Make space for me

By Danielle Galvin
MORE than 15,000 young people have benefited from the Mobile Youth Bus, run by Cardinia Shire Council.
The converted passenger coach is the cool place to be, with primary school children and older high-school students using the bus as a place to hang out after school.
Since 2009, the bus has been a safe place for young people to come with friends, or to talk about whatever is bothering them.
“Pakenham is a large town and we want to hit all of the different areas in the shire.
“At lunchtime, we drive around to schools and let the kids see what we are offering.
“Then we tell them where we are going to be later on that day,” Outreach officer Kelly Hicks said.
The bus is decked out with range of equipment and fun things to play with.
As the council celebrates the second anniversary of MYbus, Ms Hicks says that providing support for children comes in a range of different forms.
“I think the service is only going to get bigger and better,” she said.
Parents have also been known to use the brochures provided to ask about ways to talk to their children about drugs and alcohol, sexual health and especially mental health and wellbeing.
“I’ve been really impressed that parents have come down to talk to us about their teenage children.
“They are curious about what they can do to provide information to their kids and also where they can send them for help,” Ms Hicks said.
A range of young people use the service. Often the children come back regularly once they are familiar with the staff.
Georgia Rogers is in Year 5 at Pakenham Consolidated School.
“It’s really fun to hang out here,” Georgia said.
Daniel is in Year 4 at Pakenham Springs, and he has been coming to the bus all term.
“I saw it once when we were driving past and I wanted to know what was inside. There’s lot of cushions and I like it here,” Daniel said.
The council is running a school holiday program for children in the shire.
“There’s going to be an art and craft day and a bead making day.
“We have a whole new timetable this year,” Ms Hicks said.