Youth Research Qualitative Report - District Council of Mount Barker

Project Report 

Young People Living in the Mt Barker District: 

What They Want and What They Need 

Informing Mt Barker Council’s Youth Development Action 

Plan – Intersection 

Project number: 52/030/028 

Dr Pip Williams 

Research consultant 

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Needs assessment of young people in the Mt Barker Council District – November 2009

About the Author 

Dr Pip Williams is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Work + Life at the University of South 

Australia. She has a background in psychology, public health and social science. Pip has spent the 

past few years managing the Work, Home and Community Project, a national study exploring how 

adults and adolescents experience community, with a particular focus on how the physical and social 

characteristics of communities affect access to opportunities for young people. This research has 

been widely published and disseminated and the findings are being incorporated into the future 

planning processes of the South Australian Land Management Council, Delfin-Lend Lease community 

developers and various local government organisations. 

Pip is a resident of the Mount Barker Council District and has two children attending primary school 

in the area. 

Acknowledgements 

Firstly, and most importantly, I would like to thank all the young people who participated in this 

study. Thank you for generously describing your lives and sharing your thoughts and ideas. 

I also extend a special thank you to the principals and teachers of all the participating schools, as 

well as the allied health workers and social service providers who facilitated contact with vulnerable 

groups of young people. 

Finally I would like to thank all the members of the reference group convened to advise on the 

conduct of this project. 

Note on language 

The findings in this report are illustrated with direct quotes from young people participating in focus 

groups. In order to retain the authenticity of young people’s responses no attempt has been made 

to edit speech and so some quotes contain ‘strong language’. 

Disclaimer 

Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material and the integrity of the 

analysis presented in this report the consultant will not accept any liability for any actions taken on 

the basis of its contents. 

The information in this report and any accompanying documentation is accurate to the best of the 

consultant’s knowledge. While the consultant has exercised all reasonable skill and care in the 

preparation of this report, She does not personally accept any liability in contract or otherwise for 

any loss, damage, injury or expense, whether direct, indirect or consequential, arising out of the 

provision of information in this report. 

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Contents 

About the Author .................................................................................................................................... 2 

Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 2 

Note on language .................................................................................................................................... 2 

Disclaimer................................................................................................................................................ 2 

1. Executive summary ......................................................................................................................... 4 

2. Background ..................................................................................................................................... 8 

2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 8 

2.2 Purpose of the project ............................................................................................................ 8 

2.3 Studying young people ........................................................................................................... 9 

3. Study aims and procedures ............................................................................................................. 9 

3.1 Aim .......................................................................................................................................... 9 

3.2 Methods .................................................................................................................................. 9 

3.3 Recruitment .......................................................................................................................... 10 

3.4 Data collection ...................................................................................................................... 10 

3.5 Data Analysis ......................................................................................................................... 10 

3.6 Limitations............................................................................................................................. 11 

4. Project findings – part one - How young people in the Mt Barker area experience their 

community ............................................................................................................................................ 11 

4.1 Education .............................................................................................................................. 11 

4.2 Employment and vocational experience .............................................................................. 15 

4.3 Housing ................................................................................................................................. 17 

4.4 Health .................................................................................................................................... 19 

4.5 Justice .................................................................................................................................... 22 

4.6 Transport ............................................................................................................................... 24 

4.7 Sport and Recreation ............................................................................................................ 26 

4.8 Casual activity and entertainment ........................................................................................ 28 

4.9 Social interaction .................................................................................................................. 31 

4.10 Retail ..................................................................................................................................... 33 

4.11 Social inclusion and citizenship ............................................................................................. 34 

4.12 Living in the Mt Barker Council District ................................................................................ 36 

4.13 The future ............................................................................................................................. 38 

5. Project Findings - Part 2 – concerns for particular groups of young people ................................ 40 

5.1 Males ..................................................................................................................................... 40 

5.2 Females ................................................................................................................................. 40 

5.3 Different age groups ............................................................................................................. 40 

5.4 Disengaged young people ..................................................................................................... 41 

6. Project conclusions and interim recommendations ..................................................................... 43 

6.1 General recommendation ..................................................................................................... 43 

6.2 Specific Recommendations ................................................................................................... 44 

7. References .................................................................................................................................... 48 

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1. Executive summary 

The Mount Barker Council District has experienced rapid and sustained population growth over 

recent years and this growth is projected to continue into the next decade. Currently, one quarter of 

the district’s population is aged 12-25 years. The needs of young people in the Mt Barker district are 

poorly met by existing physical and social infrastructure in the area. This deficit will only increase if 

the needs of young people are not properly understood and adequately addressed. 

Findings 

In summary, the findings indicate that young people living in the Mt Barker Council District value 

living in the Hills; they love the ‘country feel’ and they want to feel proud of where they live. 

However many young people feel excluded from the wider community because of a lack of amenity, 

retail, transport, and social planning directed to their needs and interests. The following summarises 

the key findings of this study. 

Education - On the whole there is a good range of secondary education options but a lack of access 

to TAFE, tertiary and community education. 

Employment – Opportunities for vocational experience and employment are limited for young 

people. A lack of youth oriented retail and poor public transport makes access to employment 

difficult. Young men are particularly disadvantaged because of a general increase in retail and 

service industry jobs and a decrease in manufacturing and labouring jobs. 

Housing – Housing is a significant issue for many young people. There is a lack of emergency 

medium and long term housing for those who are not able to stay in the family home. This lack of 

housing further disadvantages a very vulnerable group of young people with consequences for 

individuals and the community. 

Health – For those who need access to primary health care there is a general consensus that it is 

sometimes difficult to access. Some community health services are highly valued for their focus on 

young people. Such services need greater support. 

Justice – A lack of community resources for young people compounds disadvantage and increases 

inequity between groups of young people. Young people desire mutually respectful relationships 

with police; some feel they are provoked into antisocial behaviour. 

Transport – The majority of young people who are unable to drive rely on parents for mobility. In 

general, public transport does not address the travel needs of young people in the area. Busses to 

school and between Mt Barker and the city were considered adequate, however transport within 

the Mt Barker district was considered very inadequate. This poor local public transport restricts 

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access to friends, sport, recreation and employment. It also places considerable demands on 

parents. 

Sport and recreation – while there are many opportunities to engage in formal sport, local facilities 

are run down and inadequate for the growing population. Many cannot access formal sport due to 

poor transport. Recreation options are very limited and while there are a few amenities that are 

highly valued by young people such as the Mountain Pool and the Recreation Centre, these are run 

down and inadequate for current and projected use. 

Casual activity and entertainment – Most young people think this area is ‘boring’. There is very little 

for young people to do in the community and most rely on their homes to provide them with 

entertainment; those who are old enough travel elsewhere on weekends and in the evening. Young 

people want to live in an interesting community and suggested events and activities that would 

benefit the entire population, including: a Sunday market; busking in main streets; art, music and 

graffiti expos; a bowling alley; a ‘beach house’ (multi-purpose recreation park); go carts etc. 

Social interaction – Young people have very few places to hang out in this area. When they do hang 

out together they are often unwelcome or viewed as a threat by other members of the community. 

They need places where they can gather, take risks, be noisy, have control and be safe. One single 

venue will not be adequate to meet the needs of the many groups of young people in the area. As 

well as considering purpose built amenities, existing amenities such as the library, the cinema, the 

pool could be considered as sites for young people to hang out. 

Retail – There is very little retail in the area directed toward young people. This reduces their access 

to jobs and alienates them from the community. Young people need access to cheap, healthy food, 

services associated with daily living and retail that appeals to their age group. 

Social inclusion and citizenship – Young people want to have a say about what happens in their 

community, and they want their participation to be respected. Young people also want to be 

included in the physical and social planning of the area, with regular activities (such as a market or 

busking) and annual events (such as the ‘Big Lounge’) planned for the participation of young people. 

Living in the Mt Barker Council District – Many young people love living in the hills and value the 

country feel. There was general disapproval of the continual development of the area, though some 

recognised that an increased population might bring more amenities. Specifically, they wanted more 

green spaces in the retail areas of the main town, less road congestion and better pedestrian access. 

Disadvantage among young people - The majority of young people participating in this study had no 

choice but to rely on the resources within their household to access all sorts of activities. Local public 

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transport does not cater to the travel needs of young people who require transport within the 

community (to friends, sport training, part-time jobs) after school, in the evening and on weekends. 

The costs associated with the transportation of young people (who are otherwise old enough to be 

travelling independently) are borne by parents (in terms of time and money) and the environment 

(in terms of carbon emissions). 

A minority of these young people had little access to resources within their homes and relied on 

resources available in the community. These resources were clearly inadequate which compounded 

the disadvantage already experienced by these young people. Housing was a particular concern. For 

those who needed it, it was not available in the area. Some (males and females) had slept rough due 

to a lack of emergency housing. A few had received housing but in Murray Bridge or the city where 

they were isolated from family and social support. 

A lack of community resources, particularly in terms of housing, transport, and amenity associated 

with social interaction, recreation and entertainment seems to contribute to the behaviour of this 

group of young people; they hang around local take away shops, drink in public places and wander 

around aimlessly at night because of a lack of anywhere else to gather (public or private). This 

behaviour is often seen in a negative light by other young people who consider it threatening or 

contributing to the area’s bad or ‘bogan’ reputation. 

How can council respond to the needs of young people in the short term 

When asked what council could do in the short term, the following suggestions were made 

consistently across groups: 

 

 

 

 

 

Local youth web portal where young people can find out about their local community, gain 

access to health, education, justice and housing services, connect with other young people and 

be involved in the generation of ideas and the process of decision making for the community. 

Sunday market – but it must include stalls of interest to young people and be on in the 

afternoon as many young people are not out and about in the morning 

Graffiti wall, graffiti expo 

Facilitate a culture of busking and public art 

More seating in central retail areas 

How can council respond to the needs of young people in the longer term 

When asked what council could do in the longer term the following suggestions were made 

consistently across groups: 

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Encourage more retail that appeals to young people - clothes, accessories, shoes, music, games, 

fast food (healthy and cheap). Such retail will also provide more employment opportunities for 

young people. 

More green space in central areas - somewhere pleasant, central and visible to hang out with 

friends 

More spaces for young people in existing amenities such as the library, Recreation Centre, 

Mountain Pool, mall and cinema complex 

Encourage the development of commercial recreation facilities such as a bowling alley 

(extremely popular), go cart track or ‘Beach House’ recreation park. 

