Centre a big boost to youth
Construction has started on a new $11 million youth centre in South Hedland to support at-risk, disadvantaged and homeless children.
The building, due to open in March next year, will replace Youth Involvement Council's former premises on Lawson Street with existing programs to be expanded to support children as young as five.
YIC chief executive Vicki Stephens said children who used the centre had often suffered significant trauma in their short lives, including sexual abuse, violence and abandonment.
"Johnny (identity suppressed) presented to our youth accommodation program as a 15-year-old who had run away from home at the age of 13 after experiencing five years of sexual abuse from his father," she said.
"YIC assisted him for the next 10 years of his life as he attended counselling, enrolled in TAFE, secured his own rental property and worked in stable employment.
"Without our support, it is highly likely that he would have followed through with suicidal tendencies and not sought professional help to work through his past trauma and subsequent addictions."
YIC also supports children who are disengaged from school and end up walking the streets at night.
In late 2013, local police reported more than 500 youth-related incidents occurred in just three months.
Acting South Hedland police officer-in-charge John Strong said police worked closely with YIC to try and reduce the number of children out at night.
"There's huge numbers of them out very late at night and very young - anywhere from nine to 10 years old onwards," he said.
"What happens is, they get bored and get up to mischief and we can move them on but even if we take them home, they just reappear back on the streets.
"There doesn't seem to be any parental control there and that's a major concern."
Planning for the new centre has been under way for 18 months with funding provided by BHP Billiton, Royalties for Regions and Lotterywest.
The new centre will include a dedicated space for five to 10 year olds, a social enterprise centre, a computer training suite, a new education centre and an outdoor classroom.
BHP Billiton Iron Ore senior manager for community and indigenous affairs Richard O'Connell said BHP, which contributed $8 million to the project, was proud to be supporting youth development in the Pilbara.
"We are committed to investing in social projects that allow our local host communities to grow, develop and provide essential services to the families who live there," he said.
