Young people in rural and regional areas don’t fit into little neat boxes. Like all young people, they face a vast range of opportunities and challenges. But unlike young people in metro areas, they can face extra hurdles simply because of where they live

Across country Victoria, a variety of organisations, professionals and community groups provide programs to address inequalities and support the personal, social and emotional development of young people aged 12-25. These champions for youth are motivated by seeing young people thrive, connected to and celebrated by their communities.

While not all of these people have ‘youth worker’ as their title (many are qualified as social workers, teachers, health, and welfare practitioners), all undertake roles that incorporate what can typically be thought of as ’youth work’. This includes help with housing and accommodation, support to prevent or treat alcohol and other drug issues, mental health, community engagement, and generally navigate life.

Youth Affairs Council Victoria’s (YACVic’s) consultation with the rural and regional youth sector, What Matters to Rural & Regional Youth Workers 2018, shared the voices of these champions. Although proud of their work – often with limited resources – many raised concerns about the challenges faced by the young people they work with. Youth support workers were concerned about how they help young people stay healthy and happy in light of pressures like local government cost cutting, metro-focused funding models that aren’t adaptable to rural settings, inadequate outreach services with no transport component, and limited access to professional training and development.  

In our role as the youth peak body, we have communicated these concerns to the State Government. We continue to advocate for sector and community-led solutions, including a thorough needs analysis to be clear about which rural community needs what extra supports.

All young people are entitled to a life they value, regardless of where they live. This looks different for everyone, but good health, access to education, and meaningful employment are high on the agenda for most young people. So too are relationships with family and friends, connectedness to community and the ability to develop independence during the tricky transition from child to young adult.

But the dreams of young people living in rural areas can seem impossible, especially where access to education, employment, mental health services and a range of other support services are limited due to distance, transport, small populations, and limited employment options and infrastructure.

Many young people can and do clear these hurdles on their own. However sometimes a young person can get stuck for an extended period of time, and not see a future with value. Many young people call upon family and friends for support during these difficult transitions to help them clear obstacles and build strength and resilience, before going on to contribute to and thrive in their communities.

But for many young Victorians, access to support from a trusted adult is not available. That’s where youth work helps young people. And we’re helping youth support workers to help young people, and our rural communities, by holding a conference, Connecting the Dots, for Victoria’s rural youth sector.  

On February 12 and 13, YACVic will bring youth support workers from across rural and regional Victoria together in Ballarat to explore the latest research, trends and best practice in the areas of youth health, wellbeing and safety. The conference will provide high quality training and professional development, will offer opportunities to strengthen networks and broaden connections, and enable effective advocacy and support for our young people.

We’re pleased to welcome a number of special guests, including the newly-appointed Minister for Youth Affairs, Hon Gabrielle Williams, and our key note speaker, Dr Ani Wierenga – one of Australia’s leading youth researchers. Other guest speakers are from the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and the Commission for Children and Young People. The Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health will also facilitate a series of workshops focused on improving sexual health and services for young people.

The Connecting the Dots conference will be held at multiple venues in Ballarat’s CBD. Please spread the word to people who work or volunteer to support your younger community members – tickets and scholarships are available at www.yacvic.org.au

Karen Walsh is YACVic’s Rural Development Coordinator for the Great South Coast.