Young people open their hearts on homelessness
Today, I was honoured to host a morning tea and meet a group of impressive young people and mentors who are participating in this year's Home Is Where The Heart Is photography exhibition.
I am a proud supporter of Home Is Where My Heart Is, an innovative project coordinated by the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia (YACWA) that uses photography as a medium to enable young people who have experienced homelessness to have their views heard in the community.
Children and young people who experience homelessness are some of the most vulnerable people in our community and I was particularly impressed today by the young people who visited my office to share with me and others their experiences of, and views on, homelessness.
A measure of the success of the Home Is Where My Heart Is project is that it has helped participants to build confidence and has even inspired some to pursue photography studies and to become mentors themselves.
Homelessness is a matter that has been raised with me in my discussions with young people and service providers around the State. The effects of homelessness on young people, such as difficulty attending school and an increased risk of harm, are of great concern to me and my office is looking at further research and consultation in this area.
I would like to thank all my guests and take this opportunity to congratulate everyone involved in the project, including YACWA for coordinating it.
The Home Is Where My Heart Is exhibition will run from 1 to 14 August at the State Library, Perth Cultural Centre. Entry is free.
Colin Pettit
Commissioner for Children and Young People