Hume youth surveys reveal fears
Laura Banks
05May08
Eric Brown interviews a teenager.
YOUNG people in Hume are worried about fighting, bullying, drugs, litter and graffiti.
At a youth forum held at the Hume Global Learning Centre, Craigieburn and Roxburgh Park students revealed youths were unhappy with the state of their area, in particular graffiti.
A recent Hume Council Youth Events Team survey revealed some youths also felt unsafe.
One boy, 11, said he disliked "fighting and bullies", while a nine-year-old boy said he was intimidated by "mean people" and "thieves".
A girl, 15, believed the area was "ugly" while a 19-year-old said "the way young people disrespect the older people in the community" was unacceptable.
Other comments included the view that Broadmeadows was "ugly" and littered with "a lot of rubbish" while another felt there was excessive "use of alcohol and drugs".
YET co-ordinator Eric Brown said 20 out of the 50 people who attended the event filled in the survey.
Some respondents could not give an example of something they liked in the area. Others listed the range of shops and sporting clubs as positive aspects.
Hume youth resource officer Leading Sen-Constable Jayne Guilmartin, said the forum was devised to get youths looking at how they could make their area better.
"Wilful criminal damage and graffiti were the major issues which came up at the forum," Leading Sen-Constable Guilmartin said.
"The kids will now set up a project to educate the public on graffiti and how they can help to address the graffiti issue." Leading Sen-Constable Guilmartin said the project would run until the end of the year.
Mr Brown said the survey data collected by YET would be used to create an action plan.
"We are hoping to gain a better understanding of what could work for young people," Mr Brown said.
If YET could create more activities and events, young people would become engaged with the community, breaking down barriers.
We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Please provide your full name. We also require a working email address - not for publication, but for verification. The location field is optional. Read our publication guidelines.
