By CASEY NEILL
THE Apex gang has been dominating headlines but was not a talking point at the annual City of Greater Dandenong Youth Summit.
The almost 200 Year 10 students from across the municipality did, however, raise the “bad rap” the region was receiving.
United in Diversity was the theme for the day-long discussion at Springvale Town Hall on Thursday 5 May.
The council’s youth and community development team leader Aishling Fagan said the event was designed to explore issues impacting the teens and how to alleviate them.
Anti-social behaviour did come up, she said, but the recent spike in youths involved in Apex gang-linked burglaries and car thefts “wasn’t specifically raised”.
“They did talk about one or two incidents that undermine that positive stuff young people are engaged in,” she said.
“They feel that Greater Dandenong gets a bad rap, undeservedly so.
“That given the diversity of culture it’s amazing what a harmonious society they live in.”
Ms Fagan said the students spoke about how a sense of connection and belonging was so important.
“It’s incumbent on all of us to reach out,” she said.
“It’s about how we draw young people in who may be on the periphery.
“Often it’s a small number but what’s projected out there is that it’s a significant issue.
“It’s about putting young people front and centre in the conversation.”
Young leaders spoke to the students about their experiences, encouraging them to take a risk and make the most of opportunities.
Ms Fagan said the students then spoke about what it meant to belong.
“Then we touched on racism and discrimination,” she said.
“There are isolated incidents, of course, and we looked at how to chip away at some of that stuff.”
The teens suggested challenging poor behaviour to gradually change it, such as calling out a friend for an inappropriate joke or comment.
Students used recent outcry about a proposed mosque in Narre Warren to examine the importance of building knowledge and understanding.
“They spoke about inviting people in to have a meal or barbecue, talking about the faith and breaking some barriers, have an appreciation of what it’s all about,” Ms Fagan said.
“They were all in agreement that that’s the way you build unity.”
The afternoon featured African drumming, an indigenous culture presentation and creating origami boats with representatives from Dandenong’s Connections Gallery.
Ms Fagan said students wrote their stories on the boats, which would form one large artwork to be displayed in the Dandenong Library windows.
“We’re hoping to reproduce them on a postcard and send to some of the kids who participated to foster ongoing dialogue,” she said.
“This is just one forum to be able to talk about these sorts of things.”
