) 

• Managed Individual 

Pathways (Schools 

and Salvation 

Army) 

• Reconnect 

(Kildonan) 

• Services for Newly 

Arrived Migrants 

(Northern Migrant 

Resource Centre 

and Whittlesea 

Community 

Connections) 

Tertiary Services 

• Drug Services 


Community 

Health) 

• Youth Housing 


Community 

Health) 

• Adolescent 

Mental Health 

Services (Austin 

CAMHS - limited 

outreach; NEAMI. 

PVCH 18+) 

Council’s Role in Developing the Youth Service System 

Council's work is greater than the programs and activities delivered by the Youth 

Services Team. The provision of infrastructure, such as leisure facilities, parks and 

gardens, skate parks and bike paths, and its role in activities, such as health 

promotion, are other examples of how Council contributes to the improved liveability 

of the municipality for young people and the broader community. 

In the current environment of growth and renewal, Council is well placed to ensure 

communities, along with their services and facilities, are built for the long-term benefit 

of all members. The role of Youth Services is to provide Council and stakeholders 

with informed and specialist advice and direction to achieve the best possible longterm 

outcomes for young people in the municipality. 

Table 4: Council’s Role in Developing the Youth Service System 

4 

All counselling is limited with waiting lists. 

11

Council’s role in developing the Municipal Youth Service System 

Infrastructure 

Council 

Services 

Built Environment 

Natural Environment 

Public Transport 

All Directorates 


Universal 

Primary 

Secondary 

Tertiary 

Mainstream 

Targeted 

‘Designing in’ young people into town 

centres, open space, community facilities. 

Maintaining and managing the natural 

environment for current and future 

generations. 

Lobbying State and Federal Governments to 

provide accessible and affordable public and 

community transport. 

Involving young people to ensure their 

needs and interests are reflected in all 

aspects of the work of Council, and linking 

young people to community activities and 

resources. 

Promoting the civic engagement of young 

people, deliveries primary and secondary 

support to young people. 

Delivering services to young people through 

Youth Services and actively generating 

services for young people. 

YOUTHPLAN2030 EVIDENCE BASE 

The evidence base and analysis of local data, issues, emerging needs and trends 

outlined below form the basis of the objectives and initiatives identified in the 

YouthPlan2030 Action Plan and highlight why young people are important in the City 

of Whittlesea. 

The evidence base is built upon information including: 

1. Demographic Profile; 

2. Service Statistics and System Analysis; 

3. Global, National, State Literature Review; and 

4. Results from community consultations. 

Demographic Profile 

Population Projections 

The City of Whittlesea is the fastest growing municipality in the north of Melbourne, 

recognised by Melbourne2030 as a growth area of significance. It is located 20 km 

north of the Melbourne Central Business District, with a population of 132,000 which 

is projected to almost double by the year 2030. Significant growth is expected in all 

age cohorts. 

Young People in the City of Whittlesea 

12

The City of Whittlesea is currently home to approximately 28,093 young people aged 

10 to 24 years. This population is forecast to increase by 40% by 2021 to 

approximately 39,000. By contrast, the North West metropolitan region’s 10 to 24 

year old population will only increase by 3% in that time and Victoria’s will actually 

decline by 3% (refer to Table below). 

Table 6: Comparison of 10 to 24 Year Old Population Forecasts from 2006 to 

2021 

% Change 

from 2006 to 

Area 2006 2011 2016 2021 

2021 

City of 

Whittlesea 28,093 31,717 35,753 39,116 40% 

NW 

Metropolitan 

Region 311,229 314,145 318,884 320,737 3% 

Victoria 1,028,256 1,034,332 1,026,665 999,896 -3% 

Households with Young People 

The majority of 15 to 24 year olds in Whittlesea are dependent students living at 

home (41.7%) or non-dependent children (37.5%) living at home. What is most 

noticeable is that Whittlesea has a far higher percentage of non-dependant children 

living at home (37.5%) compared with metropolitan Melbourne (26.2%) and a much 

lower percentage of young people who live in group households (2.9% compared 

with 9.0% for metropolitan Melbourne). 

Socio-Economic Indicators 

Whittlesea ranks third lowest in metropolitan Melbourne’s Index of Education and 

Occupation and sixth lowest on the Index of Urban Disadvantage. According to the 

Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Disadvantage 5 , the City of 

Whittlesea, with a score of 962.4, was the eighth most disadvantaged area in 

Victoria. (ASB Census 2001). Figure 3 and Table 5 below indicate that Thomastown 

with a score of 884.8, was the most disadvantaged of the ten precincts within the City 

of Whittlesea, indicating the area has many low income families and people with little 

training and in unskilled occupations compared with the other precincts. 

Figure 3: SEIFA Map of Disadvantage 

5 

SEIFA focuses on attributes such as low income, low education, and high unemployment. 

13

Whittlesea 

Municipality 

Index of Disadvantage 

City of W hittlesea 

1,053.8 to 1,057 

1,032.9 to 1,053.8 

1,009.9 to 1,032.9 

965.9 to 1,009.9 

884.8 to 965.9 

Table 5: SEIFA Table of Disadvantage by Precinct 

Precinct Index of Disadvantage 

Thomastown 884.8 

Lalor 890.2 

Epping 965.9 

Bundoora 1008.2 

Whittlesea Township 1009.9 

Mill Park 1011.0 

Mernda/Doreen 1032.9 

Blossom Park 1043.2 

Rural North 1053.8 

South Morang 1057.0 

Source: Figure 3 & Table 5: Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) ABS 2001 

Multicultural Population 

The City of Whittlesea is the third most multicultural municipality in Victoria, with 

almost 34% of its residents born overseas and nearly 46% of residents speaking a 

language at home other than English. The main countries of birth include Italy, 

Macedonia and Greece. The range of cultures and languages contributes greatly to 

the character and identity of the municipality. (ABS Census of Population and 

Housing 2001) 

Approximately 55% of residents aged between 10 and 24 years of age have one or 

both parents who were born overseas. For children of one parent families this figure 

is 38%. 

For residents in the age group 15 to 24 years, the highest represented birthplace was 

Australia (77.1% of male residents and 78.0% of female residents), followed by 

Macedonia (2.3% male and 2.6% female), and Vietnam (2.0% male and 1.9% 

female). 

A comparison of the top five languages spoken in the City of Whittlesea by young 

people aged 10 to 24 years shows that English is the most commonly spoken 

language at home, followed by Macedonian, Italian, Greek and Arabic (ABS Census 

of Population and Housing 2001 and City of Whittlesea: Youth Statistics Bulletin, 

Issue #1, 2006). 

Emerging Smaller Communities in Whittlesea 

14

A significant proportion (29%) of refugee and new arrivals in 2003-04 were under the 

age of 19 and the 10- 19 age group represented 16% of the total new arrival 

population in Whittlesea alone (DIMIA 2005). 

