Albany PCYC Best in the State
Just over a year after its future was plunged into uncertainty, Albany PCYC has been recognised as the best in the State by being awarded the two top honours at the Federation of PCYC WA awards.
Albany PCYC’s engagement with the wider community and programs targeting at-risk youth resulted in the centre winning the Outstanding Centre Award and Youth Program Excellence Award for its Strike II Act-Belong-Commit youth drop-in program.
Albany PCYC beat 21 other regional and metropolitan centres at the inaugural awards dinner.
After being forced to resign from the police force in December to stay at the centre as manager following the controversial Statewide restructure which removed police officers from PCYCs, manager Terry Eaton said the recognition was rewarding for his 25 staff and 36 volunteers.
“There has been a fair bit of pressure over the last 12 to 15 months with the restructure, (so) for that program to be recognised is fantastic,” Mr Eaton said.
The Strike II program has been instrumental in assisting at-risk youth, and has also helped reduce vandalism and antisocial behaviour in the CBD since it was introduced three years ago.
Mr Eaton said about 20 per cent of youth who attended the program were prolific offenders.
The selection criteria for the outstanding centre award was based on four main areas of management and administration, youth engagement and education programs, activities for the community, and financial stability and sustainability.
Mr Eaton said the centre was continuing to work towards sustainability since shifting to a not-for-profit organisation at the start of the year.
He said the community support continued to shine through in assisting the centre to provide countless youth activities and programs for around 1000 children a week.
“The community support has been huge,” Mr Eaton said.
Federation of PCYC chief executive John Gillespie said the successful Strike II program would likely be implemented Statewide under the federation’s new strategic plan launched last week.
“Part of the overall plan is to identify these worthwhile programs that have already been successful,” he said.
“This is a fantastic result for Albany. It’s great Terry is still down there and it certainly is a great program.”