Address the housing needs of disadvantaged young people. 

Conclusion 

Young people represent a significant proportion of the Mount Barker Council District population. The 

consequences of inadequately resourcing young people are felt across all sections of the community. 

Young people find it difficult to access opportunities that ensure a healthy and productive transition 

through adolescence into adulthood (opportunities to be seen and heard, for peer and 

intergenerational social interaction, for sport and recreation, for extracurricular activities, for 

vocational experience and employment and for appropriate levels of independence); Parents and 

other householders experience increased financial and time demands as they attempt to 

compensate for inadequate amenity and transport; communities are diminished by the absence of 

young people in the social and political fabric of the community; and community security (actual and 

perceived) is eroded when bored or powerless young people act against their alienation. 

This report should be read in conjunction with the survey report and the service review being 

conducted for the same purposes. The survey report presents findings from a quantitative survey of 

young people and parents of young people living in the Mt Barker Council District; the service review 

reports on a desk top study aimed at identifying strengths and gaps in service provision for young 

people in the Mt Barker Council District. 

General recommendation 

Develop a planning process that explicitly examines the benefit or impact of any development on 

young people’s access to opportunities for social inclusion, social interaction, education, extracurricular 

learning, vocational experience, employment, sport, recreation and entertainment, health 

and social support, independent mobility and agency (citizenship). Addressing the needs of young 

people in the community benefits the entire community. 

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2. Background 

2.1 Introduction 

Mount Barker as a district within the Hills region has been noted formally as having the fastest rate 

of population growth over a sustained period in South Australia. This growth has had a significant 

impact on the hard and soft infrastructure within the district. In response to this growth, Mount 

Barker has emerged as the Hills regional hub for program and service provision. 

A quarter of the district’s population is in the 12-25 yrs youth cohort, with a further significant and 

according to future projections, rising population in the 7-12yrs cohort. As a result of this growth, 

the demands on infrastructure for young people has exceeded supply and created the need for a 

broader, more responsive infrastructure base to meet the developmental needs of young people. In 

response, the District Council of Mount Barker has undertaken to produce a Youth Development 

Action Plan with the aim of addressing the current and future needs of young people. 

Intersection: A Youth Development Action Plan 2009-19 is the District Council of Mount Barker’s 

strategic response to addressing the current and future needs of the district’s young people. As an 

action plan document, Intersection will detail the Youth Strategic plan for the next 10 years. It will 

be informed by a multi method needs assessment project conducted in three study phases. 

2.2 Purpose of the project 

The purpose of this three phase project is to assess the needs of young people aged 12-25 years 

living in the Mount Barker Council District in order to inform the district’s Youth Strategic Plan: 

Intersection. 

Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected from young people, some parents and service 

providers to ascertain the physical and social infrastructure needs of young people in relation to 

housing, employment, education, transport, recreation, social interaction, retail and service 

provision. 

The data will be analysed in order to highlight current and future needs of the districts young 

people. Interim recommendations will be made that will inform the strategic direction of Mt Barker 

Council in relation to a number of areas of need and with reference to existing service provision. 

The project comprises three phases of data collection: 

1. Focus groups with adolescents aged 13-19yrs attending secondary education in the Mt 

Barker Council District. 

2. Survey of young people aged 12-25yrs living in the Mt Barker Council District. 

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3. Desk top study of current service provision in the Mount Barker Council District 

This interim report presents the findings from Phase One of the project. 

2.3 Studying young people 

By describing the lives of the young people who participated in this study we are by 

definition describing lives in transition. Puberty marks the transition from childhood to 

adolescence and with it comes rapid physical changes, significant emotional and cognitive 

maturation, sexual awareness and a heightened sensitivity to peer relations (Newman and 

Newman, 1999). How well a teenager transitions through adolescence into adulthood is 

influenced by the way they interact with their environment and the degree to which the 

different domains of their life, such as home, community and school, combine to create 

opportunities for the development of physical, emotional and social competencies 

(Bronfenbrenner 1929). Access to good educational and recreational resources, vocational 

experiences, positive social networks and adult role models during the teenage years 

increases the likelihood that a teenager will attain the physical, emotional and cognitive 

skills needed to become a productive and healthy adult (Rice and Dolgin, 2008). 

The transitional nature of young people’s lives cannot be understated. It informs our 

understanding of why teenagers do what they do, how they do it and with whom. It helps us 

see our community through the eyes of young people and it helps us to understand how 

their lives might be affected by the characteristics of our community. 

3. Study aims and procedures 

3.1 Aim 

The aim of this study was to assess the needs of young people attending secondary school in the 

Mount Barker Council District. 

3.2 Methods 

This study was conducted between July and October 2009. Focus groups were conducted with 62 

young people (36 girls and 26 boys) aged 13 – 19 years attending secondary school in the area. All 

the secondary education facilities in the Mt Barker Council District are represented, Including, Mt 

Barker High School, Cornerstone High School, St Francis DeSales, The Waldorf School and the 

Vocational College located at Mt Barker TAFE. One group was also conducted with a group of young 

people from ‘Yak Rap’ which is a youth forum facilitated by Adelaide Hills Community Health Service. 

9 


In addition to these focus groups with young people, discussions were held with some service 

providers. These discussions included interviews and participation in the Adelaide Hills Youth Sector 

Network Planning Day where service providers come together to discuss the needs of youth in the 

area. 

3.3 Recruitment 

A decision was made to recruit young people through schools to ensure a broadly representative 

sample of views and experiences. Permission to recruit young people through schools was obtained 

through the Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS), Catholic Education and 

participating school principals. In each school a sample of young people were asked to participate. 

These young people usually included an entire class representing the broad demographics of each 

particular school. 

3.4 Data collection 

Focus groups were conducted with young people in class time. Focus group discussions focused on 

what young people perceived as positive about living in the Mt Barker Council District, what the 

biggest issues were for young people living in the area and how well young people’s needs were met 

across a range of issues; including housing, employment, education, health, transport, recreation, 

social interaction, retail and service provision. These discussions also explored the consequences of 

unmet need for young people, their families and communities. 

In addition to speaking with young people, discussions were held with some service providers. These 

discussions explored the same issues covered in focus groups with young people but from a service 

provider’s perspective. 

In a separate study, surveys focussing on similar issues will be distributed to young people and their 

parents through schools, TAFE, Community Health and other community organisations. A desk top 

study of service provision will also be conducted in order to situate the experience of young people 

in Mt Barker within a wider context. All three studies should be considered alongside each other. 

3.5 Data Analysis 

Focus groups with young people were analysed to ascertain common issues across all groups and to 

highlight issues associated with particular groups of young people (such as males, females, younger 

and older age groups, disengaged young people). Moving beyond simple description, analysis also 

examined consequences of adequate or inadequate provision for young people in the area. 

Discussions with service providers were conducted in order to contextualise young people. Findings 

are discussed in relation to the young people’s experience. 

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3.6 Limitations 

This study recruited young people attending high school in the Mt Barker Council District. As a 

consequence it was not in a position to canvas the views of young people travelling out of the area 

to attend school elsewhere. These people are likely to have particular needs in relation to transport, 

social interaction and employment that are not explored in this report. The views of school leavers 

up to the age of 25 years are also absent from this report. These young people will have a very 

different experience of the local community, particularly in relation to employment, transport, 

education, and entertainment needs. Others who are not represented in this report are indigenous 

young people, unemployed young people and young people with a physical disability or mental 

illness. These groups are likely to have very specific views and needs which need to be explored in 

relation to the provision of targeted service and amenity. 

It is anticipated that the views of these groups of young people will be captured in the second phase 

of data collection. 

4. Project findings – part one - How young people in the Mt Barker 

area experience their community 

Findings are reported in two parts. In part 1, findings are presented in headings that reflect different 

areas of concern to Council and to service providers in the Mt Barker Council District. However, it 

was rare for young people to discuss any of these areas of concern without reference to other areas. 

It is also worth noting that young people were quick to acknowledge the demands placed on other 

groups in the community when certain services or amenities were inadequate or unavailable. In Part 

2, findings will be presented for particular groups of young people, including males, females, young 

adolescents, older adolescents and disengaged young people. 

4.1 Education 

Education is a right of all young people in Australia, but access to education is not equal. Young 

people with poor access to high quality education, extra-curricular education and parental support 

for learning are more likely to underachieve at school, drop out early, have behaviour problems and 

find the transition from school to work more difficult than young people with good access (McLoyd 

et al 2009). School characteristics (class size, teacher turnover rates, physical and social 

infrastructure) combine with community characteristics (socio-economic status, transport 

infrastructure, extra-curricular amenity and funding) and home environments (availability of 

supportive adults, access to educational resources) to determine young people’s access to 

educational opportunities (Williams et al, 2009a). A community that facilitates good access to 

11 


educational opportunities will reduce inequity among its younger residents and limit the negative 

effects of youth disengagement (McLoyd et al, 2009). 

The Mount Barker Council district offers a wide range of secondary education options for young 

people. A mix of public and independent schools encourages local participation in secondary 

education which increases opportunities for the development of social capital in the area. However, 

there was some evidence that the public high school had a negative reputation among local young 

people attending other schools, as well as among people outside the area. Young people attending 

this school were aware of its reputation but considered it unfounded. As far as they were concerned 

their school suffered from negative stereotyping and the reality was far more positive. 

On the bus to the Royal Adelaide Show there was this kid that we were talking to, and he said 

that everyone in Adelaide that he knows thinks [this school] is the worst school possible. 

They’re all scared of us. Is it warranted I think unwarranted, it’s completely stereotyping 

(Young man, 16yrs). 

Everyone thinks there are fights that go on here every day, when it’s all talk and there’s no 

actual fights (Young man 17 yrs). 

Despite the positive school experience of these students, a poor reputation can negatively affect a 

local public school, its school community and the wider community within which it is located. 

Schools are critical to the development of social capital (social ties that offer support and 

opportunities) for young people and their families. A local public school is a particularly important 

community resource and every attempt should be made to maximise the resources available to 

these schools and to ensure a more positive public representation. The level of resources available 

to public education will dictate the socio-demographic characteristics of the school. If the local 

public school is well resourced it is more likely to attract a broad socio-demographic mix of families 

which will result in greater levels of social capital for the school community and also for the wider 

community. If there is an exodus from the local public school because of a lack of resources or poor 

public opinion, disadvantage and inequity for the remaining students may be perpetuated with flow 

on effects to the community as a whole (McLoyd et al 2009; Williams et al, 2009). 

