Young people marked the end of an era for Nexus last week with a final event to celebrate the centre’s 13-year contribution to Horsham’s youth.
The Nexus Youth Committee organised Friday’s ‘Final Countdown’ party for current Nexus participants as well as people who have benefited from its services in the past.
Grampians Community Health has provided youth programs such as FreeZa and Engage from Nexus in partnership with Horsham Rural City Council (HRCC) since late 2005.
HRCC’s new Youth Strategy will see a transition away from the centre-based model delivered through Nexus to an internal youth officer model.
Mayor Mark Radford said consultations that informed the Youth Strategy showed that young people were looking for alternatives to youth centre services.
“Nexus has been great but we have now the opportunity to reimagine with young people what the Nexus building and youth services in Horsham can be,” Cr Radford said.
Young people who attended the Nexus ‘Final Countdown’ event spoke proudly about how much Nexus meant to them.
“Nexus has been like a family to me, safe and without stress,” said one young person.
Another said, “Nexus had shown them how to create events with close friends and then watch them come to fruition”.
Grampians Community Health Chief Executive Officer Greg Little said he was proud that his organisation could be part of Nexus and the Horsham community but understood that the end of this chapter of youth services had come.
“We have loved being part of Nexus and what it has given young people, as it has created so many opportunities and long term friendships,” Mr Little said.
“As one door closes another opens under the new Council Youth Strategy, and events such as Freeza and Engage will continue to provide partnering opportunities with young people over the next few years,” he said.
