Cardinia Shire Council
Youth forum survey 2013
Report of findings
Prepared by:
Cardinia Shire Council
Community Services Unit
Published 2013
© Cardinia Shire Council 2013
(ABN: 32 210 906 807)
Henty Way, Pakenham
PO Box 7, Pakenham Vic 3810
Phone: 1300 787 624
Fax: (03) 5941 3784
Email: mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au
Web: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au
Table of contents
REPORT OF FINDINGS ........................................................................................................... 1
1
CARDINIA SHIRE SNAPSHOT ................................................................................... 6
2
THE YOUTH FORUM SURVEY .................................................................................. 6
3
SURVEY DISTRIBUTION ............................................................................................ 7
4
METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................................... 7
5
PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS .................................................................................... 8
5.1
Age breakdown ....................................................................................................................................... 9
5.2
Gender breakdown ................................................................................................................................. 9
5.3
Disability .................................................................................................................................................. 9
5.4
Country of birth ...................................................................................................................................... 9
5.5
Location of respondents ...................................................................................................................... 10
6
TOP ISSUES OF CONCERN THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED
IN THE PAST YEAR .................................................................................................... 11
6.1
Issues of concern relating to gender .................................................................................................. 12
6.2
Issues of Concern for young people with a disability ..................................................................... 12
6.3
Issues of concern – a time series ........................................................................................................ 13
6.4
Stress ....................................................................................................................................................... 14
6.5
School and work-related stress ........................................................................................................... 15
6.6
Bullying................................................................................................................................................... 16
6.7
No issue ................................................................................................................................................. 16
7
AT WHAT AGE SHOULD YOUNG PEOPLE BE OFFERED SUPPORT IF THEY
ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS? ......................................................................... 17
8
WHO OR WHAT DO YOUNG PEOPLE TURN TO FOR INFORMATION,
ADVICE OR HELP? ...................................................................................................... 17
9
THE TOP THINGS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOUNG PEOPLE...... 18
10
ACTIVITIES YOUNG PEOPLE DO IN THEIR SPARE TIME ............................... 19
11
SERVICES, ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, EVENTS OR OPPORTUNITIES IN
YOUR LOCAL AREA ....................................................................................................20
12
HOW YOUNG PEOPLE GET AROUND ................................................................... 21
13
HOW DO YOUNG PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT STUFF?......................................22
14
CHANGING ONE THING TO HELP THE YOUNG PEOPLE ..............................23
15
HOW PREVIOUS SURVEY FINDINGS HAVE BENEFITTED YOUNG PEOPLE25
15.1
Recreational activities ........................................................................................................................... 26
15.1.1 Mobile Youth Bus (MYBus) ............................................................................................................... 26
15.1.2 Events..................................................................................................................................................... 26
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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15.1.3 Skate, BMX, Scooter competitions and workshops ........................................................................ 26
15.1.4 Afterschool/interest-based programs................................................................................................ 26
15.1.5 Holiday Program................................................................................................................................... 27
15.2
Information/advice/referral and support ......................................................................................... 27
15.2.1 My Place – Pakenham Youth Facility ................................................................................................ 27
15.2.2 Information and referral ...................................................................................................................... 27
15.2.3 Cardinia Youth Services Facebook page ........................................................................................... 27
15.2.4 Text message ......................................................................................................................................... 27
15.3
Personal development/health and wellbeing ................................................................................... 27
15.3.1 Personal development programs and workshops ............................................................................ 27
15.3.2 Resilience awareness workshops (RAW) .......................................................................................... 27
15.3.3 Drum Beat ............................................................................................................................................. 28
15.3.4 Shout Out Program .............................................................................................................................. 28
15.3.5 Open Doors Program .......................................................................................................................... 28
15.3.6 Sexual health workshops ..................................................................................................................... 28
15.3.7 Mural projects ....................................................................................................................................... 28
15.3.8 Sustain Program .................................................................................................................................... 28
15.3.9 Rise Up Theatre Project ...................................................................................................................... 28
15.3.10 Ignite Program ...................................................................................................................................... 28
15.3.11 Stress down workshops ....................................................................................................................... 28
15.3.12 Drug and alcohol/party safe workshops........................................................................................... 28
15.3.13 L2P Program ......................................................................................................................................... 29
15.4
Social support groups........................................................................................................................... 29
15.4.1 Young Mums Group ............................................................................................................................ 29
15.4.2 GLBTI (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex) ..................................................................... 29
15.5
Civic engagement .................................................................................................................................. 29
15.5.1 FReeZA committee’s ........................................................................................................................... 29
15.5.2 National Youth Week committee ...................................................................................................... 29
15.5.3 Young Leaders Program ...................................................................................................................... 29
16
COUNCIL’S ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES ...........................................29
16.1
Information dissemination .................................................................................................................. 29
16.2
Planning ................................................................................................................................................. 29
16.3
Advocacy and commitment ................................................................................................................ 30
APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................ 31
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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APPENDIX 1 YOUTH FORUM SURVEY ........................................................................... 31
APPENDIX 2
SERVICES, ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS ......................................................36
APPENDIX 3 EVALUATING THE SURVEY PROCESS ...................................................38
17
REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................40
Figures
Figure 1:
Survey distribution points in 2013 ..................................................................................... 7
Figure 2:
Location of respondents across the Shire and neighbouring municipalities ............. 10
Figure 3:
Who or what do young people turn to for information, advice or help .................... 18
Figure 4:
Top things that are most important to young people ................................................... 18
Figure 5:
Young people’s preferred method of receiving information ....................................... 23
Figure 6:
Changing one thing to help young people in Cardinia Shire in 2013 ......................... 25
Tables
Table 1:
Age profile of respondents
9
Table 2:
Country of birth of respondents
9
Table 3:
Issues of concern that young people have experienced in the past year
Table 4:
Issues of concern that young people have experienced in the past year by gender 12
Table 5:
Issues of concern for young people with a disability
13
Table 6:
Overall rankings since 2007
14
Table 7:
No issue of concern that young people have experienced in the past year
16
Table 8:
The age that young people should be offered support
17
Table 9:
Activities young people do in their spare time
19
11
Table 10: Services, activities, programs, events or other opportunities young people would like to
see in their home town/area
21
Table 11:
Modes of transport for getting around
Cardinia Shire Council
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5
1 CARDINIA SHIRE SNAPSHOT
Cardinia Shire is located south-east of Melbourne and is one of nine ‘interface councils’ around
the perimeter of metropolitan Melbourne, providing a transition between urban and rural areas.
The primary urban centre is Pakenham, which is 55 kilometres from Melbourne’s central
business district (CBD).
The Princes Highway and Gippsland railway corridor runs east-west through the centre of the
Cardinia Shire, providing a key road and rail link between Melbourne and West Gippsland. The
western end of this corridor comprises the Cardinia Shire growth area (about 10% of the Shire’s
land area).
With an annual growth rate of 5.9 per cent, Cardinia Shire is Victoria’s second fastest growing
municipality and the fourth fastest growing municipality in Australia for 2010–11. The
population within the Shire’s growth area is expected to grow from 50,404 in 2013 to 80,685
people by 2021 and an estimated 104,566 residents in 2031. By 2031, about 67 per cent of
Cardinia Shire’s population is forecast to reside in the designated growth area and the remaining
33 per cent to reside in the rest of the Shire.
Cardinia Shire has a large rural population; 27 rural townships exist outside the urban growth
area, resulting in unique service provision issues. The northern part of the Shire is set in the
foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, and includes Bunyip State Park and Cardinia Reservoir.
Koo Wee Rup swamp and Westernport Bay are significant features of the southern part of
Cardinia Shire.
There is a higher than average youth population in Cardinia Shire, with nearly 20 per cent of the
population aged between 5–17 years compared to 16 per cent in the Greater Melbourne area.
In 2012 there were 16,853 young people aged 10–24 years living in Cardinia Shire. This is
expected to increase to 32,778 young people in 2031. Approximately 70 per cent (0 dp) of these
young people will reside within the growth area subregion in the townships of Beaconsfield,
Officer and Pakenham (Informed Decisions 2013).
To service the municipality’s young people, Council provides a generalist youth service. The
service is predominantly funded by Council, while State government provides a small proportion
of funding for targeted events and programs. Its activities incorporate health and wellbeing,
support and leadership programs, youth events and school holiday programs.
2 THE YOUTH FORUM SURVEY
Council acknowledges that youth is a crucial period for establishing positive health and social
behaviours and it is during this period young people acquire a range of skills and behaviours, face
a range of life events, and make decisions that can influence their physical and psychological
health, their social development, and their educational and employment opportunities (WHO
2010).