For the most disengaged students, the Adelaide Hills Vocational College (referred to in this report 

as Vocational College, its commonly used name) offers an invaluable opportunity to continue in 

education and stay connected to health and social services. This educational service is a lifeline for 

many of the young people who access it. Those participants who attended the Vocational College 

were universally appreciative of the support provided by the teachers involved and many were not 

sure where they would be without it. 

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I used to have drug problems and they helped me out a fair bit. They actually got me off the 

drugs. (Young man, 18yrs) 

They stopped me from going pretty much always to Magill (training centre), they sorted so 

much stuff out for me here by calling the cops up and talking to them, getting my bail 

conditions more flexible and stuff. That helped out heaps and stuff. I don’t know, they're just 

the types of people who you see out on the street and if they see you and you’re hurt, they’ll 

take their coat off for you. You know what I mean They'll take their shirt off in the rain for 

you and keep you warm if you were cold. (Young man, 16 yrs) 

Unfortunately there was some evidence that the Vocational College was struggling to service the 

increasing number of young people in need, including students under the age of 16yrs for whom the 

service is not available. A lack of support for the service and a lack of respect for its users were 

apparent. The college is located in demountable classrooms in the service car park at the back of the 

Mt Barker TAFE campus. The teachers are dedicated, but poorly resourced for the services they 

provide on a daily basis. Their students frequently require support related to housing, mental health, 

drug and alcohol abuse, income support, relationship mediation and justice. Without this support 

they are less capable of engaging in education. The teachers consequently liaise with related services 

on behalf of their students, provide social support to students and garner funding for supportive 

social, vocation and education programs that will provide their students with the necessary skills and 

confidence to transition into independence and employment. 

The sustainability of this service requires an acknowledgement of its value to the lives of the young 

people who use it and resources to enable it to reach its full potential. 

Vocational and tertiary education is less accessible in the region. While the Mount Barker campus of 

TAFE SA provides a range of courses, there is a focus on care and community services and business. 

Very few trades are taught at this campus (with the exception of Auto mechanics) reducing access to 

local education and training for young people (especially young men) who may be interested in 

them. Despite its name, the Vocational College has trouble accessing vocational education and 

training (VET) for its students. There is a lack of VET programs in the Mt Barker District and there are 

transport issues associated with access to VET in other areas. 

Because of its proximity to Adelaide, tertiary education is generally accessible to young people. 

However a number of significant campuses are not easily accessible by public transport (e.g. Flinders 

University, Magill campus of the University of South Australia), reducing choice and increasing the 

costs associated with tertiary education for young people (financial and environmental). 

13 


I want to go to uni at Flinders and there’s not many busses that go there, you’d have to go to 

the city then out there. (Young woman, 16yrs) 

Services and facilities associated with education are also limited. Many young people have poor 

internet access, and while the local library caters very well for adults and small children (story time, 

toy library and school holiday activities), it is poorly designed for young people. Many participants 

travelled to the Stirling library because it catered better to their needs and was more comfortable to 

hang out in. 

So you’ve got good access to schooling, good access to library. Do you use the local library 

All 

Sometimes/ Not much/ we use Stirling library 

How come you use Stirling and not ours 

Female 1: 

Female 2: 

Male 1: 

Female 1: 

That one’s bigger. 

So much bigger and it’s like so much nicer. 

They’ve got cool lounges and that sort of thing. 

Yeah it’s so funky and they’ve also got games in there as well. 

Okay, so what kind of games 

Female 1: 

Female 2: 

Female 1: 

They have the X-box and stuff and they also have like couches so you can just 

sit and read. 

And the front of it too looks so much more inviting. 

And you look out into the nice trees and the nice park. 

(Young men and women, 13-16yrs) 

Extracurricular education is also very poor for young people. Many spoke of wanting to engage in 

community education but found it hard to access in this area either because it didn’t exist or 

because classes were only available at times young people cannot attend. 

I want to do photography, but there’s nothing around to do with photography. (Young 

Woman, 16 yrs) 

When asked when they were most likely to attend community education the majority of young 

people said ‘School nights’. 

Many participants noted limited access to cultural venues and institutions (such as museums and 

galleries) in the area. While they acknowledged these institutions were available in Adelaide, many 

14 


young people living in the region do not have easy access to the city. Public transport is particularly 

inconvenient for young people living in outlying towns. For those with easier access to city busses 

there was frustration about the limited number of express services at times young people are most 

likely to travel (afternoons and weekends). 

What young people value in the Mt Barker area 

 

 

Their school – regardless of what school they attended, most participants valued their school 

experience. 

The Vocational College – those attending the vocational collage had not had positive experiences 

at their previous school. At the Vocational College they felt they belonged, were treated with 

respect, were given freedoms not available in mainstream education, were enabled to remain 

connected to formal education, were given facilitated access to other necessary health and 

community services. 

What Young people said they want and need 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Access to vocational courses that will improve employment opportunities – some of these young 

people were not eligible for course admission (e.g. retail course) due to a delay or difficulty 

attaining a year 12 qualification. 

Long term resource commitment to educational, vocational and well-being courses run for 

disadvantaged and disengaged young people – many well received courses are terminated due 

to lack of funding 

A commitment to the local public high school – through provision of resources and public 

acknowledgement of school activities and successes. 

Access to extra-curricular courses in areas of particular interest to young people including 

cooking, gardening, graffiti art, photography 

Young people from the Vocational College suggested a Sunday afternoon cooking class followed 

by a shared meal – for disadvantaged young people cooking skills and access to fresh food was 

important, particularly as many were responsible for cooking and feeding themselves. 

A community centre or youth centre that offered a choice of courses relevant and of interest to 

young people on a regular and ongoing basis 

Better public transport access to TAFE, VET and university campuses 

Better facilities for young people at the local library 

4.2 Employment and vocational experience 

Young people need access to employment. For many high school students, part-time employment 

teaches valuable skills that will be useful for gaining full-time employment as school leavers. Part- 

15 


time employment also provides financial resources to students. This income helps compensate for 

limited resources in the homes of poorer young people and gives them access to opportunities they 

might otherwise be denied (opportunities for social interaction, extra-curricular activities, sport and 

recreation – all of which attract a financial cost). Young people who are not supported by their 

family or are not engaged in full-time education need access to employment in order to live. This is a 

particularly vulnerable group in our community. Young people have fewer assets, fewer savings, 

fewer skills and less labour market experience. They are more likely to be unemployed than older 

members of the community and more likely to find themselves in financial difficulty. Poor access to 

employment for young people exacerbates social and mental health issues among this group and 

directly contributes to housing problems and homelessness (Rice and Dolgin, 2008). Access to 

employment for young people is determined by the availability of suitable jobs in the local area, the 

provision of appropriate public transport to and from these jobs, the good will of local government 

and local business in facilitating employment opportunities for young people and the availability of 

opportunities for young people to develop job skills through local schemes and institutions (Williams 

et al, 2009b). 

Many of these participants were very positive about the resources and agency they gain through 

paid work. However, opportunities for employment in the Mt Barker council district are limited for 

young people. A lack of retail directed to young people, reluctance of local business to employ young 

people and poor local public transport all contribute to poor employment opportunities. The 

majority of participants working part-time had obtained their job through social connections and 

maintained their job with assistance from parents willing to transport them to and from work. 

If I start work (K-Mart) at 5.30 I can’t get public transport in, mum has to drive me, (young 

woman, 16yrs) 

If you work at somewhere in Mount Barker and you work until 11 o’clock at night, your parents 

have to drive all the way out and it’s like, they want to go to bed (Young man, 15yrs) 

Those without social connections complained that it was difficult to get a part-time job in the area, 

especially in the smaller towns. 

I applied for everything and it took me 6 months to get a job...I have friends who keep applying 

and can’t get anything (young woman, 16yrs) 

Young men found it more difficult to find work than young women. 

I've gone out and tried to get a job but it’s easier for girls to get jobs here than for boys. (Young 

man 16yrs) 

16 


The majority of work available to young people is in retail or the service sector both of which attract 

more females than males. A lack of male oriented jobs (such as manufacturing and labouring) 

combined with a preference for female workers in the retail and service industries, restricts 

opportunities for part-time and full-time work for young men. While this may not be a long term 

issue for young people planning to engage in post secondary education or who are from well 

resourced families with good social capital, it is a very big problem for young people who are already 

disengaged from education and have few social resources to call on. 

A lack of work experiences and poor integration of vocational training in secondary education 

further disadvantaged these young people. There are serious long term consequences for young 

people unable to transition into employment including: chronic unemployment, housing insecurity, 

mental and physical health issues. These consequences can lead to drug and alcohol abuse and other 

antisocial behaviour that affects the whole community (Rice and Dolgin, 2008) 


 

 

 

 

The opportunity to work and develop life skills and independence 

Good work experience relationships between some schools and local businesses 

Family and community connections that lead to employment opportunities 

Businesses that give them a chance and support them through the transition into the workforce 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Better access to knowledge about local jobs 

More short term work experience opportunities (especially for those attending the Vocational 

College) 

To be given a chance – some disadvantaged participants felt judged by employers because of the 

way they looked or their reputation. They wanted to be given a chance to show they can be 

reliable. 

Transitional work experience opportunities – that provide flexibility and a margin of error for 

young people having difficulty transitioning into the workforce. 

More support from local business community 

More job opportunities, particularly for young men (full-time and part-time) 

Young men want more outdoor employment opportunities. 

4.3 Housing 

Housing security is a fundamental requirement for functional engagement in education, 

employment and community. When young people do not have secure housing they are at risk of 

17 


physical and mental health problems and are more likely to engage in risky behaviour leading to self 

harm or criminal activity (Rice and Dolgin, 2008). It is important to consider the housing needs of 

young people in relation to their educational, employment and social needs (Williams et al, 2009a; 

Williams et al, 2009b). Providing emergency, medium or long term housing to young people in an 

area that is some distance from their school, work or social networks will isolate them from 

important resources and create continued disadvantage. Continuity of residential location should be 

a primary concern if that is in the interests of the young person. 

Housing was not an issue for the majority of young people participating in this study because the 

majority took housing for granted – they came from well resourced families and had not 

experienced difficulty finding or retaining accommodation. However some of these advantaged 

young people did relate housing issues to the problems they associated with disengaged young 

people in the area. 

