Tara Murray
Five hundred young people in Whittlesea will be left without a youth centre with Innovation Youth Centre set to close at the end of this month.
The centre has previously received federal government funding to run its programs in Whittlesea, but that funding expires at the end of this month.
Attempts to gain more funding, through the state and federal governments, and Whittlesea council have so far been unsuccessful.
Youth programs coordinator Michael Jakubowski said it was heartbreaking that they would have to shut the doors.
“We’re the only direct youth service in the municipality,” he said. “We’ve gone to government and the council and no one has been able to help us so far.
“We have 500 young people who we have served the last two years. They have nowhere to go after we close.
“We want to get that message out there. We’ve set up a GoFundMe to try and get some money and hopefully we can get a grant as well.”
Mr Jakubowski said the centre had been funded through the Safer Communities Fund. He said they had exceeded all their key performance indicators, but it still hadn’t been renewed.
He said the centre had become a safe space for young people.
“I feel for them,” he said. “They don’t know what will happen in three weeks’ time.
“We don’t have funding to support them. There’s other avenues but they’re not always the best avenues to go down.”
The centre has a case worker who provides one-on-one support which is vital with other services having long waiting lists.
They have mentors who help provide positive role models, there’s a drop in program twice a week which provides safe places for anyone in the area.
Jakubowski said they had young people from a number of different schools who use the centre.
There is also a driving program to help young people get their hours up to get their licences and an uplift group.
He said they also talk to young people about what they see are the issues and how they can help.
“We do anything that young people need.”
As well as having nowhere for the young people to go, eight staff including Mr Jakubowski will lose their jobs.
“Anyone who can do anything to help would be appreciated.”
A spokesperson for the attorney general’s office said that project activities in that round of the funding are to be completed by April 30 and that future grant opportunities will be made public.
Whittlesea council chief executive Craig Lloyd said the council isn’t in the position to contribute funding for IYC’s ongoing operations.
“Council acknowledges the Innovation Youth Centre’s contribution to the northern region and the imminent cessation of its Commonwealth Government funding. Council has met with IYC representatives on several occasions to discuss the funding challenges,” he said.
“Any significant funding spend is required to go through a robust procurement process and due diligence to ensure Council is investing ratepayer funds in the most effective way.
“Council is already investing in youth programs and services and our approach is driven by the priorities and actions in our community plan, our community vision Whittlesea 2040: A place for all and the
council-endorsed youth plan 2030.
“Council’s youth team partners with youth organisations including IYC to address current and emerging needs of young people and identify collaboration opportunities such as a recent skate event.
We are operating in an increasingly tightening funding environment with significant decreases in funding for community services and program from other tiers of government and we have a rate cap that is
lower than inflation. This significantly impacts council’s capacity to provide financial support to organisations like IYC.
“The state government has funded council to undertake a feasibility study for a youth hub in the City of Whittlesea. Our findings are due by 30 June 2024. If the State Government funds a youth hub in the
future, a decision about the operating model will be made at the time, including potential opportunities for youth organisations such as IYC.”
