James Cook University
James Cook University (JCU) was awarded $200,000 in grant funding as part of the Queensland Government youth research grants to help stimulate interest in research that reflects the needs and views of young Queenslanders.
Twenty young people have delivered a research project comprising artworks that represent experiences and challenges of living in North Queensland.
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For my art piece I'm looking at mental health. It's something that I've struggled with. It's something like pretty much my entire family has struggled with. There's not really much done in schools when it comes to mental health. They’re more worried about grades and attendance and stuff like that. It'd be really great if, especially if I'm going to go into teaching, having a source where kids can go and they can talk about things that are troubling them.
For me, currently it's the youth crime rate and how it's being policed in North Queensland. As to whether it's been effective or if it's not, if there's enough money, if there's not. I'm just really interested in how that's going in our region. Last night I had a couple of kids break into our family home and steal multiple sets of car keys.
My stepmother’s handbag and my stepbrother’s wallet. My sister saw them in the house. When, during the night at around 2 am. So that was very traumatizing for her. Luckily enough for me, I was still sleeping. I would have been very traumatizing to see them in my house. It really makes me question the safety of my own home.
From Kenya. I just came to Australia a few months ago and basically I came as a student, so I'm on a student visa. My project is based on education because for me I feel education is a pathway to something good. From what I've seen, youth are not engaging much in the society. And like the youth, the youth are the future of this world, cause that's basically it.
The youth need to be engaging like want to know more, studying like the leaders in the future. Yeah.
I grew up with four biological siblings and then when it was just me and my older sister, Mum started taking on foster kids and I think in about ten years we've had 30 kids, give or take. Yeah. So for my project, I'm asking children in care and adults who grow up in care, five questions. And these questions are things like, what did you like about being in care?
What did you dislike about it? What do you think could avoid children going into care in the first place? Personally, I think it's a major issue. There are just so many children that are in care.
Summary of James Cook University's research project
Sustainable communities
Big ideas and challenges
JCU held a two-stage program, called “Big Ideas & Challenges,” which began with the North Queensland Futures Youth Forum in February. The forum aimed to engage JCU students aged 17-24, enrolled in various courses and living in the region. It encouraged them to identify the major challenges and problems facing North Queensland and suggest solutions to them. Local artists facilitated Art Make-a-thons to support students in expressing their thoughts and experiences through art, culminating in a display of student work in Townsville and Cairns. The artworks represent the students' perspectives on North Queensland's major challenges and its future.
For more information, contact Hallam Stevens by emailing hallam.stevens@jcu.edu.au.