Rural and Regional Services and Development Committee Referral of Inquiry to the Rural and Regional Services and Development Committee of Parliament INQUIRY INTO RETAINING YOUNG PEOPLE IN RURAL TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES 1. PREAMBLE This submission is made on behalf of Golden Plains Shire the comments reflect the results of extensive consultation with young people who live in the Shire and the insights gained from practitioners working with young people in the Shire since 2002. 2. INTRODUCTION Golden Plains Shire is a predominately rural municipality servicing a large number of small towns and ‘settlements’ located between Victoria’s second and third largest cities, Geelong and Ballarat. The Shire covers an area of 2,704 square kilometres and has a total population of 16,239 as at 30 June 2004 (DSE estimate). The ABS Estimated Residential Population for Golden Plains Shire increased by 8.9% from 1996 to 2001. Since the 2001 Census further increases in population growth has resulted in Golden Plains Shire, in 2003/04, recording the highest population growth (3.51%) in regional and rural Victoria and the 6th highest in the State behind Melbourne, Melton, Cardinia, Casey and Wyndham. The vast majority of rural municipalities are experiencing negative population growth, a decline in the number of children and families and a marked increase in the aged population. In contrast, growth and demographic change in Golden Plains Shire is fuelled by both the high number of families living in the Shire, contributing to a positive birth rate (Golden Plains is the only municipality in the Grampians region with a positive birth rate) and the number of families moving to the Shire seeking a rural lifestyle within commuter distance of employment opportunities and services located in the regional cities of Geelong and Ballarat and metropolitan Melbourne. Golden Plains Shire is also regarded as providing access to Golden Plains Shire – Response to Parliamentary Inquiry Page 1 of 10 comparatively less expensive housing and therefore presents as an attractive option for families with young children. It is not surprising then that the mean household size for Golden Plains Shire (at the time of the 2001 Census) was 2.9 persons, compared to the Victorian mean of 2.6 persons. Couples with dependent children represented 45.2% of households in Golden Plains, far higher than the Victorian average of 38.0%. ABS 2001 Census data highlights that Golden Plains Shire has a high proportion of people aged 0-4 years, 5–11 years and 12-19 years, with this cohort comprising 33% of the population (the same proportion as the municipalities of Melton and Casey). Graph 3: Age Structure – Comparison of Golden Plains with Casey and Melton (Source: DSE, Urban & Regional Research Branch 2003) 2001- Age Structure Casey Melton Vi ctor i a Golden Plains 35% 30% s 25% 20% 15% % of Total Person % of Total 10% 5% Age Groups 0% 0-14 15-19 20-39 40-59 60-75 75+ Casey 25% 7% 33% 25% 7% 3% Melton 25% 8% 33% 27% 5% 2% Vi ctor i a 20% 7% 30% 26% 11% 6% Golden Plains 24% 9% 22% 32% 10% 3% The following information has been taken from various forms of consultations under taken by the Shire. It highlights the impact of this issue and promotes effective strategies and recommendations toward retaining a greater number of young people in our community. 3. FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE YOUNG PEOPLE’S DECISIONS TO REMAIN IN OR LEAVE RURAL COMMUNITIES The nature of the municipality presents significant challenges for young people residing in Golden Plains Shire. A number of youth planning forums and consultations have been implemented involving participation from a wide range of service providers, network representatives and local young people. These processes have assisted Council in identifying Golden Plains Shire – Response to Parliamentary Inquiry Page 2 of 10 the key issues that attract or deter young people from remaining in or returning to live within the Shire. 3.1 Education Given that Golden Plains Shire has no secondary colleges, tertiary education services and limited transport options most young people in the Shire face significant barriers to accessing education. These barriers impact heavily on the decision made by young people and their families to leave the Shire. Anecdotal evidence drawn from the experience of young people, their teachers and youth workers suggests there is a number of key factors which contribute to young people moving out of the Shire and into the regional centres to live. • Significant time (up to 3 hours per day) spent commuting to schools in Geelong and Ballarat • Limited capacity to participate in extra-curricular activities given distance from regional centres • Decreased opportunities to access school resources As young people move from their local Primary School to a Secondary School in the regional centre of Geelong or Ballarat they lose their local friendship connections as they form new friendships at school and through extra curricular activities. Young people become increasingly disconnected to their local community and more connected to the regional centre in which many of their friendship networks now exist. There are gradually fewer reasons to remain residing in the rural community in which they now have few connecting ties. There are also many young people leaving the Shire when they are ready to undertake study through TAFE, alternative schooling or university. These young people report that there is no other option for them but to move closer to their education centres given the limited transport options in the Shire. A further disincentive to continuing to reside in their local communities is the limited internet access which would serve to reduce their capacity to meet study requirements. 3.2 Employment The barriers to making a successful transition to employment are complex and living in a rural Shire can intensify the challenges even more. Participants of a recently run program developed to investigate the high incidence of early school leaving in the Shire, identified the following factors as barriers to obtaining employment: • Transport • Family stability and support • Access to employment agencies / Resume & interview support • Access to potential workplaces • Lack of finances to pay for travel, appropriate clothing and other associated costs • Lack of self confidence and experience For the above mentioned and associated reasons young people are moving out of and leaving rural areas in record numbers. Local young people have verbalized that whilst they would like to settle in or near the community in which they were raised they do not feel confident that there is a future for them in the region as young adults. This is largely due to the limited employment Golden Plains Shire – Response to Parliamentary Inquiry Page 3 of 10 options available within the area and the time and financial costs associated with traveling to the regional centres of Geelong or Ballarat to attend their place of work. Local young people are leaving the Shire because there are no employment options here for them. Young people inform us that moving to the regional centres is the only way for them to gain financial independence. Given the limited employment options in the Shire most young people need to source employment in the regional centres of Geelong and Ballarat. For many young people and their families this makes accessing employment a significant challenge for a number of reasons especially in situations where a young person: • Is not old enough to drive or does not have a license; • Does not have access to a vehicle; • Does not have the financial capacity to meet petrol and other transport costs( especially if they are residing a significant distance from the regional centres. Young people working part time in the regional centres report that they often miss out on shifts and get overlooked for promotions for reasons related to living in a rural Shire. These young people are often unable to accept shifts on short notice or late at night because of a range of factors including: • No public transport to get home; • Parents may be working or have other commitments and are therefore unable to transport them to and from their workplace; • Costs for petrol or taxi fare (if in a service area) are often equal to or more than what the young person has just earned. Young people and their families who are consistently feeling disadvantaged and are missing out on employment opportunities due to living in a rural Shire, will often decide that it is easier and more effective for their lifestyle and wellbeing to move to the regional centres. 3.3 Transport The lack of access to public and community transport is a consistent issue raised in consultation with local young people and service providers. This issue significantly impacts on the capacity of young people to access work, education, social activities and services and hinders their ability to maintain friendship networks outside their small community. ‘ Lack of transport ‘ has been the most highly identified factor reported in consultations with young people and service providers as contributing to young people’s decision to leave the Shire and their dissatisfaction with living in a rural community. Limited transport is a key contributor to the experience and level of social isolation in the Shire. Public transport in the Shire is limited to bus services that operate along the boundaries of the municipality, including Geelong to Ballarat (along the Midland Highway with return trips three times a day), a route from Ballarat to Hamilton (along the Glenelg Highway with a return trip once per day) and an Inverleigh to Geelong service (along the Hamilton Highway - one return trip once per week). A high proportion of young people in the Shire suffer from being socially isolated due to transport issues.