YAPA media release: 14 March 2011
MEDIA RELEASE
The Youth Action & Policy Association NSW (YAPA)ʼs Western Sydney Project is extremely excited by the announcement on March 3rd of a $10,000 grant from Minister for Western Sydney David Borger to research why western Sydneyʼs young people choose to love it or leave it.
The research project will allow YAPA to undertake qualitative research with western Sydneyʼs young people on what they love about the region, what makes them stay in the area, and what makes them choose to move on.
Leah Weber, YAPA Western Sydney Project Coordinator, is looking forward to use the outcomes of the research to make western Sydney a better place for young people.
“Western Sydney is an extremely diverse region with a large population of young people. Following from the 2009 Youth Conference Whatʼs Up West? many young people told us how much they love western Sydney and demonstrated extreme passion for the area, whilst others expressed ʻembarrassmentʼ at being from western Sydney,” she said.
“This grant is a terrific opportunity for us to investigate further details about where their passion for the region stems from, what the young people are missing, and what we can do to improve the area for our young people. Western Sydneyʼs young people have amazing talents, passion and abilities, and the region as a whole will benefit from keeping these talents, passion and abilities in western Sydney.”
Minister Borger said the focus of the research would be on providing solutions for policy makers and urban planners on areas where strengths in the western Sydney community can be built upon and improvements made.
“As a proud Western Sydney resident, I look forward to seeing the results of this research so that we can continue to cater to the unique needs of young people in our region,” Minister Borger said.
The study will take 6 months and will include focus groups and in-depth interviews with:
- Secondary school aged students in western Sydney;
- Tertiary students from western Sydney at campuses in Sydney or other locations such as Wollongong, the Central Coast or Bathurst; and
- Young professionals who live or have lived in western Sydney
A final research report with the findings and recommendations will be available at the completion of the project.
Media contact
Leah Weber
02 9281 5522 ext 8, 0424 024 497