2014 Pormpuraaw Youth Summit Report

2014 Pormpuraaw Youth Summit: Piintharrm Thananaah

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2014 Pormpuraaw Youth Summit Youth Declaration and Strategy

Piintharrm Thananaah Strong Spirited | Mixed Family

Coordinated by: Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation

Supported by: Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council Australian Government

Photography: Christine Howes


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Foreword

“You pick your weapons on the battle field and tell your story your way”, stated CEO Liz Pearson in response to being asked by a teenager about what should they do, or whose shoes they should follow in. The Pormpuraaw Youth Summit philosophy was to create a safe space for conversations and discussions about solutions confronting young people while allowing them to get involved in socially inclusive activities from sports, recreational activities, dance, art, music and information technology including graphics and videography. Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation wanted the voices of youth across Cape York and beyond to be heard; and to show case the strengths and talents and dare people to dream for a future within their reach. It is up to young people to champion change, pick up the flag on the battle field and with their resilience, their aspirations and goals, their strengths and talents given them by their predecessors and ancestors – including the oral histories and lifetimes of struggles and create the Future.

The handing over of the Declaration and Youth Strategy by the youth to Prime Minister and Cabinet representative Laverne Burke


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Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary: ............................................................................................................................. 5

2. Summit Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 6

3. Identified Key Themes ......................................................................................................................... 7

4. Key Recommendations ........................................................................................................................ 8 4.1 Happy, healthy and strong communities............................................................................................. 9 4.2 Strong, empowered and proud people .............................................................................................. 10 4.3 Skills, training and jobs ............................................................................................................................. 11 4.4 Participation, role models and leadership ....................................................................................... 12 4.5 Healing, connected and positive lifestyles ....................................................................................... 13 4.6 Services, support and activities ............................................................................................................ 14

5. Young Peoples today .......................................................................................................................... 15

6. Our vision for the future: ................................................................................................................. 16

7. Workshop Method: ............................................................................................................................. 17 7.1 Workshop One: The current experience in communities ........................................................ 17 7.2 Workshop Two: The future they hope to see in their communities ................................... 17 7.3 Workshop Three: The pathway to achieve the vision of their communities .................. 18


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“Over the past few days of the youth summit we have gathered information about issues that occur day to day in communities from Weipa down to Yarrabah. We invited youth from different communities to come together and have a say on how they think ongoing issues could be resolved. To gather this information we formed little yarn groups so that people would feel more comfortable with others. Then after each session we collected what was brought to the table in each group and combined all of the raised topics into our youth strategy plan. After viewing and discussing we saw that even though we come from different places we have similar matters at hand in our own town. We hope that the material you find in this blue print will give you an insight into what we the youth go through in our communities and will contribute into helping and forming a better future for generations to come.“

Gwen & Rita

Youth Representatives Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation


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1. Executive Summary: The 2014 Pormpuraaw Youth Summit took place on 22 – 26 September 2014 in the community of Pormpuraaw. The Summit brought together more than 150 people from nine communities (including over seventy; 12 – 26years) to develop a youth strategy for their communities. The communities represented were:

Pormpuraaw Rockhampton Hopevale Mackay Wujal Wujal Yarrabah Kowanyama Napranum Weipa Aurukun

Facilitated by the National Indigenous Youth Leadership Academy (NIYLA), the young participants provided insights into their communities and their ongoing development through three key focuses:

The current experience within communities The future they hope to see in their communities The pathway to achieve the vision of their communities.

The key focuses provided a framework for workshops to inform the Youth Declaration and Strategy.

Benson Saulo and Nayuka Gorrie: National Indigenous Youth Leadership Academy


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2. Summit Objectives

a) Gain a deeper understanding of the current issues impacting young people in their communities

b) Create a vision that their communities can aspire to in the future c) Develop steps and identify actions to achieve the future aspiration of their

communities. d) Empower young people to take ownership of the solutions e) Ensure that young peoples voices and input was at the core of the Youth

Declaration and Strategy f) Build connection between community groups and young people g) Inspire participants to think about their future and the positive role they can

play in their community. Through a series of facilitated workshops six key thematic areas were identified for the focus of the Youth Declaration and Strategy.


