Bringing the young voices to the table. Why, how and where to next
The current Delta outbreak in NSW has had devastating consequences across different demographics but one segment of the population slipping through the cracks are young people from migrant backgrounds.
Recent research on youth and COVID19 impacts documents ‘labour market scarring’, wherein young people’s pandemic induced unemployment could be prolonged making it harder for them to re-enter the labour market. Young people, including those born overseas, are bearing the brunt of COVID restrictions, particularly in the hospitality and retail sectors.
In addition to the loss of jobs, lockdown restrictions and police presence, there is a vast amount of misinformation regarding vaccinations circulating in our youth communities. Direct engagement with youth, specifically in the South West Sydney region, highlighted the need for a platform where they could come to the table, register their concerns, get responses to their queries and be visible.
RYPMP Program End
riendships in young people from different cultural backgrounds
Australian Institute of Family Studies
Youth Worker Gizem attended the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) Webinar in May which explored the potential impacts of COVID-19 on those leaving state care. Young people in care already face so many challenges, with the age of the exit beginning plan beginning very young. The webinar explored the potential impact of COVID-19 on young care leavers, and strategies to strengthen their social and emotional wellbeing.
Youth Summit 2020
From the consultation, the local Iraqi young people showed a strong passion and were deeply invested in the protests in Iraq. However, they did not have a clear way of expressing themselves collectively. They wished to find ways to create positive support and to overcome feelings of uselessness.
The Hon. Ray Williams MP – February 2019 visit
Western Sydney MRC was once again honoured to receive The Hon. Ray Williams MP, and received a cheque for $20,000 to support the launch of a podcast and an additional $5,000 from Melanie Gibbons MP to assist with the delivery of youth activities including Rock and Water and the school holiday camp.
School Holiday Activities
Helping families, young people and children expand their social participation in Liverpool – providing a tour and a ceramics workshop to showcase the Powerhouse and its creative offerings. Thanks to Casula Powerhouse for their generosity and welcoming attitude to recent migrants and refugees.
School Holiday Activities – Northbridge Footgulf.
Soccer and golf have been mashed together to create Footgulf. Our amazing youth group also got to learn how to travel to Sydney City and North Sydney. We were able to facilitate and provide new opportunities for young people to develop new skills and interests, their capacity to be independent, and their access to wider Sydney is one of the important goals of the youth program.
Western Sydney MRC Team Up with Sydney Thunder
The school holiday activity was organised through the Sydney Thunder who reached out to Western Sydney MRC, wanting to engage with our clients in a number of ways. We were very excited by this opportunity and looked into organising a clinic for the upcoming school holidays. With the help of Liverpool City Council, the event was held at Edwin Wheeler Reserve. The event was a huge success with the young people who attended having learned a wide array of new skills.
Curious Dreams Magazine Launch
Redfern Town Hall was transformed into an art gallery for a night with guests traveling from all over Sydney to attend the Curious Dreams magazine launch. The magazine launch and exhibition were the concluding events from a project run in partnership with Sydney-based photographer and educator, Saskia Wilson. The project involved a series of ten participatory photography workshops, providing young people with the space to express themselves and to take ownership of their story, telling it in the way they wanted it to be known. It was interesting to note that the conveying of such experiences through a creative outlet encouraged the revelation of tales that may otherwise have remained unknown.
Aldi MiniRoos Settlement Program
Western Sydney MRC partnered with Football Federation Australia and the Western Sydney Wanderers to Introduce a Pilot MiniRoos Settlement Program into Western Sydney
