YOUNG PEOPLE AT INCREASED RISK OF HOMELESSNESS

By SARAH WATERS

WHILE young people across the state are being celebrated this week as part of NSW Youth Week, running from April 20 - 30, there are many who are going unnoticed as they fall through the cracks of society.

7680 young people aged between 12 – 24 were reported as homeless in NSW according to recently released Australia Bureau of Statistic (ABS) 2021 Census data.

Homelessness Australia chief executive Kate Colvin said the current cost of living has further increased a young person’s risk of homelessness.

Family breakdowns, mental health issues, drug and alcohol addiction, housing crisis, inappropriate living conditions and lack of income are other factors that can lead to a young person becoming a homeless statistic.

While it is not known what the exact homeless figures specifically for youth in the Tweed are, Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry said she would like to see a Youth Foyer built in the area.

Youth Foyers are people from the Murwillumbah Youth Action Group have helped to organise the festival.

The team has worked tirelessly from choosing activities to designing posters and helping with social media marketing.

NSW Youth Week is an annual event, running from April 20 – 30, to celebrate young people aged 12-24 across the state.

It aims to promote the contributions, achievements and wellbeing of young people in the community.

The theme for this year’s NSW Youth Week, set by the NSW integrated learning and accommodation settings for young people, typically aged 16 - 24 years, who are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness.

Youth Advisory Council, is Connect. Participate. Celebrate.

For more information on NSW Youth Week 2023 visit nsw.gov.au/ nsw-youth-week-2023.

They aim to reduce the number of young people cycling through the housing and homelessness system, increase the number of young people completing education qualifications and increase the number of young people employed.

The Foyer Foundation chief executive Liz Cameron-Smith said the integrated housing model has proven to work and delivers successful outcomes.

She said 80 per cent of young people, who leave the Youth Foyer, go into safe and stable housing.

Sixty-five percent have secure work, while others continue with their studies.

It is also reported that 60 per cent of young people, who are provided with care at Youth Foyer’s, are less likely to end up in the justice system.

There are currently 11 Youth Foyers across Australia and another nine are expected to be built by the end of the year.

By TIM HOWARD

Residents who witnessed an alleged high speed crash involving a motor bike and a car in Grafton streets believe the 38-year-old bike rider was the same person who has been speeding around the streets at night.

A couple who live near the crash site on the corner of Mary and Bacon streets, said the sound of the bike was the same as they had been hearing at other times.

“It sounded like him, it was the same sound,” one said. “We would hear him revving his bike and coming up the street (Bacon St) and then turning into Turf.

“This time he was coming down the street, revving his engine, then bang. He hit that car.”

Police said about 5.40am on April 18, emergency services were called to the intersection of Mary and Bacon streets, following reports of a crash between a motorcycle and car.

The 38-year-old motorbike rider was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before taken by ambulance to Grafton

Hospital.

Hospital where he was airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

The 48-year-old male driver of the sedan was uninjured; however, was