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3. Identified Key Themes

1. Happy, healthy and strong communities 2. Strong, empowered and proud people 3. Skills, training and jobs 4. Participation, role models and leadership 5. Healing, connected and positive lifestyles 6. Services, support and activities

The Youth Declaration and Strategy will share the information collected during workshops and make recommendations of next steps and actions to be initiated by communities, individuals and Government departments/agencies. Information provided has been developed in consultation with young people at the Pormpuraaw Youth Summit. Preparation for the Youth Declaration and Strategy has been an initiative of the National Indigenous Youth Leadership Academy in collaboration with the Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation.


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4. Key Recommendations Below are key recommendations relating to each of the themes. The following observations and considerations should be noted:

The below recommendations relate to various parties; community, government and service providers. Through the process of developing these recommendations the most relevant parties to action these recommendations was not identified. It is encouraged that youth representatives from Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation and other participating youth groups identify key stakeholders to action their recommendations.

The push for community controlled initiatives and programs were

something that continually came up in conversations of empowerment, pride and skill development. It was widely acknowledged that capacity building is key to transitioning communities to self-sufficiency models and governance structures in the future.

It is important to acknowledge and understand the context of communities

and the issues that are faced across various communities. It was however heartwarming to hear young peoples' enthusiasm to the role they can play and impact they can have in communities given the support structures. Reframing issues and removing deficit language enables a fresh approach to ongoing and generational issues like joblessness, housing and alcohol.


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4.1 Happy, healthy and strong communities

We are happy, healthy and strong because: - We are engaging and participating in youth programs.

- We’ve broken the cycle of being silent.

- Were setting goals and being persistent.

- We are culturally and spiritually strong and have a solid foundation as community.

- We are future leaders.

Recommendations

i. Monthly BBQs are held to bring people together from youth, elders, service providers and guests.

ii. Community groups involving youth are established to focus on various issues within this report.

iii. Initiatives are established to support health promotion, suggest activities are:

a. Community Garden b. Fitness groups c. Yoga classes d. Men’s & Women’s Yarning circles e. Local markets

iv. Establish place-based solutions for addressing issues by building local capacity in health promotion, governance skills and trade skills.


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4.2 Strong, empowered and proud people

Our people are Strong, empowered and proud because: - We speak our minds

- Our culture is still strong

- We are determined

- We share our knowledge and understanding with each other

Recommendations

i. Appoint a local council champion to ensure voices of community and young people are heard at council meetings and committees.

ii. Community to develop a common vision for their community and develop a unified voice on issues impacting them.

iii. Empower and provide the opportunity for elders to be recipients and teachers of culturally lessons and knowledge to younger generations.

iv. Engaged and inspire young people to connect with elders and to be receptive to teachings, knowledge and cultural lessons and to share knowledge and insights.

v. Build pride in identity through cultural affirming activities, suggested: a. Language b. Land management c. Arts


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4.3 Skills, training and jobs

We are skilled, trained and have access to employment because we: - Are committed to the future of our community and our youth

- Are the solutions to our future

- We feel empowered through training

- We are supported

Recommendations

i. Support field trips to various communities to identify jobs and roles that are effective in other communities.

ii. Develop online, social media and technology skills in young people to support web-based job opportunities and online safety

iii. Hold an annual jobs expo for surrounding communities to attend to connect to employers, RTOs and employment opportunities.

iv. Identify skills and workplace competencies that exist in communities are transferrable and can be certified through accredited training schemes

v. Promote and support certified training programs that lead to jobs, not training for the sake of training.

vi. Promote accredited job readiness programs that include specific competency building activities such as;

a. Addressing a selection criteria b. Interview techniques c. Knowing your skills d. How to seek feedback e. Building confidence in the workplace


