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Youth In the City

My strong impression of 'Youth In The City' (YiTC) is of a group of committed, caring, well organised Youth Workers running a wide range of support schemes and brimming over with enthusiasm and ideas to help the youth of Canberra. High on the list of their many achievements the Coordinator, Debbie Haworth, lists 'Struggling to keep many of the projects running on a shoestring'. This is the third in a series of articles relating to the projects supported by changedrivers.

'Youth in the City' is the name of the youth centre in Civic which offers a wide range of support including program activities, community-based projects, case management, emergency relief and family support, as well as the Big Pig Internet café where you can jump on a computer, play some pool or ping-pong or just have a chat with a worker. A selection of their support projects are outlined below.

Team of YiTC Youth Workers (pictured right).

Compass Project

The young men the project targets are all at an important juncture in their lives, one that existing services at Youth in the City are not adequately equipped to address. Compass is designed to encourage the young men to develop a sense of direction and purpose through positive role modelling and reflection. It is a 7 week program for 6 young men designed to assist them to develop self-esteem, confidence and master life skills. 6 weeks involve weekly activities designed to create a strong ethos of support among the young men involved and it is followed by a 1 week Outward Bound camp designed to build self-esteem and develop leadership skills. This project has been a great success and was enthusiastically appreciated by the participants, 5 of whom have recently found work.changedrivers has decided to support the next Compass Project for a young womens' group. This project's costs are extravagant in comparison to other programs and some events and resources had to be cut on the pilot program to meet the $10,000 budget.

The Drop In Centre

This is like home to many young people. In fact the more food the more young people come for help. Yet the food budget is only $76 per week to provide for 30 - 50 people per day. They still managed to provide a Christmas party !!!

Program For Young Men At Risk Of Leaving School

This is a pilot program run for 6 weeks for 6 young men at Lyneham High School to prevent them from disengaging from mainstream education. It is seen as the basis for a similar model designed for young women. A longer-term vision is that the model run at LHS could be transposed to other high schools across the ACT. YiTC have already been asked to run the same project at Belconnen High School next year.

Youth Education Program

Provides for 16 young people of 15-19yr olds who would like to complete Year 10 and who cannot access or attend mainstream education. This program is unique in that it caters for young mothers who need to bring their children to school or we can assist with a limited amount of child care funding.

Parenting Group

This group runs 2 hours per week catering for both young mums and dads. It has been facilitated by a male worker who is a single dad and has been highly successful with the dads.

PhotoKids ACT

Pilot project designed to encourage young carers to explore their caring environment and express their role as young carers through photography. It was hoped that the project would facilitate understanding among participants and culminate in an exhibition designed to educate the broader community about the role of young carers and the valuable contribution they make to the life of the community. The exhibition was presented at a teachers forum on Mental Health then moved to the Legislative Assembly and then spent a couple of weeks at Defence. YiTC have been happy with the feedback and are looking forward to it happening again next year although at this stage there are no funds put aside for it.'Youth In The City' is an integrated youth service, based in the heart of Canberra City, partly funded by the ACT Government and managed by Anglicare and Canberra Goulburn Youth and Family Services. If you wish to support it :-Please send donations by cheque made payable to 'Anglicare Canberra Goulburn Youth and Family Services' to Debbie Haworth at PO Box 628, Canberra City, ACT 2600. For more information about Youth in the City, contact:

  • Samantha Dellamarta, Manager of Centre-Based Services (02) 6232 2403

  • Rachael Lowe, Acting Coordinator (02) 6232 2404

  • Alison Lawrence, Youth Education Services (02) 6232 2405

Marise Anderson, Charities Coordinator