Albany youth summer outreach program delivering positive results

A summer program taking youth support to the streets has recorded positive results with a roving team of youth workers helping more than 100 young community members access support in its first month.

Albany Youth Support Association, in collaboration with Albany PCYC, has been delivering its summer youth program since January with a team of youth workers getting out into the community to chat with young people and let them know about the services available.

Bolstered by $10,000 donated from the City of Albany and Rio Tinto, youth workers are visiting popular spots such as Youth Challenge Park four days a week throughout January and February.

AYSA chief executive Ian Clarke said the program allowed the organisation to reach people they wouldn’t otherwise encounter in their day-to-day operations.

“We have engaged with 161 young people during the first month of the program, and 122 of those have been referred on to the youth centre and also to other services, so it has been really positive and well received by the young people,” he said.

“Some of them didn’t know about the places or services that were available to them so it is a good way of educating them.

“It demonstrated there were young people who were out there looking for additional services.

“From our perspective, it helps to build a knowledge and understanding of what is actually happening around Albany and things we can take to the City and to other agencies . . . to help us plan for the future.”

Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said the City was delighted to support the initiative.

“Obviously there is a need and to get 160-odd contacts is a fantastic result,” he said.