Dramatic changes are planned for youth services across the city, with some centres dropping programs or closing their doors completely because of changes to funding from the ACT Government.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
A new framework for the delivery of youth services in the ACT is being implemented in March and will see the existing youth and family support programs combined into one funding program.
![Changes may increase youth crime Changes may increase youth crime](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/2f31c403-a880-46a5-be35-a0a6f0c031a0.jpg/r0_0_729_481_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
While the level of funding will remain at $861,850 a year, changes to its distribution under the new framework means that the services at the Gungahlin Youth Centre will cease next year.
Centre attendee James McFarlane said many young people were shocked to hear of the impending closure earlier this week.
The 20-year-old has been visiting the centre for two years, working with counsellors and taking in the occasional hot meal.
He said the loss of the centre would mean that young people in Gungahlin would have nothing to distract them from ''doing stupid shit''.
''We're all rather upset and angered by the decision,'' he said.
''Kids are going to get bored and stuff is going to get vandalised, stolen. Crime will go up and unfortunately it's going to be the youth blamed because we've got nowhere to go and keep out of trouble.''
The Youth Coalition of the ACT has also raised concerns over the potential for some young people to be left behind, despite the funds being redirected to other worthwhile youth agencies. Coalition secretary Emma Robertson said while not all the youth centres would close, there would be extensive changes.
Alongside closures at Gungahlin and Tuggeranong, she believed the Civic-based Youth in the City and the Belconnen Youth Centre would cease drop-in services and facilities at Woden would be ''dramatically reduced''.
''Part of the rationale is around whether the youth centre model is outdated,'' she said.
''There's no doubt that some young people don't access drop-in services and need outreach services. Our concern is whether we are throwing out the baby with the bathwater. We need to make sure there isn't going to be young people slipping through the cracks.''
A spokesman for Community Services Minister Joy Burch said some drop-in facilities would still be available. ''Open access, or drop-in, activities is one of the key features of the youth engagement model.''
He said the new service model, developed after consultation with sector providers and several reviews of existing service programs, would also feature late-night programs and street outreach on Friday and Saturday evenings.
''Such work generally takes place in spaces where young people 'hang out' at times when young people most need them,'' he said.
Current service providers will be replaced in March when the new framework is introduced.
The spokesman said all current services had been advised of the new services.