Youthbeat senior youth worker Liz Moore and youth worker Aaron D’Vaz.
Andrew Ritchie         www.communitypix.com.au   d450429
Camera IconYouthbeat senior youth worker Liz Moore and youth worker Aaron D’Vaz. Andrew Ritchie        www.communitypix.com.au d450429 Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie        www.communitypix.com.au d450429

Shift toward family

Denise S. CahillStirling Times

Completed with data from the 2015 Youth Survey, the report found that up to one in seven young people could be at risk of homelessness.

Mission Australia area manager Suzie Caren said last year’s survey found that family and friends were the principal support network for young people.

“We want to incorporate families and carers in the care planning and service delivery and design, and offer groups for families on site,” Ms Caren said.

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The report found that of the 19,000 15-19-year-olds surveyed nationally, 15.1 per cent of teenagers in WA spent time away from home in the past three years because they felt they could not go back.

About 85 per cent spent time away from home on more than one occasion, with one-third in WA having spent time away from home more than 10 times.

More than half of those surveyed who had to spend time away from home said they had either a poor or fair relationship with their family.

Senior youth worker Liz Moore said the majority of homeless young people had experienced a family breakdown.

“We work with the young person and find out what’s going on… what we can’t help with we can refer them to other services for,” Ms Moore said.

Youth worker Aaron D’Vaz said Youthbeat’s two vans were out on the street a couple of times a day and “as much as we can” throughout the night.