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Small local parks can be found all over Australia. They are an important part of community life. Parks provide a place for young people to hang out and for young children to play. How would you feel if one day all the play equipment in your local park was gone? This is what happened in Gymea, a suburb of Southern Sydney, until a young local resident, who was just 10 years old at the time, decided to do something about it. Here she is, six years later, telling her story of active citizenship. If something happens in your local area perhaps you could:
After contacting the council or the local media perhaps you go further by:
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Other examplesActive citizenship is something that happens all the time. Here are some more stories. In Lismore, a regional centre in country NSW, some TAFE students completing their year 10 school certificates wanted to improve things in their community for young people. They saw active citizenship as a way to bring about change and make life better for the youth of the town. Watch their story below and investigate the issues raised by clicking on the links following it. There are five clips in the video player. You can select the clips by using the arrow at the bottom left-hand corner of the player. Jump Rock is the name given to a ledge around from Manly Cove. It is a popular spot for jumping into the sea below. More
Discussion startersScott Brenton of the Australian National University (2008) argues that Australians are proud of democracy but are critical of how a democracy actually works. He suggests this is why most Australians choose not to be active citizens. You can see the article here ‘Public confidence in Australian democracy’ December, 2008 |
What happened to my park?
democracy, but….