Youth Research Qualitative Report - District Council of Mount Barker

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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. What young people value in the Mt Barker area 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 What Young people said they want and need 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 Needs assessment of young people in the Mt Barker Council District – November 2009
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 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 18 and 19: The majority of work available to y
Page 20 and 21: off my face and not realise. I slep
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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