Rockingham Youth Centre takes out Community Facility of the Year Award

Rockingham Youth Centre has taken home a major award, winning the Community Facility of the Year Award at the 2022 Parks and Leisure Australia WA Awards of Excellence.

PLA WA is the leading industry association for people and organisations working in WA’s parks and leisure sector.

The awards recognise and celebrate the initiatives and innovative efforts of “the people behind the places” that promote good use of leisure time for social, environmental and economic benefits to the community.

City of Rockingham mayor Deb Hamblin said it was an honour to receive the award after working closely with the local community to open the centre in 2021.

“Involving young people in the design process was crucial as the city wanted them to have a real connection with the facility,” she said.

“The RYC promotes diversity and inclusion and the purpose-built nature of the facility means it is well positioned to cater for the needs of young people.

“Importantly, feedback from young people has shown that the RYC fosters a strong level of community pride, with members reporting that they love visiting the space.”

The RYC on MacKinnon Street in Rockingham is open to people aged 12 to 24, providing opportunities for them to engage with programs and initiatives in a safe environment.

The Community Facility of the Year Award recognised the RYC’s innovative features in design, development and operation.

The win means the youth centre is now in the national PLA awards, which will be held in October.