Champions
Carissa Scammell
“No matter how big or small a voice is, everyone should be heard, yet so often that’s not the case.”
Carissa is passionate about the work she does for young people. She works with Streetwize Communications - a national not-for-profit agency that researches and communicates social issues to young people, Indigenous communities and people of culturally diverse backgrounds. Streetwize resources include comics and other resources on topics such as bullying, racism and violence, the law, health, employment and Indigenous specific issues.
Carissa, what drew you to this work?
I love any kind of work to do with people, and Streetwize focuses on the needs of young people by talking about really ‘out there’ subjects. As a young teenager I used to enjoy reading their comics, in fact I still have a copy of the first Streetwize comic I ever read. They’re a great resource! It’s really good to be a part of how it all works. I do all sorts of different roles in the organisation. It’s great.
How are young people involved in the creation of the resources?
Streetwize quite often conducts ‘focus groups’ involving young people from a youth centre. The group is asked set questions, and then we provide a draft copy of the comic. The young people provide input on style, language and how people in the comic are addressed. They pick up on small things that we don’t and they’re really good at updating us on the ‘in’ language of the moment.
Have you personally experienced discrimination, bullying or harassment in anyway? If so, how did you deal with it?
As a child when I was about six or seven. It was just silly stuff like name calling. I also had personal problems at home. The kids didn’t understand at school and picked on me. It made it a bit hard. At the time, the only thing that I could think of was trying to buy friendship. That didn’t seem to work. I guess I was just doing anything and everything to please other people just to be accepted.
Any advice for others who might be in a similar situation?
If you can, talk to the person doing the bullying and try to find some common ground where you can relate to one another. Maybe have some fun group activity so you both have to work together and build friendships.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young people or students in our communities these days?
Fitting into the community and fitting into what people say is ‘normal’. I think that everybody has their own definition of normal but some are stronger than others so you might feel you have to try to fit into that definition.
What do you think would help to create more inclusive and harmonious relationships in our schools and communities?
Gosh. That is always going to be a question – and there is always going to be stuff that you can do. For one thing, I’d like to see that all young people and children are heard. No matter how big or small their voice is. Everyone should be heard, yet so often that’s not the case.
More information:
Streetwize Communications www.streetwize.com.au
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