ANNUAL REVIEW 2015
Image above: Collage made by the students from EDEN College, Koch Centre for Youth and Learning who worked with “Mulga the Artist� ( Joel Moore) on the piece to reflect on their lives prior to coming to Youth Off The Streets to where they are now. Acknowledgements: Annual Review design by L+L Design | www.l-ldesign.com.au
Our Story 3 Chairman and CEO Message 4 Our Highlights 6 What we do 8 Who we help 10 Where we are 12 Our Strategy 14 Focus One 17 Focus Two 21 Focus Three 25 Focus four 29 Our people 43 Directors Report 50
Contents | 1
Young people who come to Youth Off The Streets leave our care prepared for a brighter future. That means having a high school education and a job in hand. It means living free from drugs with skills to face the world.
2 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
Our Story Youth Off The Streets is a non-denominational organisation working for young people who are facing challenges of homelessness, drug dependent and recovering from abuse. We support these young people as they work to turn their lives around and overcome immense personal traumas such as neglect and physical, psychological and emotional abuse. It is our goal that these young people will leave our care drug free, with a high school education, living skills and a full or part time job in hand. Since opening in 1991, Youth Off The Streets has grown from a single food van delivering meals to young homeless people on the streets of Kings Cross to a major youth specific agency offering a full continuum of care through delivery of a wide range of services. Our 35 services include Aboriginal programs, crisis accommodation, alcohol and other drug services, counselling, accredited high schools, outreach and residential programs. Volunteers support us every step of the way.
Our Vision Youth Off The Streets’ vision is that we are well planned and balanced to meet the needs of all our stakeholders and in doing so we are focused on outcomes, community and sustainability.
Our Mission Youth Off The Streets is helping disconnected young people discover greatness within by engaging, supporting and providing opportunities to encourage and facilitate positive life choices.
Our Values Passion
Dedication
At Youth Off The Streets we have a dream and we believe in our cause.
At Youth Off The Streets we find reason why you can and not why you cannot.
Respect At Youth Off The Streets we are quick to listen and slow to speak.
Engagement At Youth Off The Streets we lead by example.
Integrity At Youth Off The Streets we know actions speak louder than words.
Our Story | 3
Chairman and CEO Message Transforming the lives of young people At Youth Off The Streets, we are always inspired by the young people that are able to transform their lives through our help. They’ve often had to overcome the most difficult barriers. Marred and challenged by a lack of resources, lack of support and opportunity, challenges with family life and navigating through violence and conflict, they are still able to muster the strength to survive and thrive. Young people entering our services are dealing with many issues; there isn’t a one-stop-shop service that can take care of all needs. It doesn’t surprise us that nearly half (45 per cent) of all Australians were born overseas or have a parent of multicultural origin. As a diverse and varied community, it is important that we work towards supporting disadvantaged young people. Partnerships with communities and other services are becoming vital to the ability of organisations to transform the lives of young people.
4 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
What we need to do is celebrate the one-ness of humanity where we embrace the person and get to know their hearts, and then we celebrate what the differences are. It’s easy enough to do. Last year, we ran a Unity Project throughout the year for young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD). The idea was to get them to understand and accept cultural differences, but the first step was to ensure they knew their own. One of the best ways young people learn is to get them to teach. The sessions we held were interactive; the young people taught each other about their own cultures and backgrounds. They also got to hear from other locals, mentors and staff. At the end of the program, the young people involved had a better knowledge of their own culture and a stronger self-identity. This was probably the greatest – and most overlooked – aspect of the program.
Calling on the government to do more This year, Youth Off The Streets was more active in submitting our thoughts to state and federal governments in the hope of influencing legislation and putting a greater focus on the programs we know work. Cyber security, social inclusion and combating extremism were among the topics we weighed in on, either in the media or the government directly. Our experience working with communities has showed that experiential learning programs such as service learning are the best way to enable social inclusion. Service learning helps young people develop a lasting moral framework for positive behaviour. At Youth Off The Streets, our service learning programs engage young people in activities that serve the community. As they help others, they develop skills, self-esteem and empathy.
