Forum on safety

The city is full of young people – in fact, about 34 per cent of residents in the City of Melbourne municipality are aged 12 to 25 years. Add the thousands of young people who come into the city to see bands, go to clubs and bars, go shopping, to study or just hang out and you have a city streetscape straight out of Logan’s Run.

Young people are the experts on what makes the city safe for them. The City of Melbourne wants to hear their thoughts and ideas about city safety issues and how to solve them.
Until December 7, an online forum, Your City: Your Space – making your city safer, will be available for young people aged 12 to 25 to share ideas about safety. Those who post on the site, or vote on the top issues and solutions, can be in the running to win an iPhone and other cool prizes. 

Aspiring young filmmakers can also submit a short video on what a “safe city” is to them.  Any genre of film is welcome.

The online forum, as a means for young people to take part in city safety discussions, was one of the major recommendations to emerge from the City of Melbourne’s City Safety Summit, held in October last year.

The City of Melbourne’s People and Creative City Committee Chair, Cr Jennifer Kanis, said the council wanted to make sure that young people’s voices are heard and their ideas are recognised.

“We’re encouraging young people to join the debate and take the opportunity to participate and influence decision-making in their city,” Cr Kanis said.

“They are the ones who know what makes them feel safe or unsafe. We want to hear from young people themselves what the issues are and their ideas for potential solutions.”

If you are 12 to 25, visit  www.yourcityspace.com.au for more details – and to start talking.