They have nothing better to do ... Everyone knows them as the druggies. Do you like it that 

they’re hanging around It makes us look bad, because the older people would see them and 

go oh my god, kids in Mount Barker are ferals. But they’ve got nowhere else better to go. 

(Young woman, 17 yrs) 

For a minority of participants, housing was a very big issue. Some young people are unable to remain 

in their family home. Overcrowding, relationship breakdown, abuse and drug and alcohol issues may 

all precipitate a need for short or long term alternative housing for a young person. Their young age, 

lack of income and poor access to social and community supports makes alternative housing difficult 

to find. In the Mt Barker Council district housing options are not readily available to young people in 

short, medium or long term need. 

If you want cheap rental, we've got to go down to Elizabeth or Davoren Park and that's even 

worse for us. (Young woman, 18yrs) 

For some there are no short term options and these young people (male and female) spoke about 

sleeping rough (in parks or outside shops), or couch surfing (going from one friends house to 

another). Those who were given access to medium or long term housing solutions found themselves 

in the city or Murray Bridge; in a nice house isolated from their family, their friends and often their 

school. 

I have actually got a housing trust house. At 14 I was at housing trust, looking for a house, 

needing one really badly, I was lounge surfing for 2 and a half years, I’ve only just got a house 

now. I was 17 when I got the house, I was living at my boyfriend's house, I was living at 

random people's houses...There's been times when I used to be a bit of a druggo, I used to get 

18 


off my face and not realise. I slept outsides sometimes... I didn't really mind it, it’s definitely 

made me stronger but the only thing is I finally got given a house and they decided to give it to 

me out in Murray Bridge which is away from my support network, it's away from my schooling 

and everything... Murray Bridge is really dangerous for me to live on my own there. I haven't 

even got my licence so it makes it really really hard for me to get to and from places. And not 

only that, I’ve got issues of my own like just problems, if I was on my own down there, I would 

end up depressed and I would just sleep all day every day. (Young woman, 18 yrs) 

A lack of housing options for these young people exacerbates and perpetuates their vulnerability 

and disadvantage. It affects their access to education (some have to travel from Murray Bridge to 

access Vocational College; the distance and cost is inhibitive), their ability to secure employment 

(precarious housing and transport makes it difficult to be reliable), and their ability to access existing 

social support (because they have been housed away from family and friends in Mt Barker). It leads 

to risky behaviour (sleeping rough) and jeopardises their health and well-being. Poor access to good 

local housing options for young people (crisis, medium term and long term) also contributes to 

feelings of disengagement among the young people affected which in some cases leads to antisocial 

behaviour (public disturbance, graffiti, perceptions of threat) that affects the rest of the Mt Barker 

community. 


 

Friends who are willing to let them stay on the couch for the short term 


 

 

 

 

Somewhere to go when they cannot stay at home (due to poor relationship, abuse, 

overcrowding, drug and alcohol issues). 

Local emergency housing so they are not forced to sleep rough or leave the local area for a bed. 

Local medium and long term housing to provide continuity of residency, educational facility and 

employment 

Local youth housing co-operative – run, maintained and occupied by local young people in long 

term need 

4.4 Health 

Addressing the health needs of young people requires a holistic understanding of health that looks 

beyond the availability of health services and acknowledges the many indirect influences on health. 

Creating communities that facilitate a healthy lifestyle with good food choices and safe pedestrian 

and cycle access; decreasing the disadvantage associated with poverty; increasing knowledge and 

19 


facilitating participation in health issues; facilitating social connection and social inclusion of 

disadvantaged young people; ensuring easy access to health and community services that 

understand and respect the needs of young people; and supporting the carers of young people with 

chronic illness, disability or mental health issues, will all lead to improved health outcomes for 

young people (Rice and Dolgin, 2008). 

The medical health needs of these participants were generally low. However, a number of young 

people complained they had poor access to GP, hospital and specialist health care services in the Mt 

Barker Council District. General practitioners often had long waiting times, local hospital services 

were inadequate for the local health needs (with some young people being referred to larger 

teaching hospitals for non-life threatening emergency treatment) and specialist services had to be 

accessed in the city. This was particularly inconvenient for those with chronic health conditions that 

required frequent, but often cursory, checkups. 

And the hospital doesn’t offer heaps either. Like you have to go downtown. (Young Man, 

15yrs) 

I have to see a specialist but I always have to go down to Flinders because there’s no-one down 

here who can do it... all the way down to like Flinders just to like see him and it’s like half an 

hour. (Young woman 16yrs) 

One focus group was conducted with a group of young people who participated in ‘Yak Rap’, a youth 

advocacy group run through the Adelaide Hills Community Health Service. Yak Rap gives young 

people in the Mt Barker region a voice and a forum for participation in health issues (broadly 

defined). The members meet regularly to discuss issues that are important to them; they cooperate 

in the design of health programs for other young people; they participate in the dissemination of 

health information to other young people and they represent the health service, their peers and the 

Mt Barker community at professional meetings where the success of Yak Rap is showcased. Yak Rap 

members who participated in this study spoke very highly of the group. They valued the opportunity 

to have a say and to participate in program design, and many relied on the group and its Community 

Health facilitators for social interaction, social support and professional advocacy in relation to 

health, housing and education. 

Like the Vocational College, Yak Rap is a highly valued service and an excellent resource for young 

people in the Mt Barker district. It is especially valuable for young people at risk of social exclusion or 

struggling with family, social or behavioural issues. Unfortunately, like the Vocational College, it 

sometimes struggles to provide the level of service required by the community. In particular, there is 

20 


a shortage of human resources required to apply for various funding opportunities. When external 

funding is limited so too is the reach of the service. 

More generally, there was a consensus among all focus groups that the Mt Barker council district 

and central Mt Barker in particular, lacked healthy takeaway food options. Cheap healthy food 

options were particularly important to disadvantaged young people who ate a greater proportion of 

their meals away from home. Unfortunately, the cheapest food available is not the healthiest and so 

many young people lack access to healthy choices. 

I know when I finish TAFE, I feel like a hot dog or something. I feel like proper food... You 

should be able to get a salad roll for $2.50, that's how much it costs to make it. (young 

woman, 18yrs) 

Some young people also suggested that council could develop more outdoor fitness circuits to 

encourage physical activity (free of charge). Issues associated with riding bikes and walking were 

also raised by young people living in various towns (including Mt Barker). Unsafe pedestrian and 

cycle access discouraged young people from this form of mobility, reducing opportunities for 

physical activity. 

Finally, discussions held at the Adelaide Hills Youth Sector Network Planning Day indicated a lack of 

connection between social and health services and youth organisations, particularly sport and 

recreation clubs. Better efforts could be made to inform young people about health issues and 

provide them with avenues of support through ongoing relationships between clubs and social 

services. Binge drinking among young football players is one issue that would benefit from better 

linkages between health services and recreational clubs. 


 

 

 

Yak Rap – a facilitated group to discuss issues of health and well-being; a forum to be heard and 

contribute to community health programs 

Bike path 

Outdoor fitness circuit at new housing development 


 

 

Quicker access to GPs – many young people reported having to wait days to get in to see a 

GP 

Access to specialist medical services in the Mt Barker Council District so young people with 

chronic conditions do not have to travel to the city for check-ups – visiting specialists to Mt 

Barker 

21 


Holistic health centre with yoga, massage, meditation etc 

More services for young mothers – transport, support, education 

More outdoor fitness circuits/ recreation areas 

Safer pedestrian and cycle paths within and between towns 

4.5 Justice 

Crime and antisocial behaviour amongst young people is influenced by a number of factors, 

including individual characteristics, family and peer characteristics and community characteristics. A 

lack of self-control and family dysfunction will make it more likely that a young person will behave 

antisocially or even criminally, however community characteristics can reduce or increase this 

likelihood. 

Poverty, social exclusion, availability of drugs, under resourced schools, living in a 

fragmented neighbourhood, lack of access to recreational activities and rapid social change all 

increase the incidence of antisocial and criminal behaviour. Once a young person comes to the 

attention of the justice system a number of factors will influence subsequent behaviour including 

police treatment (fairness is particularly important) and the process of justice (a process that 

addresses the needs of the offender as well as the needs of the victim and the community is more 

likely to lead to rehabilitation than a purely punitive process) (Rice and Dolgin, 2008). 

The majority of young people participating in these focus groups had little or no contact with 

authorities in the Mt Barker Council District. When contact did occur it was usually in the context of 

a group of young people being moved on from a local take away. 

Male 1 

Everyone catches up at Macca’s. 

And do Macca’s mind 

Male 1 

Yeah, they called the cops on us. 

Do you do anything to disturb other people 

Female 1 

Male 2 

We’re probably a bit loud 

but Macca’s is the only place we’ve got. 

(Young men & women, 14- 17rs) 

While they understood how their noisy group behaviour could be considered disruptive, young 

people have few places to hang out in the Mt Barker area. Moving them on when there is no 

welcoming alternative contributes to a feeling of alienation from the larger community for some 

young people. Usually they will just withdraw to their homes, but many young people do not have 

22 


comfortable or welcoming homes to withdraw to and so make do with the shelter provided by local 

shops. 

There’s more of a story to why they hang out in front of the Subway, because everyone was 

hanging inside the mall and then they got told because you got no money, loitering, or 

whatever it is called, you have to go hang out at the front and they started smoking out the 

front heaps, leaving cigarette butts so the security guard went and you'll find the government 

made a new thing where it was a fine if you smoke under the car park so then you have to 

smoke outside the car park so they're slowly pushing them away but now they're not leaving, 

they’re congregating in front of the Subway because it's under the shelter and it’s out of the 

mall and it’s near the mall. (Young woman, 18 yrs) 

For a minority of participants, justice was a very important issue. A number of participants had 

regular contact with police and the justice system. Access to formal and informal justice was 

important to these young people. Perceived justice on the streets from local police was particularly 

important to the way these young people conducted themselves in public spaces. There was a 

consensus among this small group of participants that attitudes and behaviours of police could 

either provoke or inhibit antisocial behaviour. 

