August 12 is International Youth Day

The day was established by the UN  in 1999 as an annual celebration of the role of young people as essential partners in change, and an opportunity to raise awareness of challenges and problems facing the world’s youth today.

This year’s theme is “Transforming Educations” which highlights efforts to make education more inclusive and accessible for all youth. For more information and to help contribute to the cause head to their website https://www.un.org/en/events/youthday/

To celebrate this day and theme Elizabeth Antoszkiw, Team leader of The Shack in Maroubra, NSW provides her insights into their youth services.

The Shack Youth Services

The Shack is run by The Benevolent Society and provides a range of programs for young people aged 12 – 17. It’s located on Anzac Parade in Maroubra and supports students who live or attend school in the Randwick area and Bayside Local Government Areas.

Supporting Education and School Engagement

The Shack Youth Services primary focus is to provide young people and their families with the combination of support and life skills they require to help them overcome challenging situations, set and achieve measurable goals and work towards making positive life choices.

There are 3 programs provided to youth at the Shack, they are Shack Tutoring, Back On Track and Youth Drop in. All 3 programs ensure that there is a connection to supporting education and school engagement.

• Youth Drop in Centre
  The Shack Youth Drop In Centre provides a safe and supportive space for young people to participate in groups and workshops, access homework support and engage in outreach & social activities whilst having a connection to youth workers, case workers and positive community mentors to help empower them to live their best life.
  
  
• Shack Tutoring
  Shack Tutoring is free tutoring for students in years 6-12 living in the Bayside and Randwick and Local Government Areas. The students are matched with a trusted University of NSW student who can tutor them in a range of subjects, after school on Tuesday and Wednesday.
  
  
• Back on Track
  Back on Track is a Muay Thai boxing program in partnership with Maroubra Police & PCYC that uses exercise as a way of building connections with local young people who are at risk of school disengagement or entering the juvenile justice system. This program not only provides a fitness component but offers all young people who participate with a healthy breakfast, youth mentoring and direct school drop off after the program with an aim to improve the level of school attendance for participating young people.

“Thanks for you all your help and support over the years, my kids have benefited enormously and with tutoring and support. It enabled them into a B.Science at UNSW as well as a scholarship for college.” – Proud Shack Mum

Join The Shack

If you or someone you know would like to attend, simply get in touch by visiting The Shack and chatting with our one of our Shack Staff to register.

External services are always welcome to refer local young people to programs and can email the shack team at – [email protected] or contact them directly on 02 9305 4600.