Future City leaders share ideas

Albany’s next generation of leaders and innovators shared their ideas as part of the City of Albany youth forum.

More than 60 students from years 7 to 10 from Albany Senior High School, North Albany Senior High School and John Calven School worked in groups to come up with suggestions including more university options and dropping fees for national parks.

City of Albany senior community development officer Tammy Flett said most of the ideas generated during the forum were in line with past experience.

“I was surprised by the park fees but the rest was fairly reflective of what we have got in previous years,” she said.

Ms Flett highlighted the importance of the forum.

“This provides young people with a chance to identify their priorities for us,” she said.

With further forums set to be held by the City with different youth groups this month, Ms Flett indicated this week’s event would contribute to an overall result.

“This event forms part of the bigger consultation,” she said.

“All of it comes together so we can look at it when we write the youth strategy and we will know what young people want,”

Ms Flett said statistics showed an increase in youth population in Albany as students from rural areas attend upper high school; however these students tended to leave once they finished high school

Ms Flett was hopeful that the forums would assist the City in outlining it’s role within the youth community in the region.

“It’s important for us to have a youth strategy because then it defines what the City’s role is in creating a youth friendly city,”

“Some of the ideas they come up with today we may be able to look at putting in place if there is funding available.”

The City is also encouraging anyone aged between 10 and 25 years to go to http://coa.townhallapp.io and take part in the survey.