I got a name without even doing anything just because of my big brother. They knew my last 

name was the same as his last name and they started watching me. It was bad, and that’s why 

I started mucking up and shit, I thought ‘fuck this’. (Young woman 17 yrs) 

Male 1 

them respect 

Female 1 

Some coppers, they just sit there and watch you, and wait for you to give 

They give you the smirk, I hate the smirk 

What do you think the smirk is about 

Male 2 

Female 1 

They’re just wanting us to react 

And I think, ‘oh my god, I want to head-but you’. And they know who to do it 

to ‘cos they know they’re going to react 

And have you had the smirk 

Male 1 

Yeah, and I gave them the finger 

(Young men & women 16-19 yrs) 

When these young people perceived fair and just treatment they reported less inclination to behave 

in an antisocial way. Respect seems to engender more acceptable behaviour. 

23 


There’s one cop, he’ll just come up to you and say ‘g’day how’s it going’ and I’ll say ‘hello, 

how’s it going’. He doesn’t ignore you even if he’s off duty and he sees you in the shops he 

says G’day, like you’re one of them, not just an outcast. (Young man, 19 yrs) 

Those participants who had experienced court were generally positive about the assistance and 

representation they received from their appointed legal representative. 


 

 

Not to be pre-judged by police or other members of the community 

Respect from police – to be offered a hand to shake and a cigarette 


 

 

 

Basic respect – face to face and in relation to access to resources 

To be understood and accommodated – for some of their behaviour (gathering in groups and 

making noise) to be acknowledged as developmentally appropriate. 

Places to go and stuff to do so they are not bored and prone to antisocial behaviour 

4.6 Transport 

Mobility is a key concern for young people. Degree of mobility determines access to education, 

employment, extra-curricular activity, recreation and social interaction with peers and other 

members of the community. Mobility is also important for the development of independence and 

the acquisition of life skills and competencies that lead to confidence and resilience in young people 

(Williams et al, 2009a). 

Because the majority of young people cannot drive they rely on public transport for independent 

travel. It was clear that access to public transport was problematic for the majority of these young 

people. While there was adequate public transport to and from school, and between the town of Mt 

Barker and the city, it was very inadequate between towns in the Mt Barker Council District at the 

times young people needed it (afternoons, weekends and evening). 

There’s not enough transport to like other places like Nairne. (young man, 15yrs) 

There are some buses to Nairne and some buses to Echunga, but there are hardly any. We’re 

friends with people from around there, so we can’t just go see them. (Young woman, 17yrs) 

This lack of public transport places considerable demands on parents to transport young people for 

social interaction with friends, extra-curricular activities, sport and work. 

They run at stupid times. If I have to start work at like 10 in the morning, the bus says it will get 

there at 9:58 but it never does. It’s late and then I have to get into work late. So then I have to 

24 


catch the 9:28 bus and sit there for half an hour and wait until I start, because they don’t allow 

enough time between the main points of travel. (young man, 17 yrs) 

For some young people, mobility resources are not available in the home and the result is isolation 

and a lack of opportunity to engage in developmentally appropriate activities. 

There’s transport during the week, that’s all good, but weekends there’s nothing. If there is 

anything it’s very minimal. To get around, it’s either hang out in the local area or you don’t go 

out, sort of thing. (Young man, 16yrs) 

I didn’t have my Ps until not long ago, and mum and dad couldn’t take me to work so I couldn’t 

really apply. (Young man, 17yrs) 

Young people who relied on walking or cycling were concerned about the difficulty getting around 

their local town or the local area more generally because of major roads, a lack of foot paths and 

cycle paths and congested intersections (particularly near the mall in Mt Barker). 

I live in Hahndorf. It’s hard to ride a bike between there and Mt Barker ‘cos of the major roads. 

(Young man, 15yrs) 

For those who are old enough to drive, there was frustration about the lack of licence and vehicle 

registration services in the area. 

There’s no motor registry up here. There is one all the way at Murray Bridge or the city. I 

definitely reckon there needs to be a motor registry. (Young man, 18years) 

To get your L’s up here, we have to travel an hour or an hour and a half to get where we need 

to go.(young woman, 18 yrs) 


 

 

 

 

 

Having their own car 

Having a drivers licence 

Having a friend with a car 

Having a parent available to transport them to friends and activities 

Relatively good bus service between Mt Barker and the City 


 

 

 

Better public transport within the Mt Barker Council District, especially between Mt Barker and 

other towns. 

Public transport that considers the afternoon and weekend travel needs of young people. 

Express bus service to the city at times young people use the bus – after school and weekends. 

25 


Cheaper public transport between Murray bridge and Mt Barker (especially important for the 

few young people who had been given community housing in Murray bridge but whose friends, 

family and education were in Mt Barker). 

Some young people attending a private school in the area complained about having to share the 

school bus with young people from another school. 

Bus services to university and TAFE campuses located outside Adelaide CBD. 

4.7 Sport and Recreation 

Participation in sport and recreation activities outside school has positive effects on the educational, 

social and health outcomes of young people (McLoyd et al, 2009). Unfortunately many young people 

lack access to activities outside school because they do not have the financial, human or mobility 

resources needed to participate (Williams, et al, 2009a). 

Formal sport is readily available to young people in the Mt Barker Council District if they have access 

to private transport and can afford the costs associated with fees and equipment. However there 

was a general consensus that many of the sporting facilities in the area were rundown and 

inadequate for the size of the population. This was particularly the case for the Sport and Recreation 

Centre at Mt Barker oval and the Mountain Pool. 

I don’t know exactly what the population is, but we are a lot bigger than what our facilities 

cater for. (Young man, 17 yrs) 

I think it needs a better sports centre. Like the rec centre is a bit old. (Young woman, 16 yrs) 

Sporting facilities wise, cricket wise, the nets. They run straight onto gravel, and that’s 

disgraceful because obviously if you’re using cricket balls they’re just going to get stuffed up 

straight away. (Young man, 17 yrs) 

For all participants associated with formal sport (soccer, AFL, Netball, basket ball, cricket etc) their 

participation was facilitated by parents. Without resources within the home (time, car and money) 

they are unable to participate in formal sport. For these young people, and for those who are not 

interested in formal sport, it is essential that they have access to other forms of recreation. If the 

community does not offer opportunities for informal recreation, young people will make their own 

fun. In some cases this has consequences for the well-being of young people and the community as a 

whole. 

Female 

Everyone, after they finish school, just go straight to McDonald's and hangs 

out and makes a mess and it's stupid. If there was a place where the youths 

should be hanging out, it would be a rec centre of some sort. 

26 


Male 

Yeah but that's already happened, we’ve already got one of them. It’s old 

now, people want to see something new. (Young man & woman, 16-18 yrs) 

Interestingly, a number of young people, including older teenagers, said that they still enjoyed 

‘playing’ and wanted a play ground that was designed for them. The playgrounds in the Mt Barker 

Council District cater to young children and because of their size it is not appropriate for teenagers 

and young adults to use the equipment. But these young people were clear about their continued 

desire to engage in physical play. Many talked about the value of an ‘adventure playground’ like the 

one at St Kilda. 

I think a lot of students would go straight down to the mall straight after school – and I can 

understand wanting to go down to the mall, get food and all that kind of stuff. But instead of 

doing that, they could hang out at an adventure park. You know what I mean Have a place to 

hang out and have a good time. (Young man, 17 yrs) 

The majority of participants used the Mountain Pool in the summer months, but there was a general 

consensus that the pool was too small for the regions’ growing population. There were also issues 

associated with young people sharing the pool with other users. Their size and their physicality make 

their water play threatening to younger children and adults and they are often sanctioned. Many 

suggested that the pool be expanded to include other areas for young people to play, or perhaps to 

broaden the recreational options on the site (with water slides, games, etc). 

They need to update the pools and that because the pool is too tiny. They need to get like a 

Woodside pool or something. Be good if it was a ‘Beach House’ (recreational park at Glenelg) 

or something. Because on a Saturday or Sunday and you’re just bored, there’s nothing to do 

and you don’t want to drive all the way into town. We need something local. (Young man, 

15yrs) 


 

 

 

Mountain Pool (though too small for growing population) – something to do in summer 

The skate park – a place to hang out; a place to skate or ride; a place to do graffiti 

Outdoor gym circuit developed in one of the newer housing areas 


 

 

 

Incorporate informal activity and fun in the Recreation Centre complex 

Bowling alley – every focus group suggested a bowling alley when asked what recreation they 

wanted in the area 

Skate park shelter with seating – somewhere to get out of the sun and rain and to hang out. 

27 


Skate park seating for spectators 

Expand Mountain Pool complex – it has not grown with the district’s population 

Develop a teen area in Mountain Pool so their pool activity doesn’t affect smaller children/ 

adults and result in young people being excluded from the amenity. 

Go-cart track – to experience speed; to take driving risks in a safe sanctioned environment (this 

was suggested by a number of young people including a young man with multiple driving related 

convictions). 

Graffiti wall and/or indoor graffiti space to learn graffiti art and hang out– where graffiti is 

encouraged and facilitated 

Games arcade 

Underage disco for older teenagers 

Aquatic centre/ hills beach 

Parkour (outdoor obstacle activity) 

Something like ‘next generation’ in Adelaide, which incorporated activities, food etc. 

A good gym 

More outdoor gym circuits 

Skirmish, minigolf, bowling, go-carts etc 

4.8 Casual activity and entertainment 

When young people have nothing to do in their community they are more likely to disengage from 

the community. They may withdraw to their homes, which are likely to have more forms of passive 

entertainment than ever before; if they have access to transport they may choose to seek activity or 

entertainment in other communities; they may appropriate community spaces to hang out; and if 

they feel alienated from their community they may entertain themselves in ways that are not 

sanctioned by the wider community (graffiti, vandalism, dangerous driving, drinking and drug taking 

in public places)(Williams et al, 2009a). 

Participants in all focus groups complained of having ‘nothing to do’. They described Mt Barker and 

the surrounding district as ‘boring’. This was particularly the case for older teenagers and young 

adults who had grown out of local playgrounds and did not engage in formal sport. The only year 

round entertainment venue for young people is Wallis cinema but as one young person sarcastically 

said, 

“There are just so many movies you can see during the holidays” (young woman, 16yrs) 

The two amenities that potentially cater to the activity or entertainment needs of young people in 

the area include the Wallis Cinema and the library. As with the Mountain Pool and the Recreation 

28 


Centre, these amenities are not reaching their potential. The Library’s short lived attempt to appeal 

to young people by having game machines and youth literature at the back of the main room was 

appreciated by those who knew about it, but they were in the minority. Very few of the participants 

of these focus groups used the local library. For some it was simply because it was out of sight and 

separated from the town centre, for others it was because it was ‘all about books’ and lacked 

resources of interest to young people such as new media, games, easy internet access and a 

comfortable, accessible space to hang out with friends and make a bit of noise. 