To enhance the wellbeing of young people and their families Council has conducted a number of
information gathering exercises over the past several years to assess the views, needs and
aspirations of young people – who live, work, study, or participate in recreational activities within
Cardinia Shire.
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The youth forum survey aims to:

capture local issues

identify trends

provide geographic and age comparisons

better target and improve service provision

inform the development of Councils Annual Business Planning and Youth Strategy
Council welcomes the voices, opinions and ideas of young people that are heard through the
youth forum survey. This information assists in shaping policy, planning service delivery and
creating strategies for improving the health and wellbeing of Cardinia Shire’s young people and
their families.
Survey results will also assist Council’s youth services to advocate for the needs of local young
people and allow for young people’s voices to be heard by regional networks, State and Federal
governments, service providers and the general community.
3 SURVEY DISTRIBUTION
The 2013 youth forum survey was distributed in a variety of ways to reach a broad cross-section
of young people aged between 10 and 25 years who currently reside, work, study or participate in
recreational activities in the Shire (see
Figure 1:
Survey distribution points in 2013). The data was collected over a 13-week period
from 15 April to 12 July 2013.
Figure 1: Survey distribution points in 2013
4 METHODOLOGY
This year a number of changes were made to the youth forum survey. These changes include the
addition of six new questions and an amendment to the existing question relating to issues of
concern. Some of the new questions will allow for comparisons to be made across other stateCardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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wide and national surveys while other questions have been included to capture information
specifically for future service planning in the Shire.
The new questions added to this survey include physical or mental disability, country of birth,
current study and/or employment status, preferred age to receive support, who do young people
seek support from and the top three things that are most important to young people.
In previous youth forum surveys young people have been asked about issues of concern. This
year both the question and the question format have been updated. The previous youth forum
surveys have asked young people to list the top three issues facing young people in the Shire and
put forward their idea for a solution to each issue.
This year the issue of concern question has been reformatted and has asked young people to
rank the top three issues of concern that they have experienced in the last year. Participants were
also provided with 24 response options, and also an option to state ‘I don’t know’ or ‘no issues’.
The addition of ‘I don’t know’ and ‘no issues’ as response options ensures that participants are
not selecting issues by default as a result of the survey design, resulting in more accurate data.
Where issues being experienced by youth did not appear in the option list provided, participants
were also able to select ‘other’ and provide a written description of the issue they are facing.
Direct comparisons to previous youth forum survey data for this question will now need to be
carefully considered because of the significant changes to wording and structure of this question.
This change allows us to be sure that the concerns are those that are being experienced by our
young people and not highlighted as concerns because of what is for example in the media or
topics of discussion in the class room.
Two questions were excluded from this year’s youth forum survey. The question asking young
people what they plan to do in the future and also what place they have difficulty travelling to
were taken out. The question relating to future plans created confusion for many young people
and there were minimal responses to the travelling question.
5 PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS
A total of 1,687 young people responded to the youth forum survey in 2013. Young people from
the ages of 10–25 were represented. The majority of respondents were students, of the
remainder 26 respondents were in full-time employment or undertaking an
apprenticeship/traineeship and 18 respondents were unemployed/not studying.
The largest group of respondents were aged 13–17 and the smallest group were the young adults
aged 18–25. As highlighted in Table 1 the responses from the 13–17 year old age group totalled
72.6 per cent of all respondents, which is a similar response rate to the 2011 youth forum survey
from this age group. In 2011, 73.7 per cent of respondents from this age group were received.
This result is significant and will invariably influence the findings in this report in terms of
overall ratings for each question.
The second highest response rate was received from the 10–12 year age group at 22.4 per cent
and the 18–25 year age group response rate was 5 per cent. In 2011, the response rate for 10–12
year olds was the same as this year at 22.4 per cent and the 18–25 year old group has increased
by 2.6 per cent from the 2011 youth forum survey which was 2.4 per cent.
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Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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5.1 Age breakdown
Age in years
Number of respondents
Percentage of respondents %
10–12 years
378
22.4
13–17 years
1224
72.6
18–25 years
85
5.0
Total
1,687
100
Table 1: Age profile of respondents
5.2 Gender breakdown
The number of female respondents was again higher than that of the male respondents. A total
of 899 or 53.3 per cent of females completed the youth forum survey compared to 788 or 46.7
per cent of males.
5.3 Disability
A total of 73 or 4.3 per cent of respondents indicated that they had a disability. A further 217 or
12.9 per cent of respondents stated ‘not sure’. This indicates some uncertainty about what may
or may not be considered a disability. For instance, feedback from youth workers assisting young
people to complete the survey noted that some asked if learning disabilities should reported. To
minimise confusion in the future and obtain more information, this question will be broadened
in 2015 to include what type of disability the respondent may have.
5.4 Country of birth
The 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that 21 per cent of residents were born
overseas. Cultural diversity is not as pronounced in Cardinia Shire as in other municipalities, as
only 8 per cent of people in the Shire come from a non-English speaking background.
In the 2013 youth forum survey, young people were asked to state their country of origin to
capture the migration pattern of new families and those from new and emerging communities
that have chosen to settle in Cardinia Shire.
The number of respondents who stated Australia as their country of birth was 1,491 or 92.8 per
cent. The next highest country of birth was the United Kingdom with 30 or 1.8 per cent of
respondents followed by New Zealand with 20 or 1.2 per cent of respondents. The fourth
highest ranking of nine or 0.5 per cent of respondents was from Africa followed by eight or 0.5
per cent of respondents from Sudan (see Table 2:
Country of birth of respondents).
Ranking
Country of birth
Number of respondents
Percentage of respondents
1
Australia
1491
92.8
2
United Kingdom
30
1.8
3
New Zealand
20
1.2
4
Africa
9
0.5
5
Sudan
8
0.5
Table 2: Country of birth of respondents
A total of 48 or 2.9 per cent of respondents did not state their country of birth.
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5.5 Location of respondents
Almost all townships and towns in the municipality were represented by responses, in addition to
a number of townships outside the Shire. These responses were received from students attending
schools in the municipality. Pakenham recorded 640 responses, which was 21 per cent of the
total number of responses received. Figure 2: Location of respondents across the Shire and
neighbouring municipalities indicates the percentage of respondents received from each of the
Shire’s three regions and neighbouring municipalities.
The Shire’s growth region for the purpose of the survey results includes the townships of
Beaconsfield, Officer and Pakenham.
The Shire’s southern region for the purpose of the survey results has been defined as those
townships south of the Princes Highway. They include Nar Nar Goon, Garfield, Tynong,
Bunyip, Longwarry, Rythdale, Cardinia, Tooradin, Koo Wee Rup, Caldermeade, Lang Lang
Catani, Cora Lynn and Vervale.
The Shire’s hills region for the purpose of the survey results has been defined as those townships
north of the Princes Highway. They include Pakenham Upper, Dewhurst, Guys Hill,
Beaconsfield Upper, Maryknoll, Mt Burnett, Gembrook, Cockatoo, Emerald, Avonsleigh and
Menzies Creek.
City of Casey Council includes survey respondents from Berwick, Narre Warren, Blind Bight,
Cranbourne, Hampton Park, Harkaway and Endeavour Hills.
Other respondents include young people from Upwey, Yellingbo, Kallista, Rowville and
Scoresby.
Figure 2: Location of respondents across the Shire and neighbouring municipalities
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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6 TOP ISSUES OF CONCERN THAT YOUNG PEOPLE
HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST YEAR
Young people were asked to rank three issues of concern that they have experienced in the past
year. They were provided with 24 options or the opportunity to state an issue of concern if it did
not appear in the options list provided. The top three issues of concern for young people
participating in the youth forum survey in 2013 were stress, school or work related stress and
bullying. Being unhappy was ranked as the fourth highest issue followed closely by body image
as an issue of concern that young people have experienced over the past year.
Stress: the issue of stress rated as the top issue for all age groups. Stress was ranked as the top
issue by 36.48 per cent of female respondents and 26.27 per cent of male respondents.
School or work-related stress: was a strong focus for the 13–17 and 18–25 years old
age groups.
Bullying: was cited as the major concern for young people in the 10–12 years age group, who
ranked bullying second as their issue of concern. Young people aged 13–17 years ranked bullying
as their third highest issue.
Being unhappy: raised as an issue of concern for respondents across all of age groups. Young
people aged 10–12 ranked being unhappy as their fourth highest issue of concern (14.55%), as
did youth aged 13–17 (19.44). For young adults aged 18–25 years, being unhappy ranked as their
firth highest issue of concern (17.6%) after mental health and wellbeing (18.82%) which is
closely related.
Body image: was more significant for the 18–25 year age group. 27.06 per cent of this age
group identified body image as an issue, ranking this the third highest issue of concern for this
age group.
