Funding for youth development holiday programs in country areas

9/9/97

Family and Children's Services Minister Rhonda Parker said today that $50,000 had been allocated for youth holiday programs around Western Australia.

Mrs Parker said that 34 organisations in the country and 15 organisations in the metropolitan area had received funding to run the program.

"These programs provide activities during the October school holidays for young people in high school in years 8 to 12," she 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, bush walking, rope skills, rock climbing, and a variety of sports and team games.

"They can learn how to fish and mend their bicycles, go canoeing, learn bush crafts, horse riding, how to cook and enjoy creative activities like ceramics."

Mrs Parker said there would be programs on substance abuse, healthy lifestyles, personal development, self-discipline and self-esteem.

"Young people will be challenged with new experiences, have a break from their normal environment, meet people and learn new skills, all of which will benefit them in many ways," she said.

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

The following country organisations have received funding: Kununurra Youth Services - $1,500: for a two-week program aimed at developing self-esteem through challenging and team building activities. These will include basketball, fishing, rope skills, volley ball, swimming and overnight bush camps to gain knowledge and appreciation of Aboriginal culture and heritage.

Youth Involvement Council - $1,500: for a 16-day program for 60 at-risk young Aboriginal youths from South and Port Hedland, Marble Bar and Nullagine. Participants will travel to Marble Bar and Nullagine to challenge youth in a range of sporting activities.

Newman YMCA Youth - $1,500: for a 10-day program for 10 to 50 young people in school years eight to 11. Activities include a bush camp at the local water hole to enhance camping skills, bike maintenance, social involvement competitions which will include roller blading, art/craft open days with judging and presentation in the evenings.

Carnarvon PCYC - $1,500: for a group of youth in the Carnarvon area between the ages of 12 to 17 years. Centre-based activities will include day trips to local recreational areas to take part in various sports.

Wannar Club - $700: for camping activities in areas surrounding Mount Magnet. Young people will be provided with the opportunity to experience traditional Aboriginal culture through activities such as bush walking, hunting, fixing windmills, identifying native fauna and flora.

Geraldton Sporting Aboriginal Corporation - $1,000: for a camp called 'Smarter than Smoking' for girls in school years eight to nine. Outdoor adventure activities include abseiling, rock climbing, bush walking, horse riding and canoeing.

Cue Blue Light Association - $500: for one day picnic and activities for isolated young people. Organised sporting and team building activities will be designed to entertain, educate and encourage local co-operation.

Derby Aboriginal Sporting Association - $1,500: for a youth disco, an overnight camping trip, a cultural exchange trip, family fun day, video night, marsh party, pool party and other day trips.

Fitzroy Valley Aboriginal Sporting Association - $1,500: to organise activities for young people living in the Fitzroy Crossing community. The program includes an overnight camp, fishing trip, disco, recreational fun days and organised sporting activities at the centre.

Broome Youth Support Group - $1,500: for youth at risk aged between 12 and 18 years. Activities include camping, personal development, a survival skills trip, group work sessions on self-esteem, goal setting, group responsibilities, personal hygiene and deportment.

North West Women's Association - $700: for schoolgirls in the Karratha and Kimberley area to take part in activities such as abseiling, canoeing, archery and other activities.

Roebourne Youth Centre - $1,500: to organise an excursion to Woodside and the local beaches, for Aboriginal youth from Cheeditha, Wickham and the Roebourne areas. Other activities include roller blading, a night of sports and roller disco, video and hot dogs night.

Bindi Bindi Aboriginal Community - $1,500: to take children and elders from the Bindi Bindi community and other youth in Onslow, to special places to discuss and teach the role of children in Aboriginal society and discuss the impact of two worlds, teach safe sex, self awareness, respect and punishment and other cultural activities.

Tom Price Youth Centre - $1,000: for young people from the Aboriginal communities of Wakathon and Belari Springs to take part in activities such as discos, basketball and volleyball competitions, swimming and a camp at Onslow.

Eastern Goldfields YMCA - $1,000: for a program with two weeks of activities which include go-karting, horse riding, abseiling, swimming and cinema. The program is designed to challenge the participants, focus on building friendships and self-esteem within the group.

Shire of Westonia - $900: to run a range of activities over five days of the school holiday period, for 25 to 30 young people from local farming communities. Activities will include horse riding, carpet bowls, gymnastics, badminton and road safety awareness workshop.

