Aidan Curtis
A SOUTH Australian organisation that helps prevent youth homelessness is now operating in Canberra, with one local playing a vital part in getting the service underway.
Ruby’s Reunification Program has been helping young people in South Australia avoid homelessness for close to three decades.
After 28 years, the Ruby’s model has been picked up by the Safe and Connected Youth Project in Canberra, with the possibility of spreading around the nation well on the cards.
And Mount Gambier has played a role in getting that up and running, with Ruby’s Mount Gambier senior coordinator Sharon Gray spearheading the training of the new Canberra team.
Ms Gray said she headed to the nation’s capital and delivered the service model training over two days to teach them the “ins and outs” of running a Ruby’s house.
“For me, it was an amazing opportunity to be over there,” she said.
“I got to go to the house and actually see it, ready to open its doors to the first clients.
“And to meet the staff and have a professional relationship with the people who are going to be running it was really wonderful.”
The six-bedroom house will be able to house young people in need of a little help, while providing counselling to them and their families to make sure they do not end up on the street.
Ms Gray said she is keep in regular contact with Canberra now that their house is up and running, and will continue to do so for the near future.
She said she is hopeful spreading Ruby’s interstate will cause a ripple effect, with interest already being shown for a house in Western Australia.
“For me, the opportunity now that there’s another house opened up, that means there’s more young people and more families out there that are going to get this unique support,” she said.
“If there’s one family or one young person that’s supported, that may then flow on to other people and grow into the community.
“The idea of that now happening in Canberra and potentially at some point in Western Australia, to be honest I think it would be amazing if there was Ruby’s houses cropping up all over the place.
“It’s an amazing thing to be a part of something bigger like that, so very proud to be a part of it.”