Table 2:
Country of birth of respondents highlights that there were some differences in
issue responses when they were broken down by age groups, however compared to previous
years the responses are generally consistent across all of the age groups. The top three issues
raised by 10–12 year olds were stress, bullying and school or work related stress. The same three
issues of concern were reported by those aged 13–17 years, however they were ranked differently
with stress being the main issue of concern, followed by school or work related stress and
bullying. The top issues for the young adult group were stress, school or work related stress and
body image. Body image also featured across all age groups as an issue of concern that young
people had experienced in the past 12 months.
Overall ranking
Ages 10–12
%
Ages 13–17
%
Ages 18–25
%
1
Stress
Stress
20.11
Stress
33.91
Stress
51.76
2
School or workrelated stress
Bullying
19.84
School or workrelated stress
29.66
School or workrelated stress
31.76
3
Bullying
School or workrelated stress
18.78
Bullying
20.18
Body image
27.06
4
Being unhappy
Being unhappy
14.55
Being unhappy
19.44
Mental health
and wellbeing
18.82
5
Body image
Life-changing
events
10.05
Body image
19.36
Being unhappy
17.65
Table 3: Issues of concern that young people have experienced in the past year
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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6.1 Issues of concern relating to gender
Table 3 highlights the different responses that were received in terms of gender. Stress and
school or work-related stress, were the top two issues of concern for both males and females.
However, the proportion of females that reported stress and school or work-related stress as an
issue of concern over the past 12 months was higher than males on both accounts. A total of
36.48 per cent of females reported stress as an issue of concern compared with 26.27 per cent of
males. More females also reported school or work related stress as an issue of concern than
males, that is, 30.03 per cent of females compared to 24.24 per cent of males.
The response rates on the issue of bullying were similar with 21.36 per cent of females reporting
bullying as an issue of concern compared to 17.39 per cent of males. However, a concern about
body image was much higher for females than males. A total of 27.03 per cent of females
reported body image as an issue of concern compared to 6.60 per cent of males.
There was only one issue of concern in which males responded higher than females. Males listed
transport as an issue of concern over the past year with 5.96 per cent of males reporting
transport concerns as opposed to 3.78 per cent of females. Overall transport was ranked tenth
by young people in this year’s youth forum survey as an issue of concern in the past year.
Overall ranking 2013
Females %
Males %
1
Stress
36.48
26.27
2
School or work-related stress
30.03
24.24
3
Bullying
21.36
17.39
4
Being unhappy
21.80
14.21
5
Body image
27.03
6.60
Table 4: Issues of concern that young people have experienced in the past year by gender
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) commissions an annual survey of the stress and
wellbeing of Australians to provide insight into the psychological health of the Australian
population. The Society’s latest report titled Stress and wellbeing in Australia in 2012: A state of
the nation survey found that females reported significantly higher levels of perceived stress than
males. However, females did not score differently to males on measures of wellbeing, anxiety
and depression. Previous APS research has also found that females report more stressful life
events than males. However, the research findings concluded that high levels of perceived stress
may not necessarily have a higher impact on females’ mental health and general wellbeing (APS
2012).
Body image also registered as an issue of concern for considerably more females than males.
Mission Australia’s survey report 2010 highlights that the issue of body image is more a worry
related to the unrealistic portrayal of ‘the perfect body’ in the media. The report suggests that the
education programs, campaigns and messages about healthy eating and self-esteem are not
reaching young women. It would appear that the “media’s unrealistic and unachievable images of
physical perfection and peer pressure to fit in still seem to be causing concern for female
respondents” (Mission Australia 2010).
6.2 Issues of Concern for young people with a disability
In the 2013 Youth Forum Survey, we asked young people if they experience a disability. This
enabled us to determine if there are any differences in the types of issues being experienced by
youth with a disability in comparison to those without a disability. As shown in Table 5:
Cardinia Shire Council
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Issues of concern for young people with a disability below, there are some key
differences in responses from youth with a disability.
Rank 2013
Overall ranking
Youth with a disability
1
Stress
Stress and Bullying
2
School or work related stress
School or work related stress
3
Bullying
Mental health issues
4
Being unhappy
Body image
5
Body image
Being unhappy
6
Life changing events
Being overweight
7
Being overweight
Isolation
8
Peer Pressure
Sexual health issue
9
Mental health issues
Sexuality, transport and cyber bullying
10
Transport
Table 5: Issues of concern for young people with a disability
Stress and bullying were equally important issues experienced over the past year by youth who
have a disability. The Australian research report Bullying, Mental Health and Disability shows
that children with disabilities are often more likely to be victims of bullying. More than half
(62%) of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, for example, report being bullied once a
week or more. This is significantly higher than the one-in-five to one-in-seven Australian
students who report being bullied once a week or more (Bottroff & Slee, 2007).
Anecdotal information from parents of children and young people with a disability in the Shire
also suggests that children with a disability are often bullied. Parents have reported that this often
takes the form of name calling and exclusion from groups and activities, including social
functions such as birthday celebrations and out of school hour’s activities.
Mental health concerns were ranked as third highest issue of concern that young people with a
disability have experienced over the past year. This was a key difference in comparison to the
overall results, where mental health issues were ranked as the ninth most important issue facing
youth. The research report bullying, mental health and disability, demonstrated a significant
relationship between bullying and unhappiness at school, feelings of unsafety at school, lower
self-esteem and poorer coping skills. This is also likely to impact feelings of isolation being
experienced by youth with a disability. Isolation was ranked seventh for youth who have a
disability, but was not ranked at all in the top-ten for overall results.
6.3 Issues of concern – a time series
This year, the question relating to issues of concern was presented in a different format to
previous years, so caution should be exercised when comparing the results of previous youth
forum surveys (see Methodology). While there are some issues which have presented consistently
across the time series data, many new issues have emerged in 2013. This does not imply that
issues identified previously are not important, nor reflect a complete shift in the issues youth face
in Cardinia Shire. As response options become more extensive, young people have more to
consider before responding based on their experiences.
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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This introduces more variability in responses. It is likely that stress and school or work related
stress have been common issues facing youth for some time, but having this option available
enables youth to easily communicate this. Despite changes in the way we ask and issues
emerging, there is one striking theme that emerges across the time series data. Bullying has been
identified as a top five issue of concern for young people across all age groups for the past six
years. Further, transport has featured in the top ten since the survey inception in 2007.
Rank
2013
2011
2009
2007
1
Stress
Bullying
Bullying
Drugs
2
School or work related stress
Alcohol
Drugs
Transport
3
Bullying
Drugs
Activities
Activities
4
Being unhappy
Violence
Transport
Alcohol
5
Body image
Smoking
Boredom
Bullying
6
Life changing event
Transport
Vandalism
Boredom
7
Being overweight
Boredom
Alcohol
Smoking
8
Peer pressure
Vandalism
Smoking
Vandalism
9
Mental health and wellbeing
Activities
Safety
Sports/facilities
10
Transport
Shopping
Skate parks
Violence
Table 6: Overall rankings since 2007
6.4 Stress
Approximately one-in-five young people who participated in the Youth Forum Survey this year
nominated stress as the top issue of concern to them personally, over the past year. It was rated
as the top issue of concern by the 13–17 year age group and the 18–25 year age group. The 10–
12 year age group rated stress second only to bullying as the top issue of concern in the last year.
The highest response rate of 51.8 per cent to this issue was reported by the 18–25 year age
group. This was followed by the 13–17 year age group with 33.9 per cent of respondents rating
stress as their top issue of concern, in comparison to 20.1 per cent of 10–12 year olds.
Stress and wellbeing in Australia in 2012: A state of the nation survey and previous APS research
confirms that young adults continue to report experiencing significantly higher levels of stress
and significantly lower levels of wellbeing than the general population. In particular, those in the
18–25 year age group reported significantly higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms
when compared to the older age groups in the broader community. Again, these results are
comparable to those of other countries where older adults report lower levels of stress and
higher mental health and wellbeing than young people. The APS Stress and Wellbeing survey
found that contributing to young people’s levels of stress are concerns about friendships,
relationship issues, environmental issues and matters related to work and study (APS 2012).
Family income levels also appears to play a role in reported wellbeing, with higher education and
income associated with higher levels of wellbeing; and those with lower levels of education
reporting significantly more perceived stress when compared to the general population. This
finding is in line with Mission Australia National Youth Survey 2012 which found that Australian
teenagers are stressed and anxious about their family's finances and the high cost of living and
how that has spiralled out of control - even in households where there are two income earners.
Mission Australia reported that the global financial crisis and job losses were going to impact but
the extent of it [means] young people really think they have got to do something to help the
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
14
family household. Many young people also reported being concerned about having their own
money for the future and having a secure job and a house to live in (Mission Australia 2012).
