Westfield Hornsby has been working with Streetwork, Mission Australia, PCYC and Employment Plus to initiate multiple youth engagement programs. 

One such program has seen an unused retail tenancy transformed into a place where these services can meet with their clients in a dedicated space and also hold outreach programs.

Glenn Wootton-Wilson, Community Lead at Westfield Hornsby, met with a group of 14 and 15-year-old’s involved in the youth network program through Streetwork. 

He challenged the teenagers to create a tasteful design that they could then transfer onto the wall for all to see in the former T2 premises of Westfield Hornsby.

The dull empty premises are now transformed into a work of art for all to admire and at the same time it has kept the youth off the streets and positively engaged and in something they can be proud of.

The centre has taken an inclusive and proactive approach to troubleshooting the issue of theft and disruption of trade by teenagers. 

“I am glad to say that since this sort of engagement and a more professional and altered approach from our security team, our incidents involving youth has declined dramatically,” Mr Wootton-Wilson said.