A new venue is offering support and services to youth in Fitzroy Crossing, in WA's Kimberley region.
The Youth Connection Night Place, delivered by Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation and supported by WA Police, is helping to address the urgent needs of local young people by providing a safe haven and comprehensive support after hours.
The program is also being supported by Leedal, which supplies food for the Night Place and the Night Patrol.
Marra Worra Worra chairperson Peter Murray said the Youth Connection Night Place provides "a safe and comfortable place for young people to access food, basic hygiene and first aid supplies, a shower, a washing machine and drier, as well as connections to safety networks".
"Young people will also be provided with transport home or to a safe location via our Night Patrol, and the day team will follow up with visits to families and referrals to other services," he said.
"We prioritise local Aboriginal employment and all shifts will ensure both male and female staff are rostered to maintain a safe and appropriate environment for all young people."
Marra Worra Worra youth connection coordinator Rochelle Dolby told National Indigenous Times that the Night Place model was established based on what children and young people in the community were telling the organisation's Night Patrol staff.
"It has been developed in response to the work we do through our Night Patrol; engagement, having a chat with the kids on what they would like. Their feedback was that in winter, they'd like to have somewhere warm and a hot meal, and somewhere cool on the hot nights, to have somewhere safe and off the streets," she said.
"From our conversations it has led to having all the kids here now at the Place, safe and engaged, with staff who show kindness and support."
Marra Worra Worra general manager of program Nicola Angell told National Indigenous Times: "As an organisation, we are proud of the work we are doing and that we are expanding our services to our community and providing opportunities for kids to connect, engage and grow."
Member for the Kimberley Divina D'Anna joined in officially opening the facility and welcomed the opportunity for young people to have a safe place to attend at night.
"For young people, being able to have conversations with adults in a therapeutic space and having someone to listen to them is so important," she said.
Leedal chairperson Patrick Green said the Night Place would benefit the entire community by helping their young people to feel safe.
"It's always important to support our community members, and our community members need their children to feel safe," he said.
As part of this initiative, the Night Place will identify street present young people at night and provide them with transport home, to a safe address, or to the Night Place.
The Night Place is a voluntary offering for young people, and they can also walk into it off the street if they choose.
Youth Connection Night Place at 38 Bell Road provides immediate support at night for street present disengaged young people in Fitzroy Crossing.
The Night Place is a voluntary offering for young people, providing a safe and comfortable place with necessities such as food, hygiene and first aid supplies, and transport, as well as access to safety connections.
The Night Place is open from 6pm to 10pm Sunday to Thursday, 6pm to midnight on Friday, 6pm to 2.30am on Saturday. It can be contacted on 0447 150 084.
