from YAPRap September 2006
Young people in the Eurobodalla have safe transport home from local youth activities thanks to an initial grant of $16,000 from the NSW Ministry of Transport and the support of the Eurobodalla Transport Working Group.
The funds trialled a voucher system for young people to be transported home using local taxi services. For a gold coin donation, young people accessing the Batemans Bay Youth Cafe, the Narooma Youth Cafe and the Moruya Youth Centre are transported home safely. The grant was also be used to provide transport for other shire youth events.
Since the start of the project in September 2005, the project has transported over 1500 young people and utilised approximately 615 vouchers.
The project is quite simple to administer. Staff determine who needs a ride home each night via the sign-in book and call the taxis. Narooma Youth Cafe has been very popular and now utilises a bus on Friday night due to the high demand.
Of particular note is the increased access by indigenous youth. Youth Cafe participation levels have increased by approximately 100 young people per month.
The project has attracted funding support of $16,500 for another 12 months from the NSW Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Strategy.
This project promotes the use of existing local transport services and has assisted in determining transport patterns for young residents in each area. It has also created employment for local transport workers.
Benefits
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staff are no longer put in situations where they have to drive young people home
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young people who could not access cafes previously now can particularly from Wallaga Lake, Bodalla and Malua Bay.
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improved access for young people in isolated areas
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equates to an average of 80 visits per month more of kids from Wallaga Lake and Bermagui (primarily indigenous young people)
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repeat use of service for young users increasing familiarity with taxi use - anecdotal comments from drivers reporting that youth relate to them outside of youth cafe times
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reconciliation with local youths attending youth facilities. great relationships between staff and all youth attending a government service
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indirect impact on youth health as community health AOD, sexual health and ATSI staff visit the youth cafes
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positive parental comments on support from service, eg. a mother of a disabled child indicated her appreciation of being able to transport her other teenager home from the cafe safely
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improved perceptions from young people on transport support.
Ministry of Transport's South East NSW Regional Coordinator, Mr Alex Codina, is the Chairman of the Eurobodalla Transport Working Group.
"This pilot project to be conducted in the Eurobodalla Shire is not only important for local youth. It will also provide detailed feedback to the State Government on transport needs with a view to expanding the scheme in the future," he said.
The Eurobodalla Transport Working Group was formed in November 2005 with the assistance of the Ministry of Transport and Eurobodalla Shire Council and includes representatives from the local transport, health and aboriginal services, and community members.
More information
Kim Bush, Youth and Family Officer, Eurobodalla Shire Council
(02) 4474 7402
Kim.bush@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au
