ABC REPORTS STREET UNIVERSITY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TOWNSVILLE YOUTH TO ESCAPE DRUGS AND CRIME
November 2023
One young person with a turbulent adolescence marred with problematic drug use and crime, has attended every day since it opened last month. He says, ‘It felt like a safe place.’
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It’s also been the first interaction he has had with outreach services.
The Ted Noffs Foundation’s CEO Matt Noffs, said, ‘We have traditional therapies … including counselling, but on the other hand you’ve got things like bike workshops and other activities.’
Mr Noffs says he hopes the space will also help bridge the gap between young people and victims of crime, in a divided community.
‘One of the things that the space does very organically, is allow people to come together’.
As well as in-house counsellors, the centre has eight engagement officers who often bond with participants by introducing them to their own passions and skills.
A 2022 University of New South Wales study of the program conducted over five years showed a reduction in the psychological distress, substance use and criminal behaviour of young people engaging with the drop-in service.
About 100 young people have “signed up” in less than a month.
Photo credit: Jason Katsaras (ABC News)