Sunshine hub’s expansion gives youth a better chance

SUPPORT for young people in the west has been bolstered by the expansion of Sunshine’s Visy Cares Hub.

The hub, established in 2007, is designed to maximise opportunities for young people aged 12-25.

Through funding groups such as the Ardoch Youth Foundation and headspace, the hub supports youth education and development, social and arts activities and youth housing services.

The expanded centre contains services that promote crime prevention, health and education.

It also provides space for informal activity and community meeting rooms.

The expansion was funded by Brimbank council, the federal government and the Pratt Foundation.

Unveiling the extensions on Friday, council chairman John Watson said the improved hub would better support local youth. 

“The extended facility is great news and will mean young people in the west will now have the opportunity to access even more facilities to help them on their journey to adulthood,” he said.

“In 2012 alone, more than 35,000 young people from across 156 suburbs attended the Visy Cares Hub, accessing a range of services including mental health, drug and alcohol, housing, education, employment, new arrivals program, and legal and social justice assistance.

“The existing facilities needed room to grow to allow for the high demand of services.”