Youth-Focused Research

This initiative focuses on understanding how young people interact with and experience their local environments.

The project explores issues including:

• Access to activities and public space

• Transport and mobility

• Social connection and belonging

• Community participation

• Safety and wellbeing

• Opportunity and access

• Housing pressures

• Everyday experiences of place

The initiative aims to better understand how urban systems and local environments shape youth wellbeing and participation.

Young people are deeply affected by decisions relating to:

• Housing

• Infrastructure

• Transport

• Public space

• Education

• Community investment

Yet young people are often underrepresented in planning, policy and civic decision-making processes.

Understanding youth experiences is important for creating:

• Healthier communities

• More inclusive planning

• Better participation pathways

• More connected public spaces

• Fairer access to opportunity

Young people should help shape the future of the communities they live in.

The initiative is currently exploring youth experiences across parts of:

• Penrith

• Blacktown

• Greater Western Sydney

Areas of interest include:

• Daily movement and transport

• Access to local opportunities

• Public space use

• Social connection

• Community participation

• Experiences of belonging

• Barriers to engagement

• Everyday challenges and aspirations

The research is designed to evolve through ongoing community participation and lived experience insights.

The initiative uses a place-based and participatory approach to research.

This means focusing on:

• Local context

• Lived experience

• Community knowledge

• Everyday realities

• Participation and collaboration

The project aims to contribute to more grounded and people-centred conversations around youth wellbeing, planning and community life.