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4.4 Participation, role models and leadership

People are stepping up, to become role models and strong leaders because: - Family and community support each other

- Youths have a vision

- We are more skilled up

- Network established through youth events

- We are more confidence

- We believe in ourselves

- More kids graduating from school

- Kids coming home

Recommendations

i. Support an annual Pormpuraaw and surround communities Youth Summit, with a focus on:

a. Connecting b. Empowering c. Leadership d. Healthy lifestyles

ii. Establish youth groups that are run by youth leaders for young people, include skills and competency development activities and youth-led community initiatives.

iii. Support monthly all-ages discos to encourage peer-to-peer support, participation and engagement

iv. Facilitate bi-annual youth forums to reconnect young people to a common issue to address each year

v. Provide community leadership training, including: a. Financial literacy b. Governance training c. Project Management d. Formal writing skills


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4.5 Healing, connected and positive lifestyles

We are living connected, positive and healthy lifestyles because of: - Good personal lifestyle changes

- Trust, transparency and communications

- Eating and drinking healthy

- Being more active and energetic

- Better and limited alcohol

Recommendations

i. Empower and support elders from surrounding communities to connect and lead cultural activities to share and inspire young people, activities like:

a. Hunting b. Gathering c. Art d. Survival skills e. Land management f. Story telling

ii. Provide the opportunity for young people to consult, interview and question elders in a safe and respectful environment to gain deeper understandings of various areas of life in community.

iii. Establish a healing center, staffed by trained practitioners that are training and up-skilling younger community members to provide services.

iv. Build a sense of pride and connection in communities by establishing a ‘family-hood’ approach to community.


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4.6 Services, support and activities

Young people are accessing services and support more often because: - They want to make something out of their lives

- They have hope for the future

- They want to be a leader for their community

- They can make their family and community proud

- They can gain knowledge and confidence

Recommendations

i. Establish an Internet hub or library in communities to ensure communities are connected to each other and beyond.

ii. Facilitate Mums & Dads parenting programs to provide skills and support for new parents, ensure local community members are involved and training to offer ongoing facilitation of services

iii. Involve community members in all service providers, in a volunteering, trainee or employee capacity to ensure skills remain in communities and local empowerment is supported

iv. Identify the shortfall of resources in community schools and support the collection of adequate resources to meet students and teachers needs

v. Establish safe places in communities for playgrounds, sporting fields and areas for activity

vi. Support subsidising of freight costs to and from communities, fuel and groceries to ensure a lower barrier of participation and access to goods and services.


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5. Young Peoples today For young people who attended the Pormpuraaw Youth Summit there are many things they love about their communities. The support, bond and ties with friends and family are a big part of what makes their communities great. A sense of community is also important with participants saying, “I’m proud of the sense of community. That as a WHOLE, we all do our best to help shape our home for future generations. I’m proud, that we still fight for what’s best, as our elders have years ago,” that they liked “being a part of something” and “helping each other out.” However sometimes family and community can be one of many contributing negative factors with some people saying, “Stress from family” and “the negativity of others” were things that frustrated them about their communities. Ties to culture, cultural education and cultural upbringing were another significant positive factor in communities. Closely related, land and environment and activities done on land and environment were reported as sources of pride of their communities. These activities include fishing, swimming, camping and hunting. Sport was also cited an important part of community life. Despite this, participants reported boredom as something that is frustrating about their communities. One participant stated, “There’s hardly anything for the youths to do which results in them ending in a party (sic), breaking in etc.” In addition to boredom, young people not being engaged was a source of frustration with several participants stating that it frustrated them that “young people throwing their lives away.” For some people who are engaged, sometimes they don’t feel heard. Community services such as Home and Community Care, day care, Pormpur Paanthu, health clinics, Outside school and Vacation Care were reported by participants as services working well in communities. However pursuing employment and education opportunities are major contributors for leaving communities. In addition participants cited nepotism as an issue in community organisations.


