The day finally came! The BIG THINGY had arrived…..

The idea is that the culmination of the entire project’s consultation period would be a huge interactive forum held with young people in Perth. Go Perth…

OK, this is the gist of it. It’s a form of consultation called Dialogue. The idea is that there would be tables of 10 young people, with another young person facilitating the table. On each table there is a laptop for which all the young people put in their opinions/attitudes/random musings on the consultation questions asked to them. All those answers from the 35-odd tables that we had in the room would be then instantaneously beamed out the back to another group of about 8 young people, who would collate and theme the answers within a short space of time. Within about 20 minutes we could beam the collated answers back up onto the big screen in front of the 400-or-so strong crowd. We could then ask the next consultation question from there. “Ok this you’ve said that this is really important to you as young people, tell us how you think we can achieve this..?”. Cool huh?!?

The idea is that these young people, like those around Australia, have the opportunity to tell local, state, federal government - and most excitingly - the United Nations what it’s like to be them. By the end of the day, we produce a newletter of what all the young people said on the day, and all participants and facilitator’s leave with this.

We ended up getting a huge crowd of about 400 young people (and in the end could have filled the room 3 times over). All participants, facilitators, speakers, entertainers were young people (do I say “young people” too much?…sheesh!). As well as the consultations, there were laughing workshops, aerobics workshops, a drama monologue, cool preso’s from some guys from the Augusta-Margaret River Shire and the WA Young Person of the Year and heaps more.

The day was divided into three sections - what Perth young people think about the global, their local community, and also their personal well-being.

During this consultation, peace and peace-making was important to young people. They made it very clear that negotiation and compromise was what they saw as important for our world. Interestingly environmental sustainability also rated very highly. They also rated the Millennium Development Goals - the UN’s plan towards global development - to find out what they felt was the most important of the UN’s 8 goals to focus on. Concentrating on fighting global poverty was a hands-down winner.

Participants were also asked what was important to them in their local community. How they chose to define their community was up to them. What people said was that they felt that their friends and families were the most important thing in their community, followed closely by the ability to have a say over the decisions that effect their lives.

Lastly, the consultation moved to us, personally as individuals. We asked the question - “as young people, what helps us to achieve personal well-being?” Basically, what helps us to feel good. It was purposely asked this way - rather than what STOPS us felling good. Not splitting hairs (I think, at least) - it’s a very important difference.

As a young man that has suffered Depression and is a YBBlue Crew member, I feel this is the most vital knowledge for our community to hold. In my opinion, if we as young people aren’t encouraged to talk about what makes us feel good - KEEP HAPPY - then we have big problems.

At the same time as all this was going on, a Youth Services Expo was held during the Morning Tea and Lunch Breaks. The idea is that whilst eating their (very yummy, I may add) food, they could wander around the 25-or-so community agencies present (such as Relationships Australia, JPET, Ethnic Communities Council, Youth Centres etc) and find out things that they may need, or like to be involved in. Just get the brain juices flowing, about what it available to them. It actually worked quite well, although next time, I think we’ll put out more bins.

To see the day happen was a magnificent feeling. To see the day come off was a spectacular feeling. To see all those involved (including me) grow with interest and inspiration throughout the day was awesome!

I’ve had a few emails from people involved in the day saying how much they got out of it, and asking how they can be involved more in their community. YEAH! (enter fist pumping action)!

What a great day - what a bloody relief it’s over.