The new Gapuwiyak Youth Centre and Library was established by East Arnhem Regional Council’s Youth Sport and Recreation (YSR) program and The Wapurarr’ Place, a unique youth mental health service within YSR.

The Centre was funded by the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme (AACAP), and is the first of its kind in Gapuwiyak, aiming to be a place of learning and exploration for young people and the broader Community.

Strong literacy supports good psychosocial wellbeing, while low literacy is associated with an increased risk of poor psychosocial outcomes. Young people attending Wapurarr’ Place library activities are supported by staff who guide and encourage them to challenge themselves, through developing persistence, frustration/distress tolerance, and self-efficacy – skills associated with positive psychosocial outcomes.

Through the Wapurarr’ Place and YSR, children love learning about the world, the positive support from our staff, the satisfaction of challenging themselves and having their own efforts encouraged and acknowledged.

In just a year, staff are already seeing the positive impact Gapuwiyak Youth Centre and Library is having on literacy and English language scores, and enthusiasm towards literacy in the Community. East Arnhem Regional Council is excited to see how this program continues to develop in the coming year.