6.5 School and work-related stress
School and work-related stress was the second highest issue of concern for young people in the
past year. This was ranked highly by the 18–25 year age group and also by the 13–17 year age
group. A total of 31.7 per cent of the 18–25 year age group registered school and work-related
stress as an issue of concern in the past year followed closely by the 13–17 year age group at 29.7
per cent.
These results are also reflected in the findings of the Stress and wellbeing in Australia in 2012: A
state of the nation survey report in which full-time students scored significantly higher on the
measures of anxiety and depression when compared to the general population. This report also
noted another source of stress for the younger adult group may be in the workplace with those
in the 18–25 year age range reporting significantly lower levels of job satisfaction, job interest
and work life balance than the general population (APS 2012).
For the past two years the Mission Australia National Youth Survey has also found that students
reported higher levels of stress and concern relating to school and work. The 2011 and 2012
Mission Australia surveys found that these problems articulated by respondents reflected
teenagers' uncertainty about the economy and concerns about how they would cope financially
in the long-run if they did not achieve good results at school.
This was attributed to more gloomy economic forecasts and a rise in youth unemployment
which in turn leads to escalating pressures to perform in school (Mission Australia 2011–12).
The trend in the casualisation of Australia’s workforce has also contributed to young people’s
work related stress. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the journal Social
Indicators Research, since 1984 casual employment in Australia has grown from 15 per cent to
25 per cent in the workforce. Young people are disproportionately bearing the brunt of the
change in employment practices (ABS 2010).
The Foundation for Young Australians 2011 inquiry confirmed this finding, reporting that more
than twice as many young adults have taken part-time jobs. “Many are seeking full-time work,”
the foundation says, “but have to make do with part-time or casual” (Foundation for Young
Australians 2011).
The 2013 youth forum survey responses to the top-two issues of concern relating to stress has
also been reflected in national data in recent times. Young Australians, Their health and
wellbeing 2011 reported that an estimated 1.2 million mental health related general practice
encounters for young people in Australia, accounting for 32 encounters per 100 young people –
an increase of around 21 per cent since 1989–99, according to the 2008–09 Bettering the
Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) survey of general practice activity and Medicare
Benefits Schedule claims data (AIHW 2011).
In line with the Council’s 2013 youth forum survey results, the Young Australia’s report found
that young females were almost twice as likely as young males to have mental health-related
general practice encounters (41 encounters per 100 young females compared with 23 for young
males). This is consistent with the observation that young females attend general practice more
often than young males. The most common mental health problems managed for young people
were depression (13.5 encounters per 100 young people), anxiety (5.7 encounters per 100), drug
abuse (two encounters per 100), and sleep disturbance (1.8 encounters per 100).
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
15
6.6 Bullying
The theme of bullying has again been identified as a top issue of concern for young people over
the past year as it was in 2007, 2009 and again in 2011 youth forum survey results. This year
bullying was ranked as the second highest issue of concern for the 10–12 year age group at 19.8
per cent. In 2011 this age group ranked bullying as their highest issue of concern at 40 per cent.
Bullying was the third highest issue of personal concern for the 13–17 year age group, registering
20.1 per cent of responses. This issue did not rank in the top five issues of personal concern for
the 18–25 year age group.
Cyber bullying was also offered as an option in the survey but this option only received 1.5 per
cent of responses as opposed to bullying which received 18.8 per cent of responses. This would
suggest that the bullying that young people are experiencing is more prevalent in the playground,
on the way to and from school or at social and sporting events.
These findings are also consistent with the Community Adolescent Profiles, Cardinia Shire
Council 2010 which found that 46.5 per cent of the Shire, students who were surveyed reported
being bullied recently. This figure was higher than the proportion reported across the Southern
Metropolitan Region (42.4 %) and the state wide figure of 44.6 per cent (DEECD 2010).
It is estimated that one-in-four children will either be the victim of playground bullying or be a
witness to playground bullying. It is also widely recognised that bullying most often occurs in the
last years of primary and the first two to three years at secondary school (Kids Help Line 2009).
The reported level of anxiety and prevalence of bullying reported by the respondents over the
past six years in the youth forum survey is of concern. Bullying is characterised by an imbalance
of physical or psychological strength between the bully and his or her victim. It is known to
negatively impact on young people’s mental health status (DEECD) and has been shown to
cause high amounts of distress for young people, with significant risks of psychological problems
including the risk if depression, poor self-esteem and disengagement (YACVIC 2010).
6.7 No issue
As noted in Section 4, young people were provided with 24 options to choose from to rank their
top three issues of concern over the past year. One of the options was no issue. In the overall
rankings, 30.2 per cent of the 10–12 year age group ranked no issue as their first choice.
This would suggest that one-in-three of respondents from the primary schools in Cardinia Shire
that participated in this survey were generally travelling well and had not experienced any issue of
concern in the past year.
A total of 13.7 per cent of 13–17 year olds and 8.2 per cent of 18–25 year olds chose no issue as
an option.
In terms of gender, 22.34 per cent of males chose no issue as opposed to 11.90 per cent of
females. For young people with a disability 18 reported have no issue, which was also the second
highest response rate after stress and bullying, which each received 24 responses.
Options
Overall %
Males %
Females %
Young people with a disability
No. of respondents
Stress
31.71
26.27
36.48
34.29
No issue
17.13
22.34
11.90
7.14
Table 7: No issue of concern that young people have experienced in the past year
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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This result is also reflective of the Australian Psychological Society report which as stated
previously highlighted that females report more stressful life events than do males. The results of
this study confirm this finding but may also indicate that high levels of perceived stress may not
necessarily have a higher impact on females’ mental health and general wellbeing (APS 2012).
7 AT WHAT AGE SHOULD YOUNG PEOPLE BE OFFERED
SUPPORT IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS?
This question has been included in the youth forum survey for the first time. Young people were
asked to nominate the age that either they or a friend could have been offered support for a
problem they were experiencing. The top three ages reported by young people were:



6–10 years of age
13 years of age
14 years of age
The responses as shown in Table 7 indicate that both females and males had a preference for
support during or before reaching adolescents, that is, at the age of 6 to 10 years of age. This age
group ranked the highest for males with 13.6 per cent and the third highest for females at 11.6
per cent. The second highest response was for 13 years of age. This age was ranked the highest
by females at 13.8 per cent and the second highest preferred age by males at 10.7 per cent. The
third highest ranking was for young people to be offered support at 14 years of age. This was the
second highest ranking for females at 11.9 per cent and the third highest ranking for males at 8.5
per cent.
Age that young people should be offered support
Females %
Males %
Overall
6 to 10 years of age
11.6
13.6
25.2
13 years of age
13.8
10.7
24.5
14 years of age
11.9
8.5
20.4
No problem
7.8
13.7
21.5
Don’t know
17.4
21.8
39.2
Table 8: The age that young people should be offered support
The highest overall response to this question was don’t know at 39.2 per cent, while overall 21.5
per cent or one-in-five respondents reported no problem. This data suggests the need to
intervene in the early years.
8 WHO OR WHAT DO YOUNG PEOPLE TURN TO FOR
INFORMATION, ADVICE OR HELP?
This question has been included in the youth forum survey for the first time. Young people were
asked if they needed some information, advice or help with a problem who are the people or
places that they turn to. They were given 16 options ranging from their family to social media
chat rooms. Across all three age groups young people chose their immediate family (for example
mum, dad, brother or sister) as the people they would turn to for information, advice or help
most often. As illustrated in Figure 3 immediate family received 52.6 per cent of responses
followed by friends with 31.5 per cent of responses and school teachers and extended family (for
example aunty, uncle grandma) both receiving 11.1 per cent of
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
17
responses.
Figure 3: Who or what do young people turn to for information, advice or help
The male and female responses were similar to the overall findings for this question with 51.0
per cent of females nominating their immediate family as the people they would turn to for
information, advice or help, while 54.6 per cent of males chose their immediate family. Friends
were again the next choice for both males and females at 28.3 per cent and 34.3 per cent
respectively.
Extended family and school teachers were rated closely by females as the third choice for
information, advice or help. School teachers received 13.2 per cent of female respondents and
the extended family received 12.5 per cent of responses.
Male responses for extended family and school teachers were also similar with extended family
receiving 9.5 per cent of responses and school teachers receiving 8.8 per cent of male responses.
This result would indicate the need to increase support and education to families and school
teachers (not just youth workers and student welfare staff), in order for them to provide young
people with information, advice or help on a range of youth related issues.
9 THE TOP THINGS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO
YOUNG PEOPLE
This question has been included in the youth forum survey for the first time. Young people were
asked to nominate the top three things that are most important to them. Respondents were given
20 options to choose from ranging from friends to the environment. Again family was chosen as
the most important thing across all three age groups.
