New outreach and drop-ins where young people belong
“My goal is to create a space where people feel comfortable opening up, sharing their struggles, and ultimately realising their full potential.”
A new youth outreach and drop-in program has commenced in Mirrabooka, Balga and Scarborough providing young people with fun and engaging activities while offering opportunities to form meaningful connections and receive support.
The initiative aims to divert young people from anti-social or risk-taking behaviour and provide environments where they feel like they belong.
Kids First Australia is delivering the three-month program thanks to funding received through the City of Stirling’s Local Drug Action Team.
“I had a difficult childhood and teen years and I got into this work because I wanted to be the support and encouragement that I didn’t have,” Melinda Nichol from Kids First Australia said.
“My goal is to create a space where people feel comfortable opening up, sharing their struggles, and ultimately realising their full potential.”
The outreach component involves Melinda and fellow youth worker Jo Summers visiting locations where young people already gather including Bina Park in Balga and Scarborough Beach foreshore. They gently strike up conversations and identify if support is needed, particularly for those who experience socioeconomic disadvantage.
The weekly drop-in session at Sudbury Community House in Mirrabooka are where the real magic happens. Through engaging activities such as basketball games, life skills lessons like cooking, cultural sessions, and even conducting Learner’s driving tests, it provides the opportunity for deeper conversations, referrals to specialists, provision of food or vouchers, all within a supporting environment.
“With the drop-in model, we’re leaving the space very plain, very bare, so we can have that consultation with young people and they can come in and create their own environment, whether it be the artwork, activities, games, supports they want,” Daniel Pisani from Kids First Australia said.
Jo Summers believes every young person is just one safe adult away from transitioning into a very fulfilling life.
“I really like when you can start to see a young person start to see a future beyond where they were like maybe when you first meet them they’re feeling very stuck and then after spending a bit of time with them they can see their options starting to open up and all the opportunities out there for them in the world,” she said.
Young people can get involved in the following opportunities:
Mirrabooka drop-in sessions
Date: Every Monday
Time: 3.00pm to 5.00pm
Location: Sudbury Community House – 30 Chesterfield Road, Mirrabooka
Balga outreach
Date: Wednesday 12 March, Wednesday 26 March
Time: 5.30pm to 7.00pm
Location: Bina Park – Princess Road, Balga
Scarborough outreach
Date: Every Friday
Time: 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Location: Scarborough Beach foreshore
Further details can be found on the @whitelionyouth_kfa Instagram page.
The health and well-being of young people and all age groups is important to the City of Stirling which is currently seeking input to its Everyone Belongs initiative to inform a Public Health Plan.
Join the belonging journey by visiting www.stirling.wa.gov.au/everyonebelongs.
Pictured (L-R): Jo Summers, Daniel Pisani and Melinda Nichol.
