Youth as young as 12 were intoxicated outside the Global Carnival at the Bellingen Showground on Friday, October 2. Youth workers say this is only the tip of the iceberg and highlights the need for a Youth Centre. Councillor KERRY CHILD is a strong advocate of a Youth Centre. She wrote the following article for the Courier-Sun.

Youth is a period of rapid emotional, physical and intellectual change, where young people progress from being dependent children to independent adults. This is often a period where young people face a range of life events and make decisions that can impact on their immediate and longer term health and wellbeing. Some of these include decisions on schooling and career paths, relationships with families and peers, sexual behaviours, employment, financial decisions and contact with drugs, alcohol or the justice system. In Bellingen Shire Council’s Social Plan 2009 it states that the number of young people between the ages of 15 and 19 residing in the Bellingen Shire at the 2006 Census has increased by 15% over the last ten years and that there is a population peak of the 5-14 years age group representing 15.1% of Bellingen Shire population. This means there will be a larger number of young people who will be moving into the 12-24 year age group over the next 5 to 7 years. This will put undue pressure on the existing youth services and facilities that are provided. In February this year Mid North Coast Regional Council for Social Development held a youth consultation forum to discuss future needs and wants of the youth. When asked questions like ‘WHAT SORT OF THINGS MAKE YOU FEEL SAFE” and “WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME HEALTHIER” the responses were “Having a safe place to go to ie youth centre” and “Youth Centre- one stop shop for a range of health and other services”. In 2007 Australia’s Young People Health and Wellbeing Report stated some interesting statistical information: * 26.5% of young people suffer from mental disorders * 15.9% of young people suffer from mental disorders associated with substance use. * 12% of males and 4% of females have alcohol dependence. * 35% of 14 to 17 year olds drink at levels that may constitute risk or high risk levels of harm in the short term. A lack of a youth space has been already identified in Council’s Social Plan of 1999, 2004 & 2009. It is about time that we as a community and I as an elected person do something about this. The youth of the Bellingen Shire are the only age group that does not have its own centre. The Bellingen & Seaboard Youth Services (BSYS) during the last 12 months had an average of 255 people access the service each month – this figure shows a large 67% increase in numbers compared to the previous year. The strength of your support will help highlight the need for such a service within our Shire & focus Council’s attention on making this a priority.