Opening of Blacktown Marist Youth Care Head Office – a holistic approach to addressing disadvantage

On 3 December 2009, Senator, the Hon Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector opened the new Head Office for Marist Youth Care in Blacktown, New South Wales.

Senator Stephens said Marist Youth Care helps people stabilise their lives, find suitable accommodation, overcome personal barriers and move into education, training or employment.

 “Marist Youth Care’s integrated, holistic approach supports young people to overcome the barriers they face to living a meaningful and satisfying life.”

“Their success is a good example of what can be achieved when we take a person-centred approach to addressing disadvantage and social exclusion.”

Senator Stephens reflected on the shared aspiration of Marist Youth Centre and the Australian Government to ensure young people at risk fulfil their potential, and congratulated the centre on the real difference it has made in the lives of vulnerable young Australians.

As a part of its Social Inclusion Agenda, the Government is committed to addressing disadvantage through designing and delivering services that are linked-up and tailored in order to meet an individual's needs.

To read the full speech and media release, please visit the Ministers’ Media Centre.