Arabic version: تعليق خدمات شباب ويندهام يثير قلق المجتمع

According to ABC News, services run by the Wyndham Aboriginal Youth Corporation have stopped, leaving children in the East Kimberley town without a designated night space and residents uncertain about the organisation’s future.

The corporation, which has operated in Wyndham since 2018, had provided a cafe, mechanic workshop, educational programs with certification pathways and a safe night space for young people. It had also been credited with reducing crime rates and supporting community-led solutions. ABC News was told the services stopped in mid-September, while a source familiar with the organisation said operations ceased on September 18.

Former chief executive Neville D’Silva said the National Indigenous Australians Agency had reneged on funding commitments, leaving the organisation with limited options. He said WYAC had been put on hold because the agency was not paying its share and that workers were at home without jobs or pay. The NIAA said it could not comment publicly on grant management discussions with individual organisations, but was continuing to engage with WYAC.

Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley president David Menzel described the halt as devastating and said he was concerned about gaps in support for at-risk young people. An anonymous source said staff and community members had received no clear information about employment or the service’s future, while children were asking when programs would resume. The Department of Justice said it recognised the importance of youth services and was engaging with stakeholders to explore options supporting continuity.