Youth Research Qualitative Report - District Council of Mount Barker

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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) What young people value in the Mt Barker area 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 What Young people said they want and need 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 Needs assessment of young people in the Mt Barker Council District – November 2009
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 Needs assessment of young people in the Mt Barker Council District – November 2009
Page 2 and 3: Project Report Young People Living
Page 4 and 5: Contents About the Author .........
Page 6 and 7: access to friends, sport, recreatio
Page 8 and 9: Encourage more retail that appeals
Page 10 and 11: 3. Desk top study of current servic
Page 12 and 13: 3.6 Limitations This study recruite
Page 14 and 15: I used to have drug problems and th
Page 16 and 17: young people living in the region d
Page 20 and 21: off my face and not realise. I slep
Page 22 and 23: a shortage of human resources requi
Page 24 and 25: comfortable or welcoming homes to w
Page 26 and 27: catch the 9:28 bus and sit there fo
Page 28 and 29: Male Yeah but that's already happen
Page 30 and 31: Centre, these amenities are not rea
Page 32 and 33: More entertainment as part of the c
Page 34 and 35: The Big lounge is cool. They play r
Page 36 and 37: was still a strong desire among the
Page 38 and 39: These were also the sentiments of y
Page 40 and 41: Other reasons for not choosing to l
Page 42 and 43: I am aware that there are 13-14 yea
Page 44 and 45: 6. Project conclusions and interim
Page 46 and 47: Avoid housing young people outside
Page 48 and 49: Facilitate the integration of activ

Youth Research Qualitative Report - District Council of Mount Barker

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