Guest Speaker Simone Butler spoke about her passion and efforts in….Supporting today’s youth to Live Independently for Today and Tomorrow!
The Vision: My vision is to create a safe and private hub for Kids/ Youth/Young Adults to be guided with the correct tools and give them Life skills to Transition into the Real World. Since technology is the key to the future. I am creating this Website to support Youth/Young Adults to give them the ability to perceive their value in our Society and Self Worth. Social Media needs to be Positive Tool. The website will be able to provide individual paths for specific areas.
The Plan: To create a national youth online skills hub targeting 12-25 year olds available in all secondary schools and universities Australia wide.
How?: Since April 2017, I have been working on a website that aims to encompass various support material for a range of potential challenges that the youth of today face. The content, in the form of engaging videos, over 300 website links and more, is intended to assist and advise our youth to live independently for today and tomorrow, recognising that not all life skills, educational and emotional support come from families and schools. Subjects ranging from mental health, addictions, self development, employment, and financial guidance to how-to change a car tyre, this website caters for all aspects of interest of the emerging teen to help them on their journey through life, equipping them with the necessary information or at least directing them on where to find it. The website will integrate across several digital platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Mobile APP. Youth will be able to login using their own username and password securely and access their own personalized user profiles – whilst parents will have access to a support forum. The website will be tested through August/September 2018 at a number of schools on the border with its successes/challenges addressed at the end of the piloting phase.
Why?: Having four children of my own, I discovered a real gap in the support and education for many teenagers. So many feel isolated, unsupported and suffer a real lack of direction because they do not feel in control of their future. The Australian Education System does not seem to adequately provide our youth with the necessary skills to emerge confidently into the ‘real world.’ I want to change that – or at least better equip youth to have the confidence to be independent and plan for their futures. There are many teenagers that have No direction in their later years of High school or when the finish school or university. So many feel unsupported & disconnected because they have No vision for their future. Mental health is now also the number one national concern for young people in Australia, according to Mission Australia’s annual Youth Survey 2017 – Quoted by https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/articles/mental-health-biggest-issue-for-youth I am determined to provide an avenue that aims to support, encourage, and direct youth to right content in times of need, this website will help to do that.
Future Vision: Website to go Global 2020. Build a Homeless Youth Shelter in Albury/Wodonga 2022