New arrivals, refugees and a growing youth population in particular have meant 

that the average age structure in Whittlesea is substantially younger than Victoria 

(ABS 2001 Census) 

(Source: New Start study 2005) 

Indigenous Population 

The Indigenous community in the City of Whittlesea is proportionally large compared 

to most other municipalities in the North Western Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. 

The most recently available census figures indicate that Indigenous people make up 

0.6 percent of the local population (ABS 2001). The youth population is pronounced 

with 31.7% of Indigenous Australians in the municipality aged between 10 and 24 

years. 

Young Mothers 

Birth rates for young mothers are very similar to the State rate of 10 births per 1000 

young women aged 15 to 19 years old. However while the percentage decreased 

across Victoria in recent years, birth rates for young mothers increased in Whittlesea. 

Leisure Participation 

Approximately 1 in 5 people aged 12 to 24 years participates in a club or group, 

slightly more than the overall participation rate for the municipality as a whole. Of 

those participating in a club or group the overwhelming majority of 12 to 24 year olds 

belong to a sporting club (85%). (Household Survey 2006) 

Employment and Training 

Compared to Metropolitan Melbourne, young people living in Interface 

municipalities 6 : 

• Are more likely to leave school earlier; 

• Are less likely to complete Year 12; 

• Have lower TER scores; 

• Are less likely to attend post secondary education; and 

• Are more likely to disengage from school and employment 

(Interface Councils, Staying Connected). 

14% of City of Whittlesea’s male labour force aged between 15 to 24 years is 

identified as unemployed, compared to 12% of the female labour force aged 15 to 24 

years (Youth Issues Bulletin 2006). This is slightly higher than the Melbourne 

Statistical District. 

Juvenile Justice 

6 

The Interface Councils lie at the interface of metropolitan Melbourne and rural Victoria, sharing aspects of both 

urban and rural communities. These include the Cities of Cardinia, Casey, Whittlesea, Hume, Mornington Peninsula, 

and Wyndham, and the Shires of Nillumbik, Yarra Ranges, Melton. Staying Connected: solutions for addressing 

services and gaps for young people living at the Interface. A report of the Melbourne Interface Councils. 2006) 

15

For the month of January 2007, Snapshot Data on Juvenile Justice from the North 

and West Metropolitan Region, showed the median age of juvenile justice clients was 

17 years. 12% of the clients were female, 88% male. Indigenous young people and 

young people of Pacific Islander origin are significantly overrepresented. 

Findings from National and International Literature 

Based on an extensive literature review of national and international youth 

engagement and development practices the following key findings were identified: 

• One of the critical success factors of youth engagement, in case studies 

undertaken in Canada, New Zealand and United Kingdom, is the support and 

involvement of people in senior leadership roles; 

• A healthy vibrant youth population is a valuable economic and social asset; 

• Young people are an under-utilised resource who are interested in contributing; 

• Need to acknowledge changing contexts of young people and assist them to 

develop skills to cope with change; 

• Young people can support wider society to understand and adapt to changes; 

and 

• Need to incorporate youth development approaches across the whole 

municipality. 

16

What Young People are Saying 

A range of community consultation processes were undertaken as part of the 

development of the YouthPlan2030, both with young people and key agencies for 

whom young people are a key target group. Some of the main issues and priorities 

identified by young people (from YouthPlan2030: Part 6) are summarised below. 

Themes 

Community safety and the use of 

public space 

Substance issues – drugs and 

alcohol 

Support services 

Health and wellbeing 

Transport 

Social / recreation opportunities 

Education & employment 

Being involved in the community 

Description of feedback 

Young people often feel unsafe in public 

spaces. 

Young people are concerned about racism, 

violence, harassment and discrimination. 

Young people are concerned about smoking 

and drug and alcohol use. 

Young people want more services in the local 

area. 

In particular they see a need for more support 

for families. 

When young people need help, it is their 

families and friends that they turn to. 

Young people value and are concerned about 

family relationships. 

Young people would like better education 

about sexuality. 

Young people are concerned about the 

incidence of youth depression and suicide. 

Transport is a major issue for young people. 

The lack of transport in local areas impacts 

on all areas of their lives. 

Young people need more youth-specific 

spaces and events. 

Young people would like more employment 

opportunities. 

Young people are eager to be involved in the 

community, and want to contribute to decision 

making. 

17

YOUTHPLAN 2030 APPROACH 

In order to most effectively and efficiently address the needs of local young people 

the YouthPlan2030 Action Plan outlines what is needed in the short–term to achieve 

the best outcomes for young people. It promotes a partnership approach between 

young people and key stakeholders, within and external to Council, in building all 

aspects of the service system over the long-term. The Action Plan includes building 

on the Council’s current Youth Services model of Area Teams and issue based 

Portfolios, and proposes a short and long-term plan to incorporate opportunities for 

young people in community facilities. 

Underpinning the direction of the Plan is a fundamental shift in how Council and 

Youth Services undertake our work in relation to young people, i.e. through 

engagement strategies that develop partnerships with young people in building the 

municipality. The Plan also offers direction for key stakeholders in this approach to 

practice, that promises to build the City of Whittlesea as a place that embraces the 

development of young people. 

In summary the approach outlined in YouthPlan2030 is characterised by: 

• The introduction of youth friendly practices across Council 

• Building on the capacity and skill base of Youth Services 

• A major focus on facilitating partnerships in developing the municipal Service 

System 

• Improving community facility outcomes for young people. 

YouthPlan2030 Vision 

“A city that provides the social, physical and environmental resources and 

opportunities that facilitate and contribute to the development and wellbeing of 

all young people within in the municipality”. 

Guiding Beliefs and Practice Principles 

The guiding beliefs and practice principles underpinning the development of 

YouthPlan2030 have been developed in consultation with our young people and 

stakeholders. These include: 

• Council is committed to contributing to the best outcomes for all young people. 

• Young people are recognised as both vulnerable and resilient. 

• Changes, complexity, challenges, and risk-taking behaviours are inevitable in 

the transition of young people towards independence. 

• Young people need to be supported to define themselves and how they fit into 

the world. 

• Diversity and difference is valued, embraced and respected. 

• Young people need to be understood in the context of their identity, family, 

peers, community, culture, religion, social and political world. 

• Young people are integral to the community. 

• Young people have expertise that they are keen to contribute to the community. 

• Engagement is central to practice; it promotes better outcomes, individual 

resilience, civic participation and social inclusion. 

• The practice process is essential to the practice outcomes. 

• Young people are the experts of their circumstances and are therefore central 

to solution finding. 

• Ownership, connectedness and participation ensure individual and community 

resilience. 

18

Emerging Issues 

Based on the findings and outcomes of each stage of the research process the 

following priority issues were identified for YouthPlan2030. Each issue has a 

corresponding suggested direction. 

