Council welcomes funding for youth facility project

The funding was announced by Federal Member for La Trobe, Jason Wood MP at My Place, 5-7 Main Street, Pakenham, earlier today.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Councillor Graeme Moore said the funding would assist Council to undertake a project that was needed to continue to provide valuable support and resources for young people in the shire.

“This funding is very welcome news; not just for Council but also for to the other youth services and education providers that collocate from the My Place premises,” Cr Moore said.

“Since opening in 2012 Council’s My Place youth facility has grown significantly in its client reach and service capacity. But, demand is outstripping supply and Council has been advocating for funding to deliver a much needed expansion project for the valued facility.”

To accommodate the immediate need for additional counselling rooms, Council has invested over $130,000 toward the renovation of two buildings within close proximity to My Place.

“Whilst ‘The Point’, our soon-to-be-launched new youth facility, will enable more mental health clinicians to see young people locally in the short-term, there is a clear need for a larger, more long-term project to allow for existing services to expand and new services to be attracted to the shire.

“This project will ensure Council and its partners can continue to provide the vital services need to support vulnerable young people in our community.

“Cardinia Shire has a growing youth population and we all recognise the need to support this segment of our community, to equip them with the skills, resources and confidence they will need to live productive and happy lives,” Cr Moore said.

Council expects to commence planning for the expansion of the My Place youth facility in the coming months.