Youth Research Qualitative Report - District Council of Mount Barker

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
3
Needs assessment of young people in the Mt Barker Council District – November 2009