If you ask teenagers Joan Porter of Kalamunda, Phillip Beckett of Swan View and Jonna Davis of Forrestfield what they are passionate about, the words ‘sport’ and ‘recreation’ are bound to come up.
05 January 2009
But this local trio is not content to reap
all the benefits of participation in sport and recreation on its own. The three
are also looking at ways to get more young people involved through their role
on the Department of Sport and Recreation's Youth Sport and Recreation
Committee.
Joan, Phillip and Jonna are among 24 secondary school-aged young people who for the past year have sat on the 2008 committee, which meets on a monthly basis, to voice their opinions about youth sport and recreation programs, services and initiatives in the community.
They also provide input regarding issues that affect the participation and prolonged involvement of youth in sport and recreation.
Joan - who is a member of Kalamunda Kickboxing, plays hockey for the Pirates and also enjoys volleyball and softball - believes sport and recreation can help young people to achieve better educational outcomes.
"When you're a teenager you've got heaps of homework and sometimes you can't mentally prepare because you've just got so much on your mind all the time," she said. "But sport is an outlet that allows them to forget about those sorts of things." ‘
Joan thinks that family attitudes and transport issues are two major barriers to young people participating in sport.
"I wanted to do rowing when I was younger but because I used to catch the bus to school, and lived in Kalamunda and went to Penrhos, I couldn't get there and get home," she said.
"Also, if your family and friends aren't doing sport then you're less likely to do it because you don't have other people around you as role models, encouraging you."
So what does Joan think will make those not participating participate?
"That's what we're doing here on the committee - thinking of ways we can help younger kids get involved, including on the recreation side of things, so that kids who aren't really competitive and don't really like sport can maybe do more recreation so they're still physically active but don't have to compete," she said.
2008 has been Joan's second year on the Youth Sport and Recreation Committee.
"I've met people from all over the place and people I'd never usually get to meet from all different sports," she said.
"It's good because when we discuss issues, everyone's got different backgrounds - some people go to private schools, some public. Some people live in the country and some around here and everyone's got their different view which means we can get a wider understanding of how everyone's feeling.
"I've learnt heaps about the community that I didn't know before."
DSR Youth Consultant Natasha Johnston said being on the committee was a great opportunity for these young people, many of whom intended to pursue careers in the sport and recreation industry.
"Not only does it help them to develop leadership skills, but members are also given personal development opportunities through attendance at relevant events and forums during the year," Ms Johnston said.
"The thoughts and opinions of committee members raised during the meetings are put to good use and form an essential component in the consultation stage of developing programs and services for young people.
"So it is no stretch to say that these youths are being given the opportunity to directly affect the delivery of sport and recreation services for youths in Western Australia."
