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Supporting young people to work, learn, and thrive in their communities.
A partnership with the BHP Foundation connecting researchers from Sydney University and communities to support the mental health needs of young people in our community.
Click through to watch the video.
Albany Youth Support Association, with partners Advance Housing, are working towards the construction of the Great Southern Youth Foyer.
Youth Foyers are an innovative approach to youth homelessness that combine housing, support and access to education and training opportunities to enable young people to transition to independent adulthood.
Great Southern Youth Foyer (GSYF) will provide an accommodation facility, comprising of 10 crisis bed rooms and 50 transition units for young people, aged 15-25 years who are at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. Though the site will be based in Albany the program will welcome young people from across the Great Southern region. During a stay of up to two-years, young people will have access to coaching, personalised support, social connections and opportunities that enable them to pursue their education and employment goals and break the cycle of homelessness.
The Northern Youth Network is a collaborative project between Albany Youth Support Association and the five Shires of Cranbrook, Gnowangerup, Katanning, Kojonup and Tambellup with the assistance of the Great Southern Development Commission.
The Northern Youth Network will support ‘at risk’ young people throughout the Great Southern region to prevent or minimise youth homelessness, youth unemployment or under-employment, youth mental health issues, youth use of alcohol and other drugs, to break patterns and reduce exposure to ongoing family violence and reduce the impacts on ‘at risk’ young people. The Northern Youth Network will utilise programs, support and expertise already in place in some areas of the Great Southern thus making it more viable long term.
Young House has now its own rain water tank, thanks to fundings from Southern Ports and their Community Investment Program 2025.
The rain system attached to the tank is almost ready to go. It will be used to water the lawn, and possibly to developed further projects involving young people and gardening. Stay tuned for more news on the matter.
Funded by the Department of Communities Housing Grants in 2022 refurbishment of Young House to include a state-of-the-art kitchen which will enable group cooking classes to be held, resident bathroom upgrades, security and grounds upgrades and the addition of a larger Youth Worker office is now on track following changes to the plans to accommodate a critical incident safety exit. Working closely with the Department of Communities Housing Grants team we have been able to secure a six-month extension to the original project as well as increased funding of more than 30%. The additional funding will allow Young House to meet all regulatory safety requirements and improve the facilities for those living and working there. The project is due for completion in late April 2025.
The addition of a new kitchen with the space for AYSA Youth Workers and invited Chefs to deliver cooking classes providing opportunities for the Youth Workers to work alongside our young people, teaching them essential cooking, kitchen and hygiene skills, increasing their confidence, life-skills and independence.
The classes will also provide hospitality skills training that can be transferred to the workplace, opening up further employment opportunities.