Evidence and Emerging Issues 

YouthPlan2030 Response 


• A recurring theme identified in consultations with 

young people is their desire and interest to 

participate and contribute in practical ways to the 

development of the community. While young people 

appreciate being consulted they want to be more 

directly involved in planning and development 

initiatives (YouthPlan2030 Part 3 & 6: 2006 Youth 

Summit Report and What Young People Are Saying, 

2007). 

• An ever increasing body of international literature 

emphasises the need to engage young people 

(YouthPlan2030 Part 2: Research and Policy, 2007). 

Facilitate young people’s direct 

involvement in the planning and 

development of their local 

communities, facilities and 

services. 

These engagement strategies will 

target all stakeholders, internally 

and externally. 

Youth Development 

• Young people have clearly expressed the pressure 

and anxieties they experience in relation to issues of 

sex, peer group pressure, bullying and drug taking. 

Having someone to assist young people negotiate 

their way through these complex issues was 

highlighted as a key priority by young people 

(YouthPlan2030 Part 3 & 6: 2006 Youth Summit 

Report and What Young People Are Saying). 

• The approach articulated in State Government’s 

vision for young people (Future Directions: An Action 

Agenda for Young People). 

• International literature promotes the practice of youth 

development (YouthPlan2030 Part 2: Research and 

Policy, 2007). 

Through Council and Youth 

Services implement programs 

supporting adolescent 

development. 

Promote adolescent development 

programs in local areas and with 

other stakeholders. 

Advocate to State and Federal 

governments for Generalist Youth 

Work funding. 

Indigenous Young People 

• Second highest Indigenous population in North 

Western Metropolitan Region. 

• Well documented socio-economic disadvantage. 

• There are no Indigenous services located in the 

municipality. 

• Northern Suburbs Aboriginal Association’s 

Community Plan (2005). 

Engagement with local 

Indigenous young people and 

their community to support the 

identification and response to 

needs. 

Advocate for resources to State 

and Federal Governments. 

NESB Young People 

• Newly arrived young people commonly experience 

bullying with a racial, ethnic or religious basis (New 

Start Study, 2005). 

• They encounter lack of cultural understanding in 

relations with other students (New Start Study, 

2005). 

• Newly arrived young people often feel isolated; many 

would like more opportunities to be involved in the 

wider community in culturally appropriate ways (New 

Engagement with local NESB 

young people and their 

communities (particularly newly 

arrived and refugees) to identify 

and respond to needs. 

Initiate and support efforts by 

local agencies to develop the 

capacity to respond to this need. 

19



Start Study, 2005). 

• Many newly arrived young people experience stress 

and anxiety because of responsibilities they have in 

supporting their family during the settlement period 

(New Start Study, 2005). 

• Consultations were undertaken with the Centre for 

Multicultural Youth Issues on behalf of the Whittlesea 

Action Group. These consultations identified a 

number of issues including improved educational 

outcomes, family support, access to sport, and 

support structures for newly arrived communities 

(YouthPlan2030 Part 6: What Young People Are 

Saying, 2007). 

• The City of Whittlesea is the third most multicultural 

municipality in Victoria, with almost 34% of its 

residents born overseas and nearly 46% of residents 

speaking a language at home other than English. 

• A significant number of young people aged 12 to 24 

years have settled in the municipality over the past 

decade from countries such as Iraq, India, the 

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the 

Philippines, China and Vietnam. 

Young People with Disabilities 

Council’s Disability Access Unit is currently compiling a 

municipal profile of people with disabilities and a 

Disability Action Plan. The broad benchmark to 

ascertain the overall number of people with a disability 

is 20%. However more residents receive the Disability 

Pension than the Melbourne average. This roughly 

suggests that there are approximately more than 5,000 

young people with a disability currently within the City 

of Whittlesea. 

Contribute to developing a profile 

of young people with disabilities in 

the municipality, and the 

assessment of the needs of 

young people with disabilities. 

Ensure the needs of young 

people with disabilities are 

included in Youth Services 

programs and activities. 

Access and inclusion strategies 

will continue to be developed and 

promoted with other stakeholders. 

Mental Health 

• Young people are concerned about depression and 

suicide (YouthPlan2030 Part 6: What Young People 

Are Saying, 2007). 

• Whittlesea secondary school students reported 

higher incidences of depressive symptoms compared 

with the Melbourne Metropolitan area (Interface 

Councils, ‘Staying Connected’, 2006). 

• Between 2000/2001 and 2004/2005 the number of 

public mental health clients aged 10 to 24 increased 

by 58% or 111 clients. (Municipal Youth Services 

Profile, 2006) 

• Very minimal existing mental health service provision 

for young people located in the municipality, 

exacerbated by high demand and long waiting lists. 

• Large recent increases in demand will continue to 

increase significantly over the next 15 years due to 

population growth. 

• School Focused Youth Services Survey highlights 

the need for mental health support services (School 

Facilitate local partnership and 

advocate to State and Federal 

Governments for an increased 

range of mental health services 

for local young people. 

20



Focused Youth Service Needs Analysis, 2006). 

• ‘Staying Connected’ report recommends increased 

State Government resources for the provision of 

locally-based, youth-specific mental health services, 

including: 1) Crisis outreach; 2) Multi-disciplinary 

staff, including youth-friendly GPs, case workers, 

psychologists; 3) consultant psychiatrists; and 4) 

Youth-specific intake services in each region. 

Housing and Homelessness 

• In 2005 there were 727 young people aged 6 to 24 

living in all forms of social housing located in the City 

of Whittlesea. The majority lived in the suburbs of 

Mill Park, Epping and Thomastown. 

• According to the “Counting the Homeless” census, 

young people 12 to 24 represent approximately 35% 

(1,201) of the total homeless population in the 

Northern DHS region. 

• 55% of all daily requests to the Supported 

Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP: a 

supported accommodation program for young 

people) are not able to be met. 

• The supply of low cost rental housing in the 

municipality is minimal and shrinking in neighbouring 

areas. 

• There are few vacancies to provide housing options 

for young people as a pathway out of homelessness. 

• There is a significant increase in the number of 

young people with housing needs presenting with 

multiple and complex needs. 

Youth Support 

• Young people are asking for more support services 

in drugs and alcohol, housing and homelessness, 

family support and general counselling 



• Generalist youth workers support the healthy 

physical, social and emotional development of all 

young people, enhancing protective factors and 

working with young people to develop their strengths, 

thus minimising the impact of risk factors (Interface 

Councils, ‘Staying Connected’, 2006). 

• Importantly, generalist youth services provide a 

strong link to the range of other more intensive 

support services for young people and frequently 

facilitate partnership arrangements and networking 

between service providers. The provision of these 

services at a local level is critical for the development 

of an integrated, coherent and systematic approach 

to providing services for young people at the 

Interface (Interface Councils, ‘Staying Connected’, 

2006). 

• ‘Carrying the Can’ report (a joint report prepared by 

VCOSS and YACVic) recommends more funding of 

generalist youth workers and counselling provision. 