As illustrated in Figure 4 family received 50.2 per cent of responses followed by friends with 37.3
per cent responses and education received 10.7 per cent of the overall responses.
Figure 4: Top things that are most important to young people
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
18
There is increasing evidence to show that families have a significant influence on reducing risk
behaviours and creating positive health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people.
A report on young Australians’ wellbeing by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and
Youth states that “childhood is the most critical stage in human development. Research from
fields including neuroscience and economics provides evidence of how childhood and youth can
influence a range of outcomes later in life” (ARACY 2008).
The transition period of adolescence is critical time for effective parenting and during this time
parents and caregivers can greatly influence the outcomes of young people. Australian Institute
of Family Studies research concludes that “…having close, loving and encouraging childhood
relationships with parents lays a strong foundation for thriving in young adulthood and may also
buffer young people from mental health problems”(AIFS 2010).
It should also be noted that education was ranked as the third most important thing to young
people who participated in the youth forum survey this year which is reflected in school and
work-related stress ranking second overall as an issue of concern.
10 ACTIVITIES YOUNG PEOPLE DO IN THEIR SPARE
TIME
Young people were asked to nominate what activities they do in their spare time. They were
given 25 options with no limit on the number of choices. Overall the most popular activities for
respondents in 2013 were:





internet: 963 responses
Facebook: 926 responses
outdoor sports activities: 742 responses
gaming: 706 responses
shopping: 690 responses
In 2011, the internet was the most popular activity for young people and has again proved to be
a popular pastime. Facebook has overtaken shopping as a favoured pastime since 2011 and
outdoor sports activities has climbed from fourth position in 2011 to be the third most popular
past time for survey respondents. The inclusion of gaming for the first time in the youth forum
survey signifies the rise of more passive pursuits with three of the top five activities being
sedentary activities.
Overall ranking
2013
Ages 10–12
No. of responses
Ages 13–17
No. of responses
Ages 18–25
No. of responses
1
Internet
Internet
213
Facebook
770
Facebook
65
2
Facebook
Outdoor sport
192
Internet
702
Internet
52
3
Outdoor
sport
Gaming
174
Mobile
phone
525
Shopping
50
4
Gaming
Shopping
129
Outdoor
sport
524
Mobile phone
48
5
Shopping
Instagram
119
Gaming
504
Work
46
Table 9: Activities young people do in their spare time
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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Australian health guidelines recommend that children and young people engage in at least 60
minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day, and do not exceed two hours of
screen time daily utilising electronic media such as the internet, television or gaming.
From those that responded to the Youth Survey, young people in Cardinia Shire appear to use
their spare time doing activities that are largely sedentary and this raises some health concerns.
It has been shown that although some time limited use of the internet can be educational,
children and young people who exceed the recommendations are more likely to be overweight,
less physically active, have fewer social interactions, and consume more ‘unhealthy foods’
including snacks high in sugar, fat and salt, and sugary drinks. Further, as the amount of time
children and young people spend using electronic media increases, their mental health and
wellbeing is adversely impacted particularly in those aged between 10–12 years engaging in four
hours or more of screen time daily.
Unfortunately, research shows that only 40 per cent of Australian children aged between 9 and
13 meet physical activity guidelines, and as little as 7 per cent of these children use electronic
media for less than two hours per day. Consequently, a large proportion of Australian children
have less opportunity for active play, outdoor and creative play, and fewer of the associated
benefits. In relation to gaming, however, there is growing popularity and availability of physically
active games such as Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation Move and XBOX Kinect, which infers that
gaming, can also be an active pursuit comparable to physical activity.
The youth survey responses indicate that a number of youth in Cardinia Shire rank internet use
first and foremost as a way to spend their spare time and that it is likely therefore that their
screen time is composed largely by passive or sedentary behaviours.
11 SERVICES, ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, EVENTS OR
OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR LOCAL AREA
Young people were asked what services, activities, programs, events or other opportunities they
would like to see in their home town/area. Respondents were given 17 options with no limit on
the number of options they chose. They were also given to opportunity to list their preferred
service, activity, program or event if it did not appear in the options list.
The overall responses for the most requested:



social activities across all age groups were:
 cinema: 1015 (60.2%)
 places to hang out: 722 (42.8%)
 shopping: 714 (42.3%)
services were:
 youth centre: 236 (14.0%)
 university: 224 (13.3%)
 TAFE: 195 (11.6%)
programs/events were:
 music festival: 699 (41.4%)
 sport: 616 (36.1%)
 art program: 342 (20.3%)
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
20
Overall ranking
2013
Ages 10–12
No. of requests
Ages 13–17
No. of requests
Ages 18–25
No. of request
1 Cinema
Cinema
229
Cinema
740
Cinema
46
2 Places to hang
out
Sport
188
Music festival
537
Music festival
38
3 Shopping
Places to hang
out
174
Shopping
531
Shopping
38
4 Music festival
Shopping
145
Places to hang
out
518
Places to hang out
30
5 Sport
Playground
133
Sport
495
Youth centre
25
Table 10: Services, activities, programs, events or other opportunities young people would like to see in their home town/area
See Appendix 2 for services, activities, programs, events or other opportunities requested by
locality.
12 HOW YOUNG PEOPLE GET AROUND
Young people were asked what the top-three ways of getting around to their daily activities were.
Respondents were given 12 options and asked to number the top three modes of transport. They
were also given the opportunity to list their daily transport modes if it did not appear in the
options list.
The overall responses for the most common daily transport modes across all age groups were:



parent drives me: 1482
walk: 942
bus: 847
As highlighted in Table 6 the most common mode of travel for young people is by car, either
being driven by parents or driving oneself as a young adult. Walking as a mode of transport is
ranked second overall behind parents drive me. This may be the result of a large proportion of
respondents living in the larger townships in the Shire or in the neighbouring municipality of
Casey and are within walking distance to friend’s homes, venues and social activities. Bus was
ranked third overall. Given the majority of respondents were primary and secondary school
students, this response may relate to daily school buses and weekend travel to larger service
centres.
Transport
mode
Aged 10–12
Aged 13–17
Aged 18–25
Overall
Ranking (out of
total)
Ranking (out of
total)
Ranking (out of
total)
Ranking (out of total)
Parent drives
1
1
1
1
Friend drives
6
4
6
4
I drive myself
10
10
2
9
Bus
4
2
4
3
Train
5
5
5
6
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
21
Transport
mode
Aged 10–12
Aged 13–17
Aged 18–25
Overall
Walk
2
3
3
2
Skate/scooter
7
8
8
8
Bicycle
3
6
10
5
Hitchhike
9
9
7
10
Other
8
7
9
7
Table 11: Modes of transport for getting around
As a result of the Shire’s limited public transport options young people are reliant on their family
for transport to and from their daily activities. The poor public transport network and the
vastness of the municipality, that is 1,280 square kilometres, make it one of the highest
residential car ownership areas in metropolitan Melbourne.
The 2011 ABS census data reports that Cardinia Shire residents have one of the highest car
ownership rates in Melbourne and the lowest public transport use. Approximately 65 per cent of
households in Cardinia Shire had access to two or more vehicles compared to 51 per cent in
Greater Melbourne and 5.1 per cent of residents travel to work on public transport compared to
11.5 per cent of commuters in Greater Melbourne (Informed Decisions 2013).
The ability of the population to access services and employment is strongly influenced by access
to transport, which has been acknowledged by the recent Victorian Auditor General’s Report
titled report Developing Transport Infrastructure and Services for Population Growth Areas.
The report calls for “urgent action to address this serious problem. Inadequate public transport
and growing gaps in the road network in these communities are creating barriers to mobility,
including access to critical services, education and employment opportunities. In turn, these
deficiencies are increasing car dependence, pollution and exacerbating traffic congestion at
significant community cost. These both limit state productivity and the time that people can
spend with their families” (Victorian State Government).
Mind the Gaps – an assessment of transport needs and issues for young people in Melbourne’s
urban fringes found that “young people rely more heavily on public transport than other
people”. A study by Griffith University’s Urban Program found that on average, young people
also suffer greater transport disadvantage than the overall population.
This compounds other disadvantage experienced by young people, making it even more difficult
for them to get jobs or training, as well as to be engaged in social of community
activities”(VCOSS 2010).
13 HOW DO YOUNG PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT STUFF?
Young people were asked to nominate the top three ways that they would like to receive or find
out about youth services, programs or events. Respondents were given 12 options of their
preferred communication methods. They were also given the opportunity to list their own
choices if it did not appear in the options list.
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
22
The overall responses for preferred method to find out about events, programs and services
were:



Facebook:723
email: 583
posters at school: 456
The responses to this question highlight that Facebook is largely the preferred mode of
communication for youth forum survey respondents, followed by email and posters at school,
text message and interestingly mail.
