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Mayor Clare McLaughlin officially opened the new Youth Central Hub in Westland Shopping Centre last week.
Youth Central is a co-operative approach from Council, police, community groups and residents to tackle issues faced by youths and give them an opportunity to seek services they might not have otherwise been able to access.
Mayor Clare McLaughlin said the massive positive of this hub was that the community was getting together to address a need for support for the youth.
“We know that we have these amazing supportive services already existing and working well for our youth,” Mayor McLaughlin said.
“This hub allows the opportunity for those that may want be supported or those that want to improve themselves can do so by coming to this safe place and accessing people who can offer help if wanted or needed.
“This is a perfect example of how the community can come together as a whole to deal with an issue, especially one as vital as linking support services to youths in Whyalla.”
The idea of a Youth Central facility was first brought up at a City of Whyalla Safer Communities Forum initiated by Council in August last year to discuss safety issues in Whyalla. Mayor McLaughlin then met with a group of concerned residents after-hours at the Westland Shopping Centre after a spate of disturbances late last year.
Youth Central will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 2.30pm til 7pm
Police Operations Inspector Mark Hubbard said he hoped the hub would provide a link for disadvantaged youths and the services in the community to help them.
"The intent of the project was to provide something other than having confrontations with young people in the shopping center and troubleshoot the issues that are causing the antisocial behavior." Inspector Hubbard said.
"We work daily with council, the Department of Child Protection and others on similar projects. However you can't physically see and touch many of them, this is one you can.”
The Youth Central Hub was brought to life by a collaboration of SAPOL, Mission Australia, City of Whyalla Council, headspace, Plaza Youth, Gabmididi Manoo, Foodbank and Savills.
The hub will be undergoing a three month trial period and then, pending review, a possible permanent fixture. It will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 2.30pm until 7pm located at the Cheap as Chips end of Westland Shopping Centre. Anyone is free to drop in at any time the hub is open.
Please contact Gail Rostig on 0447 570 401 for more information.