• Based on 1 worker per 3,000 young people aged 10 

to 24 Years (Interface Councils, ‘Staying Connected’, 

2006), the City of Whittlesea is currently deficient by 

3 contact youth workers. 

Facilitate and advocate to State 

and Federal Governments for 

more emergency youth housing 

and supported youth housing 

services, and improving young 

people’s access to rental housing. 

Facilitate and advocate for more 

Generalist Youth Workers and 

counselling support. This will 

include targeting State and 

Federal Governments. 

21



Family Support 

• Support for and from families was the most 

significant concern expressed by young people in the 

City of Whittlesea Youth Needs Analysis (2003). 

• Birth rates for young mothers increasing in the City of 

Whittlesea. 

• Young people are most likely to turn to friends, 

parents and relatives for informal support (refer to 

Part 6: What Young People Are Saying). 

• Young people are concerned about family 

relationships including family conflict and breakdown 



Education and Training 

• Overall, young people who live in Interface Councils 

have significantly lower educational achievements 

than their counterparts in metropolitan Melbourne 

(Interface Councils, ‘Staying Connected’, 2006). 

• ‘Staying Connected’(Interface Councils) report 

recommends funding for a range of prevention and 

early intervention strategies to support young people 

to remain engaged at school and to improve the 

educational achievements of young people who live 

in Interface areas. 

Provide greater support for young 

parents and the parents of young 

people, including support for 

migrant and newly arrived 

families. 

Work with local agencies to 

improve educational and training 

outcomes for young people. 

Sport and Leisure 

• Young people see sport, participating in community 

activities and recreational activities as important 

ways to be physically active, and also important 

because social interaction and recreation are 

significant aspects of maintaining good mental health 

(Regional Youth Affairs Network Consultation on 

Victorian Government Youth Policy 2006). 

• People are missing out on playing sport because of 

the costs (YouthPlan2030 Part 3: 2006 Youth 

Summit Report). 

• Increased leisure participation can decrease the 

social and economic cost of illness; improve mental 

health and wellbeing in the community, and create 

involved and active communities (VicHealth website, 

2006). 

Transport 

• Transport is a major issue for young people. Lack of 

transport has enormous consequences for young 

people, including lack of access to health, education, 

employment and support services (Lalor North 

Citizenship Consultation 2005 7 ). 

• Especially with rising petrol prices, young people 

want more buses and trams, free buses. Transport 

is especially a problem in South Morang, Epping and 

Mernda (Lalor North Citizenship Consultation 2005). 

• Transport is important to provide access to 

Investigate barriers to young 

people accessing sport, leisure 

and fitness opportunities. 

Promote awareness of what is 

available to young people of all 

ages, and also develop 

opportunities and strategies for 

young people’s participation in 

sporting, leisure and fitness 

activities. 

Promote access to sport, fitness 

and leisure activities to newly 

arrived and NESB young people, 

and young people from low 

income family households. 

Advocate and support efforts for 

improved transportation and 

mobility opportunities for young 

people. 

7 

The Lalor-Thomastown schools cluster, in partnership with City of Whittlesea Youth Services, delivered a 

“Citizenship” seminar to Year 10 students at the City of Whittlesea Civic Centre. 

22



employment opportunities (Lalor North Citizenship 

Consultation, 2005). 

• Transport impacts on young people’s transition from 

dependence to independence (Lalor North 

Citizenship Consultation 2005). 

• Transport is increasingly important as residents 

move into more outlying housing developments. 

Research and Data 

• There is an absence of agreed evidence based 

indicators within the youth services sector to inform 

youth service practice. 

• Council is the one of the few agencies within the 

municipality with both the capacity and mandate to 

monitor and evaluate service utilisation trends by 

local young people. 

A Service System for Young People 

• As with research and monitoring, Council is one of 

the few agencies within the municipality with both the 

capacity and mandate to facilitate a coordinated 

approach to the development of a municipal service 

system for young people. 

• Non-Council partners participating in the Whittlesea 

Youth Service System Development Group support 

Council’s lead role in facilitation, coordination, 

planning, research and advocacy. 

• International research also highlights the importance 

of municipalities taking a key role in the development 

of the youth service system at a local level. 

Built Environment 

What young people from the City of Whittlesea have 

expressed at the Youth Summits, in relation to the built 

environment, is consistent with research findings (2006 

Youth Summit). World experts and advocates say that 

the challenge is to make open spaces and public 

places appropriate for the developmental stages and 

life style of young people i.e. places that are youth 

inclusive and engaging, places that generate physical 

activity, enable publicly visible social and peer 

interaction, and foster cross-generational contact. 

Research also highlights that the absence of youth 

inclusive community facilities contributes to problems 

including obesity, isolation, lack of sense of safety and 

anti-social behaviour. 

Continue to undertake research 

and monitoring of young people’s 

circumstances and ways to 

improve the service system for 

young people and their families. 

Provide data to other 

stakeholders to inform and 

strengthen the support system for 

young people. 

Facilitate and coordinate the 

development of the municipal 

service system for young people. 

Develop planning principles on 

the built environment that promote 

the inclusion of young people in 

planning indoor and outdoor 

places and spaces. 

Facilities for Young People 

• Young people have expressed the need for youth 

specific and inclusive spaces and events. (Whittlesea 

Youth Network Youth Needs Analysis, 2003, and 

2006 Youth Leadership Camp). 

• Council’s Strategic Plan for Human Services Delivery 

in the City of Whittlesea proposes that facilities for 

young people be integrated with family services in 

four locations: Mernda / Doreen, Mill Park, Epping 

Establish a network of facilities in 

locations that are accessible to all 

young people, 10 to 25 years old 

within the City of Whittlesea. It is 

envisaged that these will include 

youth-centred facilities and youth 

inclusive multipurpose community 

facilities. 

23



and Epping North. 

• Extensive range of planned multipurpose community 

centers and several youth specific buildings 

incorporated into Mernda / Doreen and Epping North 

Strategic Plans. 

• Potential to accommodate non-Council services that 

assist young people in planned and redeveloped 

existing facilities. 

YouthPlan2030 Action Plan 

In response to the research findings a three year Action Plan has been prepared (see 

attached document). The Action Plan contains: 

• Six strategic direction areas; 

• A long term goal for each; 

• Specific actions under each goal; 

• Proposed partners to help implement actions; 

• Timelines for undertaking each action; 

• Outcomes anticipated in implementing each action; and 

• Resource requirements 

The six strategic directions areas are: 

• Strategic Direction 1: Engagement: Promote young people as experts. 

• Strategic Direction 2: Partners: Generate partnerships and promote shared 

responsibility for the development and support of young people. 

• Strategic direction 3: Planning: Promote planning that is inclusive of young 

people and best practices. 

• Strategic direction 4: Services: Generate a comprehensive service system that 

facilitates the development of all young people and is responsive to young 

people with complex needs. 

