Youth homelessness and mental illness have largely been ignored over the past two decades with twice as many Australian teenagers now on the streets, Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs Mike Baird said today.

“Today we will see the release of the only national independent inquiry into homeless children since the Burdekin report shocked the nation in 1989 and we must act before the headlines fade,” Mr Baird said during Youth Week (5-13 April).

“It is also twenty years since Bob Hawke uttered those words, ‘No Australian child will live in poverty by 1990’ and yet youth homelessness is even more widespread today. Every night around the nation about 36,000 under 25s are on the streets – including twice the number of teenagers than in 1989.”

Mr Baird said while his neighbourhood of Manly is considered prosperous, youth sleep in the local grandstand each night because they have nowhere else to go.

“I’ve heard of young girls wearing hooded tops to look like a male because their only hope is to try to get a bed at a men's refuge. No young woman should have to do that.

“Unfortunately many homeless youth are also battling mental health problems, compounding the difficulties they face and their isolation from the community.

“We need a NSW Summit to draw together the experts on youth mental health and homelessness to ensure the next report does not fall into the ether like the Burdekin report appears to have done.

“It is also crucial we acknowledge young people are not equipped to tackle the maze of Government departments they need to seek help. Often they need to present paperwork to access support, which they don’t have– the system must be less bureaucratic.

“One homeless youth may have to deal with the Department of Housing, the Department of Health, the Department of Community Services – and this is just at a State level. They need a single point of contact to help them navigate the system.

“Over the next four years the Iemma Government has allocated just $6.8 million per annum for youth mental health. It seems a paltry amount and shows it is anything but a priority – considering Morris Iemma named mental health a priority when he became Premier two and a half years ago.

“Youth Week this week is meaningless unless we seize the opportunity to deliver some real benefits to our most vulnerable youth,” Mr Baird said.

MEDIA: Lisa Harrington - 0406 726 880

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