Avon Community Centre brings essential life skills to Narrogin’s youth

Avon Community Services youth worker Karen Walker is on a mission to provide the youth of Narrogin with basic life skills that many go without. Applying for $2500 funding through the Shire of Narrogin’s Community Chest Grants program, she wants to teach young people skills ranging from sewing buttons to changing car oil. The eight-week program will target ages 12-21, aiming to build independence and give participants the skills to help at home. “A lot of these kids come to me all the time and just go, ‘How do I do this, how do I do that?’ So I just thought, ‘Let’s run a course that teaches basic life skills that they don’t learn at school’,” she said. “Just to know that if something happens in their household they can go, ‘Nan, I know how to fix that’, or, ‘I’ll iron that shirt’, would be amazing. “It gives them that basic, important knowledge, and the confidence to move out and look after themselves when the time comes.” The first few weeks will focus on vehicle maintenance, with Ms Walker hoping to have her husband’s old ute brought to the centre as a teaching tool. Narrogin youth police officer Sen. Const. Dave Atkins is an ex-mechanic, and will be teaching that part of the program. The program will then go on to teach domestic skills, including basics such as reading fabric labels and removing stains. In later weeks, Ms Walker will get the youths cooking, with lessons on grocery shopping and storing produce. “It’s all great life knowledge that will help them along the way, especially when they get their own homes and have their own families,” she said. Ms Walker said the response from the community had been fantastic so far. She also has a plan to involve the participants in planning a Christmas party for their families, showcasing their budgeting and event planning skills. “I’m really passionate about this job, and really passionate about the youth in this town,” Ms Walker said. “They’re amazing kids and I really hope they all get involved and that the families all support the program.” Ms Walker hopes to get the program under way next term.