Pittwater Online News

On Friday afternoon, to officially open the Avalon Youth Hub an event was held at the Avalon Annex building. The room was packed. The mood was buoyant – a sense of finally one step forward was taking place.

MC for the evening was a Year 9 Barrenjoey High school student in Lily Davis, who introduced Justene Gordon, CEO of the Burdekin Association, the lead agency for the Avalon Youth Hub. Justene is co-ordinating the means for young adults and families to navigate the health system for a range of needs they may have. 

We take vitamin c if a cold is coming on, get an ankle bandaged and rested if it's sprained. The range and scope of finding other services where and when we need them has been, until now, not so easy to access.

The Avalon Youth Hub aims to be a safe space for young people, their families and support persons, a go-to resource for help with a range of concerns in respect to a young person, not just in times of crises. Partnerships between services means young people are not going from one service to the other to access the help they need and getting even more stressed in the process.

Whether it's general feelings of confusion, anxiety or concern to matters relating to family conflict, homelessness, Drug and Alcohol issues, school issues, police matters, mental health or simply coming in to ask for advice about something - the Avalon Youth Hub has set as its Mission: To connect young people and their community to support services.

"When you come to the Hub you will be greeted by a worker from either the Burdekin Association, Mission Australia, Community Care and Wellbeing or Catholic Care at the moment. " Justene said on Friday.

"That will grow in terms of the number of services available. They will have a chat with you and figure out what support you may need. If you need a specialist service they will let you know what services exist and help you connect with the right service. Many services are going to be able to meet you here, in the Avalon Hub."

"At this stage not all services may be able to come and you may need to travel. Over time more and more will be available here and basing themselves in the Avalon Youth Hub."

As Lily explained; 

"The Avalon Youth Hub may be located in the Recreation centre, however, when possible the support will be offered into schools, homes or even just at the park (Dunbah)."

Over a year ago Justene met Ian Bowsher, Principal at Barrenjoey High School, who insisted that youth services do something for the community he is passionate about. 

"The Avalon Youth Hub is here because he asked that something be done." Justene said.

" The executive committee of the Avalon Youth Hub, which consists of the Burdekin Association, the Primary Health Network, Child Youth Mental Health Service and the Northern Beaches Youth Interagency had a meeting recently where the unanimous decision was made to appoint Ian Bowsher as Patron of the Avalon Youth Hub. We hope you will accept this title as you will be forever recognised as the person who got a permanent youth service into the Pittwater area."

Justene asked Mr. Bowsher to say a few words, prompting him with; "Ian, I ask you – what does this service mean to you as a school Principal in this community?"

Mr. Bowsher said, 

"First of all let me say that I think the 18th of May 2018 is going to be a very special day. It’s a very special day for all the people in our community, for all of Avalon and all the surrounding areas that are here. I think our voices will now finally be heard and I think our kids voices will permanently be heard, which is really important to me, and to you.

"In answer to your question Justene, as a Principal of a school where lots of students, where 1 in 4, so 25% of students, are suffering in one way or another throughout their times in high school and in primary school, where youth ill health and homelessness is on the rise, alcohol issues are on the rise – there are a list of concerns that we have. 

"What I dreamed that this Hub becomes is a place where people are willingly prepared to talk about these issues rather than them being dealt with in the shadows. I think that concern that we have when someone is having ill health and not knowing where to send them can be undone by this particular project. Its being in the centre of town, the selection was very important so people know that it’s there as a place where we can direct our young people, our students, our parents where they can get guidance and advice; where they can seek specific advice for their purpose or advice for their young person or friend or even their parent on how to deal with drug and alcohol issues or mental health, whatever it might be they need help with, I think it’s vitally important that that is now available.

The next thing I think is vitally important for our community has been the fact that for the people that have stayed in contact with this project is the realisation that a non-government organisation, a primary health group coming together, school education coming together, the local council as well as state and federal coming together with one objective. That’s a rare thing to get all those same people in the same room to contribute their time and their energy towards one end. I applaud all of those people for their contribution.

I think that, in the long run, we’ll be able to normalise the conversation around ill health for our young people. So, I thank you."

Lily; thank you Mr. Bowsher…or can I call you ‘Ian’?...

Mr. Bowsher; 'Was that part scripted? - so quick!

"... so many people who have worked together across the community whether it’s the business community, community activism, surf clubs, sporting codes, some incredible community leaders who are coming together in a common cause because you all have ambition greater than your selves. And you all have a deep and abiding love for the people in your community, who we all have a joint responsibility for. 

Yes, it’s the school, yes it’s what happens at home and family, but yes it’s also the community and what we can do together. It is that wholistic nurturing and coming together in collaboration that we’re celebrating today, and that is magnificent and encouraging to see ...."

PANDA on 1300 726 306

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36

Headspace on 1800 650 890