FREMANTLE COUNCIL BETTER YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

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.” 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. 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

STRONG YOUTH FOCUS FOR FREO’S MATURE POPULATION

Many candidates for the recent Fremantle local government election wanted the City to focus on its core responsibilities and that is local government for local people, but is the City of Fremantle doing that? There appears to be a strong emphasis on youth culture and I wonder why that is because the figures don’t stack up.

According to the agenda of Thursday’s Annual Electors Meeting 75% of Freo residents are over 25 years old and 38% of those are over 50 years of age. That leaves only 8% of people between 18-24 years old and 18% under 18. (There is a small discrepancy here as the numbers add up to 101%)

While no one wants to see Fremantle become a retirement village one has to wonder why there is so much done for those under 24 years old and so little for those over 50 who are in the majority. This is even more staggering when all the national statistics show a rapidly ageing population in Australia, so when will the City of Fremantle start catering for those?

Roel Loopers