Maribyrnong City Council’s Phoenix Youth Centre is celebrating its first birthday this month.
Located in Melbourne’s inner west, Maribyrnong rates third on the SEIFA (Socio Economic Indexes for Areas), which assesses the level of social and economic disadvantage in Australian communities.
Almost 17 per cent of its 60,000 residents are aged 12 to 24 years.
The Phoenix Youth Centre is a home away from home for local youth, particularly in the Footscray area. The venture was jointly funded by Council with help from the Victorian Government Community Support Fund and the Federal Government National Building Stimulus Funding.
Maribyrnong Mayor Councillor Sel Sanli believes the centre has so far been a massive success.
“The Phoenix Youth Centre has been successful in providing support for our young people and engaging them in community based arts, activities and services,” he said. “Young people in our City can access the centre’s performance spaces, rehearsal room, recreation spaces, study area, exhibition space, training room and community kitchen. These facilities offer a great range of activities and programs for our young people”
Youth counsellors, social workers, a youth health nurse, a theatre program, and band memberships are also available to the young people, as well as a refurbished auditorium and an activity area. In addition, other organisations working with young people in the local community use the centre for their programs and projects.
A number of environmentally friendly initiatives were incorporated into the centre’s design, including a solar hot water system, artificial lighting motion sensors and thermal chimneys for ventilation.
One of the most important aspects of the building is the involvement of young people in the entire process from concept through to design and the current operation and management of the facility.
Built on the site of an old air raid shelter, the community building has had a few different roles over the years, from community library to the Footscray Swim Centre.
And building on this legacy, Council hopes the flexibility and design of the Youth Centre will allow it to remain a prominent feature in Footscray for many years to come.
