Youth Research Qualitative Report - District Council of Mount Barker

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.
What young people value in the Mt Barker area
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
What Young people said they want and need
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
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Needs assessment of young people in the Mt Barker Council District – November 2009