Collaboration the key to new $33 million youth, community centre in Newman
Plans for the $33 million Newman Youth and Community Hub now under construction in the Pilbara town.
The remote Western Australian town of Newman is celebrating the construction of a new youth and family hub, the culmination of a joint effort across many local community services.
The $33 million centre will house everything from a library to a recording studio, sports facilitates and more, and the collaboration of a range of services from the Newman Women’s Shelter to the Council has been a key part of getting the idea to construction stage.
Councillor with the Shire of East Pilbara Lou Lockyer said the youth centre was one of the biggest infrastructure projects in recent years in Newman - and it would provide benefits for all ages - though young people was a vital focus.
Ms Lockyer, who worked in mining and now as a local health executive, said she could see the potential benefits across all aspects of the community from having a community centre that catered to people involved in sports as well as those more comfortable in a library.
She was not alone, with Newman Women’s Shelter Chief Executive Officer Arina Aiona among those touting the benefits of the centre, and particularly highlighting the collaboration between services that has led to its creation.
“I haven't stressed enough the importance of working together and the communication, because each different sector you are in, of course you're gonna have some things like different ways of working that's going to clash,” Ms Aiona said.
“But if you bend a bit and see what's the end goal and try to come to an understanding and work together for not what your organisations of course that's to take it into a consideration, but what's the overall you know picture?
“What is the big picture to help strengthen and build your community?”
Not just a youth centre, it has been promoted as a community hub, one that could play a role in keeping young people in the remote Pilbara town for longer, staying to raise families and participate in the region’s future.
Both Councillor Lockyer and Ms Aiona say it will become a place where social problems like domestic and family violence, alcohol and drug abuse can be tackled early with young people, to build a better future for the community.
The centre attracted funds from both the federal and state governments, support from the local regional council and Aboriginal Prescribed Body Corporate, and is expected to open in coming months.