The purpose of this literature review is to examine youth hubs or centres and consider supportive policy frameworks for them. The findings will inform Brotherhood of St Laurence service delivery in Frankston and at the proposed Caroline Springs Community Youth Centre. The larger objective of this review is to survey international and Australian research and policy on local youth services that respond to the needs of the whole person by integrating or ‘joining up’ local services and programs. The early part of this report considers how the strengths and weaknesses of young people are taken up in youth policy and programs: for example, is a deficits approach taken, in which youth are treated as ‘at risk’ and their issues conceived as ‘problems’, or is a capabilities or strengths-based approach adopted?
Report