University rallies to assist homeless youth

An increase in the number of teenagers without homes or regular meals this winter is concerning resource-limited schools and youth workers in the Toowoomba region.

Toowoomba FlexiSchool Head of Department, Jo Brennan, said they currently provided support to 68 disenfranchised and disadvantaged students at Centenary Heights State High School and had a waiting list of 15 and 16-year-old students in years 10 and 11 who also required their assistance.

'There are more students than usual who come to school each day without having had breakfast or brought lunch with them,' Ms Brennan said.

'The economic downturn has affected local families and there seem to be more students who are no longer living at home and are ‘couch surfing’ just to survive.'

Ms Brennan said many of the city’s shelters and halfway houses had reached their capacity and did not have the resources they needed to cope with the growing demand.

'Often the students don’t have the documentation that they need to apply for Centrelink payments straight away, so this leaves some without suitable accommodation or money to buy food.'

In response to this urgent need, USQ this week launched its annual Winter Appeal by donating much-needed funds and non-perishable food items to the Toowoomba FlexiSchool.

'The colder winter weeks have proved very difficult for these young people,' USQ Chief Operating Office Mr Bernard Lillis said.

'The University is making every effort to assist the FlexiSchool in keeping these disenfranchised young students safe and successful in their educational programs.'

The Toowoomba FlexiSchool is a unique community-based initiative that has been successful in creating educational opportunities and pathways for homeless, disadvantaged and disenfranchised young people in Toowoomba since 1998. USQ has been closely involved with the school since its inception.