Toowoomba Regional Council endorses new strategy to engage youth

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) endorsed its new Youth Strategy 2025-2030 at this week’s Ordinary meeting. TRC Community Development, Facilities and Tourism portfolio spokesperson Cr James O’Shea said the new strategy was an important guiding document as Council prepares to invest approximately $2 million in youth services over the next five years. “Toowoomba Region has a higher youth cohort (young people aged 12–24) at 9.5% of the total population than the Queensland (7.4%) and national averages (5.5%) and we have committed $355,015 in the 2024/25 financial year for services to support them,” Cr O’Shea said. “Since the release of the first Youth Strategy (2019-2021) the Toowoomba Region has experienced ongoing stresses and disruptions including the global pandemic, cost of living pressures and the declining availability and affordability of housing among young people and their families,” Cr O’Shea said. “Council takes an evidence-based approach to policymaking with a well-defined framework for monitoring outcomes, levels of service and effective use of our resources,” he said. “Extensive research and consultation with our Region’s young people, families and the youth sector was undertaken in 2023 to ensure we were well informed when identifying the priority areas ahead of this new strategy. “The strategy will provide a framework for youth engagement, guiding Council’s work for the next five years, while defining the role local government can play to support young people across our Region. “It is structured around four interlinked goals including: inclusion and participation, connections and wellbeing, experiences and diversity, plus services and support systems. “There are 30,000 young people living in the Toowoomba Region who are an integral part of our community and its future. “These young people bring hope, creativity and innovation and we aim to plan, provide, facilitate, and advocate for initiatives supporting young people from all walks of life. “The wider community also benefits from this strategic approach with young people, families, industry, government and community sector partners.”