Young Territorians least likely to finish studies

 

Mission Australia’s 2013 National Youth Survey has found one in seven Territory teens don’t intend to complete year twelve.

The alarming figure is more than three times the national average and coupled with the finding that less than two-thirds of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their school studies.

The Youth Survey, which is the country’s biggest annual stocktake on the views of young people, was completed by 109 Territorians aged between 15 and 19 years.   

When asked to nominate the most important issues for Australia, young people in the NT rated alcohol and drugs at the top of the list for the second year in a row.

In a new concerning trend, mental health jumped from eighth spot in 2012 to second among young Territorians.

The top three personal concerns for young people in the NT continued to be school or study problems, coping with stress, and body image.

Other survey highlights include:

·         Around 1 in 5 young people in the NT indicated their family’s ability to get along was poor – more than twice the national average

·         Almost one in five young people in the NT were negative or very negative in their outlook for the future (compared to 8 per cent nationally)

·         More than one third of young people in the NT aged 15-19 are currently looking for work (including part-time/casual)

·         Only 35 per cent of young people in the NT plan to go to university (compared with 65 per cent nationally)

·         The internet is the number one source of information for young people in the NT, with 40 per cent of respondents spending at least 20 hours a week on social networking sites

 

Mission Australia’s 12th national Youth Survey not only asked young people about their personal and national concerns, it also surveyed what young people value, who they turn to for advice, what activities they engage in, their views on employment and how they feel about the future.

Sue Kendrick said the fact almost 15 per cent of young people surveyed in the NT said they didn’t intend to complete year twelve – more than three times the national average – is a serious concern, coupled with the low rate of young people planning to go on to university, TAFE or college.

“We need greater investment in youth education, training and employment, particularly in communities where there is entrenched disadvantage,” Ms Kendrick said.

“There are significant economic and social benefits that flow over many years from improving the participation of young people.

“Encouraging our young people to not only complete their schooling, but also to pursue higher education and training will be crucial to meeting their career needs as well as the needs of our future workforce.”

Ms Kendrick said it was also concerning that young people in the NT are becoming increasingly concerned about mental health issues.

“When asked how positive they felt about the future, almost one in five respondents in the NT was negative or very negative in their outlook - this compares to 8 per cent nationally,” she said.

“We need to ensure that young adults in the NT have the support they need, so they can look to the future with confidence and do not fall through the cracks while trying to make the journey from adolescence into adulthood.

“If we take this opportunity to listen to their voices and act on their concerns, we can provide hope for the future of our state and the next generation of NT youth who will lead it.”

Mission Australia is a leading community organisation, focused on standing together with Australians in need, until they can stand for themselves. We want to support our young people to gain independence and lead productive, fulfilling lives.

Thousands of Territorians sign on to save badminton

The Northern Territory Badminton Association will tomorrow submit the single largest petition in NT Parliament history.

The petition, which calls on NT Government to “defer the eviction of badminton from the Sports House facility and agree to allocate funds for and facilitate construction of a new multi-purpose facility for badminton, table tennis and judo at Marrara during the 2014-2015 financial year as detailed in the NT Badminton Association New Venue Proposal September 2013”, has been signed by more than 12 300 Territorians in the past five weeks.

The petition will be presented to the Hon Gerry Wood MLA on the steps of Parliament House at 9:30am for submission to Parliament later that day.

And to make sure their plight is heard, a group of local badminton players have planned a “Badminton Flashmob” at the handover.

“People we meet are very surprised to hear that we’re being thrown out on to the street and that the NT Government is not proposing a replacement facility - they say that it’s very unfair,” NT Badminton volunteer Monica Beadman said.

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed with support from the people of Darwin, Palmerston and Rural Areas,” volunteer Helena Gibbons said.

“People have been incredibly sympathetic to our plight and we thank everyone for their fantastic support!”

The NTBA said it calls on the NT Government to listen to overwhelming community opinion and “give our sport a fair go and support our proposal for a replacement facility”.

 
For more information visit www.saveoursport.org.au or follow NT Badminton on www.facebook.com/SaveOurSportNT and twitter.com/SaveOurSportNT

New land to fulfil Christmas wishes

Territorians looking to purchase land before Christmas have had their wishes granted.

Urbex, in association with the Northern Territory Government, have released their last land sale for the year at Johnston Ridge.

Seventeen large lots starting at an affordable price of $260,000 went on sale to the public today.

Urbex General Manager Wayne Rex said the release will help to ease growing pressures on housing affordability.

“We have strong demand for affordable land and housing, and have brought the Davies release forward to help meet some of it,” Mr Rex said.

“We’ve worked hard with the government and Council to get land ready for sale and Territorians into their homes sooner.”

Construction of the lots released for sale has commenced which Mr Rex says “means that purchasers will be able to commence construction of their homes next year”.

Nestled between Farrar Boulevard and the Stuart Highway, Johnston Ridge is now well developed.

“Residents are moving into their homes and Johnston Ridge is becoming a real community,” Mr Rex said.

“More than 175 lots have sold to date, which is two-thirds of the suburb.

“We sell land with plenty of room to move at very competitive prices.”

