Project Title:	TASMANIAN YOUTH TRANSPORT STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
Project Description:	The project will conduct research into the transport needs and issues of young Tasmanians, and develop a Youth Transport Strategy that recommends how these needs and issues may be addressed.
Target Group	Young people between 12 and 25 years of age across Tasmania that are affected by transport issues.
Stakeholders	Young people across Tasmania, Office of Youth Affairs, Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER), Local Government, youth service providers, transport providers and other relevant Government and non-government agencies.
Background	Young people and youth service providers throughout the State have consistently raised transport as an issue for young people in various forums. It is identified as a priority issue in many key documents including the State of Our Youth Report where it states "Lack of public transport is especially problematic in rural areas and in general, lack of transport limits access to employment, social, and recreational opportunities for young people." The Office of Youth Affairs is in a position where it can coordinate this project on behalf of the stakeholders with the support of the Passenger Transport Policy Unit, DIER and other government and non government organisations. This project forms the first part of a two-part initiative. Once the project has been undertaken, the second part of the initiative will commence which involves the implementation of one or more recommendations through pilots.
Methodology	Develop and let tender to research and provide recommendations on transport options for young people, with a focus on rural and isolated areas of Tasmania. Phase 1: Background Research → Working Paper 1 Phase 2: Community Consultations → Working Paper 2 Phase 3: Strategy Development: Management Team Workshop → Option development Service Provider Workshop → Identification of priorities and obtain feedback/confirm option development Phase 4: Reporting → Report incorporating working papers and transport strategy recommendations The Office of Youth Affairs will take the recommendations on board with a view to securing their implementation.
Timeframe	It is expected that the tenderer will commence the project in October 2002 and complete it by the end of March 2003.
Budget	Funding will be provided by the Office of Youth Affairs.
Project Management	The successful tenderer will work in consultation with a project coordinator from the Office of Youth Affairs and a management committee that will be established.

Outcomes	Young people are able to access transport and therefore employment, social and recreational opportunities. Increased use of transport by young people Similar benefits for other members of the community
Output	Substantiated research that recommends a set of options to improve transport for young people in Tasmania.
Contact Details:	Anita Simeoni, Senior Projects Coordinator, Office of Youth Affairs PO Box 169, HOBART 7001 Ph: 03 6233 3535 Anita.Simeoni@education.tas.gov.au

 

TYCC TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME — NORTHERN TASMANIA The aim of this project is to provide young people with a safer option than walking home at night when they have no money. The Tasmanian Youth Consultative Committee (TYCC) is a group of 15 young people from around Tasmania whose aim is to consult, inform and act on youth issues. Members of TYCC initiated the Taxi Voucher project when concerns were raised over safety issues for young people getting home after a night out. The project is an initiative that provides young people and others with a safe alternative to walking home late at night in the Launceston municipality through a prepaid taxi voucher system. TYCC developed this initiative into a workable project in conjunction with Launceston City Council, Anglicare, and Mission Employment. This project was launched in October 2001. A Taxi Voucher Committee that is responsible for the overall development and implementation of the project was established. With support from the broader community the Committee developed a not for profit system that enables young people to pre-pay their taxi fares by way of purchasing pre-paid taxi vouchers. Available in a $5 and $10 voucher, they can be purchased in over 25 retail outlets in the Launceston CBD and suburbs. Promoting a theme of ‘safe transport options’, the scheme encourages young people to purchase pre-paid vouchers before going out for the evening. By doing so, it helps to ensure that at the end of the evening, individuals are able to get home safely. In less than a year, over $2000 worth of vouchers, roughly 250 — 300 rides were sold. In many cases it was found that parents were buying them for their children for when they went out. The Taxi Voucher Scheme has been strongly supported by the Launceston City Council through the Northern Youth Coordinating Committee (NYCC). The Steering Committee for the Project is a subcommittee of NYCC. NYCC has also provided funding for promotion of the vouchers. Support has also been provided through funding from the Office of Youth Affairs for the vouchers to be printed. The ongoing administration of the scheme is now administered by Launceston City Council. TYCC members in the north of the State have continued to be part of the steering committee which coordinates the TYCC Taxi Voucher Scheme. The Launceston City Council was awarded the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) Community Development Small Projects award in 2002 for their part in the management of the TYCC Taxi Voucher Project. For more information contact Lucy Marshall, Youth and Community Development Officer, Launceston City Council on Ph: 03 6323 3327.