Funding shortfall threatens closure of Morwell's Gippsland Youth Spaces

For five years, Gippsland Youth Spaces in Morwell has acted as a refuge for marginalized young people in Victoria's Latrobe Valley, providing meals, laundry facilities, recreational activities and training aimed at reducing youth crime. Established by the Labor government in 2021, the centre now relies on shrinking grant money and charitable donations, with only the Morwell site remaining after closures in Wellington Shire and East Gippsland.

Board member Jewel Burchell-Robins cautions that shutting the programme would leave vulnerable youths without a safety net, potentially driving up anti-social behaviour and self-harm. Local businessman Ray Massaro, a longtime supporter, says his contributions are no longer enough, and the organisation has sold its transport buses and cancelled external trips, including a parliamentary leadership program. Executive Trevor Carstein projects a survival window of roughly a year and says the centre needs about $500,000 annually to operate effectively. A state government spokesperson notes more than $9 million has been invested since inception and that discussions continue about a sustainable funding model beyond 2027.