New Cairns bike facility aimed at curbing youth crime

Young people in Cairns now have a safe place to connect and engage in projects as leading mental wellbeing and suicide prevention not-for-profit charity selectability officially opens the region’s first dedicated bicycle facility and program.

The Youth BikeShed will provide 12-17 year olds across Cairns with a welcoming place to make friends and engage in projects, while helping to prevent antisocial behaviour. selectability General Manager Cairns, Gwion Cain, said loneliness and boredom could lead young people to engage in criminal activity and providing them with something meaningful to participate in was key to addressing the problem.

“The Youth BikeShed initiative focuses on intervention, providing activities aimed at promoting positive behaviours and preventing youths from engaging in anti-social behaviour,” said Gwion.

“The BikeShed provides a friendly, open and caring environment for people to make friends, get active and engage in a range of projects.” selectability’s Cairns BikeShed Coordinator, Paul Liddiard said the Youth BikeShed gave young people a central location to meet up after school and participate in group rides and repair workshops.

“The aim is to really broaden the skill set of the young people attending and work with them to develop a set of core skills including planning, self-control, awareness and flexibility,” said Paul.

“The space provides break-out areas so that young people could socialise and engage with mentors and trained mental health workers. By including our youth in new activities that they can get passionate about, our BikeShed team will support them in mapping out their individual goals and dealing with obstacles.”

The BikeShed will also include programs for NDIS consumers during the day under a membership model.

The facility includes bike maintenance activities, break-out areas for socialising, organised group rides, bicycle repair workshops and easy access to other mental wellbeing supports. You don’t need an appointment or referral, just drop in and see the team. The Cairns Youth BikeShed program is proudly supported by a grant from the Australian Government’s Safer Communities Fund and supported by Cairns Regional Council.