Because you've got elderly people that go there maybe because they haven't got the internet 

so they go there to look at their stuff and I've been loud in there before and I've copped it from 

most of the people in there. So you don’t feel welcome No. When I first started here 

(Vocational College) I went there with friends and we used to talk and people just come past 

and tell us to shut up. (Young woman, 18 yrs) 

Many participants thought there was plenty of room at the cinema complex for an arcade games 

room (where the activities of users did not impinge on movie goers). And the space between the 

cinema and Auchendarroch House was thought to be ideal for a youth arts space or graffiti wall. 

The lack of amenity and entertainment for young people in the Mt Barker District is compounded by 

the fact that there is also ‘nothing to see’ that is of interest to young people. They wanted to be able 

to walk through Mt Barker on a Sunday afternoon and see something interesting; buskers, local art, 

more youth oriented shops, markets. 

Walking around is boring, so you want to do something but it’s expensive... They don’t even let 

you busk here. Busking would make the streets more lively...you just want to be able to see 

something interesting. (young woman, 15 years) 

Physical and financial access is essential when considering entertainment and amenity for young 

people. If there is no public transport and the cost is too high, young people have to rely on the 

resources available in their households. It was clear that the majority of participants in these focus 

groups could rely on parents to provide both the financial and mobility resources needed to access 

friends, entertainment and informal recreation. These young people often found it difficult to 

identify community infrastructure needs because their activities were so well facilitated by parents 

who could furnish their homes with entertainment systems and swimming pools; drive their children 

to friends’ houses and extra-curricular activities and fund an afternoon at the movies. While these 

young people may not be missing out on many developmentally appropriate activities (other than 

important opportunities to travel independently), considerable demands are being placed on their 

parents. Without adequate community resources, particularly associated with mobility and amenity, 

29 


adult residents face greater demands for time and money which can affect how they experience the 

local area and the time they have for other community activities. 

For a minority of participants, resources were not available in their home and a lack of amenity and 

entertainment in the Mt Barker Council District seriously restricted their access to developmentally 

appropriate and community sanctioned activities and entertainments. Young people recognised that 

when there was nothing to do there was a higher likelihood that some young people would turn to 

drugs and engage in other antisocial behaviour. 

If you had somewhere to go – the way I see it is if people have got things to do, they don’t turn 

to drugs. They’ve got nothing to do, what else do they do They’ve got no choice. You know 

what I mean For a lot of people that’s a social thing. (young man, 17yrs) 

When asked what they wanted, young people across all focus groups discussed activities and 

amenities that would have a whole of community benefit. A local market, busking, venues for music 

and arts, upgrading or expansion of existing amenities such as the cinema complex, the library, the 

Recreation Centre and the Mountain Pool. Many recognised that if community activities were 

attractive to their parents, young people would have increased opportunities to hang out together in 

the local area. 

My mum and my friends mum go down to the markets (in Stirling or the city)and then me and 

my friends will walk off and just make sure we catch up with our mums before they go home. 

(Young woman, 15yrs) 

They also discussed amenities they had used in other places such as the Beach House at Glenelg 

which includes multiple forms of recreational entertainment. The majority of focus groups agreed 

that a smaller version of the Beach House would be great in Mt Barker; some participants also 

suggesting that it would bring other people to the area and improve its ‘boring’ and ‘bogan’ 

reputation. 


 

 

Wallis Cinemas 

The mall – they feel safe with adults in the background 


 

 

More free and low cost entertainment – cinema is the only year round entertainment option 

and it is costly 

A few cheap movie sessions on the weekends 

30 


More entertainment as part of the cinema complex (more comprehensive games and recreation 

area) 

Better youth area in library, including games and lounges, magazines, music and film 

A more interesting community street experience 

Visible arts in the community 

Busking in the main streets of Mt Barker (entertaining and also offers young people an 

opportunity to perform) – but it must be good quality 

An inaugural busking day/ competition to kick start a tradition of busking in the area. Music 

school, music shops, schools and local musicians will be involved 

Performance space for local musicians 

Monthly street market that includes stalls or activities of interest to young people (music, game 

trader, shoes, clothes). Most suggest closing Gawler street on a Sunday and inviting the various 

cafe’s, clothes and gift shops to open for business at the same time. Essential that market runs 

into the afternoon as young people often sleep late on weekends. 

Music festival or combined school music event that brings all the local high schools together for 

an annual festival – Word of mouth endorsement of such an event is critical to its success (youth 

portal could be used to spread the word about a whole range of events and services, also to 

monitor reaction and inform future planning of events. 

A drive-in cinema 

4.9 Social interaction 

Positive social interaction with peers, with family and with other members of the local community is 

essential to the well-being of individual young people but also to the communities they live in. 

Positive peer relationships build self esteem and provide social support (Rice and Dolgin, 2008). 

Positive intergenerational relationships help build community social capital where young people can 

be supported and sometimes sanctioned in a way that builds competencies and confidence 

necessary for a successful transition into adulthood (Williams et al 2009a; Sampson et al, 1999). 

Young people need a place where they can hang out and catch up with other young people in the 

area. The literature is clear that ‘hanging out’ is the preferred form of interaction among young 

people. It is developmentally appropriate and necessary. Where young people hang out, how they 

hang out, and how their hanging out affects themselves and others depends very much on how a 

community caters to this social need. 

Young people in these focus groups, especially those under the age of 15years, primarily hang out in 

their homes because they feel they have few other options. For older teenagers and young adults 

31 


there is a real need for a night time venue that is safe and welcoming. All participants aged 15 years 

and over complained about a lack of places to go at night. 

Female 1 

Male 1: 

Female 1: 

Also for like older people, the 18 plus people, there’d be absolutely nothing to 

do here because there’s no night life or anything. 

They need like a really good nightclub. 

Like the Stirling pub, they’ve redone that and everyone goes there. 

(Young men & women, 13-15yrs) 

They wanted a range of things but there was a general consensus that they needed a local place to 

meet other local young people. Such a place would be comfortable (with lounges), offer 

refreshments, provide low key activities such as pool and double as a music venue on occasion. A 

local place was also reportedly important to the parents of many young people. Many said they 

would be allowed to go out locally at night but were not allowed into the city. 

My parents let me go to people’s actual parties and everyone’s houses in Mount Barker. But 

they don’t want me to go to Cloud 9 (under 18s club) because you’re in the city at like two 

o’clock when everyone’s let out. So they don’t want me down there. (Young woman, 17yrs) 

It is very important to note that a single ‘place’ or youth venue will not be adequate to meet the 

needs of all young people in the Mt Barker area. Like other age groups in the community young 

people are a heterogeneous group. When asked if they would use a space being used by other 

groups of young people some responded in the following way. 

I don’t think I’d use it...I don’t know how it would work really because to me, they just seem 

like druggies and I just can’t imagine them just hanging there, they’d be too rebellious just to 

hang there. (young man, 15yrs) 

With this in mind, planning for young people needs to concentrate on diverse options that may 

include a dedicated space for young people, but also spaces within existing amenities that cater to 

the diverse needs of young people in the area (including libraries, cinema complex, Recreation 

Centre, cafes, and pubs). 

While the majority of discussions about social interaction focussed on how young people interacted 

with peers, there was a consensus among all the groups that positive interaction with adults in their 

local communities was desirable. Unfortunately, for many participants there were few opportunities 

to interact with the general community outside family and formal associations. Exceptions include 

the community Christmas carols and the ‘Big Lounge’ which was particularly valued by young people 

who had participated in it. 

32 


The Big lounge is cool. They play really good music there. (Young woman, 15yrs) 

Positive interaction between adults and young people creates mutually respectful relationships 

which benefit individuals and the wider community. 


 

 

Christmas carols in Keith Stephenson Park 

The ‘Big Lounge’ (those that knew about it) 


 

 

A local ‘place’ where they can catch up with other local young people at night (like the ‘Lounge’ 

or ‘Bunker’ which used to exist in Aldgate) 

Youth spaces at the library, pool and cinema complex 

4.10 Retail 

Young people today have more disposable income than they have ever had in the past and for many, 

particularly young women, shopping is a recreational activity. Clothing is particularly important as it 

is one means by which young people express their identity (Rice and Dolgin, 2008). 

The young people participating in these focus groups wanted more retail that catered to their life 

stage interests and needs. Many participants commented that retail in the Mt Barker area was 

mostly directed towards home makers. There were few clothing or shoe stores, a single music store, 

and little variety in low cost food outlets (eat-in or take-away). 

I also think there needs to be better clothing shops for young people instead of always going 

down to town. Like they really cater for home maker places, like there’s heaps of things to buy 

for your home but the only real clothes place is Cotton On. So really what I want is something 

like Harbour Town here, like a factory outlet somewhere. (young woman, 16 yrs) 

For older young people there was also a lack of retail in the evening. A late night food outlet was 

particularly attractive to young people coming home to the area after a night in town. 

Retail was also an important source of employment for young people. Stores that sell goods to 

young people are likely to hire young people as sales staff. Despite a recent increase in retail outlets 

in the area, a lack of youth oriented retail made it difficult for young people to find employment in 

the area. 

Male 1 

There need to be more places for work, like even other food places like Hungry 

Jacks or KFC. 

Male 2 That will create more jobs for sure. 

33 


Male 1 

Female 1 

Yeah but there will be so many more people working, not going out doing 

crime. 

But you’ve got to think about how many shops have just opened in Mount 

Barker in the last year. 

Are there any jobs for young people 

Male 1 

No, that’s it, no. 

(Young men & Women, 16-18) 


 

Cheap take away outlets like MacDonald’s and Subway 


 

 

 

 

 

 

More clothing shops (especially for young women) and shoe shops. 

A food court, takeaways or cafes that sell cheap healthy food – especially important to more 

disadvantaged young people who eat most of their meals out of home. 

Specific food outlets including a salad bar, sandwich bar, Boost Juice 

Access to affordable goods and services necessary for daily living (laundry services, healthy 

meals) 

Late night food outlet 

Vending machines for late night consumption 

4.11 Social inclusion and citizenship 

Social inclusion and citizenship for young people are limited when the communities they live and 

work in and the schools they learn in arbitrarily limit their opportunity to participate in society 

(Hertzman, 2002). 

