Youth Research Qualitative Report - District Council of Mount Barker

1. Executive summary
The Mount Barker Council District has experienced rapid and sustained population growth over
recent years and this growth is projected to continue into the next decade. Currently, one quarter of
the district’s population is aged 12-25 years. The needs of young people in the Mt Barker district are
poorly met by existing physical and social infrastructure in the area. This deficit will only increase if
the needs of young people are not properly understood and adequately addressed.
Findings
In summary, the findings indicate that young people living in the Mt Barker Council District value
living in the Hills; they love the ‘country feel’ and they want to feel proud of where they live.
However many young people feel excluded from the wider community because of a lack of amenity,
retail, transport, and social planning directed to their needs and interests. The following summarises
the key findings of this study.
Education - On the whole there is a good range of secondary education options but a lack of access
to TAFE, tertiary and community education.
Employment – Opportunities for vocational experience and employment are limited for young
people. A lack of youth oriented retail and poor public transport makes access to employment
difficult. Young men are particularly disadvantaged because of a general increase in retail and
service industry jobs and a decrease in manufacturing and labouring jobs.
Housing – Housing is a significant issue for many young people. There is a lack of emergency
medium and long term housing for those who are not able to stay in the family home. This lack of
housing further disadvantages a very vulnerable group of young people with consequences for
individuals and the community.
Health – For those who need access to primary health care there is a general consensus that it is
sometimes difficult to access. Some community health services are highly valued for their focus on
young people. Such services need greater support.
Justice – A lack of community resources for young people compounds disadvantage and increases
inequity between groups of young people. Young people desire mutually respectful relationships
with police; some feel they are provoked into antisocial behaviour.
Transport – The majority of young people who are unable to drive rely on parents for mobility. In
general, public transport does not address the travel needs of young people in the area. Busses to
school and between Mt Barker and the city were considered adequate, however transport within
the Mt Barker district was considered very inadequate. This poor local public transport restricts
4
Needs assessment of young people in the Mt Barker Council District – November 2009