It's Youth Week in WA
Celebrating the achievements of young people who have lived at St John of God Horizon House.
10 Apr 2025
Today marks the beginning of Youth Week WA—an opportunity to recognise the enormous contribution that young people make to the social, cultural and economic life in Western Australia.
This year we are celebrating the achievements of some of the inspiring young people who have lived at St John of God Horizon House, a service which empowers and supports young people at risk of homelessness to build the life they want, by providing a safe and stable home.
St John of God Horizon House offers more than just a roof over their head. Our caregivers work with young people to understand their unique needs, who they are and what they want to do in life and provide basic tools to set them up for success.
189 young people accessed the Horizon House service last financial year, including 37 young mums and their babies. 77 per cent were then supported to transition into independent living—a fantastic result.
122 young people in the program engaged in education or employment opportunities, and an impressive 86 per cent of all young people who engaged with Horizon House said the service had a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.
During this week, we will share the stories of Kirsty and Troy, two inspiring and resilient individuals who sought refuge at St John of God Horizon House and flourished into strong, successful young people who are now chasing their dreams.
Director of Homelessness and Support Services Sandy McKiernan says Kirsty and Troy are just two examples of many resilient young people’s stories—stories that are still evolving but worth telling.
“Youth Week is an important time to celebrate not just the high achievers but all young people who every day are making remarkable steps towards creating their future.
“This year’s theme, ‘Our Threads, This Place, Your Moment’, centres on connection, community and self-determination, which for many means overcoming barriers of insecure housing, access to education and employment and connection to family.
“At Horizon House we celebrate every young person, building on their strengths and focusing on getting them closer to their goals and dreams. When we do this well, young people thrive.”
You can learn more about St John of God Horizon House by visiting the website.