Funding for metro groups to run youth development holiday programs

5/6/97

Family and Children's Services Minister Rhonda Parker announced today that a total of $50,000 had been allocated to many organisations to run youth development holiday programs around Western Australia.

"These programs will provide activities during the July school holidays for young people in high school years 8 to 12," Mrs Parker said.

"Youth development holiday programs help young people improve their confidence, self-respect, self-esteem and personal development through a range of indoor and outdoor activities.

"The young people are encouraged to develop their leadership skills through challenging adventures such as abseiling, caving, camping, bush walking and a variety of sports and team games.

"A big range of exciting activities is available for young people including horse riding, rock climbing and arts and crafts."

Mrs Parker said there would be programs about the problems of substance abuse, about healthy life styles, personal development, sel- discipline and self-esteem.

"Young people will be challenged in many ways through new experiences, having a break from their normal environment, meeting new people and learning new skills," she said.

"This funding program demonstrates Family and Children's Services' commitment to supporting young people and their families."

Organisations which received funding in the metropolitan area are: City of Wanneroo - $2,000 for a 10-day program for students in school years 8 to 12. Activities will include ice skating, horse riding, pot black, swimming, and opportunities for personal/social development.

Edmund Rice Camp for Kids (Koondoola Neighbourhood Centre) - $1,995 for a five-day camp at the Uniting Church campsite Hovea for students in years 9 to 11 in the Koodoola area. Activities will include sports, hiking, crafts, a quiz night, communication workshop, theatre sports, camp cooking and a performance night.

Hill Community Support Group - $560 for a program for at-risk youth in the Darlington, Pickering Brook and Mundaring areas. Activities include scuba diving, ropes course, sports and self-defence. Town of Bassendean - $1,168 for challenging and interesting activities such as horse riding, go-karting, climbing and camel rides for at risk young people in the Northam, Mirrabooka and Fremantle areas.

Karawara Community Project - $2,000 for a program to consolidate skills learnt in the previous holiday program and to develop responsibility and self-esteem. The program includes a camp for boys and a camp for girls followed by a week long combined camp to encourage young people to increase their involvement through planning, budgeting, problem solving, camp co-ordination and interpersonal skills. An evaluation by young people will also be undertaken to investigate issues that arose on each camp.

City of Melville - $600 for a four days' program for young people in Leeming and surrounding areas at the Leeming Recreation Centre. Activities are designed to encourage self -esteem, team building and cooperation and will include abseiling, caving and canoeing.

Armadale, Gosnells Youth Resources - $1,700 for an eight day program based at the Youth Drop-In-Centre in Armadale for up to 20 young people a day. Activities include horse riding, abseiling, caving, go-karting, bush walking, team sports, rollerskating, indoor rock climbing, movies and adventure world. Disadvantaged children will not be excluded even if they can not pay the low cost of $3-7 per day. The program is designed to increase social interaction and self-esteem.

City of Cockburn - $1,860 for a nine-day program for at risk youth, young people with special needs and Aboriginal people. Activities include horse riding, ropes course, go-karting and movies. The program encourages young people to develop positive group dynamics and provides an opportunity to discuss issues with youth workers.

City of Melville - $875 for a five-day program based at Southern Districts Recreation Centre in Willagee for 17 young people aged 12 to 17 years. The program will target young people from Willagee, particularly those at risk of offending. Activities are designed to build self-esteem and co-operation and will include canoeing, white water rafting, rock climbing, surfing and ice skating.

Rockingham Youth Services - $1,000 for a program of personal development and challenging activities for at risk young people aged 12 to 18 years in the Rockingham area.

Rockingham YMCA - $1,000 for a developmental program for youth aged between 12 to 15 years which involves them in planning and coordinating a range of activities.

City of Belmont -$2,000 for a program at Belmont designed to provide new recreational and personal development opportunities for young people aged between 12 and 17 years. Activities include movies, pool competition, ice skating, indoor rock climbing, videos, laser games, speedway, visits to the Omni theatre, Lake Leuschenaultia and Fremantle.

Australian Red Cross - $2,000 for a three-day program at Aquinas college, Manning, in which students gain their senior First Aid Certificate. The course is designed to provide skills and understanding to prepare students to cope with emergencies and a range of injuries.

Network Family Support, Mandurah - $850 for activities such as 10 pin bowling, roller skating, crafts and visits to Scitech and the Zoo.

Uniting Church of South Mandurah - $2,000 for young people to take part in local activities such as bush walking, drama, outdoor sports and camping.

Media contact: Kaye Hopkins 9481 7810