Youth participation increase

In the last financial quarter to December 2019, Western Plains Regional Development (WPRD) who manage local youth services for Lachlan Shire Council, saw an increased participation in client wellbeing activities.

 This was due to several factors, including:

•           Partnership with Central West Family Support group in Lake Cargelligo and Condobolin. Activities included homework sessions, transport for Murrin Bridge, Lake Cargelligo, Tullibigeal and Condobolin Youth to attend combined sports events and activities.

•           Partnership with Baptist Church in Lake Cargelligo, combined activities and use of transport when required;

•           Better organised and streamline holiday programs for all youth ages;

•           Annual PCYC events;

•           Annual Storm Co (Christian Leadership program) events;

•           Sourcing additional funding to run out of the ordinary events/trips; and

•           Partnership with St Marys Leagues Club a free  “Saintsational” Kids Day

 WPRD has facilitated regular Youth forum meetings to increase communication and build partnerships within the community.

 “Chew with the Crew” events were held weekly at Condobolin High School during lunch time in conjunction with Youth Service Providers

A highly successful youth engagement day was held, the R U OK Day BBQ and Basketball Challenge which pitted community service providers against Condobolin high school students. It was an opportunity to get youths thinking about various important issues in an environment they felt comfortable in.

An outcome from the consultation of “Youth Talk Discovery” is to formulate a Youth Council in each community covering a varying age and number of young people from differing socioeconomic backgrounds

Community Drug Action Teams NSW provided funding for a local promotional project “Say No to Drugs & Alcohol”. There was a competition at Condobolin Public and St Joseph’s schools to design an anti-drinking message, which was won by an 11-year-old.

The design was printed onto stickers and drink bottles and will also be printed onto drink coasters to be placed in each Pub/Club in Condobolin as part of the CDAT Plan B campaign. Printed drink bottlers were handed out at the Centrelink Truck Expo day in Renown Park.

 A number of cultural, art, craft and sporting activities were facilitated by WPRD during the recent quarter. These included:

•           Tottenham Youth Centre volunteers assisting with a variety of activities varying form visits to the town pool, trips to Dubbo and movie nights;

•           The Sydney PCYC “Fund for kids” tour travelled through the Shire;

•           Games and activities with a volunteer at Tullibigeal;

•           St Marys Rugby League club provided funding for a “Saintsational Kids Day” organised by Youth Services with WPRD’s Heather Blackley volunteering additional hours to facilitate the event;

•           Evolution Mining provided a grant to hold creative art workshops and healthy eating for youth; the artworks were entered in the Condobolin show and then were placed at the Condobolin Hospital with the “Art in the Corridor” project;  and

•           The October School Holiday Program.

 WPRD reported that plans made for staff to attend several short courses and workshops, including Aboriginal Mental Health first aid, Suicide and Domestic Violence. There have also been discussions on hosting a refresher course for staff and community members on LOVEBITES Junior Course in early 2020.