Glen Innes has appointed a new youth worker to administrate the 'youth booth', the town youth centre.
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Carlie Donnelly has been working in a casual capacity in the role for months, but was recently appointed to the job permanently. She will be the fourth to hold the role since 2018; Emma Davy resigned earlier this year for financial reasons.
Ms Donnelly has lived in Glen Innes for five years.
"I do have a qualification in Youth Work, however I have only worked in aged care, so this started off as quite a challenge," she said.
The youth centre, which opened in July at a cost of $300,000, was named the youth booth after a competition among young residents of Glen Innes.
"The 'Youth Booth' will evolve over time into what local youth want and need," said the new youth worker.
"We are trying to work out what best suits our local youth and they have been very receptive to having their say."
She said the new role is about both being there for young people who front up to the facility as well as planning and organising youth activities locally.
One of the biggest draw cards for young people: Carlie is an excellent cook.
"They wanted food and we have given them food," she said.
"There are hot meals every day with various meals on the menu such as curried sausages, spag bol, butter chicken, pancakes and we're about to try fried rice.
"Teenagers are always hungry, they greatly appreciate having the food, it satisfies their needs and it's a joy to provide this for them."
One key challenge for young people in Glen Innes according to Carlie is that there's not enough fun things to do in the small town.
"There's sports, the skate park, cycling paths, parks and the pool, but few places to just 'hang out' and the usual run of small town issues."
She thinks the youth centre will help fill the gap; they are already seeing up to 20 young people a day use the centre, she said.
"The Youth Booth will continue to evolve according to needs - we are trying to get a music room together as well as providing art and digital drawing."
Mayor Carol Sparks, who pushed for the establishment of a youth centre in response to a spate of suicides and self harm incidents among young people in 2018, said she hopes the centre will continue to grow.
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