Decision details

Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by the Chair (the Lord Mayor) –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)           Keiran Kevans is resigning after 16 years of dedication to the Glebe Youth Service;

(ii)          he began working in social services in the early 2000’s on the North Coast;

(iii)        in 2006, he got a job at Glebe Youth Service as a generalist youth worker, running activities for after school and holidays, as well as providing individual support for youth goals;

(iv)        in 2010, he became the co-coordinator and was responsible for reporting, compliance, finance, delivery and community outreach;

(v)         Keiran began reading social history books at a young age, which spoke of the lack of justice for Indigenous people, local empowerment, community and social activism;

(vi)        this curiosity and inspiration was furthered through meeting Aboriginal musicians such as Kev Karmody, Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach;

(vii)      the Glebe Youth Service has been supporting young people for 30 years, helping them reach their potential, achieve their goals and contribute positively to the community;

(viii)     it is a not-for-profit organisation that uniquely works within its public housing context through its embedded position in the community, as it co-evolves and collaborates with it over time;

(ix)        it provides a number of programs and services, including food services, education support, music programs and an Aboriginal Youth Advisory Committee;

(x)         Keiran’s work at the service responds to the need for Indigenous children to have a safe and healthy environment to heal and feel connected to their cultures;

(xi)        the ‘After Dark’ program began in 2008 as a crime diversion program and has evolved into a safe space for children to meet and connect while they enjoy live music, sport and recreation, all of which they would otherwise be unable to participate in;

(xii)      he highlights that conventional high schools don’t work for all children and that we need new models of education that incorporate culture, music and sport as modes of expression;

(xiii)     Kieran consistently reconceptualises the traditionally pessimistic focus on the children’s disadvantages. Rather, he focuses on their strengths of pride in the community, loyalty, sense of humour and resilience;

(xiv)    the service also offers an alternative to traditional government institutions, which these communities are often sceptical of, in order to make them feel safe, seen and heard, and support them through upskilling and connection;

(xv)      there are youth and family programs to begin to mend inter-generational trauma and direct families down a more positive path. This acts as early intervention in a context where Indigenous children have the highest rate of Department of Communities and Justice removal;

(xvi)    the children have a strong connection to Glebe and exhibit this in all their programs and artistic expressions;

(xvii)   the service is facing increasing costs of inputs due to inflation;

(xviii)  the Service’s Peppercorn lease expires in 2025, and Elders say it is fundamental to keep the service and this involves reinstating funding every three years; and

(xix)    the Lord Mayor wrote to Keiran Kevans on 8 December 2022 congratulating and thanking him for his amazing work at Glebe Youth Service.

Carried unanimously.

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