Hebersham Aboriginal Youth Service (HAYS)

The Hebersham Aboriginal Youth Service (HAYS) is a project targeting specific needs in the Aboriginal community of Mount Druitt. It currently offers:

• A supported accommodation service for young Aboriginal people aged 16 - 18 years who are homeless
• A casework service to the young people in the residential service
• A small community outreach program that includes evening groups for young aboriginal people

MYC was involved in the establishment of the service and currently provides support and management to the service. The Project is staffed by a Manager, an Administration Assistant, a Coordinator of residential care, a Case Manager and Youth Workers.

An Aboriginal Reference Group comprising representatives of the Aboriginal community of the Mount Druitt area is currently being established and will form the basis of a governing body that will enable the Aboriginal community to assume full responsibility for the project. To assist in achieving this end the service is currently involved in research into Aboriginal homelessness being carried out by the University of Western Sydney.