FUNPARK: Mount Druitt Press Conference
Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre
25 May 2022
FUNPARK’s Mt Druitt Press Conference is a series of curated conversations led by young local cultural leaders. Emerging from a need to highlight the lived experiences and concerns of Mt Druitt youth, the Mt Druitt Press Conference provides a vital opportunity for youth-led, critical conversations around the issues that matter to young people. The unique Mt Druitt Press Conference format creates time and a safe space for young participants to reflect on problems facing our society - stigma, poverty, mental health, violence and hopelessness in the face of exclusion. Facing hard questions head on, young people propose meaningful solutions to these issues which fundamentally challenge social cohesion in our community and flip the lens.
In May 2022 we held our final conversation with a mix of young people from across the community. This final discussion focused on key points and issues raised over the previous four Mt Druitt Press Conferences with the aim of turning these important conversations into workable actions within FUNPARK’s future programming. We condensed themes raised into the following topics: Postcode Stigma, Education and Mentorship, Racism and Policing and Community Strength and Role Models, as outlined in the Mt Druitt Press Conference report HERE.
Watch the full Mt Druitt Press Conference HERE
FUNPARK’s 2022 - 2024 program has been adapted to incorporate realistic actions and youth led solutions to some of these issues, with a key element of the new program being the implementation and nurturing of a FUNPARK Youth Leadership Committee, who will drive the program into the future.
CREDITS
Participating Cultural Leaders
Uncle Gregory Simms, Steven Trist, Mekiafa Oli, Thelma Trey, Robyn Hardge- Scott, Aaliyah Felipe, Brittney Higgison, Riana Roffey, Safia Nicol, Maddison Jackson, Antonina Aiono, Tala Aiono and Leon Tuimelao.
FUNPARK: Mount Druitt Press Conference is funded by the NSW Government through Multicultural NSW’s COMPACT Program. The event was supported by Blacktown Arts and the FUNPARK Coalition.
In May 2022 we held our final conversation with a mix of young people from across the community. This final discussion focused on key points and issues raised over the previous four Mt Druitt Press Conferences with the aim of turning these important conversations into workable actions within FUNPARK’s future programming. We condensed themes raised into the following topics: Postcode Stigma, Education and Mentorship, Racism and Policing and Community Strength and Role Models, as outlined in the Mt Druitt Press Conference report HERE.
Watch the full Mt Druitt Press Conference HERE
FUNPARK’s 2022 - 2024 program has been adapted to incorporate realistic actions and youth led solutions to some of these issues, with a key element of the new program being the implementation and nurturing of a FUNPARK Youth Leadership Committee, who will drive the program into the future.
“So gentle and supportive, intelligent and informative. Well done Daisy and the Mt Druitt Press Conference Crew. I love listening to this.”
Margie Breen
CREDITS
Participating Cultural Leaders
Uncle Gregory Simms, Steven Trist, Mekiafa Oli, Thelma Trey, Robyn Hardge- Scott, Aaliyah Felipe, Brittney Higgison, Riana Roffey, Safia Nicol, Maddison Jackson, Antonina Aiono, Tala Aiono and Leon Tuimelao.
FUNPARK: Mount Druitt Press Conference is funded by the NSW Government through Multicultural NSW’s COMPACT Program. The event was supported by Blacktown Arts and the FUNPARK Coalition.