• Strategic direction 5: Advocacy: Generate investment and practices towards 

building a strong municipality and a positive future for young people and their 

families. 

• Strategic direction 6: Research: Exploring best practice in youth development 

Some of the more significant initiatives outlined in the Action Plan include: 

• Development of the Youth Equity Strategy (YES); 

• Establishment of Koori, NESB and Local Area Youth Krews; 

• Assisting agencies to address key service gaps in relation to: 

- Youth counselling; 

- Family counselling; 

- Mental health; 

- Sexual assault; 

- Youth housing and homelessness; 

- Improved educational outcomes; 

- Cultural diversity; and 

- Improving community safety. 

• Progressing the Municipal Youth Facilities Plan; 

• Progressing the Council Youth Services Forward Plan; 

• Contributing in a action research project to improve accessibility of leisure 

opportunities for young people; 

• Generating a strategic alliance of growth municipalities around Australia to 

raise the profile of youth issues in growth areas at the federal level; 

• Ongoing involvement in Interface Council work – ‘Staying Connected’; and 

24

• Promoting the principle of ‘Designing in Young People’ through involving young 

people in the planning and development of local areas and neighbourhoods. 

Conclusion 

The strategies identified in YouthPlan2030 have been informed by local data, 

extensive research and engagement with young people. The strategies that emerge 

from the Plan aim to ensure young people feature as key contributors to all aspects 

in the planning and development of their community. The strategies will consolidate 

Council's role in the development of young people, and ensure young people have 

access to support and expertise when required, with many benefits to them, their 

families and the whole municipality. 

Council will consider its contribution to resourcing the actions outlined in 

YouthPlan2030 as part of annual Council budget processes. Council will also seek 

partnership arrangements from State and Federal Governments and other sources. 

A range of funding opportunities will be explored including philanthropic trust funds 

and other non-government sources. 

Council will continue to actively support the efforts of local agencies and other 

stakeholders to establish services for young people, especially secondary and 

tertiary services, e.g. mental health and homelessness. Access to these tertiary 

services for young people has been identified as an urgent gap in the service system 

that needs immediate attention. 

25

YouthPlan2030 

Initial Action Plan

Strategic Direction 1: Engagement: Promote young people as experts. 

Long term goal 2030: Successful consideration of young people in the outcomes of the development of the municipality 

Actions 

Develop engagement strategies: 

Proposed Partners Outcomes 

1.1 

The key engagement strategy within Council is the 

proposed Youth Equity Strategy (YES). 

Aim: To expand and enhance the work of the Youth Krew, 

Youth Services propose to train a pool of young people to 

act as expert consultants on youth issues. This strategy is 

based on international good practice and would be unique 

in Australia. 

The Youth Consultants would be called on to work across 

Council and in partnership with agencies and other 

stakeholders. They will provide a youth perspective on 

significant municipal activities and Council functions, e.g. 

developing town centres, designing playgrounds and facilities 

etc. 

Youth Awareness sessions would be delivered by the Youth 

Consultants and Youth Services. These sessions would involve 

the nomination of an officer from each directorate to act as a 

Youth Advocate and as the key link and mentor to the Youth 

Consultants. 

Councillors 

Council directorates 

and business units to 

be negotiated 

Local agencies and 

networks 

Business and 

Developers 

Whittlesea Youth 

Service System 

Development Group 

(WYSSDG) 

For young people: 

Connectedness and contribution to community; 

Up-skilled through participation in real life decision-making; 

Linked through Council directorates to businesses, 

opportunities and resources. 

For Council and the municipality: 

Young people’s perspective and interests embedded into 

the work of Council and promoted in the wider business 

sector in the municipality; 

Up-skilled officers and stakeholders through access to the 

expertise and capacities of young people; 

Improved opportunities, infrastructure and service 

outcomes for all young people. 

The YES project will be coordinated by Youth Services, and 

implemented over three years. The project will expand in line 

with the growth in the Area Teams and Area Krews in the four 

Youth Service’s Local Areas. (Details in 4.1) 

By the second stage of implementation. Two YES Youth 

Consultants will be specifically designated to represent 

Indigenous and NESB young people’s issues.



1.2 

Indigenous young people: “Koori Krew” 

Aim: To establish the structures to engage Indigenous 

young people as partners with Youth Services, officers 

across Council, and other local stakeholders. 

Youth Services plans to work with appropriate partners, to link to 

existing structures, and create a mechanism for young 

Indigenous people to participate in significant municipal 

activities and Council functions. 


Victorian Indigenous 

Youth Affairs Council 

(VIYAC) 

For Indigenous young people: 

Contribution of their expertise in community business; 

Darebin Council 


Up-skilled and linked to opportunities and resources 

through involvement in community activity; 

Northern Suburbs 

Aboriginal 

Association (NSAA) 

Maternal Child and 

Health (MCH) 

Indigenous Liaison 

Connectedness and community ownership. 

For Council and stakeholders: 

Access to existing expertise within the municipality; 

Up-skilled older people by exposing them to the expertise 

and perspectives of Indigenous young people; 

Improved planning and service outcomes for Indigenous 

young people. 

28



1.3 

Young People’s Krew for NESB young people. 

Aim: To establish the structures to engage NESB young 

people as partners with Youth Services, across Council 

departments and other local stakeholders. 

Youth Services plans to work with appropriate partners, to link to 

existing structures, and develop mechanisms for NESB young 

people, including Refugee and newly arrived young people, to 

participate in significant municipal activities and Council 

functions. 


Whittlesea Action 

Group for CLD 

Young People 

(WAGCLDYP) 

Centre for 

Multicultural Youth 

Issues (CMYI) 

For NESB young people: 



through involvement community activity; 

Connectedness and community ownership; 


Community 

Connections (WCC) 

Kildonan Children 

and Family Services 

Improved services. 




and perspectives of NESB young people; 

Improved planning and service outcomes for NESB young 

people. 

29



1.4 

Young people in New Growth Areas (NGA) 

Aim: To establish mechanisms to engage young people 

arriving in new growth areas as partners with 

Youth Services and other local stakeholders including 

Council departments and developers. 

Youth Services plans to build on the partnership model currently 

being piloted in Laurimar. This pilot will inform the development 

of similar engagement strategies in new growth areas, which will 

be made possible with additional resources to develop Youth 

Services Area Teams. 

The Community Futures partnership will also assist in 

developing service models for young people. 


Council departments 

For young people in New Growth Areas: 

Developers 


Department Victorian 

Communities (DVC) 


Community Futures 

Partnership 

WYSSDG 


through involvement community activity; 

Connectedness and community ownership. 





and perspectives of Indigenous young people living in NGA; 

Improved planning and service outcomes for NGA young 

people. 

30



1.5 

Council Youth Service Local Area Youth Krews and 

Summits 

Aim: To develop Local Area Youth Krews and Local Area 

Youth Summits to engage the voice of local young people 

in developing local area plans. 

