A highly confidential environment, Koala Place provides children, youth and the non-offending family members a safe and neutral setting to disclose their stories.  Partner organizations collaborate to provide expert, integrated and wrap-around services to victims or witnesses of physical abuse, sexual abuse or maltreatment.  The multi-disciplinary team is focused on best practices in the reporting, treatment and investigation of abuse, and is dedicated to managing the cases in the best interest of the child.  Koala Place is unique in our area because it is a communal commitment to a multi-disciplinary approach to child abuse, striving to minimize stress, anxiety and trauma to the children while promoting safety, protection and justice.  The Centre is equipped with an interview room, with state-of-the-art recording equipment.  This documentation preserves the child’s statement, to later be used in the justice process, and eliminates excessive repetition of the circumstances surrounding their abuse.

In April 2005, The Cornwall Public Inquiry was established by the Government of Ontario to inquire into and report on the events surrounding allegations of abuse of young people in the Cornwall area, by examining the response of the justice system and other public institutions to the allegations.  A group of volunteer community leaders formed in 2006, as a response to The Cornwall Public Inquiry Phase 2: Healing & Reconciliation.  The group became an incorporated organization named PrévAction, and was asked to provide input to the Commissioner.  In 2009, after comprehensive and painful testimonies, The Honourable G. Normand Glaude, Commissioner of The Cornwall Public Inquiry provided an executive summary with his findings.  The summary included recommendations directed at improvements of response in similar circumstances for the future.  As well, the Commissioner inquired into and reported on processes, services and programs to encourage community healing and reconciliation in the Cornwall area.  Encouraged with this endorsement, the committed group of volunteers, founders of PrévAction, continued their quest to open Cornwall’s first Child and Youth Advocacy Centre.  This Centre would serve the children and youth of Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry & Akwesasne to help reduce trauma, and provide support to child and youth victims of violence and to their families. A new service delivery model was implemented in 2021 which included a Case Manager / Systems Navigator whose role is to provide immediate and ongoing case management and support to those who attend Koala Place. The goal to having this role is to reduce stress and anxiety for the victim/witness as well as for their caregivers by offering them emotional support, connecting them to community resources, and being a consistent point of contact during the investigative and judicial process ensuring that a wraparound approach is being used to better serve them.

With short-term funding from Justice Canada - Victims Fund, PrevAction, Child and Youth Advocacy Centre opened its doors on January 6th 2014.  Ensuingly, with a new identity and redesigned logo, a press conference was held on March 18^th 2014 to announce the Centre’s new name, Koala Place. The one-stop child-focused facility is located at 117 First St East in Cornwall and is available to Cornwall Community Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police of S.D. & G., Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, The Children’s Aid Society, Akwesasne Child & Family Services and Victim Services of S.D.G. & A. round the clock.  Koala Place is a not for profit organization governed by a Board of Directors.