An overview of the City of Port Phillip's youth consultation - What's in Your Top 3?
Some of the tools, challenges, barriers and successes.
Presented at the Engage2Act - Vic in Feb 2014. Engage2Act are a group of community engagement professionals and enthusiast from across Victoria.
15. We engaged over 5% of
the youth population
We engaged over 5% of the youth population
Over 1000 survey responses
7,500 pieces of data
Over 1000 survey
responses
7,500 pieces of data
16. “There aren’t
enough clean
public toilets
in the area”
I”I like Albert
Park because I
can go butterfly
hunting there”
“There is
too much
scribble
graffiti”
17. “no littering, as it
can be dangerous
finding objects
such as syringes
on the floor”
Editor's Notes
Council conducted a three month consultation – of 8-24 yr olds.
Objective:
To promote opportunities for young people to feel happy, healthy and heard in the City of Port Phillip.
To communicate Council’s commitment and role to young people in the City of Port Phillip.
To provide guidance for decision making and action regarding young people in Port Phillip.
Focus of the consultation was asking young people “What’s in your top 3?” What are the top 3 things that would make CoPP a great place to live?
Key focus to the project was making sure we consulted on with young people on their turf…
Through our networks and programmes, in schools and online, across all wards, outreach in community, at events, community facilities, public transport, surveys, activities, discussions, interviews….
Also offered - Top3 Schools Toolkit - included pre-packaged surveys, postcards and posters
Survey questions:
What is important to you?
What do you like about CoPP?
What do you need to make it better for young people?
Survey design was as inclusive as possible – e.g. gender questions
So how did we do it…
In-School: Primary/Secondary/Specialist Schools represent a large population of young people in City of Port Phillip
To successfully gain buy-in and support – we offered schools flexible and creative options so they could ‘choose’ how to get involved:
Complete the Your Top 3 survey in class/form-room
Student Representative Council (SRC) events
Insert in school newsletter
CoPP facilitated workshop
The Mayor conducted a “Schools Road Show” – visiting school in each ward
Involved a number of schools from Vic College for the Deaf to Albert Park Secondary
Barriers to connecting with schools?
Overcome barriers by…
Having pre-existing relationship with schools
Communicating the mutual benefit
Incentive program helped – Schools, clubs and community organisations were offered prize/gift vouchers - Everyone who completes a survey had the opportunity to nominate a school, club or community organisation – this put them in the running to win. The more surveys completed listing that school - the more chances they had to win.
On-line:
Have Your Say webpage – www.yourtopthree.com.au - One stop shop of information, resources, actions and user generated content - Your Top 3 survey (youth and stakeholders)
Facebook – consultation updates and engage users in online discussions
Twitter – used #HipsterGnome to promote consultation – drive traffic to HYS
Instagram – 1) Pushed content out to followers, to Facebook and online by #HipsterGnome 2) Asked young people and stakeholders to share photos of what’s in their Top 3 with us via Instagram by also using #HipsterGnome.
Barriers to communicating online?
We’re young people listening to us online – yes, perhaps? Were they engaging. Not really. Although never intended to be online campaign.
- Used online for promotion rather than the engagement
Helped to start to build an audience so we can listen…
Online is a very big place. Where there are lots of fun things to do – need a steady stream of engaging content to make young people take any notice of our pages. So we knew we needed more regular activities/posts - however need a dedicated resource for this.
Online engagement advisor role is something the team is looking at…
Connected through partnerships with Youth Service Providers
Gain access to young people already being engaged in programs, sports, activities - participation in Your Top 3 was facilitated by program staff with whom they have an existing relationship with.
Youth Network – 100 members from community groups and people that work with young people.
Two hr consultation meeting – interactive activities….
Vic Police
SKYS
PCYC
Leveraged internal partnerships – connecting with other Council departments and individual staff.
Developed - Youth Champions – regular meetings and awards and on Yammer.
Knowledge of projects where young people already being engaged, access to plans and strategies that might have some cross over – so we weren’t over consulting or covering unnecessary ground.
Top three topics for the 18-25 age bracket :
Infrastructure & Facilities was referred to by four in five young people, 81% was the high response rate for the age bracket. Some of the actions requested were - More places and spaces to hang out, improvements to existing facilities and additional sport and recreation facilities were the main responses in this category- “Better facilities for the community centre”, “more areas to hang out after dark” and “facilities for recreation and sport”.
- 64% listed a response relating to Services, Program & Recreational Activities. Some of the ideas included…“A coop that support young professionals”, “More free activities on the holidays” and “services for young people who are homeless” .
“Lack of esteem building programs”, “Ability to interact with youth workers”, “The funding for youth projects” and “Things to do on my doorstep”.
Top three topics for the 26+ age bracket:
Services, Programs & Recreational Activities was strongest topic referred to by 70%. The main theme was the need to increase and diversify services and programs aimed at supporting and developing our young people - “opportunities for kids to influence what happens in CoPP to make a difference, feel and be empowered” and “More active youth activity that is not just focused on disadvantage”. “Need more community events for young people to engage them and get them out of there house and shops”.
Access & Affordability had 2nd highest percentage of respondents listing issues relating to access and affordability when compared to all age brackets
Recreation Areas was a strong performer