Indigenous-led Kimberley youth service celebrates more than 4000 visits

Giovanni Torre
Giovanni Torre Published January 8, 2025 at 4.45pm (AWST)

Fitzroy Crossing's remarkable Night Place, a centre for the Kimberley town's young people, has recorded more than 4,000 visits in just slightly over four months of operation.

The popular service provides a safe and supportive place for children as well as meals and access to wraparound services provided in a culturally appropriate way.

From its first day - 2 September - to the end of December, the Night Place welcomed 3,967 visits by local kids. The much-loved centre run by Aboriginal resource centre Marra Worra Worra passed the 4000 visit mark in early January.

Several hundred individual children have visited the Night Place, and well over 5,400 meals have been served.

Night Place stayed open over the Christmas period to provide a much-needed service for youth.

During the last two weeks of December there were 535 individual interactions with young people and 840 meals served.

Western Australian Attorney General John Quigley recently visited the centre, which runs in conjunction with a Night Patrol that helps local children get to the centre - or home - safely.

The AG was on holiday in Broome and made the almost 400km drive to Fitzroy Crossing to see Marra Worra Worra's youth engagement work firsthand.

MWW Youth Connection Coordinator Rochelle Dolby said: "We are so grateful for the interest and support shown by the State Government and others for the work we are doing in the youth space and it was so lovely for Mr Quigley to take time out of his holiday in Broome to drive across and visit us."

"I can see the very positive impact visits like Mr Quigley's are having on our young people. It is empowering for them. They are starting to feel both seen and heard," she said.

Mr Quigley said after the visit that he "loved the vibe" at the Night Place.

"It was so positive and happy. There were no quarrels only laughter and it was beautiful to see the great relationship between children, staff and local police," he said.

"I think the work MWW, local police, Leedal and others are doing is the start of a new beginning for youth in the Fitzroy Valley and they are building strong foundations that are so worthwhile to build on. I offer all my support."

The WA government recently backed a long-term extension of the Night Place program with a funding boost.

John Quigley and Rochelle Dolby. Image: Marra Worra Worra.

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National Indigenous Times

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