Figure 5: Young people’s preferred method of receiving information
14 CHANGING ONE THING TO HELP THE
YOUNG PEOPLE
Young people were asked if they could change one thing to help young people in Cardinia Shire,
what that would be. This was an open ended question to provide young people with the
opportunity to articulate their needs and aspirations. The responses cover a broad range of issues
and provide context and meaning to the quantitative data collected in the previous questions.
The data collected was grouped into 30 themes ranging from increasing services and facilities to
homelessness and stronger tobacco controls. The area that received the most requests to help
young people in the Shire was increased availability, accessibility of advice support and programs.
Comments requesting increased and accessible services included:




“Cardinia shire youth workers should be more involved with the schools, they should come
and do talk about the issues we are facing as young people and what help is available. This
could make us feel less alone”
“create more help programs for those who are on a tight budget or a family with financial
stress”
“counselling services”
“…more information about how to get help for mental health services”.
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Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
23
Adolescence is a critical phase of emotional, social and physical growth and development. The
right support at the right time can help young people lead healthy lives and stay connected,
engaged and participating in their communities.
The findings from this year’s youth forum survey indicate that parents, carers, friends and
relatives are the main sources of advice and support for young people. Other important support
can come from elsewhere — teachers, mentors, employers, coaches, broader community
networks, religious organisations and formal social support services such as youth services and
mental health services (VCOSS/YACVic 2013).
However not all young people have support networks in place: 20 per cent of those surveyed by
Mission Australia said they had nowhere to go for advice and support (Mission Australia 2011).
It is important that supports are available and accessible for all young people. Everyone needs a
safety net and someone to turn to for support at some point in their life.
Recent research highlights the importance of taking a ‘life course’ approach – that is, considering
adolescence in the context of what precedes it and what follows. This is particularly important as
changes in our society create changes in the experience of ‘youth’ as a period in the life course.
As evidenced in the youth forum survey responses. At the lower end, pre-teens are exhibiting
behaviour and having experiences previously associated with teenage years. At the upper end,
social and economic drivers, longer periods spent in education, the volatile job market and
changing patterns of family formation mean that many young adults are reporting school and
work related stress and mental health issues.
Building the Scaffolding: strengthening support for young people in Victoria highlights the
importance of creating a more seamless system of support from childhood through to
adulthood, which does not suddenly stop at a particular age but takes developmental needs into
account. This does not mean that every service has to provide support to every age group, but a
more coordinated system would help to ensure that children and young people do not fall
through the current gaps between child, adolescent and adult services (VCOSS/YACVic 2013).
The second highest request was for more activities and social events. Comments requesting
more social and recreational opportunities included:



“have more community things to get people together for young people so that they can make
new friends”
“community services like free dance days, art classes and more. fun activities”
“hold more festivals to promote kids helpline and other teen values like sexting, no smoking,
no drinking”
The third highest request was for more and increased sporting facilities. Comments requesting
more sporting opportunities included:



“get a wider variety of sporting clubs”
“more skate parks”
“I would change the amount of sporting facilities in Pakenham area. We are lacking…”
The top ten requests for 2013 are listed in order of preference in Figure 6 below. Survey
respondents have strongly indicated the need for locally based accessible support services and
programs. They have also articulated the need for support to be made available to young people
at an earlier age as problems for some young people emerge while they are still at primary school.
There are relatively few services available to support young people at any earlier age and the
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
24
problems that arise for young people in their teens often have their roots in experiences that
occurred in their earlier years (VCOSS/YACVic 2013).
Figure 6: Changing one thing to help young people in Cardinia Shire in 2013
In 2011, improving public transport received the highest response rate. Just over one in five
respondents believed that improving train and bus services was important. In line with this year’s
results activities and sporting facilities were ranked after transport in 2011.
15 HOW PREVIOUS SURVEY FINDINGS HAVE
BENEFITTED YOUNG PEOPLE
Council’s Youth Services have undertaken the Youth Forum Survey since 2007. Since this time
the input received has been instrumental in influencing program and service
development/delivery both internally and by external youth agencies.
Council has a key local leadership role in developing an integrated approach to planning and
service provision for young people and their families. In addition other health, welfare and
recreation services will be required to support the needs of young people.
The provision of generalist youth services is critical to support the health and wellbeing and
development of young people. Health and wellbeing refers to ‘a state of complete physical,
mental and social wellbeing.’ Council’s Youth Services works to improve the capacity and
resilience of young people through the provision of services, programs and activities.
Cardinia Shire Council Youth Services deliver a range of health; well-being and developmental
programs; services; activities; and events to young people who live within the Shire - enabling
them to build resilience around issues they may face, fulfil their potential and develop themselves
as young adults and community members.
A number of programs, events, projects, and activities have taken place over the past two years
as a direct result from what young people told us in 2011.
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
25
15.1
Recreational activities
15.1.1 Mobile Youth Bus (MYBus)
Council’s mobile youth bus (MYBus) was launched in June 2009. This was part of a response to
young people in past forums, surveys and consultations who said they felt there was a lack of
accessible and affordable activities available to young people.
The MYBus has a range of interactive games and resources for young people as well as up-todate information about local services, events and programs. Young people can also gain
information on a range of youth-related health and wellbeing topics.
In 2012-2013 the Mobile Youth Bus attended 10 secondary schools, 15 primary schools and 16
rural townships in the Shire after school.
15.1.2 Events
Young people had commented that they would like to have more events in their community. As
a result, youth services has delivered numerous music and cultural events that have targeted
different age groups and interests to provide a good cross section of social outlets for young
people to participate in.
FReeZA
The FReeZA committee of young people provide the community with low cost evens that focus
on music and culture. These events are spread across the Shire to ensure all young people can
access an event.
National Youth Week
National Youth Week includes a range of recreational activities and an annual festival. The
activities and festival are organised in partnership with young people who form the National
Youth Week Committee. National Youth Week aims to raise the profile of young people’s
contributions and achievements in the community.
15.1.3 Skate, BMX, Scooter competitions and workshops
Due to their popularity and from feedback received from young people as part of the 2011
Youth Forum Survey Council, Youth Services continue to host skate/BMX and scooter
competitions for young people each year. These are held in January and April.
In 2011 and again in 2012 Council partnered with the YMCA and hosted a South Eastern
League Skate and BMX competition.
A Skate/BMX workshop was held at Gembrook Skate Park. The workshops were highly
successful with over 30 young people participating.
15.1.4 Afterschool/interest-based programs
Youth Services has delivered a range of interest based programs/workshops. Programs are
developed based on feedback received from young people. Programs change on a term-by-term
basis so that they reflect current needs and interests. Programs have included; dance, art, drama,
cooking, music and general recreational activities. The youth services team ensures that there is
one after-school program in a rural township each term.
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
26
15.1.5 Holiday Program
Based on young people’s feedback youth services delivers, a wide range of low to no-cost
activities at part of the holiday program. There are excursions, incursions at My Place and
activities on the MYBus every school holidays. Transport is provided to rural townships for
some activities and the MYBus is located in rural townships for young people to easily access.
In addition youth services provide an annual camp in September/October for young people aged
11-16. The camps include a range of indoor and outdoor adventure, recreational and arts based
activities.
15.2 Information/advice/referral and support
15.2.1 My Place – Pakenham Youth Facility
My Place opened in August, 2012 and houses nine different specialist youth agencies. The facility
also provides space for youth agencies to provide an outreach service to young people aged 1025 years on a casual basis. These services and agencies include: Youth justice, Centrelink,
headspace psychologist and GP. The facility provides a range of programs and activities for
young people as well as an informational, advice, support and a referral service for young people
and the community.
15.2.2 Information and referral
The Council’s Youth Support Program will commence late 2013, providing young people aged
10-25 with short to medium-term support. The program assists young people to engage with
other services and programs in the community.
15.2.3 Cardinia Youth Services Facebook page
The 2011 Youth Forum report highlighted that young people use Facebook and the Internet as
their preferred method of finding out about stuff. In 2012 Council’s Youth Services team
developed its Facebook page. Facebook is used to inform young people, parents and the wider
community about programs, events and services that are offered to young people by Council’s
Youth Services team.
In addition to Facebook, the Council website provides young people and families with up to date
information about programs and services offered by the youth services team.
15.2.4 Text message
The use of mobile phones continues to increase amongst young people, with many wishing to
receive information via SMS. In response youth services developed a mobile phone number
distribution list in order to send text messages to parents and young people about programs and
events.
15.3 Personal development/health and wellbeing
15.3.1 Personal development programs and workshops
Youth Services have developed and delivered the following programs and workshops based on
issues that were listed for young people in Cardinia Shire.
