Albany awarded for outstanding youth engagement

9 August 2018

The City of Albany has won the Children’s Consultation category of the 2018 Children’s Environment and Health Local Government Policy Awards for its commitment to addressing the needs of children in the local community.

It recognises the City for involving children and young people in discussions on issues that support them to make informed decisions about their own lives and ensure strategies meet their needs.

The young people of Albany are the voice of our future and City of Albany Senior Community Development Officer Tammy Flett said it was important to engage with them and hear what they have to say.

“What we’ve learned from talking with our young people has been really important in helping us make Albany a better place for our youth and developing strategies like the Youth Friendly Albany Strategy,” Ms Flett said.

“Ways we’ve engaged with our youth has included face-to-face forums that encouraged brainstorming ideas and sharing issues that they’d like resolved, as well as a ‘Have your say wall’ online platform, and surveys facilitated by the members of the Albany Youth Advisory Council.”

Successful youth-focussed events that have resulted from the consultation have included the 2017 and 2018 Colour Dash, school holiday program, and the 2018 Youthfest music festivals part of National Youth Week.

The City of Albany was also commended in the category of Environments Promoting Physical Activity, recognising the work undertaken by the City’s Reserves team to upgrade Milpara Park on Bondi Street.

The site was developed to include a toddler and an older children’s play area, upgraded bmx/pump track, as well as a grassed and seating area for families to enjoy the space following consultation with the community and with the support of Albany MLA Peter Watson.