Port Augusta secures $12m from SA and federal governments for youth programs
The state and federal governments announced a $12-million three-year investment in Port Augusta's youth. Community members have said the city's had issues with vandalism, break-ins, and fighting but they hope the funding to support a community-led approach will make a difference.
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00:00After weathering funding cuts and winding back services, the Port Augusta Youth Centre
00:07is again open after school, three days a week, as well as the weekends.
00:11We showed them that we could pull kids off the street quite easily.
00:18The centre has welcomed more than 700 young people through the door over the course of
00:22the year.
00:23Mr Hinkman hopes the $12 million funding announcement will secure the future of the centre and allow
00:29it to further expand its service, preventing the youth of the city spilling out onto the
00:33streets.
00:34There was a lot of vandalism going on, break-ins, fighting.
00:42The Spencer Gulf city, about 300km north of Adelaide, has been grappling with these issues.
00:47But the state and federal governments say the funding partnership will facilitate a
00:51community-led approach to supporting youth.
00:53It is a good day for young people in Port Augusta.
00:57I reckon it's going to be really good.
00:59Surrounding communities like Davenport will also benefit from the funding pool.
01:03It's about getting them a better future when they grow up and then they don't have to worry
01:09about government money no more.
01:11Developing new initiatives will be guided by a leadership group, with the government
01:15leaving it up to the Port Augusta community to decide how the members will be selected.
01:19The community will get a sense once they've got together a few times to discuss their
01:24plans and discuss the safety and wellbeing plan and start thinking about priorities as
01:29to how big that will be.
01:31Laying the foundations for the next generation.