Sandy Anghie for Youth and Education
Focus on youth and students as a key priority.
Today I am announcing my commitment to youth and the education sector if elected City of Perth Lord Mayor at the 21 October 2023 election.
I am committed to investing in our city’s young residents and growing our student population by initiating the City of Perth’s first ever Youth Action Plan.
Recognising that young people are the future of Perth, supporting their innovative ideas and initiatives through active involvement is key to the successful, sustainable and inclusive transformation of Perth to a modern and progressive 24-hour city.
There are approximately:
24,000 students at UWA;
8,000 students at North Metro TAFE;
8,000 students on the way with the opening of ECU City Campus; and
thousands more students at Curtin University, St Georges’ College, Mercedes College, Trinity College, Stanley College and others.
That’s more students than the total residential population of the City of Perth. We need to be engaging with them more.
Student and Youth Action Plans and Advisory Groups are common across WA and Australia. The City of Vincent and the City of Mandurah have them, as does Brisbane. Since 1996, the City of Melbourne has demonstrated its commitment to young people by endorsing a series of strategies and plans of action centered around youth.
By being actively engaged in youth-friendly spaces and events, young people have an investment in their city and community, developing a strong sense of ownership in these places.
Our ability to attract and nurture the best young people from around the globe, and keep our students here in Perth, is an investment in our city’s future. Research has shown that the flow-on effects of international education are far greater than that of tourism, due to the duration of students’ stays, their local spend, and the jobs and enduring global ties created. Investing in youth makes sense financially.
In the State Government’s recent budget they announced a record spend on international students. With ECU coming to the City, and other universities expanding their City footprints, now is the time to embrace youth.
Melbourne is currently ranked Australia's number 1 student city. The City of Sydney has a plan to do better. We don’t. If Perth wants to step up we need a plan – and we need to work hand in hand with others.
I have been engaging with youth and the education sector since elected in 2020, and there are many opportunities.
As Perth Lord Mayor, I would work with Council and the City to:
Create a fully funded Youth Action Plan, with savings from other areas.
Hold an annual Youth Hackathon event, bringing together students, young professionals and youth working in the City, representatives from universities, TAFE and all City based education institutions, together with Study Perth and others. As a 49 year old, I want to hear first hand from young people on what they want.
Commit to hosting an annual education economic roundtable with universities, TAFE, schools, the State Government, Study Perth, and other education organisations. The City of Perth can’t do this alone. We need to do this together.
Incorporating a Youth Impact Assessment Tool to measure the potential impact of City decisions on young people.
Strengthen partnerships and engagements with industry, education institutions, government, community and other stakeholders.
My plan harnesses the economic potential of a growing education population to ensure Perth positions itself as an attractive student destination city, and an international hub for young people for the 21st century.
As Lord Mayor, I will focus on making Perth one of the great places in the world to live, work, visit – and study – for people of all ages.
Week 4 update
Since announcing my campaign for Perth Lord Mayor four weeks ago, I have been visiting residents and businesses across our City neighbourhoods every day to get their direct feedback on what we can do better. Great cities of the world are always striving to be better.
I am focussed on continued, progressive improvements to each of our unique city neighbourhoods, to support population growth and to create a 24-Hour City. Because a 24-Hour City is a vibrant and safe city.
Building on the feedback in my last newsletter, here’s some of what I have heard in the past week:
In Claisebrook Cove, residents would love to see Royal Street as a more active main street, with fewer shut shops.
On Broadway in Nedlands, people would like to see traffic addressed, and a plan for the future. With many apartments under construction, traffic is set to increase dramatically.
They would also like to see simple things like City of Perth events in Nedlands and Christmas decorations. I have had the same feedback in West Perth.
And for residents in the CBD, while they understand noise is part of inner city living, they don’t want rubbish collection outside hours of 6am and 10pm.
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In addition to my announcements these past two weeks in relation to youth and the tech sector, I will be announcing a range of further commitments over the coming months. And I will be listening to you - our City’s residents, businesses and community groups. I look forward to hearing your ideas and feedback.
I will be back in touch with regular campaign updates. In the meantime, here is a link to my campaign website.
If you would like to hear more about my campaign platform, or have your own ideas about what the City could do better, I would be pleased to catchup. Please don’t hesitate to reach out via helloperth@sandyanghie.com
To have your say on 21 October 2023 you need to enroll to vote. You are eligible if you live in the City, and also if you own or lease a property in the City.
A vote for Sandy Anghie as Lord Mayor is a vote for a modern, progressive city, that truly grabs the opportunities in front of it. The best way forward for Perth is together.