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6. Our vision for the future:

Individually we are healthy, wise, and confident, empowered and are role models to those around us. We are running our own businesses, studying, educated and are professionals. Communities are unified and self-determined with strong leadership, locally owned business employing local community members and greater community control. There is also more political representation on a local, state and national level. Communities are safe, no longer affected by drugs and alcohol. Communities have built capacity, celebrate and highlight identity. People are healthy, and have greater access to education and are completing high school, TAFE and university at higher rates. People are also able to access employment opportunities. People are increasingly professional and have greater access to modern technology. Communities have adequate housing and infrastructure and have access to home ownership. The natural environment is still untouched and owned by the community. People are culturally grounded.

Team Building exercise with cooking: Everyone had a role and it was important to

the final outcome!


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7. Workshop Method: The workshops aimed to be fun, engaging and informative to the Youth Declaration and Strategy. To provide different perspectives, issues and solutions were approached by various ways to prompt diverse answers and ideas. Workshops were between 45mins to 1hr in duration, conducted outside and leadership was shared between facilitators and peer-to-peer leadership.

7.1 Workshop One: The current experience in communities In mixed groups, participants were given six questions, these questions were:

1. What makes you proud of your community? 2. What works well in your community? 3. What makes you want to stay in your community? 4. What makes you want to leave your community? 5. What frustrates you about your community? 6. Do you feel like your voice matters in your community? Why is that?

As an individual or as a group, the responses were written on cards and placed on a spectrum that represented ‘Good/Positive’ and ‘Bad/Negative’ on respective ends of the spectrum. The responses where recorded in their respective place on the spectrum to understand what the participants feel is positive in their communities and what aspects of their community are negatively impacting them and others.

7.2 Workshop Two: The future they hope to see in their communities As a visioning workshop, participants were asked to step ten years into future to the year 2024. Facilitators were asked to role play as a journalist conducting an interview at the 10 year anniversary of the first Pormpuraaw Youth Summit. In small mixed groups, journalists lead the discussion through the following questions:

1. What makes you proud about your community? 2. What works well in your community 3. What makes young people want to stay in your community? 4. What makes you hopeful about young people today? 5. What challenges did you face in the last ten years? How did you overcome

them? 6. What is the biggest change you have seen in your community? 7. What is the biggest change you have seen in yourself?

The journalists were taking notes, clarifying points and maintaining the futuristic aspect of the inquiry to provide a perspective of solutions and overcoming issues being faced currently.


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7.3 Workshop Three: The pathway to achieve the vision of their communities To connect the present experience of young people to the vision they created, this workshop focused on steps that communities and individuals could take to achieve the vision they wish to see in their communities. To achieve this, in small groups they engaged 5 different stages/activities to explore actions and recommendations, these stages were:

1. What could I do tomorrow a. Bonus: You’ve been given $5,000.00 for your community! How would

you spend it? 2. What actions can my community take together?

a. Bonus: Well done! People from across the country have heard about the good work your community has been doing! If you could call on any support outside of your community, what do you want and why?

3. It’s election time! You’ve been given time sit down and chat with the next prime minister of Australia. What do you talk about?

a. Facilitator role played the Prime Minister and received the questions from groups.

4. Complete the questions: a. What are 3 things your community could do to beat boredom? b. How can your community make sure young voices are being heard by

adults and elders? c. How can your community engage young people who are disengaged?

5. Complete these sentences: a. We are living connected, positive and healed lifestyles because… b. We are strong, empowered and proud people because… c. We are skilled, trained and have access to employment because… d. We are happy, healthy and strong because… e. People are stepping up to become role models and strong leaders

because… f. Young people are accessing services and support more often

because…

Outputs and Outcomes Photographs, videos, and Strategy can be located on the Pormpur Paanthu Website: www.purpurpaanthu.com.au

http://www.purpurpaanthu.com.au/

Documents

2014 Pormpuraaw Youth Summit Report