With additional resources and the gradual development of the 

Youth Services Area Teams, Youth Services will establish Local 

Area Youth Krews and implement Area Youth Summits to 

develop Local Area Plans. 

Local Area Plans will inform the work of the Youth Services 

Team including program design and delivery, policy 

development and advocacy with relevant stakeholders. 



Network (WYN) 

For young people in Local Areas: 

WAGCLDYP 

WYSSDG 

Council directorates 

DVC 

Federal Government 

Contribution of their expertise to Youth Services, Council 

and broader community activity; 


through involvement in community activity; 

Connectedness and community ownership; 

Private and public 

sector stakeholders 





and perspectives of local young people; 

Improved planning and service outcomes for local young 

people. 

31



1.6 

Young people with Disability 

Aim: Participate in the development of the Disability Action 

Plan to develop a municipal profile of young people with 

disability. Also to consult with young people to identify 

needs, establish a mechanism for the voice of young 

people, and identify strategic actions for Youth Services. 

1.7 

Hard to reach young people 

Aim: To explore strategies to access hard to reach young 

people including young people who are unemployed, 

disengaged, young people in work, young people in TAFEs 

and tertiary institutions. 

1.8 

Stories of young people from the North. 

Aim: To contribute to the combined Youth Summit strategy 

to produce ‘Stories of young people from the North” report 

with Northern Regional Youth Advisory Network (NRYAN). 

The Regional Youth Advisory Networks (RYANS) have a direct 

link to the State Government through DVC and to the Minister 

for Youth Affairs, Sport and Recreation. 

In the recent two year NRYAN Strategy Plan, the members have 

committed to collate the documented outcomes of their 

respective Local Government Youth Summits. 


Disability Access 

Team 

YACVic Disability 

Access Service. 

Connection to young people. 

Participation and engagement opportunities for young 

people. 

Club Wild 

Local networks, 

agencies and 

schools 

Hume Whittlesea 

Local Learning and 

Employment Network 

(HWLLEN) 

Connection to young people. 

Participation and engagement opportunities for young 

people. 


Commitment (WYC) 

Economic 

Development 

Department of 

Victorian 

Communities (DVC) 

Office for Youth 

(OFY) 

NRYAN member 

agencies 


A regional platform to promote their voice and issues; 

The strengthening of their voice through combined efforts. 

For the region: 

Strong tool for advocating to achieve better outcomes for 

young people. 

32



1.9 

City of Whittlesea’s combined strategies for the voices of 

local young people 

Aim: To promote the engagement of young people in local 

agencies and to support and link with other strategies in 

the City of Whittlesea. 


WYN 


WYC 

WAGCLDYP 

WSSDG 

WCC Community 

Engagement Project 

(WCEP) 

A local platform/s to promote young people’s voice and 

issues; 

The strengthening of their voice through combined efforts; 

Increased opportunities to influence service delivery and 

design; 

Opportunities to influence real life community decisions. 

Federation of 

Student 

Representative 

Committees 

(VicSRC) 

For the City of Whittlesea: 

Strong tool/s for advocating to achieve better outcomes for 

young people in the City of Whittlesea; 

Improved service delivery models and outcomes for young 

people and the whole community. 

Youth Summit 2006 

33

Strategic Direction 2: Partnerships: Generate shared responsibility for the development and support of young people. 

Long term goal 2030: Partners and stakeholders providing the environment and opportunities for healthy youth development, early intervention 

and support for transitions and difficult times to young people. Also, to have expertise available to respond to young people with complex 

needs. 

Actions: 

Facilitate partnerships to develop actions and 

resources to address current service gaps: 

Proposed partners: Outcomes 

2.1 

Whittlesea Youth Services System Development Group 

Aim: Facilitate and coordinate the development of 

municipal service system for young people. 

Council is the only agency within the municipality with both 

the capacity and mandate to facilitate a coordinated 

approach to the development of a municipal service system 

for young people. 

Council’s role includes: 

Linking young people to partners, i.e. YES and Krews, 

planning, research, and advocacy and development of 

partnerships to fill the service gaps. 

WYSSDG 

DVC 

Combined services in partnership developing the service 

system with and for young people. 

Targeted advocacy around gaps. 

Identification and pursuit of funding opportunities. 

Project and resource development for youth services in the 

municipality. 

Increased services for young people. 

This resource will enable Council to actively pursue 

resources that will fill current service gaps for young people. 

2.1.1 

Youth Counselling and Mental Health 

Aim: To facilitate the establishment of a working group 

on mental health and counselling young people. 

Current services are scarce and out of the municipality. 

Providing tertiary level counselling is not the core business of 

Council. Youth Service’s role is to work with agencies and 

networks to address this gap in the service system for young 

people in the municipality. 

WYSSDG 

PVCH 

North East Association 

for Mental Illness 

(NEAMI) 

DVC 

Department of Human 

Services (DHS) 

Development of a strategy that includes the service model 

and advocacy plan. 

Services accessible to an increased number of young people. 

Services located within the municipality. 

34




2.1.2 

Youth Homelessness and Youth Housing 

Aim: To facilitate the establishment of a working group 

on youth housing and homelessness 

The City of Whittlesea municipality has no emergency 

housing available for homeless young people. 

Supported housing stocks are not able to meet current 

demand. 

Affordable housing in the private rental market is scarce and 

out of reach of most young people. 

Providing emergency accommodation and social housing is 

not the core business of Council. Youth Service’s role is to 

work with agencies and networks to address this gap in the 

service system for young people in the municipality. 


Federal Government 

Austin Child and 

Adolescent Mental 

Health Service 

(CAMHS) 

WYSSDG 

PVCH 


Housing 

Northern Region 

Homelessness Council 

(NRHC) 

Development of a strategy that includes the service model 

and advocacy plan. 

Establishment of emergency beds for young people. 

Achievement of a range of suitable sustainable housing 

options for young people. 

DVC 

Department of Housing 

35




2.2 

Youth in Community: School Hub Pilot Project 

Aim: To address early school leaving and strengthen 

success at school through providing early intervention 

opportunities to vulnerable young people and their 

families. 

Young people in Whittlesea have lower than average 

achievement in secondary education and lower numbers are 

entering tertiary education. 

Initial discussions have been undertaken internally and with 

two local schools. The overall plan is to develop a 

supportive hub linked to two local secondary schools. 

From the onset this project will engage young people in the 

development of the project. 

Youth Service’s role is to work with the Whittlesea 

Community Futures Partners, agencies and networks to 

address this gap in the service system for young people in 

the municipality. 

2.3 

Living Safe 

Aim: To explore and address a range of safety issues as 

they affect young people. 

This project is in the conceptual stage. 

Young people in the municipality have expressed concern 

that they “don’t feel safe”. 


Local schools 

SRC Students 

Australian Industry 

Group 

Increased numbers of young people remaining attached to 

schools and entering tertiary education. 

