As part of the TWiSK Local Story Initiative, we asked a participant of the Salvation Army’s Youth Accommodation and Outreach Service in Upton Rd to share some of their experience.
What were the things that stopped you from getting housing before you arrived at the refuge?
Before I came to the refuge, I was always shifting from one place to another.
I was having trouble getting a job and even when I did have work, getting to and from work was really difficult because of the distances I would sometimes have to travel.
What did you think of the refuge when you first arrived here?
When I first arrived at Upton Road, I was really shy. I didn’t talk much to the staff or the other residents. I didn’t really know what to expect. What I did know was that it was a refuge for young people searching for a better life.
What do you think about the refuge now?
Now I have lived here for a while I know that the refuge is a place with a great community and support for getting future ready.
This youth refuge has changed my mind about what I want to become. Some of the best parts included work experience. For example, I have been getting cooking experience by working at the Upton Road monthly seedling sales. I was in charge of cooking the barbeque. Everyone says I can cook sausages better than the staff now! I have also helped with event planning.
I helped to plan the school holiday program in Autumn and we went on a trip to the zoo. I also helped plan the IDAHOBIT day celebration and gave ideas for an art project for NAIDOC week. Something else I have really enjoyed is cooking dinner with house residents. It is a good time to socialise, watch TV and improve our cooking skills for once we are living independently.
What are your hopes for the future?
Things I want to do in the future relate to the things I learnt during my stay. I used to only be interested in warehousing jobs because that was the main employment that I’d had in the past. Now that I have developed my skills in the kitchen, I would like to explore becoming an assistant culinary chef or maybe a house cleaner.
In terms of finding a house, I am still trying to figure that out. Even though I have lived here since I was a kid, I am a New Zealand resident (even though I haven’t lived there since I was a kid). This means that I can’t get any Centrelink support, which really makes it hard to find a place to live. I think the Government needs to do more for young people who have to try and find a house in the housing crisis and more for migrants who can’t get help.
The participant requested that their name not be used.