The lots in the current Davies release range in size from 780sqm to over 1,100sqm and are some of the largest available lots within a new community in the Darwin/Palmerston market.

Mr Rex said that “families who purchase in Johnston Ridge can build their home and add to it later or have plenty of room for a tinny and the kids to run around”.

Johnston Ridge is located within five minutes of the amenities of Coolalinga and Palmerston City Centre.

Territorians interested in land at Johnston Ridge can visit www.johnstonridge.com.au or call 1300 556 950.

NT Badminton says “We won’t leave Sports House without a new home”

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Members of the NT Badminton Association have vowed to stay at Sports House in Fannie Bay until a new venue for their sport is secured. 

The motion “…that members of NTBA only agree to leave Sports House when the NT Government identifies an alternative single venue accommodation solution that is acceptable to NTBA and a binding agreement is made” was passed at the NTBA Annual General Meeting yesterday.

The AGM, which was likely to be the NTBA’s last at Sports House, focused on badminton’s future after the NTBA rejected the NT Government’s offer of a 5 year commercial lease on a property in Woolner last week.

Independent Member for Nelson Gerry Wood MLA , ALP Member for Johnston Ken Vowles MLA, and a number of concerned local Fannie Bay residents participated in the spirited and emotional AGM. 

“The NT Government doesn’t seem to recognise the disastrous consequences that closure of Sports House, and the absence of a replacement facility, will have on our sport,” NT Badminton President Rodney Pearce said at the meeting.

“All of us at this meeting know that without a new home the sport is stuffed.”

Gerry Wood stated, “The Government sometimes has its priorities wrong. If it’s real about people’s health then the facilities that are required should be made available. They need to re-prioritise their land plans and allow NT Badminton’s new facility to be established before the Sports House site is sold and developed. I don’t think that it’s too hard.”

The NTBA said it will continue to impress the urgency of its need upon the NT Government and request that it allocates funding in the May 2014 Budget for construction of a new multi-purpose facility for Badminton, Judo and Table Tennis at Marrara.

“The proposal that NTBA has submitted is excellent,” Ken Vowles MLA said, adding that “the cost of the proposed facility is good value as it incorporates facilities for a number of sports”.

“While the ball is obviously in NT Government’s court, we’re happy to sit down with them to work together to come up with a solution,” NT Badminton’s Rodney Pearce said.

For more information visit www.saveoursport.org.au or follow NT Badminton on: www.facebook.com/SaveOurSportNT and twitter.com/SaveOurSportNT.

 

TIO ready to respond to Cyclone Alessia

With Cyclone Alessia approaching the Top End, TIO has activated plans to ensure it ready to respond to potential customer claims.

Insurance General Manger Michael Hoare said staff would be ready and available should the cyclone or associated flooding cause any damage.

“It is too late to update insurance for this event but there is still much Territorians can do to ensure they are ready,” Michael said.

“People’s homes should now be prepared and they should be familiar with their family emergency plan.

“We hope this cyclone causes no damage, but we are ready to respond if it does.”

In addition to having an emergency plan, Top Enders should:

·      Know where to go and what to do in the case of storm surge or flooding

·      Have their emergency kit prepared with portable radio, fresh batteries, non-perishable food, water and enclosed footwear. Don’t forget special medical or baby needs.

·      Have loose items secured and a safe place to protect personal belongings, photographs and documents.

·      Care for friends and neighbours.

For more information visit www.tiofi.com.au or call 1300 301 833.

Media enquiries – Tracy Jones on 0407 727 813

Future of NT badminton to be debated

The home of badminton in Darwin will be discussed at the NT Badminton Association (NTBA) Annual General Meeting on Monday 25 November 2013.

The AGM will be held at Sports House, Waratah Crescent in Fannie Bay from 7:45pm and is open to the public.

Earlier this week the NT Government granted badminton an extension of tenure at Sports House until 31 March 2014 and proposed the NTBA take on a 5 year commercial lease on a warehouse in Woolner at a cost of $165,000 per year, shared equally between badminton and the government.

But NT Badminton’s Dr Di Symonds said the NTBA rejected the lease proposal as it was too expensive.

“A lease of that value would without doubt destroy the sport and leave us financially ruined,” she said.

“We understand that most sport associations in the NT have peppercorn lease arrangements with government, or pay negligible sums of money, if anything, to ensure sports develop and the community benefits.

“We're not aware of any major sport associations in the NT with a commercial lease.”

Dr Symonds said the NT government also asked NT Badminton to reassess using community halls located on school grounds.

“To be told to go back and look at school halls again is very frustrating and  especially since we outgrew school halls back in the late 1970s, which led to the CLP Government at the time to allocate badminton Sports House,” she said.

“Sports House itself doesn’t meet our current needs or plan for development and growth."

NTBA continues to urge the government to support its proposal for a new, multi-purpose facility at Marrara.

Dr Symonds said the facility would address badminton’s need for a new home and allow table tennis, gymnastics and judo to meet current demand.

“Sixteen years ago NTG came up with a plan for a new multi-purpose facility at Marrara, incorporating badminton, table tennis, basketball and netball but the project was shelved,” she said.