15.3.2 Resilience awareness workshops (RAW)
RAW is a one-hour workshop delivered to grade 6 students. The workshop tackles bullying and
uses a strength-based approach to build young people’s resilience and support network.
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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15.3.3 Drum Beat
Drum Beat is delivered once-a-week over a term and uses the djembe as an engagement tool to
explore feelings, communication, relationships, teamwork and self-control.
15.3.4 Shout Out Program
Shout Out is a six week program delivered to groups of year nine girls and boys. The program
engages young people to discuss issues such as body image, self-esteem, sexual health, drugs and
alcohol, party-safe, communication and teamwork.
15.3.5 Open Doors Program
The Open Doors Program is a partnership between TaskForce, Oakwood School, Youth
Services and YMCA. The program provides young people who are not attending mainstream
school and have complex issues/barriers to community engagement with an opportunity to
participate in recreational activities/sport at no cost.
15.3.6 Sexual health workshops
Youth Services provides primary and secondary schools and alternative education groups, with
workshops on sexual health, puberty and respectful relationships when requested.
15.3.7 Mural projects
Youth Services has partnered with young people, community and schools to develop murals.
The mural projects provide young people with an opportunity to develop their creative/artistic
skills as part of a community project. The murals have the added benefit of reducing graffiti in
the Shire as they are strategically placed in areas that are identified as ‘hot spots’.
15.3.8 Sustain Program
The Sustain program is delivered to young people who are in an alternative education setting
(Community VCAL, Community Centre Gippsland, and Oakwood School). Young people
develop a range of practical life skills as part of the program.
15.3.9 Rise Up Theatre Project
Rise Up Theatre Project engaged year 10 students from five local secondary schools to
participate in a piece of theatre that explored youth issues and created community dialogue about
solutions to these issues.
15.3.10
Ignite Program
15.3.11
Stress down workshops
15.3.12
Drug and alcohol/party safe workshops
The Ignite program was designed to engage young people who were at risk of disengaging from
school. The program used music and film (the interests of program participants) to explore
youth issues.
Youth Services delivered a number of workshops to year 12 students. Students were provided
with strategies of how to reduce stress during VCE, and informed about what support is
available for them to access in their local community.
As alcohol, drugs and smoking were in the top five issues that young people experienced in
Cardinia Shire, a number of workshops have been developed to secondary schools and
alternative education groups to provide education about hosting safe parties and the risks
associated with drugs and alcohol.
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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15.3.13
L2P Program
Funded by VicRoads the L2P program supports young people to gain their mandatory 120 hours
of driving experience with a community volunteer. Kooweerup Regional Health Service is
contracted by Council to deliver the program.
15.4 Social support groups
15.4.1 Young Mums Group
Youth Services in partnership with the Maternal Child and Health Service deliver a weekly
program to pregnant or parenting young mums. The group provides participants with practical
parenting skills as well as individual and peer support. Participants are involved in planning
recreational activities on a term-by-term basis.
15.4.2 GLBTI (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex)
The GLBTI group was established in early 2013 in response to young people wanting a positive
outlet and social support from other young people who identified as being GLBTI. The group is
delivered in partnership with TaskForce Community Agency.
15.5 Civic engagement
15.5.1 FReeZA committee’s
Youth Services has now established two FReeZA committees due to the demand of young
people wanting to participate in FReeZA. One committee is focused on music and the other
focuses on culture, community and raising awareness about youth issues.
15.5.2 National Youth Week committee
The National Youth Week committee is made up of young people across the Shire aged 13–18
years. These young people undertake event management training to assist them with planning
and delivering the annual national youth week festival.
15.5.3 Young Leaders Program
The young leaders program is delivered annually. It is targeted at young people who are year 10
or equivalent who display leadership skills. The program assists young people to build upon
these skills and attributes. Young people increase their knowledge of how they can use their
motivation, passion and leadership qualities in their school and wider community. The program
has evolved to reflect young people’s needs and as a result a component of volunteering and
developing a community project was implemented in the last two programs.
16
COUNCIL’S ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES
16.1
Information dissemination
The Youth Forum Survey Report is distributed internally as well as externally on Council’s
website. Council’s Youth Services distributes the results to local agencies and organisations
through Cardinia Shire Council youth network so that it can inform future program planning and
encourage new partnerships to be developed. Results are also shared with members of the
Cardinia Shire Council Youth Network, Interface Council Committee, Regional Youth Action
Network (RYAN), local Secondary Schools and the Cardinia Shire Council Youth Strategy
Reference Group. The reports are made available to the wider community via Council’s website.
16.2 Planning
The data from the survey feeds into Council’s business planning, Youth services annual program
and informs the delivery of the 2012–16 Youth Strategy.
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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16.3 Advocacy and commitment
Due to different organisations and levels of government having designated responsibilities and
portfolios, Cardinia Shire Council may not have direct responsibility for addressing all concerns
and gaps raised by survey respondents. However, Council is committed to listening to young
people, their families and community partners to continually improve and develop local services
for young people.
Council uses the results of the survey when advocating for increased services and programs as
well as developing local infrastructure which will meet the needs of local young people. Through
Council’s commitment to working in partnership with government and local partners, it will
share information to support the development of a more effective and joined up service system.
Council’s Youth Services has used, and will continue to use, the results of the survey when
advocating for an increase in specialist services (such as counselling and mental health services)
within the municipality, as well as advocating for increased funding, grants and sponsorship.
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
30
APPENDIX
APPENDIX 1 YOUTH FORUM SURVEY
Cardinia Shire Council wants to hear what you have to say. Learning about what is important to
you as a young person in Cardinia helps us to consider the kinds of services and support young
people would like and possibly need. We would like to know things such as; what you like to do,
what issues you think are important for us to know about and suggestions you may have for
things to be different. We keep your identity confidential and the information collected will be
pulled together so we can understand what is important to all young people across the Shire.
Your voice counts!!
Age: ______________
 female
Gender (please tick)
Do you have a physical or mental disability?
 male
 Yes  No  Not sure
What country were you born in? ___________________ or  Would rather not say
What town do you normally live in/stay?
_______________________________________________________
Please tick what is relevant to you
 Secondary school  University
 Unemployed/not studying
 Primary school
 Full-time employment
 Apprenticeship/traineeship
 TAFE
 Part-time/casual employment
 VCAL, CGEA, Oakwood School
 Other _________________
Question 1
If you have experienced any of the following problems in the last year, please select what the top
three issues of concern were to you, 1 being the most important rated issue, 2 as the second
most important and 3 the third most important.
 Stress
 Bullying
 Cyber bullying
 Smoking
 School or work-related stress  Alcohol
 Mental health issue  Peer pressure
 Violence in public spaces
 Body image
 Drugs
 Being unhappy
 Family violence
 Transport
 Isolation
 No issues
 Victim of violence
 I don’t know
 Sexual health issue
 Graffiti
 Sexuality
 Life changing events (e.g. moving school, parent split up)
 Discrimination
 Being overweight
 Other _________________  Other _________________
 Other ______________
Issue 1______________________________________
Issue 2 ______________________________________
Issue 3 ______________________________________
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
31
Question 2
If you, or a friend, have experienced some problems as a young person and someone could have
offered support – at what age do you think that would have been?
Age: _____________
Question 3
If you need some information, advice or help with a problem who are the people or places you
turn to? Please number in terms of priority with 1 being the most used, 2 being the second most
used and 3 being your third most used.
 Immediate family (mum, dad, brother, sister)
 Extended family (aunty, uncle, grandma)
 Youth workers at My Place (youth facility)
 Telephone (kids help line)
 Friends
 Adult outside the family
 Phone apps
 Council website information
 Doctor
 Social media (chat rooms e.g. eheadspace)
 Other website information
 School teachers
 I don’t know
 School counsellor
 Youth workers
 Other _________________
 Other _________________
 Other _____________
Problem 1 ______________________________
Problem 2 ______________________________
Problem 3 ______________________________
Question 4
What are the top three things that are most important to you? Please number them in terms of
priority with 1 being your most important, 2 your second most important and 3 your third most
important.
 Friends
 Work
 Environment
 Place to hang out
 Recreational activities
 Sport
 Family
 Education
 Recreational activities
 Money
 Feeling happy
 Body image
 Access to support services
 Being successful  Being healthy
 Equality
 Music/art
 Relationships
 Being accepted
 Other_________________  Other _________________
 Other _______________
Priority 1_______________________________
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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Priority 2 _______________________________
Priority 3 _______________________________
Question 5
Please tick what activities you do in your spare time.
