Increase in young girls couch surfing to avoid family conflict at home

As police warn of an increase in teen girls sleeping on friends’ sofas to avoid family conflict, a pilot project is helping to identify those most at risk earlier.

Youth homelessness organisation Burdekin, based at Brookvale, raising awareness of the issue at Dee Why. Tahnee Appel, Neil Davies and Andrienne Chartres.

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Police and homeless charities have warned that the number of teenage girls couch-surfing on the northern beaches is increasing because of family breakdown.

Youth workers say they have noticed a rise in the number of young girls choosing to spend the night friend’s sofa, instead of at home.

Senior Constable Tui Ormsby told the Manly Daily that while they had no specific figures, the youth liaison team had noticed an increase in girls couch-surfing on the peninsula and were worried these children may be putting their safety at risk.

“We are seeing girls around the age of 14 to 16, even some 13-year-olds. It’s a big concern,” she said.

Neil Davies, who works for youth homeless organisation The Burdekin Association, said a new project between schools and services aimed to prevent children from becoming homeless by addressing issues earlier.

“Sometimes sleeping on a mate’s couch is easier than dealing with the conflict at home,” said Mr Davies.

“The problem is young people often outstay their welcome and move on to other friends with no real stability or place to call home.

There are a number of specialist services involved in The Northern Beaches Project including StreetWork. Pictured are StreetWork youth workers (l-r) Thomas Dent and Tim Sheerman. They have set up an office out of the Manly Uniting Church because of the growing amount of youth homeless youth on the Northern Beaches. Picture: Troy Snook

“Unfortunately for some young girls, they put themselves in vulnerable positions to ensure they have somewhere to stay.”

Last year The Northern Beaches Project surveyed pupils at Balgowlah Boys, Cromer and Narrabeen Sports High, to try and identify children at risk of becoming homeless.

Currently, 38 pupils are receiving help and support as a direct result of the survey while others are being monitored on a watch list.

Mr Davies, co-chairperson of the new pilot scheme, said it had helped create a “clear pathway” for at-risk pupils and their families to access help.

“Many parents dealing with this situation don’t realise there is help, feel they’ve failed or are a bad parent,” he said. “Services are not there to judge but to offer help and support.”

Mr Davies said a second survey of the three schools was completed recently and the results were being analysed.

Ideally, he would like to see the project extended to more northern beaches schools, including primary schools so they can reach children at risk even earlier.

“Children don’t just reach the age of 12 and suddenly become disengaged,” he said.

“If we can target young people a little bit earlier, say in Years 5 and 6 and provide the necessary support to young people and their families, this could reduce conflict and stress and make the transition to high school a little bit easier.

“Our aim is to keep children in the family home, if it is safe to do so.”

Dane Ropa, relieving principal at Narrabeen Sports High, said the project was the most “significant” he had been involved with in his teaching career.

He said after the survey, there was a 24 per cent increase in mental health self-referrals among pupils at Balgowlah Boys. “It’s helped destigmatise the idea of asking for help,” he said.

He added that pupils at Narrabeen were also less afraid to ask for help, whether it be for extra tutoring or because they were not getting breakfast.

The Northern Beaches Project include a range of support services provided by Burdekin, Mission Australia, CatholicCare, Family and Community Services, StreetWork, Headspace, MDECC, Manly Adolescent Family Counselling Service, Business Education Network, Ability Links and Youthreach with the support from Education and local councils. If you would like to seek help, contact The Burdekin Association on 8976 1777

Young people who are couch surfing, homeless or at risk of homelessness are invited to attend a free event and barbecue at the Youth Reach Centre in Powells Rd, Brookvale, on May 25, between 3pm and 5pm.