Overview of Youth Services
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The City of Casey is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia and has one of the largest youth populations of any council within Australia. Approximately 51,522 young people are aged 10–25 years making up more than 23% of the total population.
Young People in Casey – Some useful statistics
- Approximately 51,522 young people are aged 10–25 years
- Young people make up around 23 per cent of the City’s population
- Number of 10-14 year olds is forecast to increase by 60 per cent between 2001 and 2016
- Number of 15-19 year olds is forecast to increase by 58 per cent between 2001 and 2016
- Number of 20-24 year olds is forecast to increase by 10 per cent between 2001 and 2016
Due to the physical size of the municipality, the diversity of its residents and the accelerated growth being experienced there are distinct areas of disadvantage that relate to young people. Due to such rapid growth, population is expected to peak at 350,000 within the next two decades, making the municipality as big as Canberra today. In particular limited transport networks and a lack of ability to access vital community support services. Many young people, in the municipality are dependent on community support but do not have the physical or electronic means to access it.
Casey also experiences education and employment outcomes lower than the state average with the South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN) environmental scan suggesting that there are a number of young people who are disengaged from employment, education and training. On the 2001 Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSED) Casey is ranked 25 out of 78; this is 27 places higher in ranking since 1996 highlighting that the City of Casey has become significantly more disadvantaged as it has grown in population.
The growth in the number of young people places enormous pressure on Council to deliver adequate services and in particular early intervention and prevention programs in a current and contemporary manner.
Parents, peers, school, the community and particularly government have a key role in ensuring support is available for young people to help them through these challenging years.
Generalist Youth Support Services
The City of Casey Youth Services team has 22 full and part-time staff providing generalist youth service that works with young people aged 10 to 25 years who live, work, study or have strong links to the Casey community.
To understand the needs of young people living in Casey and how to address them, it is important to understand the factors which contribute to young people living successfully in their communities. Middle childhood through to adolescence is a time of significant emotional, physical and intellectual change, with potential for fluctuations in health and wellbeing. Parents, peers, school and community in general are important for all young people and play a significant role in young people’s perceptions of themselves and their health development.
Healthy youth development can be achieved through promoting protective factors in young people’s lives and reducing the impact of risk factors. The Risk and Protective Behaviour framework is well accepted for understanding the factors that influence young people’s behaviour and is based on 20 years research into
adolescent behaviours (Hawkens Catalano, 1990, Bond et al, 1999). This framework has been accepted by the Department of Human Services for developing a profile of young people and targeting services.
Generalist youth support services provide an important universal service base for young people, building on the continuum of care from the early years, through the middle childhood years to adolescence. The services support the healthy physical, social and emotional development of all young people, enhancing protective factors and working with young people to develop their strengths, thus minimising the impact of risk factors. Importantly, generalist youth services provide a strong link to the range of other more intensive support services for young people and frequently facilitate partnership arrangements and networking between service providers. The provision of these services is critical for the development of an integrated, coherent and systematic approach to providing services for young people.
Casey Youth Services provides a continuum of evidence based generalist youth services to support young people and their families through:
- Prevention
- Early Intervention
- Secondary Intervention Services
The diagram illustrates the prevention – early intervention – secondary – tertiary service continuum. In this diagram, generalist youth services fall within the primary/early intervention and secondary level.
Framework for Understanding Services 
Source: Department of Premier and Cabinet, 2005
Through the prevention, early intervention and secondary services model of generalist youth work, Casey Youth Services aims to:
- Improve the capacity and resilience of young people
- Improve the resilience of families
- Provide practical support and guidance, advocacy and referral
- Build community connectedness
- Strengthen engagement with education, training and employment
The programs are premised on services working predominantly with young people but where possible in the context of their families. Some services provide specialised activities targeting specific groups, such as people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds (CaLD).
Casey Youth Services operates within a youth participation and access framework which works within a community strengthening framework to improve participation of young people in community life.
Code of Ethical Practice
The City of Casey Youth Sevices commits to working ethically with young people and has adopted the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVIC) Code of Ethical Practice for the Youth Sector.
City of Casey Youth Services Programs
Youth Information Centres
- 2 x Youth Centres located at Cranbourne and Hampton Park providing infomation and referral services
- Mobile Youth Information Centre (Visits schools and outlying areas such as Tooradin and Cannons Creek and significant community events)
- Mobile Youth Information Centre offers skill development programs to schools and alternative educational settings
- Mobile Youth Information Centre – facilitates a transition program for primary school students moving to secondary school
- New group of up to 10 Cranbourne Secondary College students based at Cranbourne Youth Information Centre looking at how to make the school more CaLD inclusive
- National Youth Week activity run from each centre during April
YouthLinx (Funding: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) & City of Casey)
- 9 x Youthlinx programs each week across Casey (including one focussed on multiculturalism)
- Youth Related Forums
- Mother Daughter/Father Son Camps once a year
- Family Day – once a year
Youth Support Program
- 3 x Workers providing ongoing one on one support to young people
- Generalist short term counselling for up to 5 sessions
- SPOT (Supporting Parents of Teenagers) structured 8 week parenting program run in the evenings at local secondary colleges
- Training for internal and external service providers working with adolescents
- The Youth Support Program operates wthin Practice Standards and a Code of Ethical Practice
Transition Support Worker – Dandenong High School Doveton Campus
- 1 x Youth Support Worker supporting Doveton Campus student’s transition to the New Dandenong High School campus site or to alternative education or vocation
Youth Program Including Multicultural Position
- Casey Youth Ambassadors: Focussing on community issues such as cross-cultural awareness and the environment) Meet 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Participation in Civic and Community events.
- Youth Eco Challenge – Youth Leadership in sustainable living program
- Multi-Cultural Youth Programs Officer works closely with CaLD community groups to identify gaps and to build stronger links with council. Currently working closely with Somali, Somaliland, Sudanese and Afghan communities. Activities have included sports days, visit AFL game at MCG, trip to Sovereign Hill etc… Includes partnerships with peak sporting bodies and key local service providers
- Multi-cultural teenage holiday program activity each term
- Personal Development School based programs
- Young Leaders – Leadership program offered to secondary schools and alternative education settings
- SPECTRUM – Group of young people that organise FReeZA events
- FReeZA – Drug and alcohol free music and cultural events for young people aged 12-25 years, i.e. Battle of the Bands (Average 6 events per year)
- Australia Day Study Tour
- National Youth Week Activities – including 1 major event (2008 Multicultural Music Fest & Cultural Day– Hampton Park)
- Teenage School Holiday Programs each school holidays( including days targeting CaLD youth)
- Australian Sister Cities Association Annual Conference
- Partnerships working with local service providers especially in the CaLD community
Youth Development
- Young people supported in representing their peers at conferences and forums, including attending interstate conferences
- Involvement in all key network organisations (Casey Youth Services Network, Regional Youth Affairs Network, School Focused Youth Services Local Advisory Steering Group, Best Start, Local Government Local Learning Network Round Table, Interface Councils Project Group) etc.
- Maintain close working with all Secondary Colleges and alternative education settings across Casey
Youth Events
- Casey Creations – Recognising young peoples artistic talents in various art forms during National Youth Week
- Fresh Words – Literature competition held in July/October
- Men’s and Women’s Mentor Breakfast held in August
- Student Leaders Forum held in March
- Youth Related Forums