Tom Price Youth Centre

A multitude of support services are offered at the Tom Price Youth Centre.  Our flexible approach allows us to respond to identified issues and needs and we achieve positive results through both funded and unfunded services and programs.

Although some of our funding is directed to an ‘at risk’ target group, we certainly encourage all young people to attend and access our services.  Many users of the centre are positive youth role models who contribute voluntary hours to the youth centres and various community services/events.

Youth Recreation & Development

The youth Drop In facilities provide young people with a safe place to meet and interact.  Although the rec areas are designed on a ‘drop in’ model we try to use these environments to mentor and motivate young people.  We encourage young people to take some ownership over their centres and use this arena as a springboard to encourage their participation in our more structured activities and programs.

We try to develop positive and trusting relationships with youth which then subsequently provides them with an established point of contact if they need assistance.  We encourage the development of positive life skills through program development and attempt to create programs which focus on harm minimisation.  We are also able to develop personal knowledge which assists us in identifying problems and assessing risk levels in individuals.

The Drop In areas provide access to:

  • Indoor recreation – Pool, music, computer & internet access, TV, DVD, Wii, Playstation, Xbox, games and chill out area. The recreation areas are also used for more structured activities including discos, movie nights etc.
  • Outdoor recreation – Cricket, footy, three on three basketball, orbit tennis, undercover barbecue and seating facilities.

We offer a number of Life Skills training courses and access to programs which encourage participation and self generated involvement.  These include:

  • Music Program
  • Peer Support Program (PSP)
  • Girls in Tune (GIT)
  • Guy Talk X-Treme (GTX)
  • Leadership Training
  • Alcohol & Drugs – Harm Minimisation
  • Boxing Program
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

The Department Of Corrective Services – Juvenile Justice

At present we continue to support young juvenile offenders.  We have been previously funded to manage this function but this arrangement is presently in limbo whilst the department adopts a new strategy which will duplicate the direction of the DCPFS’s working in partnership with the community model.  Our existing working model with the Department includes case management and intensive support and assistance.

We work closely with the Magistrate and Youth Justice, to provide suitable and realistic recommendations and also develop intervention and prevention initiatives for youth who are involved in, or at risk of being involved in the justice system.

We also provide youth with the opportunity of completing community based work orders by providing them with a variety of options including structured work based activity, life skills programs or simple participation at the centre.

The Department Of Corrective Services – Adults

We provide additional services on behalf of the DOJ including:-

  • Compliance monitoring for Community Based Orders (CBO’s)
  • Court Reports prior to sentencing
  • Anger Management Counselling and behaviour modification (Assault, Domestic Violence)
  • Victim Support
  • Monitoring and Intensive Supervision orders (ISO’s)

Department of Human Services – Centrelink Rural Agency

The Centrelink Rural Agency is located in Tom Price and has been in operation for close to twenty years.  The Department of Human Services provides clients with access to income support services and other services now incorporated under the department including Medicare and Child Support.  The agency acts as conduit between clients and the department and assists clients with form completion, meeting mutual obligations, advocacy, problem solving and ensures a continuity in benefits.

In addition to basic income support benefits other assistance is provided to the broader Tom Price community through family support, family tax initiative, sickness benefits, pensions and youth/study allowance.

Special Projects

The TPYSA tries to profile special events throughout the year at both the TPYC and the PYC which provides opportunity for youth participation and also profiles young people and the organisation positively.  For example, we run National Youth Week events annually, hold Basketball Competitions, Art and Craft Workshops, Skateboarding/BMX/Scooter programs, Graffiti Art & Beat Boxing Workshops etc.  These projects also provide the opportunity to work closely with other community key stakeholders and therefore demonstrate positive working relationships, support and the opportunity to profile our services.   In this past year some of the major projects we have been involved in as a direct result of a collaborative approach with key stakeholders include the Youth The Voice Youth Engagement Strategy (SOA) and Camp Kurlungka (IBN).

Youth Inclusion

The TPYSA purchased a bus in August 2016 and continues to run a youth transport access program to Wakathuni Community on Friday and Saturday nights.  This initiative provides youth with the opportunity to access town based services and ensures that they are not disadvantaged or excluded through lack of transport options.

We have negotiated with Gumala Aboriginal Corporation, who are willing to fund the bus for an additional day per week.  This is the result of renegotiation of a project to run a pop up youth centre at Wakathuni.  After much investigation and further discussions with Wakathuni community members it was decided that the youth centre idea was very difficult to manage and had many barriers to success.  We then decided that we would simplify, and increase the access to the Tom Price Youth Centre one day per week.  This project will commence in February 2018.

Counselling

Case Management, Counselling, Support & Advocacy and Mediation Services are provided in many areas of inquiry through referrals from other agencies, self-referrals and from parents who

may require assistance.  Case management is intensive and undertakes a very holistic approach, addressing many areas that impact a client’s life.  It is a proactive approach which supports clients to self-assess and develop relevant life skills. Counselling is included in the case management process but some clients attend for counselling only, which is available in the following areas:-

  • Alcohol and Drug Use
  • Family & Relationship Breakdown
  • Sexuality and sexual health issues
  • Aggressive Behaviour and Anger Management
  • Suicide and Self harming behaviours
  • Police & Legal Issues
  • Education, Employment & Training
  • Parent & Family Support

This is a high demand area and we are very successful at achieving positive outcomes with most clients due to our non-threatening and non-judgmental approach.  In many instances counseling is effective due to the pre-existing long term trusting relationships we have already developed with young people and other adult clients.

Employment Focus

We provide young people, and at times members of the broader community with assistance in job search.  This includes canvassing job vacancies locally, resume writing, job applications, and work experience placements.

Resource Centre

We have a fully functional internet facility which is available to youth free of charge.

We have a chill out area inside, and an outside undercover BBQ area, which provides the centre with additional facilities.

We have a comprehensive resource area which provides young people with relevant information on many issues.  We try to access resources which are youth culture friendly.

Local Drug Action Groups

The Tom Price Youth Centres manage and coordinates a youth based Local Drug Action Group.  Members of LDAG are proactive in developing events and activities that are drug and alcohol free, and which provide alternatives for young people. These events include discos, community cinema, live music performance and youth talent shows.  On many occasions the youth from LDAG will also assist other community groups with their events.

Opening Hours

  • 9:00am to 1:00pm Mondays,
  • 9:00am to 5:00pm Tuesday to Thursday,
  • 9:00am to 10:00pm on Friday,
  • 4:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturdays
  • hours increase to suit specific programs, and school holiday periods

Target Group

  • 5yrs to 21yrs for youth specific programs;
  • Other support services are provided to the broader community (Centrelink, Counselling, Case Management and Justice)