THE City of Swan and Kids First Australia have been recognised with the Youth Focus Sector Collaboration Award at the 2026 WA Youth Awards for their work supporting young people in Ballajura.

The award recognises the Ballajura Youth Outreach Project’s place-based approach to improving youth wellbeing, safety and connection, while empowering young people to have a meaningful role in shaping their community.

The project has delivered hundreds of engagements with young people across schools, parks, the library, youth spaces and community events, while the Ballajura Youth Committee has provided young people with opportunities to co-design programs, develop resources, lead events and influence decisions that affect their peers.

The project has also contributed to a 94 per cent reduction in antisocial behaviour at the Ballajura Hub, demonstrating the value of early intervention, consistent outreach and strong partnerships.

City of Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson said the award recognised the collective effort behind the project.

“This award is a wonderful recognition of what can be achieved when local government, community organisations, schools, service providers and young people work together towards a shared goal,” she said.

“The Ballajura Youth Outreach project has shown us the value of meeting young people where they are, building trust and giving them genuine opportunities to have their voices heard.

“The Ballajura Youth Committee has been particularly important in ensuring young people are not simply participants in a program, but active contributors and decision-makers in their community.”

Mayor Richardson acknowledged Kids First Australia and the many community partners who have contributed to the project, including Ballajura Library, Ballajura Youth Committee, local Community College, community organisations, WA Police and local service providers.

“The success of this project is a reflection of the strength of those partnerships and the willingness of organisations to work together to achieve better outcomes for young people,” Mayor Richardson said.

“Most importantly, we thank the young people of Ballajura who have shared their ideas, challenged us and helped shape the work. Their contribution has been invaluable.”

The recognition comes as the City of Swan continues to expand its Youth Outreach work to strengthen the city’s capacity to engage with young people in their communities, build connections with local services and provide pathways to support leadership and participation.

Mayor Richardson said the continued investment in Youth Outreach reflected the city’s commitment to working collaboratively with young people and the wider community.

“Receiving this award is a significant achievement, but it is also an opportunity to build on what we have learned,” she said.