 Work (part-/full-time)
 Outdoor sport activities  Clubbing/pubs
 BMX/Bike trails
 Shopping
 Other
 Skateboarding/Skate park
 Facebook
 Instagram
 Music (band/lessons/playing)  Gaming
 Internet
 Arts (dance/theatre/drawing)  Parties
 Mobile phone (sms-ing)
 Volunteering
 Study
 Indoor sports activities
 Religion
 Tumblr
 Twitter
 I don’t know
 Gambling
 Other ____________
 I don’t participate in any activities
Question 6
Please tick what services, activities, programs, events or other opportunities you would like to see
in your home town/area?
 Shopping centres
 Music festivals/gigs/concerts
 Improving the environment
 Cinemas
 Volunteering
 Sport
 Youth Centres
 Art programs
 Places to hang out
 Skate Parks
 Counselling services
 University
 TAFE
 Play grounds
 I don’t know
 Internet café
 Forums/committees for you to have a voice
 Other _________________  Other _________________
 Other ___________
Question 7
In getting to your daily activities what are the top three ways you get around?
 Bus
 Parent drives me
 Skate/scooter
 Bike
 Train
 Friend drives me
 Nightrider bus
 Hitchhike
 Walk
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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 I drive myself
 Taxi
 Other ___________
Activity 1 _____________________________________
Activity 2 _____________________________________
Activity 3 _____________________________________
Question 8
What are the top three ways that you would like to receive or find out information from Council
about youth programs, services and events?
 Facebook
 Mail
 Posters at school
 Phone apps
 Posters in the community  Telephone
 Website
 I don’t know
 Email
 QR codes
 Newspaper
 Text message
 Other _________________
Option 1: ____________________________
Option 2: ____________________________
Option 3: ____________________________
Question 9
If you could change one thing to help the young people from the Cardinia Shire, what would you
choose to do?
Question 10
Do you have any other comments to add?
For entry into the draw to win an iPod or 1 of 5 $30 Westfield vouchers, ensure your details
below:
Name: _____________________________________________________________________
Mobile: _________________________ Email address: _______________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Optional: If you would like to be added to our youth services mailing list to find out about youth
services events and programs, please tick how you wish to be notified below.
 Mail
 Text message
 Email
 All
Thanks for your time in completing this survey.
Please send hardcopy surveys to:
Emma Carter – Youth Services Coordinator, Cardinia Shire Council, PO Box 7, Pakenham 3810
or fax 5945 4401
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
34
If you have anything you would like to discuss with Cardinia Shire Council’s Youth Services
team or if you would like to talk to a youth worker, call 1800 4YOUTH or visit
www.cardinia.vic.gov.au
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
35
APPENDIX 2 SERVICES, ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS
Below is a list of the services, activities, programs, events or opportunities that young people have nominated via locality.
Shoppi
ng
centres
Music
festival
s/
gigs/
concer
ts
Improvi
ng the
environ
ment
Cinem
as
Volunte
ering
Spo
rt
Yout
h
Centr
es
Art
Progra
ms
Places
to
hang
out
Skate
Park
Counsell
ing
services
Univer
sity
TAF
E
Forums
/commit
tees for
you to
have a
voice
Play
ground
s
Inter
net
café
I don't
know
Othe
r
Bayles/Cat
ani/Cora
Lynn
10
9
3
17
4
11
3
8
8
10
1
1
1
1
9
5
2
4
Beaconsfie
ld
48
35
24
49
9
47
13
21
46
30
6
7
3
5
37
24
7
9
Beaconsfie
ld
upper/Guy
s
Hill/Pake
nham
upper/De
whurst/M
ount
Burnett
13
15
11
21
8
15
10
10
17
3
3
6
5
3
12
6
1
2
Bunyip/G
arfield/Lo
ngwarry/
Modella/
Tonimbuk
7
41
24
47
13
41
19
20
38
22
7
12
8
5
30
20
4
7
Cardinia/
5
5
5
12
2
6
0
6
11
5
0
5
3
1
6
6
2
2
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
36
Dalmore
Cockatoo/
Avonsleigh
70
60
38
101
17
71
14
46
61
39
10
18
10
9
46
31
6
25
Emerald/
Menzies
Creek/Cle
matis
79
77
48
156
26
83
24
54
106
60
20
31
19
14
52
63
17
20
Gembrook
37
37
18
47
10
31
15
17
43
19
9
13
10
6
19
21
6
6
Koo Wee
Rup/Mon
omeith
40
29
11
56
3
29
5
7
33
13
5
10
5
2
16
16
7
14
Lang
Lang/
Caldermea
de
31
13
14
29
7
10
9
7
27
12
2
11
11
3
8
9
2
12
Nar Nar
Goon/Tyn
ong/
Maryknoll
16
18
5
15
4
13
4
7
8
3
4
3
0
3
5
5
6
2
Pakenham
187
220
92
264
63
138
72
75
177
66
45
72
83
29
68
74
54
32
Officer
16
11
8
18
4
13
0
5
11
8
1
3
5
3
5
5
4
2
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
37
APPENDIX 3 EVALUATING THE SURVEY PROCESS
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data quality framework tool has been applied to the
youth survey methodology and data collection to measure its “fitness for purpose”. Fitness for
purpose is an assessment of the survey outcomes with specific reference to it intended
objectives. The quality statement below covers a number of dimensions including the data
collectors, the relevance of the data, timeliness, accuracy, coherence, interpretability and
accessibility.
Quality Statement
Data source:
Cardinia Shire Council Youth Forum Survey 2013
Institutional
Environment:
Data Collector(s): Cardinia Shire Council's Youth Team is a local government
organisation
Collection authority: Cardinia Shire Council is bound under the privacy act and
ensures confidentiality of the data provided.
Data Compiler(s): Council complies the data
Complete discretion and confidentiality is maintained in relation to the collection
and reporting of the data.
Relevance:
Data topic: The data represents young people living, studying, working or recreating
in Cardinia Shire aged 10 to 25 years of age.
Level of geography: The greater proportion of the data is provided at a local
government level including Cardinia Shire and the neighbouring municipality of
Casey.
Key Data Items: The key data items collected from this survey were the top three
issues of personal concern that young people had experienced over the past year,
the modes of communication and transport they use, activities they participate in
and one thing they would change.
Numerator/Denominator Source: Rates and percentages have been calculated for a
number of responses using the total sample size.
The data was collected to assess the views, needs and aspirations of young people
who live, work, study or recreate in the Shire.
It will be used to better target and improve service provision and inform the
development of the Youth Strategy.
The data collected provides a snapshot of personal issues of concern,, what they are
doing in their leisure time, and improvements they would like to see in their
communities. .
Standard classifications have not been used other than age groupings
Timeliness:
Data collected: The youth survey data has been collected since 2007 on a biannual
basis.
Data available: The data is available four months after collection.
Referenced Period: The data reference period is now 18 months.
There are no updates or revisions to the data after its release, however it is
compared to other data collection sources.
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
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Accuracy:
Method of Collection: The data was collected in the form of hard copy and on line
surveys from secondary and primary schools and one prep to year 12 school in the
Shire. It was also available online from My Place, the Mobile Youth Bus and
Council's website.
Data Adjustments: The data was not adjusted in any way to account for nonresponse of the questions.
Sample size: The total number of surveys received totalled 1,6873,004.
Standard errors: A standard error count has not been included
Under Counts: The number of young people aged 18 to 25 years of age was
considerable less than the younger age groups. This was seen to be appropriate
given that the main target group for Youth Services are the 13 to 17 years age group
Over Counts: There were no issues with over counts
The questions were open ended to minimise bias in answering. However in the
younger age group, it was evident that groups of respondents provided the same
answer.
A code/numbering system was adopted this year to provide for more accurate
interpretation of responses
All age groups were represented in the survey and young people across the
municipality well represented.
Coherence:
Consistency over time: This year a number of changes were made to the youth
forum survey. These changes include the addition of six new questions and an
amendment to the existing question relating to issues of concern. The new
questions added to this survey include physical or mental disability, country of birth,
current study and/or employment status, preferred age to receive support, who do
young people seek support from and the top three things that are most important to
young people.
Consistency of jurisdictions: The data collected by Cardinia Shire is generally
consistent with the youth data collected at the state and national level.
Numerator/denominator: The data collected over the five year period for the
majority of question s is comparable because of the relative consistency in survey
questions and collection.
There is a consistent time series for this data.
Interpretability:
Context: Cardinia Shire is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Victoria.
Three new families move into the Shire every day, as a consequent many of the
young people who participated in the survey would be part of the new and merging
communities in the Shire.
Other Supporting Information: A detailed explanation of the methodology and the
respondents has been included in the report.
There are no technical terms or service specific terms used in the report.
Accessibility:
Contact details: Cardinia Shire Council 1300 887 624
The Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of findings is available on Cardinia Shire
Council's website.
There are no privacy or confidentiality issues that prevent the findings being
released.
Cardinia Shire Council
Youth Forum Survey 2013 Report of Findings
39
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