Youth Action Priorities (YAP)
YAP is southern Tasmania’s youth sector network and comprises over ninety members and is convened by Hobart City Council. YAP is one of three networks that exist across Tasmania, the other two are North West Action for Youth (NWAY) and Northern Youth Coordinating Committee (NYCC). YAP identifies issues that impact on young people, takes responsibility for those issues, raises them at appropriate forums and also develops working parties to address these issues first hand. Some of YAP's major achievements include:
National Youth Week
Hobart City Council works with young people, schools and other youth sector agencies every year to conduct or support National Youth Week events. Over the years this has included;
Gigs in St David's Park 2003-2009 Gigs have always been a huge success with approximately 3,000 people attending events throughout the day. Line-up has featured well known and up and coming Tassie bands as well as performers from schools and colleges. Youth services and support from several major businesses in the Hobart area have also been integral to the success of these events. The atmosphere of events in St David's park is always positive with young people celebrating in a positive way.
Youth Forum at the Hobart Town Hall 2007 This forum posed questions such as - What are the perceptions of young people? Should they be changed? If so how? Community and business leaders joined young people to explore these and other questions. Forums provide an opportunity for young people and adults to have an open discussion about the way young people are perceived in the Hobart community. Around 70 young people and community and business leaders were present on the day to hear from keynote speaker Professor Rob White and break into groups to examine the current issues of youth driving, under-age drinking, entertainment and public open spaces, and public transportation and safety.
The Feelgood Festival 2010 & 2011 The Feelgood Festival, sponsored by Beyondblue and the Office of Children and Youth Affairs, was a major one day interactive expo that exposed over 1,000 young people to thirty-six different physical, cultural and social activities with a focus on health and well-being. The inaugural event held in 2010 involved four councils, thirteen schools and dozens of agencies. The Feelgood Festival 2011 involved over 850 young people in thirty-five different activities, many of which were different to the previous year’s event.
Outdoor Youth Work
Hobart City Council works with a range of government and community service organisations to undertake activities and programs for young people within the city and suburbs of Hobart.
This includes the delivery of youth focussed events such as ’Franklin Squared’ and ’Elizabeth Live’ under the ’Safe in the City’ banner. This program provides opportunities for young performers to showcase their talents in public spaces in order to address perceptions connected with young people and safety in the city.
Council also provides two major skate facilities within the city. The North Hobart Cultural Park located next to the Elizabeth College campus in North Hobart, or ’EC’ as it more often referred to by young people, is a popular location for young skaters and BMX riders, providing a contemporary multi-purpose skate facility.
John Doggett Park located in West Hobart provides a classic 1970's 'snake run’ facility and is recognised as one of the oldest and most unique skate facilities in Australia.
Major competitions and events take place every January at EC as well as John Doggett Park. These are coordinated by Council in collaboration with local skaters and skate businesses. Council also liaises with members of the Southern Tasmanian Skateboard Association (STSA) on issues relevant to skaters of all persuasions.