Cut to the Bone

Here’s the recipe for another State government cost saving measure that further disadvantages those young people who might otherwise have fallen through the cracks.

Kim McLoughry and Liz Carter

First take a region that has a significant level of suicide.
Add to this unemployment and a dash domestic violence.
Place on the extremities of a city.
Gather community representatives, local businesses and a lot of eager volunteers.
Add the young people … and stir.
Mix in a generous helping of funding, say $250,000 odd.
Sit back and watch it rise to become exciting and very successful.
Now smash it to pieces.

This is what the NSW Government has effectively done to the Youth Arts programs in the Central Coast region.

 

Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS) received notice in January there will be no funding from NSW Arts for the Regional Youth Arts Coordinator position in 2009. This effectively hinders the operation of the facility and places into jeopardy the operation of over ten youth arts programs – not to mention the half-million dollar investment and countless hours and months of business and community effort.

Asked for a comment from the Member for Gosford, Marie Andrews, she said, “I am speaking to the Minister and trying hard to reverse the decision”.

The Youth Arts development programs and the subsequent Youth Arts Warehouse (YAW) facility are not some esoteric concept.  They provide real contact, support and training as well as a progressive place for activities and events in an area so clearly under-resourced.  The YAW also provides vital training courses, workshops and an opportunity to reach out to some of our most ‘at risk’ young people.   For over a decade the results of programs have been outstanding with the training and support leading directly to young people gaining careers in the media and the Arts.

“RYSS have delivered to the Central Coast Region the kind of multi purpose Art space young people would want to use for there own Artistic expression, development and education” says Kim McLoughry Service Manager RYSS “it gives a place and sense of belonging in our community that has been absent for decades”.

“For the two years since opening the new Youth Arts Warehouse facility it has been successful beyond the community’s expectations, giving young people skills and a hand up, not a hand out”. Liz Carter, seen pictured sitting on the right next to Kim McLoughry, has been the full time Youth Arts Coordinator for three years. She joined the unemployed list in early February. Without funds for the co-ordinator position, the entire future of the program is at risk.