An integrated service model that can be adapted to other 

locations. 

Council’s Economic 

Development Unit 

HWLLEN/WYC 

Whittlesea Community 

Futures Partnership 

Group 

WYSSDG 

Epping Police 

Schools 

Improved feelings of safety for young people through 

personal skills and planning outcomes. 

Local agencies 

36

Strategic direction 3: Planning: Promoting young people inclusive planning and practices. 

Long term goal 2030: Planning: Outcomes that demonstrate the specific needs of all young people are embedded in all aspects of the physical 

and social infrastructure of the municipality 


Proposed partners Outcomes 

Planning strategies 

3.1 

Linking young people to Community Futures Project and 

Whittlesea Township Project Community Building Initiative 

(CBI) 

Aim: This project aims to design and pilot an integrated 

(youth inclusive) sustainable service system model. 

Community Futures 

Project 

Whittlesea Township 

Project 

Young people embedded in the planning and service delivery 

outcomes, the findings, and the action plans of the 

Community Futures Project and Whittlesea Township CBI 

Project. 

3.2 

Youth Facilities Plan 2030 

Aim: To provide an overall long-term plan of facilities to 

deliver programs and services for young people. It 

proposes a network of accessible youth facilities in 

strategic locations throughout the municipality. 

The Youth Facilities Plan 2030 proposes the establishment of a 

minimum of 3 youth-centred facilities, an additional 5 youth 

friendly and inclusive facilities i.e. CACs, and several specific 

purpose built spaces. These purpose built spaces may be 

incorporated into other facilities. They include band rehearsal 

spaces and a shared community events space that can 

accommodate 400 young people. 

Council 

Youth Krew 

Council’s Planning & 

Sustainability Unit 

WSSDG 

Strategically located facilities accessible to young people 

throughout the municipality. 

Facilities to deliver a full range of early, secondary and 

tertiary programs to young people. 

Resources to enable young people to develop and express 

their talents and capabilities. 

The Youth Facilities plan proposes the concept of a ‘Youth 

Precinct’ in the vicinity of the Plenty Valley Town Centre to build 

on the presence of existing youth services providers and 

facilities in the area. This includes Kildonan Children and 

37



Family Services (KCFS), Salvation Army, the skate park, and 

the proposed public transport hub. Further work to progress the 

Youth Facilities Plan 2030 includes: 

• Consulting with young people, the Youth Krew, local 

agencies and other stakeholders. 

• Conducting further research that will inform design and 

location issues. 

• Exploring the opportunity for a youth facility in the High 

Street growth corridor, i.e. Epping North. 

• Exploring further opportunities for youth inclusive facilities in 

the densely populated areas of the municipality, i.e. Mill 

Park, Lalor, Thomastown. 

• Considering the best model for the Mernda-Doreen youth 

designated facility. 

• Integrating the Youth Facilities Plan 2030 with local agency 

plans. 

• Exploring specific purpose needs i.e. local band rehearsal 

space, youth events space, multimedia resources and 

space. 

• Progressing the proposal for the central youth facility within 

the Plenty Valley Town Centre. 

• Involving young people in the design and subsequent 

stages. 


38



3.3 

Integrating local agency plans 

Aim: To inform and support the future plans for youth 

services provision by other local stakeholders and 

agencies. 

3.4 

The Built Environment and Young People: ‘Designing in 

Young People’ 

Aim: To produce guidelines on: designing facilities for 

young people; designing young people into 

neighbourhoods; designing young people into town 

centres; designing young people into community facilities; 

and designing young people into open spaces. 

This work is currently in the form of three working documents of 

research findings undertaken to date. 

This work will contribute to the formation of Family Services 

design principles. 


WYSSDG 

KCFS 

Uniting Care 

PVCH 

Improves service opportunities and outcomes for young 

people. 

Ensuring efficiency. 

Filling service gaps. 

WCC 

Other stakeholders 

as they arise. 

Family Services 

Parks and Gardens 

Sustainability and 


Family Services design principles and guidelines document 

will be developed: 

“Designing in Children and Young People zero to 25”. It will 

include overarching principles, with specific attention to the 

engagement and inclusion of young people in the planning 

and development processes of renewal and new public 

projects. e.g., parks and gardens, open space, town centres, 

neighbourhoods, estates, recreational and leisure facilities, 

Community Activity Centres and youth focussed and 

inclusive facilities. 

39

Strategic direction 4: Services: Generate a comprehensive service system to facilitate the development, and provide the required 

support of all young people. 

Long term goal 2030: A comprehensive range of services, facilities, programs, events, resources and activities responding to the 

developmental and special needs of young people 


Service Delivery Strategies 

Proposed 

Outcomes 

Partners 

4.1 

City of Whittlesea Youth Services Forward Plan 

Stage 1 

Initiate Area Summit and Area Plans. Integrate and support the 

development of YES 

This Plan outlines the future direction of Council’s Youth 

Services and how it proposes to grow in line with 

population growth, demands, and emerging issues. The 

Youth Services model is based on Local Areas and 

Portfolios. 

Over the next three years the plan is to increase staff capacity 

to develop Area Teams, Area Krews, Area Summits, Area 

Stakeholder Networks and integrated Area Plans. This will 

develop in parallel with the proposed YES (Youth Equity 

Strategy) program. 

Increased capacity to deliver programs at the local level and 

respond to emerging issues. 

Stage 2: 

Conduct Area Summits, develop Area Plans and design program 

responses. 

Increased capacity to respond to emerging issues, and to drive 

issue based portfolios. 

Stage 3: 

Evaluate stages1 and 2. Review resources required. 

4.2 

Youth Services 2006 Youth Summit Programmatic 

responses 

Youth Services has designed a number of programs in 

response to the 2006 Summit. 

Kildonan 

SFYS 

WAGCLDYP 

Schools 

Service outcomes responding to Summit issues. Most notably: 

Racism: Inter-cultural Narrative project; 

Rights, Young Men’s Program; 

Facilities: Built environment principles ; 

Adolescence: Parenting Adolescence sessions; 

Violence: Young Women’s Self Defense workshops. 

40



4.3 

Promoting healthy lifestyles with young people 

Aim: To provide opportunities for young women and 

young men to acquire knowledge and skills to develop 

healthy lifestyles. 

The initial program will be the Girls Go for it program. Youth 

Services will work with schools and agencies to implement this 

project. 

4.4 

Parenting strategy 

Aim: To support young people who are parents, and 

parents of adolescents. 

The new enhanced MCH model will also focus their work on 

young parents and parenting adolescents. 

4.5 

Linking youth service provision to the Early Years Service 

System 

Aim: To increase knowledge on adolescent brain 

development and life stages, and the implications of this 

for planning a continuum of care and support. 