All of the young people participating in these focus groups expressed a desire to feel part of the 

wider community, to be respected by the wider community and to have an opportunity to engage 

with the wider community. 

I hear all the old people like ‘what’s happened to the generation today, they’re all drop-kicks’. 

No, not all of us are like that. I think they all focus on the worst of people. I think the good 

people aren’t celebrated enough. (Young woman, 16yrs) 

Participation was most difficult for young people who were already disengaged from the community 

due to poverty, social difficulties, drug and alcohol, behavioural or mental health issues, but there 

34 


was still a strong desire among them to be engaged in activities in the local area (including work, 

education and recreation). 

There was a universal desire among participants to feel proud of their community. Young people 

from all focus groups were aware of Mt Barker having a ‘bogan’ reputation outside the area. They 

attribute this reputation to two things: uninteresting development that focuses too heavily on 

‘home maker centres’ and not enough on amenity that will attract locals and outsiders to the area; 

and the visibility of groups of disengaged young people hanging around local take away shops. 

I was in town the other day and I was talking to someone at a bus stop and they were saying, 

‘where are you headed’ and I said ‘Mount Barker’ and they had this whole conversation about 

how they just completely felt Mount Barker was bogan and talking about all the crime, and I 

was saying it’s not really like that. Because my boyfriend goes to TAFE down at Regency and 

all his mates are paying him out for living in Mount Barker because they’ve heard about how 

bogan it is and stuff but when you live here, it’s actually not as bad as everyone says it is. 

(Young woman, 16yrs) 

Many young people in this study live in well resourced homes and feel they often can’t be bothered 

coming into Mt Barker due to congestion and a lack of interesting things to see or do. The result is a 

community with a public absence of young people. The exception is a minority of disadvantaged and 

disengaged young people who hang around outside various fast food outlets. These young people 

are not able to rely on resources in the home and due to a lack of appropriate resources in the 

community are seen as a problem. 

Many young people participating in these focus groups did not know how to find out about what 

goes on in the local area. 

A lot of things aren’t very publicised, to be honest. I don’t hear about a lot of things. 

They valued the opportunity to be informed and included and they also valued the opportunity to be 

consulted and ‘have a say’. However some were aware of similar studies being conducted in the past 

and complained of a lack of action in response to their concerns. There was a sense that they did not 

trust council to act on their behalf and were not sure of the value of being consulted. 

Participants wanted to continue having a say. The idea of a local internet site with information, 

feedback opportunities, job vacancies etc was well received by all groups, though it would have to 

be well advertised and very well maintained to gain word of mouth recommendation. Other 

suggestions included surveys, newsletter, regular peer group consultations (focus groups with 

groups of friends) and suggestion boxes at schools. 

35 


I think they should give out surveys to the community, post them. (Young man, 15 yrs) 

There should be a monthly newsletter of like new ideas, like the whole of the Adelaide Hills 

coming together, like this big newsletter. (Young woman, 16 yrs) 

I think through schools, they could let people know if you’ve got any ideas. (Young woman 15 

yrs) 

We’ve got a student notice board which could be used – local business I think should be like 

we’ve got a job going. Alright, put it out to the school, we want someone like this. (Young 

woman, 17 yrs) 

What young people value 

 

Events that serve the whole community such as the ‘Big Lounge’ and Christmas carols in Keith 

Stephenson park 

What young people said they want and need 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be acknowledged and respected by adults in the community 

Visibility and a voice in the community 

Youth liaison person to facilitate young people’s voice in the local community 

An easy way to find out what is on, what is happening, what is available in the local community 

They want youth events to be occasions to celebrate the talents and lives of local young people 

rather than forums to “preach” to young people. They want the opportunity to challenge local 

prejudices about young people and share their interests and stories in a way that they choose 

(through graffiti art, music, performance etc) 

Defined space at the library – that welcomes them, acknowledges their developmental needs 

and behaviour and caters to their interests. 

4.12 Living in the Mt Barker Council District 

In every focus group young people stated that they wanted to feel proud of the place they lived. 

They wanted Mt Barker and its surrounds to look attractive and to maximise its rural assets. Some 

however, did not feel proud and tried to avoid spending too much time here. 

I don’t hang in Mount Barker. Why not Personally I think it’s very bogan and because there’s 

just always road works and I don’t think it’s the prettiest place to be. (Young woman, 16 yrs) 

However, most of these participants loved living in a semi-rural area. 

I like the country feel, there’s not heaps of traffic and there’s hardly any people up here – you 

can do your own thing. (Young man, 14 yrs) 

36 


These were also the sentiments of young people who were in many ways disengaged from the 

mainstream activities and views of the community. They wanted to be proud of where they lived but 

admitted that boredom often led them or their peers to antisocial behaviour. 

Male 1 

You don’t want people to think your town is a piece of scum. 

Okay, so you want to be proud of where you live. 

Male 1 

Male 2 

Of course we do, yeah. We actually live somewhere nice, we may as well keep 

it nice, do you know what I mean But some people just say, fuck you, who 

cares My life is screwed up anyway, who gives a shit 

They need more options because there's not that much to do in Barker for 

young people, you just see them hanging out in front of shops and things like 

that. A lot do graffiti because they’re bored 

(Young men, 16-18yrs) 

Another characteristic of Mt Barker believed to contribute to its negative reputation is increasing 

and ‘ugly’ housing development. 

Also the buildings that they build in Mount Barker, like the recent ones that they’re building 

are really really ugly. Like the hills are supposed to be a nice little country town, nice and green 

- like Mount Barker’s really dry, these buildings are so ugly. (Young man, 15 yrs) 

While one or two participants expressed the view that an increase in the population might lead to 

more retail variety and more recreation options, The majority felt that there was too much housing 

development in the area and that ‘facilities were going to struggle to cope’. This development was 

seen as a threat to many of the things young people value about the area, including the ‘country 

feel’. More detailed discussions highlighted associated congestion in the central business district of 

Mt Barker, poor roads, a lack of parking, reduced access for pedestrians and cyclists and the loss of 

arable land for growing food as contributing to young people’s objection to housing development in 

the area. Young people were also concerned about the lack of green spaces and trees in the town 

centre indicating that green space near food outlets would be a comfortable and pleasant place to 

hang out with friends. 

Like in the centre of Stirling, they’ve got heaps of trees whereas in the middle of Mount Barker, 

there’s just buildings and the road. (young woman, 16yrs) 

Where Macca’s is, they should have a whole line of trees and grass instead of just having dirt. 

(young woman, 16 yrs) 

37 


When a community does not meet the needs of young people, young people will disengage from the 

community. Most will become invisible as they retreat into the private space of the home; others 

will appropriate public spaces in unintended ways for lack of anywhere else to go. 

What young people value 

 

The ‘country’ character – open space, trees, clean air 

What young people said they want and need 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To spend time in the local environment – fishing, walking, using outdoor amenities 

Better public toilets – Toilets used mainly by young people are disgusting and some feel this 

reflects a disrespect for young people 

Better access to services and amenities that are essential for daily living such as a comfortable 

and safe place to hang out, with kitchen and laundry facilities; food outlets that sell cheap and 

healthy fast food – this is especially important for those young people who really do live much of 

their daily life in the public space of the community. These young people have fewer resources 

at home and rely on the resources available in the community to eat, socialise and care for 

themselves. 

More considered housing development, including adequate infrastructure to cope with 

increased population 

Better road infrastructure to reduce congestion 

More green space in the town centre 

More seating around the town centres so young people (and others) can gather and ‘be’ in the 

community 

4.13 The future 

Many of these young people expressed a desire to remain living in the ‘hills’ environment. They 

enjoyed the space, the trees and country feel. However, there was a general concern that these 

attributes were being lost through over development (too much housing) and poor development 

(lack of infrastructure to accommodate increased population, and development of the Mt Barker 

town centre that excludes green spaces and plantings). 

When asked if they would choose to live here as young adults, many participants who already felt 

they had poor access to services and facilities said they would not. 

I hate it, especially because I live further out, I hate it so much...I want to live in the city. (young 

woman, 16 yrs) 

38 


Other reasons for not choosing to live here in the future included: 

 

 

 

 

Lack of employment opportunities 

Poor access to university 

Nothing to do at night 

No decent pubs 

Others said they would like to stay in the Hills but not in Mt Barker. Those who wanted to stay in Mt 

Barker, did so because of a particular desire to stay near family or because of a connection to a rural 

lifestyle 

I’d really like to stay in Mount Barker because all my friends come from up here. (Young man, 

18 yrs) 

39 


5. Project Findings - Part 2 – concerns for particular groups of 

young people 

5.1 Males 

Young men were more likely to complain of a lack of employment opportunities in the Mt Barker 

Council District. Lack of employment was especially a problem for young men who are somewhat 

disengaged or had fewer intrinsic resources (social capital, work experience). It is essential that 

young men of school leaving age have opportunities to gain work experience and employment. The 

longer they are unemployed, the lower their chances of gaining employment as they get older. 

Problems associated with poverty, boredom and disengagement are then likely to continue and 

increase. 

5.2 Females 

While there are a couple of amenities catering to the physical recreation needs of young males, 

there are no such amenities for young females. The skate park, the BMX track, even the many 

playing fields are used primarily by boys and young men. The young women in this study wanted 

more varied retail outlets, a more interesting town centre and recreation that could be enjoyed by a 

group (such bowling alley). 

Young women were also more likely to talk about safe local night time entertainment options, 

feeling their independence was limited because, other than the cinema, travel to the city was the 

only option at night. 

Although in the minority, there was also concern raised for young women who are pregnant or 

parenting. These young women were in need of a suite of services that facilitated access to social 

and health support, especially once a baby was born. Permanent housing is essential, but housing in 

another area is likely to isolate a young mother from good social support. Transport is also important 

as is access to other young mothers through a local young mothers group. 

5.3 Different age groups 

13-14 years: 

Younger teenagers (13-14yrs) were generally more content with the level of service and amenity 

available to them in the area. This age group is less independent than older age groups; they are less 

likely to be looking for things to do in the evening and more likely to participate in local sporting 

clubs. They rely on the resources available to them in their homes and expect their financial and 

travel needs to be primarily met by their parents. 

40 


I am aware that there are 13-14 year olds in the Mt Barker council district who do not have access to 

resources in their homes, and who are not able to easily access some services (Such as Vocational 

College) due to their young age. These young people are not represented in this study; however 

there is a clear need to examine their circumstances and their access to services. At least one very 

valuable service, the Vocational College, is not available to them because of their young age. Other 

gaps are likely to exist. 

