Juggling youth affairs

Once he belted out ballads and performed circus tricks to help kids beat petrol sniffing.

Now Adrian McCann will juggle his biggest role yet as Mission Australia’s new Youth Services Manager for Darwin and Palmerston.

The laid back father of two, has more than ten years industry experience and developed the highly successful Desert ED project, which brought music, circus and positive health messages to young indigenous people in communities across Western and South Australia.  

“It was a great program that engaged young people in healthy living in a fun and entertaining way,” Mr McCann said.

Born and raised in Northern Ireland, his childhood memories full of frosty mornings are poles apart from the hot and humid weather that Territorians experience for most of the year.

With a double degree in Social Science and Community Development, Adrian’s passion for working with young people stems from teaching placements and creating youth development projects.

“I’m really looking forward to working with my new team and other youth service providers across the region to identify what areas and programs need improvement or expansion.”

Mission Australia has offices in Darwin and Palmerston and run a range of programs that help young people engaged in dangerous behaviour or at risk of homelessness, stay on the straight and narrow.

They also manage popular singing competition, Urban Quest, which aims to help young people build self esteem through music and mentoring.

“I want to be proactive, and make and contribute to programs so they count and help the lives of young people.”

Whether or not that means circus acts for Darwin and Palmerston kids, we’ll have to wait and see.

Young Territorians wanted for national survey

Mission Australia is calling on young Territorians to help highlight important issues in their lives by taking part in the charity’s 2012 Youth Survey – the nation’s leading annual stocktake of the views, concerns and values of young people between the ages of 15-19.

In launching the 2012 survey, Mission Australia’s NT Director, Phillip Leslie, said it gave young people a voice across a range of issues with the information being used to help community groups and governments plan and develop youth services.

“Mission Australia’s annual national youth survey is a ‘temperature check’ on what young people are feeling, what issues concern them, what they think are the main challenges facing the nation and how optimistic they are about the future,” said Mr Leslie.

“Responses to the survey help governments, youth agencies and ourselves improve and develop programs and strategies that are shaped by the voices of young people themselves.”

When asked to rank their personal concerns from 15 issues, NT participants in last year’s survey believed school/study problems was the most pressing issue, placed in the top three by 33.0 per cent of respondents.

This was followed by body image at 28.6 per cent and family conflict at 28.1 per cent.

Concern for school/study problems among young Territorians increased by more than 17 per cent since the 2009 survey.

“Young people’s concerns can be quite volatile – moving around from year to year – so it’s important we conduct this survey annually to obtain an accurate picture.

“The range of concerns – from school to stress, family conflict and body image – also suggest young people are facing increased challenges as they make the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

“We’ve also taken the opportunity to refresh the survey – now in its 11^th year – and make it more relevant than ever.

“In addition to the questions we’ve asked every survey, this year we’re also asking young Territorians for their thoughts on their financial situation, family connectedness, neighbourhood safety and health,” said Mr Leslie.

Mission Australia’s 2012 Youth Survey can be completed online: www.mayouthsurvey.com.au.

The survey closes on Friday, 27 July with the results to be published later this year.

 

ZUCCOLI - master planned community goes on sale

The first release of land in the new suburb of Zuccoli will be made available to the market this week.

The land forms part of a new master planned suburb in Palmerston that will eventually contain over 2,300 dwellings for more than 6,000 Territorians.

Stage 1 of the suburb, to be developed by Urbex in partnership with the Northern Territory Government’s Land Development Corporation, is on track to deliver more housing as the Territory prepares for an increase in demand as a result of recently announced major projects.

Urbex Project Director Andrew Bartington said that over 100 registrations of interest in the land had already been received to date.

“Zuccoli lots will enable Territorians to choose from a variety of housing options, from acreage lots through to duplexes, and unit style developments.

“We will encourage purchasers to choose designs that are energy efficient, considerate of the topography and the natural aspect Zuccoli offers,” he said.

More than 30 per cent of the first stage of Zuccoli will be dedicated to parks and conservation.

Boardwalks and cycle paths will traverse the native bushland and Mitchell Creek that fringe the suburb.

Zuccoli will be well serviced with public transport and education facilities, including the recently opened Mackillop Catholic College, and includes plans for a village centre and commercial hub.

“We invite Territorians to be part of the village life,” Mr Bartington said.

Zuccoli is located to the south of Lambrick Avenue between the Stuart Highway and Mitchell Creek.

Residents looking to buy land in Zuccoli can visit Urbex Realty, Sales and Information Centre at 18 Cavenagh Street, Darwin.

For further information visit www.zuccolivillage.com.au or call Janzey Pratt on 1300 662 746.