Boddington Shire Council - $700: to sponsor the Boddington Health Promotion Committee to run a series of recreational activities over five days for isolated rural youth. Activities will be physically challenging and educational, and help develop leadership and social skills.

Albany Districts Skills Training Committee Inc - $2,000: for youth from the Gnowangerup, Jerramungup, Kojonup, Lake Grace, Ravensthorpe District High Schools, to attend a Rotary Youth Camp designed to provide opportunities to enhance life skills and self-education.

Shire of Capel - $400: for a program for young people from isolated towns surrounding Bunbury to join in a one day bus trip from Capel to Adventure World in Perth, during the October holidays.

Boyup Brook Teen Scene - $325: for a four-day, 200km canoe safari from Boyup Brook to Augusta for 40 students. During the entire October holidays the centre will be open and run a foot rally, sausage sizzle, basketball, pool, table tennis competitions, ten pin bowling excursions and computer activities.

Womensport West - $1,000: for a five-day program for young women aged 13 to 17 years from the Eastern Goldfields High School and John Paul College, to take part in activities, including basketball, orienteering, abseiling, golf, bowling, gym circuits, horse riding, workshops, confidence development, self-defence and protective behaviours, aromatherapy and relaxation.

Gnuraren Aboriginal Corporation - $484: for 20 students from the Busselton area to participate in a two-day cultural education trip to Perth, that will include a visit to the WA Museum, Aboriginal music at Clontarf, WA Aboriginal Media Association and Underwater World.

Murray Districts Aboriginal Association - $800: to run a three-day camp at Dunsborough for disadvantaged Aboriginal youth. The camp will be designed to teach cultural awareness, enhance team skills, social activities and to gain a better appreciation of Aboriginal traditions.

Bunbury Regional Art Galleries - $600: for a program consisting of a series of skills based on art and craft workshops to be run over five days for young people from the Bunbury area. Participants will learn how to make personalised low cost gifts for Christmas, gaining self-esteem by having their endeavours recognised and praised by the recipient of the gift.

Kellerberrin Share & Care Inc - $1,000: for a five-day camp for 40 young people to the Goldfields. Young people from the Kellerberrin and Eastern Wheatbelt region will take part in a range of activities that are designed to promote leadership skills and develop individuals' self-esteem. Activities will include bush survival skills and water sports.

Esperance Care Services - $500: for a three-day island camp where activities will include swimming, bush walking, games, fishing, bush and marine survival skills, role plays and self presentation, cleaning and meal preparation, social skills and discussions on participants' expectations.

Toodyay Blue Light Youth Group- $390: for 20 young people from the Shire of Toodyay area to build a climbing wall and flying fox for the day at the local oval, finishing off with a barbecue.

Network Family Support - $1,000: to run a series of recreational activities over four days, including ten pin bowling, ice skating, go karting and 'Internet Cafe'.

Busselton Christian Surfers - $300: for a two-day youth camp at Conto's Beach. Activities will include surfing, water sports and other outdoor activities, as well as discussions on relevant issues such as drugs, peer pressure and stress management.

Bunbury City Churches of Christ - $700: for young people to attend a five-day recreational camp aimed at developing skills and knowledge in communication, leadership, survival, personal respect, sharing and caring for each other. Day activities will include physical exercise such as bush walking, climbing and surfing and at night there will be facilitated discussions on relevant youth issues, such as peer pressure and substance abuse.

Cooinda Association - $210: for 15 young people per day over six days, from the local Aboriginal community of Tammin, to take part in a range of craft activities that will include painting, cooking and a music workshop.

Anglican Diocese of Bunbury - $800: for young people to attend a program in the Leeuwin Naturalist Region which will include camping, surfing, adventure activities, caving and abseiling. The program is designed to encourage and help participants in their personal, moral, spiritual and initiative development, self-discipline and self-awareness, focusing on community building and relationships skills.

Nannup Telecentre - $445: for young people from Nannup and surrounding areas to attend a fully supervised Internet workshop run for three hours on four separate days. The workshop aims to teach students how to access worldwide web, down-load software, send e-mail and use chart programs.

Mallee Aboriginal Corporation - $946: for a seven-day camping holiday in Kondinin, Hyden and Esperance, for young people from the Kondinin area. Activities will include learning about bush tucker, hunting, fishing, cricket and indoor bowls.

Media contact: Mark Thompson 9322 2311