15-18 years: 

Developmentally, this age group are becoming more independent, they are moving away from the 

influence of parents and adults and toward the influence of peers. These young people are taking 

more risks and making decisions that will affect their social, emotional, sexual and physical health 

today and into the future. Primarily this age group need to be able to take risks and be independent 

in a safe and accepting environment with access to support when they need it. 

The biggest concern for young people in this age group is a lack of things to do and places to go in 

their local area, particularly at night. These young people want to be able to hang out with friends at 

night in a place where they feel safe and a sense of belonging. The sense of belonging will only occur 

if the venue is local to the Mt Barker area, and is a place they are likely to bump into others they 

know around the area. A local venue is also likely to be more acceptable to parents of this age group. 

Many young people believed they would be given more independence at night if their parents knew 

they were going out locally. 

School retention is also important for this age group. Some young people will not complete year 12 

due to social or behavioural problems at school. The Vocational College is an excellent education 

initiative highly valued by the young people who attend. Many of whom report they would not still 

be in school otherwise. 

5.4 Disengaged young people 

These young people need access to greater resources in the community due to a lack of resources in 

the home. Poverty, poor family relationships, abuse, drug and alcohol issues, mental health issues 

and social or behavioural issues all create demands for young people and their households or 

families while at the same time undermining the availability of resources in the home (money, 

amenity, support and guidance). When there are fewer resources in the home young people will 

seek them elsewhere. If home is not a safe or comfortable place to hang out, they will hang out 

somewhere else. If there is not amenity for them in the community, they will appropriate places that 

are not designed for their use. Their needs and the community’s needs will be compromised. 

41 


There are a range of issues arising for these young people and the community because of the lack of 

local resources catering to their needs. They are generally viewed with contempt by other members 

of the community. Other young people are particularly negative about them and feel their loitering 

behaviour, and their sometimes threatening behaviour (perceived or actual) is a consequence of 

having nowhere else to go and nothing to do. 

42 


6. Project conclusions and interim recommendations 

In summary, the findings indicate that young people living in the Mt Barker Council District value 

living in the Hills; they love the ‘country feel’ and they want to feel proud of where they live. 

However many young people feel excluded from the wider community because of a lack of amenity, 

retail, transport, and social planning directed to their needs and interests. While there are a few 

amenities that are highly valued by young people these are run down and inadequate for current 

and projected use (Mountain Pool and Recreation Centre in particular). Other amenities such as the 

library and the Wallis cinema complex are also valued but are clearly not reaching their potential as 

far as young people are concerned. There is a general consensus among all participants that ‘there is 

nothing to do’ in the Mt Barker area and there is a clear need for amenity that addresses the casual 

recreation needs of young people, particularly their need to ‘hang out’ with other young people in 

their local community in a place that is safe, sheltered from the weather, and offers them some kind 

of activity and food. The most common suggestions included a bowling alley, a ‘Beach House’ 

(multipurpose recreation venue), and a youth space where older young people in particular can hang 

out in the evening, perform or listen to music, play pool and have a coffee or snack. 

Like other age groups in the community (elderly and young children) the developmental differences 

and needs of young people need to be considered and planned for. If this does not happen, many 

young people will become disengaged from the community. Most will withdraw to their home, 

others will become a perceived or actual nuisance/ threat to other members of the community. 

Young people like to gather in groups, they are often noisy and frequently oblivious to the affects of 

their behaviour on others, they need to differentiate themselves from their parents and the 

dominant culture, and they need to engage in risk taking behaviour as it helps develop physical and 

social competencies, independence and resilience (Rice and Dolgin, 2008; Woolard and Scott, 2009). 

During the transition to adulthood, young people need the physical and social support of their 

families, educators and communities to access opportunities for the safe and healthy development 

of physical, social, emotional and cognitive competencies. Community planning should aim to create 

opportunities for young people to engage in these developmentally appropriate activities in a safe 

and accepting environment. 

6.1 General recommendation 

Develop a planning process that explicitly examines the benefit or impact of any development on 

young people’s access to opportunities for social inclusion, social interaction, education, extracurricular 

learning, vocational experience, employment, sport, recreation and entertainment, health 

43 


and social support, independent mobility and agency (citizenship). Addressing the needs of young 

people in the community benefits the entire community. 

6.2 Specific Recommendations 

Education 

 

 

Facilitate cooperation between schools. Shared resources, inter-school curriculum access, 

and combined school events, could all contribute to increased academic, extracurricular and 

social opportunities for students. A community approach to education is also likely to 

increase equity among the regions students, increase the sense of community in the area 

and create opportunities for the development of bridging social capital (mutually beneficial 

relationships between different community groups) 

Facilitate community education after school hours. Schools could take the lead here by 

providing a low cost venue for individuals or organisations to run a variety of classes. Council 

could facilitate the establishment of community education similar to WEA that would 

benefit the entire community. Particular attention should be given to establishing 

community education that is interesting and accessible to young people. 

Employment and vocational experience 

 

 

 

 

Increase access to vocational experiences. Facilitated relationships between local 

government and local business with schools and other youth agencies (jobs network etc) 

could improve access to vocational experience and jobs for young people. 

Facilitate employment for disadvantaged/ disengaged young people. Consideration of local 

employment opportunities that engaged the most disengaged young people. Programs to 

support employers prepared to mentor young people during the transition into 

employment. 

Encourage male participation in VET related to retail and service industries. These industries 

are growing and young men are more likely to find work in these areas if they see them as 

acceptable forms of employment and have the relevant skills 

Lack of youth retail - Incentives for youth oriented retail to locate in the area. 

Housing 

 

 

Prioritise local access to emergency, medium and long term housing for young people 

Consider a youth housing co-op (in consultation with young people. This was a suggestion 

from a young man attending the Vocational College) 

44 


Avoid housing young people outside the region, away from social support networks, 

education and work. 

Ensure a proportion of new development in the area includes low cost housing – this 

housing should be well integrated with transport, education, retail and services as residents 

are likely to rely more heavily on community resources. 

Health 

 

 

Explore the possibility of coordinated administrative support for youth services funding. The 

two services participating in this project revealed difficulties applying for relevant funding 

due to a lack of human resources. 

Facilitate a relationship between various health and social services with youth organisations, 

including sporting clubs and schools 

Justice 

 

 

 

Facilitate preventative programs that address social exclusion, poverty and disadvantage. 

Examine the level of access disengaged/ disadvantaged young people have to 

developmentally appropriate activities. Facilitate increased access to these activities. 

Foster mutually respectful relationships between police and young people (especially with 

young people who have frequent contact with police). 

Transport 

 

 

Address inadequate local public transport issues. Transport between towns in the Mt Barker 

region needs to reflect the travel needs of young people. There needs to be increased or 

better timed services that facilitate mobility on week day afternoons and on the weekend. 

Lobby for more express bus services into the city at times young people travel (afternoons 

and weekends) 

Sport and recreation 

 

 

Upgrade existing sport and recreation facilities, especially at the Mt Barker Recreation 

Centre and the Mountain Pool 

Expand existing sport and recreation facilities 

Casual activity and entertainment 

 

Facilitate local activity and events that enhance the street experience of local towns, 

particularly Mt Barker. 

45 


Consider a regular Sunday market in Gawler street that includes stalls for young people and 

runs into the afternoon (this would also encourage Sunday trading for local cafes and shops) 

Support busking in Mt Barker and other towns 

Support local music and arts events that provide an opportunity for young people to 

showcase their talents 

Social interaction 

 

 

 

Provide appropriate amenity for young people to hang out. It is important to acknowledge 

that a single amenity will not cater to the diversity of young people in the area. 

Facilitate the inclusion of appropriate youth areas at existing amenities such as the library, 

cinema and Mountain Pool. 

Encourage intergenerational interaction through all of community events like the ‘Big 

Lounge’, the already successful Christmas carols and a local market. 

Retail 

 

 

Consider subsidising the rent of particular enterprises including cultural and artistic 

ventures, second hand or charitable retail that would appeal to young people and create a 

more interesting street experience for the community. 

Encourage retail that caters to the consumption needs and desires of young people. Such 

retail also creates work opportunities for young people 

Social inclusion and citizenship 

 

 

 

 

Actively consider the participation and inclusion of young people in community events 

Provide regular opportunities for young people to have a say, to be informed and to interact 

with each other and other members of the community 

Create a local internet portal for young people. Include weekly event and gig guide, 

communication forum for different groups and topics, information about youth services, 

local events, job vacancies, opportunities for work experience and training, community 

education, youth initiative etc 

Act on consultations with young people – take them seriously 

Living in the Mt Barker Council District 

 

Protect and enhance those characteristics of the district that young people (and others) 

value the most. 

46 


Facilitate the integration of activities of daily living (education, work, social interaction, 

recreation, shopping) through considered development and excellent physical infrastructure 

that accommodates pedestrian and cycle modes of travel. 

47 


7. References 

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard 

University Press. 

Hertzman C. 2002. Leave No Child Behind! Social Exclusion and Child 

Development. Toronto: Laidlaw Foundation. www.laidlaw.org 

Mcloyd VC, Kaplan R, Purtell KM, Bagley E, Hardaway CR andSmalls C. (2009). Poverty and 

socioeconomic disadvantage in adolescence. In RM Learner & L Steinberg (Eds.) Handbook of 

Adolescent Psychology (3 rd Edition), pp444-491, New Jersy: John Wiley & Sons, Inc 

Newman, B.M., Newman, P.R. (1999). Development through life: A psychological approach (7 th 

edition). Belmont: Wadsworth. 

Rice FP and Dolgin KG. (2008). The Adolescent: Development, relationships, and Culture (12 th 

Edition). Boston: Pearson Education Inc. 

Sampson R, Morenoff J and Earls F (1999) Beyond Social Capital: Spatial dynamics of collective 

efficacy for children. American Sociological Review 64(5): 633-660. 

Williams P, Pocock B and Bridge K. (2009a). Kids’ lives in adult space and time: How home, 

community and work affect opportunity for teenagers in suburban Australia. Health Sociology 

Review. Vol.18, 79-93. 

Williams P, Pocock B and Bridge K. (2009b). – linked up lives: Putting Together Work, Home and 

Community in Ten Australian Suburbs. Overview Report. Centre for Work + Life, University of South 

Australia. 

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