Proposed 

Partners 

WYSSDG 

DVC 

PVCH 

Participating 

partnerships to be 

negotiated 


Participating 

partnerships to be 

negotiated 

Hume Youth 

Services 

Council’s Early 

years Team 

Children’s 

Foundation 


WYSSDG 

Other stakeholders 

41 

Outcomes 

Improved body image and self esteem. 

Improved physical and mental health. 

The Girls Go for it model will inform the development of a 

program targeting young men. 

Opportunities for young parents and parents of adolescents. 

This will include: 

Connection to generalist and specialist services; 

Skill development in parenting; 

Access to early intervention; 

Support with complex challenges; 

Social connection to peers. 

Research and training briefs will be designed. 

Training delivered by experts in the field will improve practice, 

program development, service development and development of 

the service system. 

Investment in the Early Years will be maximised and extended 

into the transition to adulthood.



4.6 

Recreation Action Research Project: 

Access to leisure, sport and recreation opportunities 

Local consultations confirm that access to sporting 

opportunities and sport and leisure facilities are a high priority. 

This is a significant issue for the Refugee and newly arrived 

communities as a significant means to connect within 

community, also providing the first point of access and 

connection to the wider community. 

Proposed 

Partners 

Council’s Leisure 

Services and 


YMCA 

WAGCLDYP 

CMYI 

OFY 

42 

Outcomes 

Leisure, sport and recreational opportunities available to young 

people who are currently disadvantaged. 

Identification of barriers to access by Refugee and newly arrived 

communities, and strategies to redress these barriers. 

Development of successful models for the provision of leisure, 

sport and recreational programs, especially for the Refugee and 

newly arrived communities.

Strategic direction 5: Advocacy: Generate investment and promote improved practices towards building a strong municipality and a 

positive future for young people and their families. 

Long term goal 2030: A comprehensive service system for all young people in the City of Whittlesea. 



Advocacy strategies 

5.1 

Interface Councils Youth Services Group 

Interface Council’s 

Youth Services Group 

Strategic alliance of growth areas around Australia to raise 

the common issues with the Australian Government. 

Aim: To continue to lobby for resources to fill the gaps in 

the social and physical infrastructure. 

Whittlesea Youth Services has initiated a partnership with 

Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), Royal Melbourne 

Institute of Technology (RMIT) and Youth Affairs Council 

Victoria (YACVic) to generate dialogue with youth services in 

the growth areas of the other states. 

Interface Council’s 

Human Services 

Meeting 

Youth service providers 

in the other states 

MAV 

It is proposed that a “young people in growth areas” 

conference theme be included at the National Youth Affairs 

Conference in May 2007. A campaign directed at the Federal 

Government will be considered. 

VCOSS 

YACVic 

43


Advocacy strategies 

5.2 

Generalist Youth Worker Campaign 

Aim: To maintain the Generalist Youth Worker campaign 

calling for more, and higher skilled youth workers funded 

by State Government. 

Also advocate to governments to develop a universal platform 

for Youth Workers to support the development of all young 

people, 10 to 25 years, in partnership with parents, schools 

and other institutions. 

Lobby government to address the service gap for 8 to 12 year 

olds. 

5.3 

Transport 

Aim: To support the advocacy efforts to improve the 

public transport system in the City of Whittlesea. 

Consultations with young people consistently emphasise that 

transport is a major issue to them, as it impacts on all areas of 

their lives. 


YACVic 

Interface Council Youth 

Services Group 

Improved outcomes for young people and their families 

through greater access to professional youth workers at 

challenging and difficult times during transition from 

childhood to adulthood. 

VCOSS 

WYSSDG 

Support partners as 

opportunities arise. 

Improved provision of public transport to enable young 

people to independently access social, educational, work, 

recreational and other places. 

44

Strategic direction 6: Research: Exploring evidence based best practice in youth development 

Long term goal 2030: Application of evidence based practise in the municipality. 



Research Strategies 

6.1 

Whittlesea Youth Service System 

Aim: To resource and strengthen the development of the 

municipal Youth Service System through research and 

data. 

DVC 

WYSSDG 

Improved services through shared knowledge. 

6.1.1 

Monitoring and Evaluation 

Aim: To identify appropriate tools for monitoring and 

evaluating Council’s Youth Services, and the municipal 

Youth Service System. 

RMIT 

YACVic 

OFY 

Improved data for planning and advocating. 

Improved reporting and accountability. 

This will be done in collaboration with local agencies and 

young people. 

CMYI 

6.1.2 

Indicators Project 

Aim: To shift the local youth service system into an 

evidence based framework to enable regular adjustment 

and review. 


PVCH 

WYSSDG 

The key tool for linking provision to young people to Early 

Years and the broader service system. 

Data that indicates needs and gaps as they emerge. 

This will be done by identifying or creating indicators that 

monitor and show local needs, gaps, direction and approaches 

for Youth Services and the municipal youth service system. 

This will include assessment of the 40 Developmental Assets. 

This research will assist agencies to consider a suitable set of 

indicators for the City of Whittlesea, and contribute to linking to 

the Early Years service system.


Research Strategies 

6.1.3 

Planning Benchmarks 

Aim: to identify youth planning benchmarks that will 

inform the development of the service system and built 

environment. 

This will involve: 

Scanning existing programs and literature on benchmarks, 

identifying existing work, identifying relevant developments 

that are emerging, what new work will need to be undertaken, 

and what Whittlesea Youth Services can achieve. 


Academic resources 

DVC 

Planning benchmarks will guide the level of infrastructure 

and service resources needed for young people in a 

progressive and systematic manner as the municipality 

grows over the next 25 years. 

46

Full Name 

Acronym 

Austin Child and Adolescent Mental Health Austin CAMHS 

Service. 

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse 

CLD 

Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues 

CMYI 

Department of Human Services 

DHS 

Department of Victorian Communities 

DVC 

Federation of Student Representative 

VicSRC 

Committees 

Hume Whittlesea Local Learning and 

HWLLEN 

Employment Network 

Kildonan Child and Family Services 

KCFS 

Maternal and Child Health 

MCH 

Municipal Association Victoria 

MAV 

Northern Area Consultative Committee NACC 

North East Association for Mental Illness NEAMI 

Northern Region Homelessness Council NRHC 

Northern Region Youth Advisory Network NRYAN 

Northern Suburbs Aboriginal Association NSAA 

Office for Youth 

OFY 

Plenty Valley Community Health 

PVCH 

Regional Youth Advisory Network 

RYAN 

Whittlesea Action Group for CLD Young People WAGCLDYP 

Whittlesea Community Connections 

WCC 

Whittlesea Youth Commitment 

WYC 

Whittlesea Youth Network 

WYN 

Whittlesea Youth Services System 

WYSSDG 

Development Group 

Victorian Council of Social Services 

VCOSS 

Victorian Indigenous Youth Affairs Council VIYAC 

Youth Affairs Council Victoria 

YACVic 

47

Youth Summary Action Plan - City of Whittlesea

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