Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS) has asked candidates to reveal their top priorities for young people now and in the future on the Central Coast.
“We want to know their vision for space/places for young people and improved intervention services,” CEO Kim McLoughry said.
“After two successful award-winning years funding ended in April 2024 for the Youth Hub in Erina St, Gosford.
“The dedicated Youth Hub staff and partner services (government and non-government) assisted more than 3,000 local young people across the region.
“RYSS and a team of 20 NSW-wide youth providers are now campaigning for new support for the Youth Hub model of early intervention to address the causal youth issues.
“In our region we need to provide assertive outreach services in anti-social ‘hot spots’ in at least six key locations across the region -Tuggerah, Bateau Bay, Lake Haven, Kariong, Gosford CBD and the Peninsula.
“Evidence shows that targeted, individualised supports will impact vulnerable young people and save costs on mental health, incarceration and early school leaving and address violence in our communities – breaking the cycle.
“The previous Youth Hub also provided life-skill building groups and addressed the lack of engagement in learning too.
“The Youth Hub directly tackled the impacts of mental illness, violence, sexual abuse and homelessness.
“It has been exciting to see the former Parkside model streamlined in to this tailored Youth Hub one-stop multi-service model, which is being researched as a model for youth service best practice in NSW.
“We have changed the trajectory of thousands of local young lives – let’s keep this great work moving.
“All attempts for new funding have failed to date, our youth centres are not used for local youth.
“We can all do so much better together with such a relatively small financial commitment.”