Armadale Youth Resources is a community-based organisation that was established in 1989 and covers the geographical areas of the Shire of Serpentine/Jarrahdale, the City of Armadale and the City of Gosnells.

Over the last decade, Armadale Youth Resources has been financially supported by the Ministry of Justice, Cities of Gosnells and Armadale, Arts WA, Police Department Plate Funding, Community Policing, Federal Department of Family and Community Services, Family & Children's Services, Rotary Clubs, Lotteries Commission, Healthway and many Government and Non-Government funding bodies.

During this period the agency has planned, implemented and evaluated numerous educational, vocational and recreational programs whose focus has either been primary or secondary crime prevention and/or early intervention. The primary objective of the agency is to reduce offending or "at risk" behavior amongst young people by linking them to recreation, peer support, training and employment options. The agency staff link directly with local primary and secondary schools. These local primary and secondary schools are willing to allow their students to attend on and off campus programs conducted by "Youth Resources", as a way of tackling bullying, truancy and poor achievement levels. Many of the school based programs have been trialed and in some cases operating since 1995 with schools requesting they continue onto the future. The involvement of and exposure to male mentors and positive male role modeling remains a core ingredient of the program structure.

In the past 12 months, new programs like "The Educator" have involved an adult family who not only completed challenges and activities with their child but have access to relevant parenting and communication information that is designed to improve the family relationships.

The "Anger Management" program offered to primary schools now works in collaboration with the Armadale Health Service to provide a Parenting Program for the parents of the young person referred by the agency.

Programs continue to change and evolve to cater for the needs of the community as well as the target group.

History of Agency

Armadale Gosnells and Districts Youth Resources Inc is a community based organisation that was established in 1989 through the "Kids In Crime" initiative of the W.A state Government through the then Department of Community Services.

The organisation was initially known as the Armadale Resources Committee ans was sponsored by the South East Regional Youth Council inc. In March 1993, Armadale Youth Resources became incorporated as Armadale Gosnells and District Youth Resources Inc (Youth Resources). The agency originally set up office at the Police and Citizens Youth Centre in Armadale and then moved to its current location, Armadale Lotteries House in January 1993. The agency alos operates a youth drop-in centre, the Youth Resource Centre, behind Armadale Shopping City, A Family Liasion Program, A Young Women's Group, an after school exercise program and an after school Bike Workshop in Champion Drive Armadale.

Youth Resources covers the geographical areas of the Shire of Serpentine/Jarrahdale, the City of Armadale and the City of Gosnells. the catchment area encompasses the postcode districts of 6110, 6111, 6112, 6107, 6108, 6109, 6201, 6203 and 6205.

The agency is primarily funded by the W.A Department of Justice. The agency has also received funding from the Federal Department of Family and Community Services, City of Armadale Safer WA, Lotteries Commission, Police Department, Arts W.A, and Department for Community Development.

This report represents the activities of the organisation during the 2001/2002 Financial Year. The funding provided by the Ministry of Justice provides the core services and foundations of Youth Resources and provides the catalyst through which the agency has been able to secure additional funding from other sources.

The agency enjoys a professional and highly respected profile within the community and amongst the youth and community services sector. The members of the Management Commitee are highly committed individuals who come together to support the agency and it's aims and principles.

The agecny employs three full-time staff, the Manager and two Community Based Education Program Co-ordinators, the Youth Activities Co-ordinator, one Youth Activities Assistant and two casual employees. We also employ a part-time book-keeper, admin assistant, outdoor recreation specialists, artists and project staff for specialist programs.