Conference

Sponsored by:

The State Government of South Australia (Social Inclusion Unit)

Statewide Superannuation

Held

August 12 2005
Adelaide Town Hall

Inner City Housing for Young People

Building Opportunity – Building Community

The conference was attended by over 140 people, and looked at new and exciting models of addressing homelessness, lack of education and exclusion from community among our young people in urban centres, and was held in the Adelaide Town Hall on August 12th 2005.

The conference was held by St John’s Youth Services in association with the South Australian Council of Social Services “Poverty – Closer than you think” campaign.

Click here to download Conference Report

Overview

After an indigenous welcome and the wonderful sound of a didgeridoo played by Steve Goldsmith, the Lord Mayor, Michael Harbison, opened the conference and spoke of a city that was inclusive of young people. Professor Andrew Beer of Flinders University provided an overview and comment on current State Government and Adelaide City Council strategic plans.

The Key Note speaker was Ken Millroy, CEO of Aberdeen FOYER, Aberdeen Scotland. Ken gave a presentation of the exciting model of FOYER Housing for young people, and it’s success in across the United Kingdom. FOYER recognises that all young people need a home, support and a springboard into independent living. Some don’t get it. Ken told how FOYER’s fill the gap.

The Minister for Families and Communities, Jay Weatherill spoke on the State’s Vision for Housing Young People, and of holding discussions with the Adelaide City Council and St John’s Youth Services to discuss the potential for establishing a FOYER in Adelaide

Other presenters included Professor Bill Randolph, University of New South Wales; Gary Storkey, CEO of Homes Start Finance: Tony Myers, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of SA; and Brenton Gardiner, Executive Director of the Housing Industry Association.

A hypothetical moderated by Alan Smith CEO, of the State Library challenged a diverse group of policy makers and service delivery people to meet the needs of a young couple with a small child seeking shelter under the Town Hall balcony after escaping domestic violence, and to come up with ways to implement safe housing and educational and employment opportunities for them in our city.