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Stephan Lamb no longer has a place he can call home. Family bickering caused Stephan to move out of his
Dubbo home recently and although he has always had a roof above his
head, it hasn't always been plain sailing for the teenager. Stephan is one of 500 young people each year that seek
the help of Doorways, a support service initiated by UnitingCare
Burnside for youths that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Reg Humphreys is the manager of Burnside for Orana and the far west
region and said the number of indigenous people who are considered
homeless in Dubbo has dramatically increased. Mr Humphreys said youths at risk of becoming homeless were those faced with domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues, financial hardship and chronic unemployment. Mr Humphreys' response to youth homelessness in Dubbo was sparked by startling statistics provided by the national telephone counselling service Kids Help Line. The telephone service has received nearly 20,000 calls from young Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders during the past five years. Thirty-eight per cent of indigenous callers did not live with their parents and 60 per cent of indigenous callers were from rural or remote regions of Australia. The study's research manager Wendy Reid said
relationships with family and friends, bullying and child abuse are the
three main reasons indigenous kids seek help.
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