Celebrating 85 years of PCYC

In 1941, as Western Australia faced the challenges of wartime, the first WA Police Boys’ Club opened in the old Hunt’s biscuit factory in East Perth.

Its purpose was simple: to give young people a safe place to go, opportunities to participate in positive activities and connections with police officers who could serve as role models.

The idea quickly gained support. By the end of that year, seven more clubs had opened across metropolitan and regional Western Australia.

What began as a single club has grown into a statewide organisation with 16 Centres and 67 Blue Light WA® Units, reaching communities from Albany to Kununurra. Over 85 years, the needs of young people and the ways PCYC responds have changed, but its commitment to young people and its place in Western Australian communities have endured.

Growing with Western Australia

Sport and recreation were central to PCYC’s earliest years.

In 1953, nineteen young boxers travelled to Singapore for PCYC’s first international competition. The experience left such a lasting impression that the group reunited 50 years later.

In 1984, more than 1,000 young people attended the first Blue Light WA® disco in Albany, beginning a tradition of positive engagement between young people, police and local communities that continues today.

As the organisation grew, so did its role. In 2005, Police and Citizens Youth Clubs became Police and Community Youth Centres, reflecting its broader commitment to young people and the communities it served.

Today, sport and recreation remain an important part of PCYC, alongside early childhood programs and outside school hours care. Its youth services have also expanded to provide early intervention and diversion, responding to emerging needs and the practical barriers young people face.

Through safeSPACE™, young people can access a safe and welcoming environment, positive activities, meals and transport, and youth workers they can get to know and trust. Building on these relationships, our youth workers can identify emerging needs and provide targeted programs and individualised support to help young people navigate challenges and work towards their goals.

Other programs, such as Drive to the Future, help young people overcome barriers to greater independence, education and employment by supporting them to obtain their driver’s licence.

Across Western Australia, PCYC works alongside Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, Elders and community leaders, recognising the importance of culture, community relationships and Aboriginal-led responses in supporting young people.

An enduring partnership with WA Police

The WA Police Force has been part of PCYC’s story from the beginning, and the relationship remains central to its identity.

For the first 71 years, PCYC operated under police management. In 2012, the organisation assumed responsibility for its own governance and operations, marking an important new chapter in its history.

While their respective roles have evolved, PCYC and the WA Police Force continue to bring complementary strengths to their shared commitment to supporting young people and building safer communities.

Today, that partnership is reflected in early-intervention and diversionary services, local community relationships and Blue Light WA® events, where police officers, PCYC staff and volunteers create opportunities for positive engagement.

The Commissioner of Police continues to serve as PCYC’s Patron, maintaining a connection that dates back to the organisation’s founding.

A legacy that continues

Behind PCYC’s 85-year history are generations of people who have helped establish and sustain its place in communities across Western Australia.

From the police officers and volunteers who established the earliest clubs to the staff, coaches, families, community organisations and supporters involved today, their collective contribution has helped PCYC remain a consistent and trusted presence for successive generations of young people.

Government investment, corporate partnerships and the support of local communities have also been vital to sustaining this work.

PCYC CEO Peter Tranter said the anniversary was an opportunity to recognise those contributions and look to the future.

“For 85 years, generations of people have helped make PCYC a trusted part of communities across Western Australia. That trust has been built through a shared commitment to young people and a willingness to respond as their needs change.

“Our legacy is something to be proud of, but it also comes with a responsibility. We must continue to build on what previous generations have established, working alongside police and communities to support young people and help create a safer future.”

Thank you for being part of our story

As PCYC celebrates 85 years, we thank the young people, families, police officers, staff, volunteers, partners and communities who have contributed to its history and those who continue to carry its legacy forward.

Learn more about PCYC’s history or explore our Centres and programs.