Youth Research Qualitative Report - District Council of Mount Barker

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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. What young people value in the Mt Barker area Christmas carols in Keith Stephenson Park The ‘Big Lounge’ (those that knew about it) What Young people said they want and need 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 Needs assessment of young people in the Mt Barker Council District – November 2009
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) What young people value in the Mt Barker area Cheap take away outlets like MacDonald’s and Subway What Young people said they want and need 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 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 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 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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