VULNERABLE Moorabool youth are meeting case workers in fast food stores due to a lack of proper facilities in the region.
It’s a key finding from a Moorabool Agencies and Schools Together (MAST) report, which pushes for a new youth space at the council’s disused Darley offices.
Advocating the creation of a central hub for people aged 10-25 to get in touch with essential services, the report found many Moorabool youth were “falling between the cracks”.
The figures show 43 per cent of Ballarat Group Training’s Bacchus Marsh clients were serviced in “inappropriate places” such as family homes and fast food outlets.
MAST — supported by 35 businesses and organisations, including Djerriwarrh Health and Merrimu Services — also found youth and community services in Moorabool were incorrectly reported as having no waiting list because of a clause that ensures funding.
The report found several youth services in Ballarat and Melton no longer operated in Moorabool due to a lack of appropriate facilities.
“As a result, most of these agencies no longer provide services in Bacchus Marsh, despite Bacchus Marsh being included as part of their funding and services agreements.
“Committing almost an hour and a half travel time to meet young clients at McDonald’s or sites with little or no privacy, makes very little sense.
“In Moorabool, our experience is that young people move from this holding pattern to simply falling between the cracks.”
Bacchus Marsh police believe a youth space will help reduce violence and antisocial behaviour.
Key agencies such as council’s youth services, Bacchus Marsh Secondary College and The Shed have committed infrastructure, including a kitchen expected to cost $4700.
The report found the number of local government areas with one or more youth spaces jumped from 25 per cent in 2005 to more than 50 per cent by 2012.
“All the LGAs we spoke to indicated that the development of a youth space led directly to increased engagement of young people,” it said.
A survey of 138 young local people and adults found 69 per cent believed it was difficult to find youth services in the area.
Cr Tonia Dudzik said Moorabool Council would consider the MAST report next month.
“We’ve got empty buildings sitting there unused, paid for by rates,” she said. “If council runs as a business and asks for money, kids miss out.”
Cr Dudzik said the council had been approached by groups wanting to use the Darley offices, but it had requested $12,000 in rent.
Cr John Spain said it was a scandal the Darley offices weren’t being used.
“I’ve been banging on about the wasted space at Darley for quite a while,” he said.
“I’ve been approached by various groups that need a space, and it all centres on youth. Surprise, surprise.
“It’s just sitting there doing nothing. As far as I can see we have a policy that says we’ll lease it out – well, they’re staying away in droves.”
But Cr Paul Tatchell said the Darley offices were unsuitable. “These things take a lot of planning and an enormous amount of money.
“I know there are some successful youth groups, but there aren’t many. I know a lot of failures . . . that have cost serious amounts of money.”
