YAPA media release: 17 August 2010
MEDIA RELEASE
Young People Shouted “What’s Up West?”
And the results are in…
In December 2009, 60 young people from across Western Sydney gathered at the Riverside Theatres Parramatta for What’s Up West? - The 2009 YAPA Western Sydney Youth Conference.
Recommendations and ideas about eight topics are contained in the enclosed report that will be distributed to youth services, young people and key decision makers in Western Sydney.
Dominating the opinions was the fact that as a general rule, young people are proud to hail from the western suburbs of Sydney, but are sick of the negative perceptions of them both in the media and in other parts of Sydney.
Some of the young people had these things to say on the day…
‘My biggest youth issue is how the media portray youth as ‘reckless teenagers’. If all youth were merely ‘reckless teenagers’ this event would be a no show event’
‘We live in this country too. We don’t live under rocks. We're not only interested in partying. When the govt makes decisions about us they need to JUSTIFY them to US not our parents.’
‘Even with all the money in the world, I wouldn’t choose to live anywhere else.’
What’s Up West? was organised by Outburst! – The Western Sydney Youth Forum, a group of passionate enthusiastic young people aged 12–24 from western Sydney, supported by YAPA, The Youth Action & Policy Associations Western Sydney Project. YAPA is the peak organisaton representing young people and youth services in NSW. YAPA works towards a society where all young people are supported, engaged and valued.
‘What’s Up West? was a tremendous success. It was heart-warming and inspiring to see so many young people from western Sydney passionate about the area they live in, and really wanting to work towards making it a better place for young people. I’m really looking forward to taking these opinions to the government to influence change.’ Leah Weber, YAPA Western Sydney Project Coordinator.
Copies of the report
www.yapa.org.au/yapa/policy/whatsupwest.pdf (2.9 MB PDF)
Media contact & photos
Leah Weber
02 9281 5522 ext 8, 0424 024 497, yapaws@yapa.org.au
