YOTS ASSET – The Airds Support Services and Education Team have set up a learning centre at 10 Deans Road, Airds. At the Centre, young people can access assistance with their study, personal development and other service.

The program arranges sports competitions that are managed by young people as part of positive peer culture practice. The program also organises movie nights on the big screen along with school holiday outings which compliment the regular evening BBQ’s, fun and activities.

Macquarie Fields Outreach
The Macquarie Fields program provides an outreach service to reach young people who are at risk or disadvantaged. Program staff actively engage these young people in discussion about their circumstances in order to provide information about positive alternatives to their current situation and to develop strength based interventions on an individual needs basis.

The outreach program provides a safe and friendly environment for young people to attend and involvement from the wider community is encouraged. Activities include a twice weekly evening BBQ, touch football competition and dance group.

The Macquarie Fields program aims to reach at-risk and disadvantaged young people in the Macquarie Fields area by operating outside normal business hours and at a location frequented by local youth.

Young people contacted through the outreach program are able to be referred to other services, including alternative education services; crisis accommodation and youth refuges. Young people will be encouraged and assisted to contact appropriate services in order to assist them to begin to make positive life changes for themselves.

Macquarie Fields Outreach Review

Click here to view Review as PDF

Griffith Outreach Review

Click here to view Review as PDF

Walgett Outreach Review

Click here to view Review as PDF

This is a transition period for these young people, a particularly vulnerable time for them, during which they may be struggling to cope with the demands of a new job or living alone without access to support or social networks. Our rationale for developing a formalised Aftercare program is to ensure that young people do not relapse in the first few years out of rehabilitation programs.

The Program provides residential accommodation for up to five residents in a safe environment allowing young people to recover and continue their education through local schools and TAFE. Opportunities also exist for addressing their vocation via local businesses. Youth workers will provide individual case management and support in a structured environment to ensure that all efforts are made to help our youth reach their goals and develop a sense of belonging to our community once again.

Holborow House is situated at Kayuga near Muswellbrook in the beautiful Upper Hunter region.

Our food van service is the only one that operates 365 days of the year specifically to feed the homeless and at risk young people who, under darkness, frequent the known prostitution and drug haunts of the city.

We provide more than 17,000 meals per year and crisis accommodation and counselling for hundreds of young people every year.

Don Bosco offers a positive and liberating environment with a commitment to family support and reconciliation, but also assists those unable to return to their families towards independent living.

There is always a full house at Marrickville - usually 18 young people. Young people staying at Don Bosco may attend high school at Youth Off The
Streets' Key College or may be able to transfer to another residential
program upon completion of their stay at Don Bosco.

Our staff includes 10 youth workers and dedicated volunteers.

New Pathways: Residential Treatment Program, Sutton Forest NSW

New Pathways is a residential treatment program for male adolescents who have sexual behaviour problems. The philosophy is based on a strength-based, trauma sensitive treatment with in a Positive Learning Culture. Offering intensive supervision in a highly structured environment together with specialised therapeutic treatment, it is the only such program of its kind in Australia.

Through early intervention, the program aims to stop the cycle of sexual abuse as studies indicate that if we are able to treat and rehabilitate these young adolescents, we can potentially prevent the abuse of many other young people. The program encourages self respect, personal accountability, responsibility and empathy for others and includes an individually planned, therapeutic path to rehabilitation through education and treatment.

Recent changes allow the program to meet high support needs including young people with intellectual disability. The length of stay can be from one year to 2 years depending on the individual’s capacity for learning and progress.

General education is available for years 7-12 and increasing numbers of students go on to achieve their School Certificate, their Higher School Certificate or vocational pathways programs through OTEN (TAFE). The teachers work closely with the Department of Juvenile Justice and it is unusual for a young person to return to a detention centre while attending school. Camping trips and outings are undertaken as part of the living skills program and many students also participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Many students leave us to study further or with a full or part time job in hand:-

• one student was recently promoted to Supervisor at the AAPT Call Centre
  many students have completed a wide variety TAFE courses, some continuing further studies at university
  
• one student has completed a nursing certificate and works in a nursing home
  
• one student was awarded the Sport & Tourism Youth Foundation’s Educational Scholarship in 2002 to pursue further education. She is currently working full time as an Administrative Assistant while she continues her studies
  
• one student won a Commonwealth Youth Award and is now working as a youth worker in Sydney
  
• one student regularly returns to the Blue Mountains to assist with rock climbing and abseiling groups

There are two dedicated full time teachers at Key College and many generous part time volunteers. All the young people in the Southern Highlands attend Mathew Hogan School and are supervised by four full time teachers and volunteers. Father Riley teaches English and mathematics most mornings and his Great Dane, Woods, always attends class with him. She walks up and down the aisles, lies on the classroom floor snoring, is always ready to be patted, and exerts a calming, comforting influence on the students as they work.

Youth Off The Streets schools – 2007 Annual Reports

Download Annual School Report 2007 - Key College / Chapel School (pdf ~301kb)

McIntosh House provides supported accommodation and oversees the pursuit of vocational training, education and employment by providing living skills training and pathways to education, training and employment. Each resident is supported by a Caseworker as well as a Mentor from the general community to help them reach personal goals

Youth Off The Steets has initiated this program with the generous support of the following:

• Ainsworth Family
• Westpac Foundation
• Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation
• The Ian Potter Foundation

In the case of young perpetrators, many of the ideas put forward were most inappropriate for healing to take place and for the long term safety of the community. Youth Off The Streets offers an alternative: Juvenile Fire Setters Intervention Project (please find attached).

Project Information Booklet