Peer Researcher Information

The City of Vincent is developing a new Youth Action Plan. The aim of this Plan is to understand what is important to young people and identify what we need to do to make your community the best place possible for young people over the next five years.

We want to talk with lots of young people to find out what actions to focus on and we want other young people to help us with this. We are looking for up to eight young people aged 15 to 25 who live, study, work, or volunteer in the City of Vincent to be peer researchers.

What you will do as a peer researcher

As a peer researcher, you will help us design a youth survey and youth interview questions. You will also reach out to your networks of young people and conduct surveys and a small number of interviews. We will provide you with training on how to do this. You may also have an opportunity to present your ideas to City of Vincent staff and councillors if you want to.

It is a unique opportunity to develop your experience and skills as a changemaker in your local community, as well as help the City understand the issues that are important to young people in this area.

Your commitment

You will need to commit to each phase of the project including training, codesign, survey delivery, interviews, and debriefing. There are three key sessions you will need to attend (listed below).

Session Mode Date and time

Training and co-design In person Saturday 8th March 10am to 3.15pm

Survey test and preparation In person Wednesday 12th March 5.30pm to 7.30pm

Consultation de-brief In person Wednesday 7th May 5.30pm to 7.30pm

The survey and interview delivery phase will run from 17th March to the 4th May, and you will need to gather 30 surveys from young people in that time and hold two to three interviews.

What do you receive as peer researcher?

As a peer researcher you will receive $600 for your work if you attend all training sessions and deliver the full number of surveys and interviews. You will be paid $400 on

delivery of the surveys and $200 after you hold the interviews and attend the de-brief session. If you can’t deliver all the surveys, or attend the final session, then this will be adjusted accordingly.

We will provide you with training on a variety of topics, including effective consultation, managing difficult discussions and confidentiality. You will receive food and drinks at all of the training sessions. We can also provide a certificate at the end of your work, and you are able to list this role on your resume.

Who is eligible to be a peer researcher?

To be eligible you must meet all the following criteria:

· Be between 15 and 25 years old (when the training commences)

· Live, work, study, or volunteer in the City of Vincent (if you do not meet these criteria but you spend a considerable amount of time or have strong connections with young people in the City, then your application may be considered)

· Have an interest in issues that young people face and a willingness to share ideas

· Be able to communicate with young people from a variety of backgrounds

· Be able to commit to all the training sessions and deliver surveys in the timeframe outlined above

· Be willing to apply for a Working with Children Check if you are aged 18 or over (the application fee will be paid for, and we will help you with this)

· Have parent/guardian consent to participate if you are under the age of 18

How to apply To apply to be a peer researcher, you must complete the form at the survey link by Sunday 16th February.

You can have someone help you fill out the application (such as a youth worker, teacher, coach, Elder, family member).

The Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia (YACWA) are running this process on behalf of the City of Vincent. If you have any questions, please contact Lianda Gibson at lianda@yacwa.org.au / 0499 781 318 or Matthew Clancy on matthewc@yacwa.org.au / 0499 544 087..

* Please note, you will be advised by Monday 24th February if you have been successful, and you will need to be available for the first training session.

‘Nothing about us without us’

We want the peer research team to be a diverse representation of young people in the City of Vincent community and have a range of contacts and networks.

We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, those who identify as LGBTIQA+, people living with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally diverse, refugee and migrant backgrounds to apply.