By Kerri-Anne Mesner
BRIMBANK City Council this week adopted the Youth Policy and Action Plan 2008-2013, which provides a strategic framework to guide the council’s youth development work over the next five years.
But some councillors feel the policy does not deliver as much as it could, that more needs to be done for funds from state and federal governments and that sports policy should go hand in hand with the youth policy.
The Youth Policy and Action Plan was developed to reflect the needs of Brimbank’s youth population.
Councillor Costas Socratous said he was disappointed with the statistics in the plan, which showed youth unemployment and crime were high.
He believed most of the problems encountered by Brimbank youth were caused by the lack of state and federal government funding for services.
The Brimbank plan was at least one step forward to helping Brimbank youth, he said.
Cr Ken Capar suggested a sports policy – Brimbank City Council does not have one – would go hand in hand with the youth policy.
“Council needs to incorporate a sports policy and involve young people,” Cr Capar said.
He said he could see a nexus between a potential sports policy and the youth policy, with youth the future of sports in Brimbank.
Cr Anthony Abate said he did not believe the youth policy delivered anything solid to Brimbank youth.
The youth policy also reflects the council’s commitment to working with other levels of government, key organisations and the community to provide opportunities that contribute to the development of healthy, well-connected and resilient young people.
Mayor Margaret Giudice said Brimbank was home to about 33,000 people aged 12 to 24 who made up about 20 per cent of the city’s population.
“The policy acknowledges that we need to continue working with young people, communities, community and private-sector organisations and other levels of government to advance this action plan to achieve the best outcomes with and for Brimbank’s young people,” she said.
“Without these partnerships the council alone does not have the resources, and in some instances the responsibility, for addressing all of the identified needs and issues.”
The Youth Policy and Action Plan 2008-2013 can be viewed on the council’s website, www.brimbank.vic.gov.au
