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The first year of the project involved working closely with Byron Youth Service, and other programs working out of the Council-run Youth Activities Centre, to integrate environmental practices (eg. waste systems, water and energy conservation) into the activities run at the Centre.
The Pilot was implemented through the following steps
Launch of the Eco-friendly Youth Project
The Eco-friendly Youth Project was launched by Cr Jan Barham, Mayor of Byron Shire, at a celebration at the Byron Youth Service at the start of August 2005. The launch was a low waste affair, and involved the Hospitality Course participants taking an active role by preparing a scrumptious lunch.
Download the media release of the launch.
The Environmental Management Policy and Plan
Byron Youth Service (BYS), the Youth Activities Centre (YAC) and the UNCLE program (all under the one youth centre in Byron Shire) have committed to environmental outcomes by signing an Environmental Policy – Statement of Intent, at the launch of the Project. The support and continued involvement of the BYS, YAC and UNCLE program has been fantastic and is definitely contributing to the success of the project.
A series of waste, water and energy plans for BYS and the YAC have been developed. These plans have helpe the staff to implement changes in a co-ordinated and staged approach. It has also helped them to track any improvements to the environmental impact of the centre.
Staff Surveys / Training and Environmental Audits
Before we could promote any particular environmental practices at the BYS, we first needed to know what the staff were already doing and what level of awareness they had in relation to
environmental practices. Surveys were conducted with centre staff on current environmental practices and future opportunities. The BYS staff were involved in the water, waste and energy audits (download the results here).
We found that the staff were already doing a great deal to reduce the environmental impact of the centre, but that there were also many opportunities for improvement. Staff were involved in a training workshop aimed at building their capacity to make their office greener, and to integrate environmental issues into their activites with young people.
Engaging Youth in the Project
Young people in the Byron Shire, Ballina Shire and Clarence Valley Council area completed a survey to help inform the development of the project and make it appropriate to youth (download the survey and results here). A focus group with 19 young people from Byron Shire was also held to:
research youth awareness, attitudes, practices and motivations;
understand the relationship of young people to/with the environment;
provide assistance in design of activities with an environmental component, but relevant to the needs of young people.
The results of focus group and surveys indicated the need for appropriate education about the environment.
A number of young people involved in the surveys and focus group indicated their interest in being further involved in the project. One participant even donated a photo he took of the local environment to the centre in the form of a poster.
Young people participate in the focus group held at BYS
A group of young people participating in an Events Management Course co-ordinated a music event with an Eco-friendly theme. Young people attending the event were reminded to put their garbage and recycling in the correct bins and to ‘bin their butts’ in personal ashtrays available on the night. Download photos and the event flyer here.
Development of a tool-kit/guide (March 2006)
The tool-kit is an important element of the project in sharing the knowledge and understanding learnt from working with the Byron Youth Service and to generally make things easier for other youth service providers across the region.
The tool-kit contains information on the processes which can be used to find out what’s happening within organisations in relation to the environment, develop an environmental policy, adopt environmental practices and integrate environment into programs.
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