In an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey in 2000, 27 per cent of 18–24 year olds had done some sort of voluntary work. Voluntary work in sport, recreation, education, training and youth development were the most common areas of volunteer work among young volunteers, followed by welfare and community volunteer work.
An ABS survey of adult participation in sports and physical recreation in 2002 found that nearly three quarters of 18–24 year old Australians had actively participated in sport or physical recreation.
The ABS reported that about 20 per cent of 18 - 24 year olds had attended church or participated in other religious activities in a three month period in 2001-02.
A survey on children’s participation in cultural and leisure activities by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2003 found that that 98.8 per cent of young people in Australia aged 12 - 14 had used a computer or accessed the internet in the last year. About 94 per cent had used a computer for school or educational purposes, 76 per cent for playing games and 70 per cent for internet based activities including email. About 84 per cent used a computer more than once a week, with about 33 per cent using it every day. About 67 per cent used the internet for email or chat rooms; 51 per cent for playing games; 93 per cent for school or educational purposes and 50 per cent browsed the internet for leisure.
What we know
What we are doing
What we will do
What we know
By doing some kind of cultural, sporting or recreational activity, young people improve their wellbeing, become more resilient and have a stronger sense of cultural pride.
Participating in sport also has important health benefits, helping to maintain healthy weight levels and promoting resistance to drug-taking and alcohol consumption.
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What we are doing
The Government has identified Building Harmonious Communities as one of the fourteen goals in the State Plan. The Government gives a priority to increasing participation and integration in community activities.
We want to ensure that young people have access to a range of opportunities to participate in cultural, sport and other recreational activities through:
- planning, developing and implementing services that are affordable, interesting and challenging
- developing appropriate transport infrastructure that enable young people, particularly in regional and remote locations, to join in the activities
- promoting drug and alcohol-free events
- addressing safety concerns, especially at night.
Through the Indent Program the Government supports young people to stage music and other entertainment events for their peers. Grants are provided to groups of young people who demonstrate they have what it takes to stage a successful event. The young people in the program develop skills in event management and their community gets more drug and alcohol free entertainment options for young people – important for those living in rural and remote areas.
Police and Community Youth Clubs (PCYCs) are a network of 58 Clubs and over 50,000 members across NSW. PCYCs host a range of sports, arts and leadership programs and help young people. Each PCYC makes sure its activities meet the needs of local young people and Clubs have areas for young people to relax with pool tables, video-games, air-hockey or table tennis.
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What we will do
24. Implement the Aboriginal Culture and Heritage Action Plan. As part of this Plan, Aboriginal culture will be promoted in mainstream media by developing a framework for greater participation of young Aboriginal people in the performing arts, film, television and radio.
25. Use the Aboriginal Cultural Events Working Group to develop a strategic approach to supporting a number of key Aboriginal community events, including NAIDOC and the NSW Rugby League Knock-Out.
26. Acknowledge the achievements of young people living in social housing who have made a significant contribution to their community through the annual NSW Housing Youth Achievement Awards. The Department of Housing will offer awards in following categories:
- academic achievement
- achievement in chosen career
- arts and culture
- community service
- sports achievement
- special achievement award.
27. Provide opportunities for young Indigenous people through the Indigenous Performing Arts Strategy.
28. Use the CONNECTED program to help students in regional NSW get the chance to experience high quality art.
29. Support arts activities for young people though grants to the Shopfront Theatre for Young People, Music NSW, Powerhouse Youth Theatre and Urban Theatre Projects.
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