Being so young, it’s great that I can start my life with the support provided here
Having just turned 18, Willow moved into the Logan Youth Foyer a month ago.
“Being so young, it’s great that I can start my life with the support provided here,” she says.
The Logan Youth Foyer provides accommodation for young people aged 16 to 25 who need a safe and stable environment to live in and who are committed to engaging in education, training or work.
Willow says, “I’m currently studying for a Certificate 3 in Retail because it’s an equivalent to grade 12 certificate.”
“Once I’ve finished my Certificate, I’d prefer to work rather than continue studying but I’d be happy to do any type of work.”
Logan Youth Foyer staff provide emotional, social and advocacy support and work with the young people to develop their resilience and encourage their personal growth.
“It’s reassuring to know that if you get stuck there’s always someone here who will help you,” says Willow.
Logan Youth Foyer Coordinator, Rachael says, “It’s a community here. One of the goals when young people come here is to establish social connection. Staff look to provide opportunities for this to young people during their stay.”
Although Willow admits to being shy and spending a lot of time in her room, she says that the place offers a nice environment.
“The Logan Youth Foyer looks good. With the plants and the design of the building, it feels like you’re somewhere else,” she says.
Willow’s looking to hone her skills in cooking and learn how to maintain a home while living at the Logan Youth Foyer.
“I still need to learn how to call for maintenance and I’m just cooking easy things in the oven at the moment,” she says.
Rachael says that the Logan Youth Foyer caters to a range of young people from those right at the beginning, to those ready to move on.
“At the Logan Youth Foyer, we have young people at the start of the journey like Willow, who will learn skills like how to cook, clean, budget, save, maintain a home and a tenancy while they are staying here. They will build confidence in these skills and then when they are ready, they will find their own place to live like other young people before them,” she says.
In the short-term, Willow’s looking forward to taking up driving lessons to provide her with a bit more freedom.
“Ian, my youth worker has helped me get some driving lessons because I don’t want to be 25 years old without a licence. Any opportunity there is, I’m taking up a driving lesson,” she says.
Willow’s youth worker, Ian says, “Not having your license is a barrier to getting work so if we can help the young people get their licence, we can help to open up opportunities for them.”
Willow, tenant at Logan Youth