Year nine students at Narre Warren South P12 School held a youth forum last week to discuss community and global issues, where (from left) Narre Warren South MP Dale Wilson, Holt MP Anthony Byrne and school principal Ross Miller engaged in some discussion.By Rebecca Fraser
YEAR nine students at Narre Warren South P12 school discussed the big issues last week, as part of an inaugural youth leadership forum.
The discussion ranged from school issues such as bullying, harassment and yard maintenance to community issues such as local crime, vandalism and drug use to global issues including third world poverty, war, terrorism and racism.
The need for more activities for local youth was also discussed.
Assistant principal Kerri Bolch said the school’s 230 Year 9 students had undertaken a threeweek leadership course as part of their compulsory curriculum.
She said the youth forum would showcase their leadership skills and help students brainstorm and discuss a range of solutions for issues of concern within their school and local community.
Ms Bolch said a number of community support agencies and government organisations had become involved in the student leadership forum.
“These people have been chosen because the nature of their work with adolescents makes them an important resource for students to draw on when brainstorming and resolving issues of concern.
“Their role will be to facilitate a group of students in an area that would target their knowledge and expertise and/or as a member of our leadership panel assessing a presentation the students have developed in their workshops.”
Representatives from South Eastern Alcohol and Drug service, Amnesty International, Youth Liaison Police, local churches, the RSL and Adult Migrant Education Services attended on the day and contributed to the discussions.
Holt MP Anthony Byrne, Narre Warren South MP Dale Wilson and Springfield Ward councillor Ben Clissold also attended.
Ms Bolch said the youth forum was a significant event for the school and local community.
“It also provides students with the opportunity at a very important stage in their development to become young adults, to develop skills and strategies to cope with and problem solve important issues of concern” she said.