“But the timing is now right. Please help us to save our sport!”

For more information visit or follow NT Badminton on:

www.saveoursport.org.au

www.facebook.com/SaveOurSportNT

twitter.com/SaveOurSportNT

Top Enders should prepare for cyclone threat

As the chance of a tropical cyclone affecting the Top End builds Territorians are reminded to review their insurance cover before it’s too late.

 Advice issued by the Bureau of Meteorology at 2:15pm today said the likelihood of a cyclone forming in our region on Saturday was ‘high’ (more than 50 per cent).

 TIO General Manager Insurance Michael Hoare said most insurers required cover or policy changes to be in place at least 72 hours before an extreme weather event.

 He said now is the time for people to contact TIO to purchase or update their cover.

“When a tropical cyclone is called it’s unfortunately too late for people to make changes to their policies,” Mr Hoare said.

“We encourage Top Enders to look at their cover for cyclone, flood and storm surge. TIO customers are automatically covered but those insured elsewhere should check their policies carefully.”

Mr Hoare also advised Territorians to prepare their homes and families for a cyclone by:

• Having a personal disaster plan for their family, including where to go and what to do in the case of storm surge or flooding
• Preparing an emergency kit with portable radio, fresh batteries, non-perishable food, water and enclosed footwear. Don’t forget special medical or baby needs.
• Secure loose items and plan how to protect personal belongings, photographs and documents.
• Care for friends and neighbours.

 For more information visit www.tiofi.com.au or call 1300 301 833.

 

Relationships Australia opens its doors in Katherine

After more than 25 years of operation Relationships Australia NT now has a permanent home in Katherine.

 

The charity organisation, which provides counselling and mediation services to local residents, has opened its doors on Katherine Terrace in the heart of town.

 

Relationships Australia NT Acting Chief Executive Officer Robyn Donnelly said the move reflected growth and increased demand for its services.

 

“It’s a wonderful time for the organisation, the community and our Katherine staff,” Ms Donnelly said.

 

“We’re very thankful to Sommerville and Catholic Care who have supported and shared their rooms with us over the years, until it was sustainable for us to open an office.”

 

Relationships Australia NT started offering counselling to Katherine residents in the late 1980s and extended its services to include mediation in 1990.

 

“During this time we evolved from having Darwin staff visit town to building our local team, from using hotel rooms and space at other industry providers to now having our own office.”

 

Relationships Australia NT helps up to 3500 Territorians on average annually and more than 20 per cent identify as Aboriginal.

 

Ms Donnelly said the organisation increasingly works with families and children.

 

“We provide assistance to families in various ways including strengthening relationships, mediation, counselling and support for those going through tough times,” she said.

 

Relationships Australia NT is located at Unit 5, 15 Katherine Terrace, Katherine.

 

For more information please call 1300 364 277 or visit www.nt.relationships.org.au

 

Territory business woman awarded Life Fellowship

Territory business woman Tracy Jones has been honoured with the highest award given by the Public Relations Institute of Australia – a Life Fellowship.

The Managing Director of Darwin-based public relations agency Creative Territory was inducted as a Life Fellow at a ceremony in Adelaide last night. The former journalist is the first Territorian to be awarded this honour.

Tracy’s service to the Public Relations Institute spans 12 years, including two years as National President, three years as National Treasurer and more than nine years on the Board of Directors.

She became the first Territorian to be inducted as a Fellow of the institute in 2003 and has been a member of the Council of the College of Fellows since that time.

She has also won numerous national Golden Target Awards and in 2010 was awarded the President’s Award for services to the institute.

Local business takes out national new enterprise award

When Darwin girl Holly Copping decided to return home to set up her own business little did she know that in less than a year her business would be thriving and her efforts recognised by a national award program.

Holly, who established Territory Laser Clinic in December 2012, is a recent recipient of the National New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) Association award for the Best New Business in 2013, a first for a Territory business.

NEIS is a self-employment program funded by the Department of Employment. The program helps eligible unemployed people become self-supporting and independent of Centrelink by establishing and running their own business.

The goal of NEIS is to help set up a sustainable business. To ensure the success of the programme, NEIS providers carefully select people with viable business ideas.

Mission Australia, the largest NEIS provider within Australia, provides accredited small business training, business advice, mentoring and ongoing income support for the first year of operation.

Holly worked with Mission Australia in the Northern Territory to establish her business, Territory Laser Clinic, to treat skin disorders similar to those that she had experienced as a teenager.

After graduating with qualifications in Dermal Therapies, her parents mortgaged their home to allow Holly to purchase the laser equipment and establish a professionally appointed premise.

Mission Australia went on to nominate Holly for the national award in recognition of the vital service Territory Laser Clinic provides to people living in the Territory and Holly’s ability to nurture and grow the business.

In the first year, Holly has already firmly established her business and employed a full time staff member.

Holly was thrilled to win the award and said that the Mission Australia QLD and NT Team was and continues to be of invaluable assistance in establishing her business. 

“From my own experience, I knew that there was a need in the Territory to help people suffering from skin disorders, but the response has been overwhelming.

“The business has grown immensely in a short period of time and I am extremely lucky to have the support of Territorians,” she said.