Listening to Freo's Youth

The City of Fremantle will improve its programming and engagement with young people as part of a newly adopted Youth Strategy.

The Strategy was developed in consultation with the Youth Affairs Council of WA and involved workshops with 12 locally operating youth organisations including PCYC, Headspace and Palmerston.

It also involved a survey of 237 young people, asking about the benefits and challenges of living in the area, barriers to participation and issues that are important to them.

The consultation process revealed that young people would like more places to safely hang out, more activities, help with the cost of living, better access to mental health resources, and the desire to be heard and included in decision-making processes.

Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said the City was working with young people to address their needs.

"The team has gone out and engaged in the right way, with young people, for young people and created a plan that can genuinely reflect the desires of young people for our city."

That is, to create an environment in which teenagers and young adults can learn new skills, develop social connections, be physically and mentally healthy and be heard.

The strategy is aimed at enhancing the lives of young people aged 12-25 who live work, study, recreate and volunteer in Fremantle.

City officers now have a clear understanding of where to focus their efforts over the next four years, with the help of ongoing collaboration.

"I'm really excited about the programs that we're looking at running for young people which are all about empowering them to come and tell us exactly what they think," Mayor Fitzhardinge said.

There are already a couple of new initiatives in place that aim to give young people a sense of belonging.

The recently launched Change Makers youth leadership program has attracted 10 participants who intend to contribute to Council decision-making processes.

Program participant and Fremantle's Young Citizen of the Year in 2022, Allie Messenger, applauded the release of the first youth strategy since 2015.

"I think the Youth Plan is an amazing initiative. It is innovative, refreshing and stops us from being stagnant. It is a brilliant step forward for the future of youth," Ms Messenger said.

Fremantle is home to seven secondary schools and one university, educating around 7,500 young people.

The Strategy will look at building partnerships with employers, mentoring and upskilling and advocating for affordable housing.

The City of Fremantle now offers Youth Grants in which youth-focussed projects can apply for funding. The first round of grants went to music therapy, skateboarding and personal development programs.

An annual progress report will be provided to Council outlining key achievements of the Youth Strategy 2024-28.

It can be viewed at fremantle.wa.gov.au/youth

Above image: Members of the Change Makers youth leadership program, which is one of the initiatives of the Youth Strategy.