Youth Strategy on the Cards for Mount Isa’s Young People
Council has committed to developing a Mount Isa Youth Strategy that aims to give local young people a voice and support positive outcomes for them.
The five-year Strategy is thanks to funding Council has received from the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).
Mayor Danielle Slade said it will provide a way for Government and non-government service agencies to work collaboratively with a focus on the needs of young people in Mount Isa.
“While the Youth Strategy will be for all young people in Mount Isa, it will also recognise and support the importance of culture for First Nations young people, and consider the specific strengths, needs and aspiration of Indigenous youth, as well as sport, education and employment pathways,” Cr Slade said.
“We see this Youth Strategy as giving local young people a voice, and it ties in well with the Queensland Youth Strategy.
“We believe that now, more than ever, a community-led youth strategy is needed, to support local young people into positive pathways and help them realise their full potential, ensuring they have access to the same opportunities as young people across Australia.
“We are keen to take on a leading role in the development of this important Strategy, which has the potential to engage young people across the various cultures in Mount Isa.”
Council also intends to develop a detailed service map of local youth services and programs for distribution within the community as part of the Youth Strategy project.
A workshop facilitated by NIAA was held in Mount Isa in December 2021 and attended by representatives of Council and key community stakeholders.
The Strategy will also aim to identify infrastructure and cultural requirements to meet the needs of youth now and in the future; develop a charter and structure for a local Youth Council, to provide a platform for young people to experience civic decision-making processes; and raise the profile of young people in the Mount Isa region, providing pathways, including employment pathways, for successful contribution to community life.