Bid for youth worker cash

By Shaun Inguanzo
KNOX City Council will urgently seek an extra $172,000 in State and Federal Government funding for two youth workers and resources.
The move is an outcome of last week’s meeting where the council approved its Youth Plan 20052009 document which will provide a strategic roadmap for strengthening youth services in the city.
Chairman of the Knox Youth Issues Advisory Committee and Tirhatuan Ward councillor Mick Van de Vreede put forward an amended motion at the meeting.
He proposed that the council ‘as a matter of urgency write to the State and Federal Governments requesting ongoing funding’ for a youth program worker and youth and family community development worker.
According to a council report, the yearly cost allocated to each role is approximately $60,000, making a combined funding shortfall of $120,000.
The council also needs a onceoff payment of $51,000 for resources for the first year of the plan.
The Youth Plan was praised this week by Ferntree Gully Anglican Church minister Phil Meulman who said Knox youth were crucial to the city.
“How our community is built will depend on youth so we need to instil in them values and a sense of identity,” he said.
Mr Meulman said the church had been able to run a graffiti program in Ferntree Gully and had been working with Knox’s Youth Services to establish a mentoring program.
He said the document would be a valuable resource in achieving this.