Kids flock to 24/7 youth hub as new centre sees hundreds of sign-ins

ALICE SPRINGS’ 24-hour youth hub has seen hundreds of kids flock to use the new centre as school holidays kick off

• ‘A good start’: 24-hour youth centre trial begins in Alice Springs

IN its first week of 24/7 operation coinciding with the beginning of the school holidays, the Alice Springs youth hub on Railway Terrace had 298 instances of kids presenting at the centre.

Across Christmas weekend, from 25-28 December, 198 presentations were made at the centre. This weekend figure suggests a steady increase in attendance compared to previous weekends.

Territory Families Minister Kate Worden said that feedback from both the youth workers and hub management team has so far been positive.

“The service has been well-utilised,” said Ms Worden.

“It’s too early to assess the overall effect of the youth centre however I am confident that by focusing on developing positive and prosocial behaviours we will start to see more progress.

“We know that engaging young people in constructive activities, reconnecting them to education, training, counselling and other services and encouraging them to make better life-choices are strategies that are effective in the long term and that’s why our plans include extended hours of operation at the Hub in Alice Springs.”

Throughout its operation to date, no incidents have occurred at the hub to warrant a child protection order.

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Blair McFarland, operations manager for Tangentyere Council’s Central Australian Youth Link Up Service (CAYLUS), said the centre seems to doing its job exactly as intended.

“It seems like the YOREO hub has perfectly answered a need that was previously unmet in the community,” Mr McFarland said.

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“And now it’s pumping. People in the sector are saying really good things about it. It seems to have made a significant difference to how safe the streets are in Alice Springs. Big Plus from CAYLUS. We endorse the strategy.”