On Monday, we were proud to officially open The Street University Katoomba, together with Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman and Ted Noffs Foundation CEO, Matt Noffs. Elisa Manley, Executive Manager Strategy & Integration and several other staff, represented our organisation at this event.

This federally funded service provides a free community space for young people (aged 12-25) that embraces art, music and culture while providing early intervention support for alcohol, drug, mental health and wellbeing concerns. This is the second Street University for our region, having brought this innovative model of care to Penrith in 2020. Due to its success, are proud to be funding this second service in Katoomba. 

Since opening its’ doors three months ago, the service has already engaged 178 young people, who have either attended the service or engaged via outreach services. Many of these young people attended the launch on Monday with much enthusiasm. Other special guests included Auntie Carol Cooper, Auntie Sue Tate, representatives from Blue Mountains Council, other local not-for-profit organisations and the local police. Guests were treated to multiple dance and music performances as well as barbeque eats cooked on the centre’s second story terrace. 

The Street University concept, developed by the Ted Noffs Foundation, is a unique early-intervention service for drug, alcohol and mental health concerns. A diverse range of artistic, cultural and educational programs (called “hooks”) are designed to engage difficult to reach young people and bring them into the service. This “non-traditional” health setting provides counselling to young people that delivers a significant decrease in drug use and crime, and improvement in their mental health and wellbeing. The model has also recently been the subject of an internationally peer-reviewed independent study by the UNSW.

The Street University Katoomba boasts a large dance floor, recording studio with equipment, a communal kitchen flanked by a large graffiti wall for artwork, and several quiet individual counselling rooms and a group space upstairs.

Our region has been lacking alcohol and other drug support services and particularly services that engage with young people in a non-clinical setting. To be able to bring this innovative service to the Blue Mountains is at the heart of why Primary Health Networks exist. We know our region and understand the healthcare needs of our community.

The Street University Katoomba also delivers outreach services to the upper-mountains and greater Lithgow areas like Portland and Wallerawang, which was previously delivered by The Street University Penrith. Having a Katoomba location means that staff and young people can benefit from a more local approach, and these life-changing services will now be more accessible to those who need it most.

Through The Street University Katoomba, young people can also access the Deadly Dreaming program, which is an additional outreach program conducted in schools and through Cobham Juvenile Justice Centre, targeting at-risk Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. 

The Deadly Dreaming program offers a 10-week early intervention drug and alcohol cultural program through creative and traditional workshops to provide experiences of custom, lore and value systems to build connections and a sense of belonging for young people. This is another service that can expand its reach thanks to The Street University Katoomba.

The Street University Katoomba is located at 93 Katoomba Street and is open from 12:00pm - 7:00pm, Monday to Friday. Walk-ins are welcome and no appointments or referrals are needed. For more information, visit The Street University Katoomba webpage with more information.