Innovative fundraising Youth Off The Streets is in the third and final year of implementing a fundraising strategy and brand development model. Innovative events (Lipstick Lunch) and fundraising campaigns helped us end the financial year with a donation revenue of $9,900,054 (2014: $7,868,752). This was an increase of 25.8 per cent. The second annual #laceitup campaign was run to critical acclaim and contributed to the
awareness and fundraising efforts of the organisation. Youth Off The Streets’ #laceitup 2014 inaugural campaign won the Media Federation Of Australia’s Grand Prix award (best overall campaign) beating multinational companies like Coca-Cola and Nike. The #laceitup campaign will continue and be a cornerstone of our fundraising and awareness efforts. Overall, Youth Off The Streets reported a surplus of $1,241,117 (2014: deficit $1,600,183) which represented a 178 per cent increase from the previous financial year. This result was impacted by an amount of $178,569 attributed to the net loss on sale of our Southern Highlands properties, Better Homes Farm and Foundation House, which had previously been identified as surplus to requirements and written down by $605,664 in the previous financial year, more information on this is outlined in our Director’s Report on page 50. 2014/15 expenditure was $22,476,014 (2014: $20,106,769), largely due to an increase in costs to staffing and related costs to support the growth of our Outreach programs, the New South Wales (NSW) government’s Going Home Staying Home (GHSH) Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) funding for the Inner West Youth Homelessness Services, as well as the increase in the Department of Education and Training funding based on school enrolments.
Thank you We would like to thank our partner organisations, government, corporate and general supporters, volunteers, staff and donors for their belief in our young people and all their support throughout the year. All of the work we do and the achievements of our young people would not be possible without the support we receive from you, our donors, partners, staff and volunteers. Yours sincerely
Father Chris Riley CEO and Founder
Richard Gibbs Chair
Chairman and CEO Message | 5
Our Highlights In 2014/15, 45,671 instances of young people attending our Outreaches [2013/14: 27,434]. This is an increase of 66 per cent due to the increase in number of operating services.
Our Street Walk team supported youth 231 nights of the year, engaging on average 2412 young people, referring 457 to a service they needed and provided clothes and food over 1400 times. Youth Off The Streets continues to provide a night time presence that aims to refer young people to homelessness services.
In 2014/15, there was 45,671 instances of young people attending our Outreaches
Youth Off The Streets had 444 active individual volunteers this year (2014: 442) who worked alongside our staff to provide the best quality of care for our young people and contribute to an estimated value of just over $1.6m* to our organisation. In the Illawarra region, Craig Davis College provided counselling support for up to 20 students through our partnership with University of Wollongong.
Larapinta Trek (NT) for two of our young people who receive aftercare through our Sydney Homelessness Services resulted in one of our young people being mentored by current NSW Premier Mike Baird.
Our Illawarra Outreach successfully piloted and commenced a School Inreach program with Albion Park and Corrimal High Schools.
6 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
* based on Australian Bureau of Statistics estimate of private sector average adult ordinary time earnings.
In 2014/15, there was a 324 per cent increase in visits to the website year-on-year. There was also a 50.8 per cent increase of online donors from the previous year and a 27.8 per cent increase of online income, which is due to the implementation of our direct marketing strategy.
Our annual young person survey revealed that the most important issue for our young people was employment. Roughly 31 per cent of young people listed it as their top priority and reason for attending Youth Off The Streets’ services (education came a close second at 24 per cent).
Dunlea Alcohol and Other Drug Youth Service has been running as a service since 1996, and in that time, the service has dealt with the ice epidemic for many years. Next to marijuana it is the most used drug of the young people who access our service (aged between 13–19 years).
STAFF BY AGE
ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS 0.5%
Homeless Services
3%
Op Shop
TOTAL 442
35%
6%
38%
KC4Y&L
1
9
3 111 8
Outreach Services Education Services
1%2% Aboriginal Services Homeless Services Education Services Koch Centre for Youth & Learning Cordeaux Heights Centre for Youth Outreach Services Opportunity Shops Corporate Services
<25 25–34 35–44 45–54 55+
4 2
1 3
Residential Services
14.5%
3
21
8
14 2
8
21
12
3
Corporate Services
5
18
Aboriginal Services
5
18
7
5
9
6
1
2 16 4
3
7
13
4
Accommodation service Department of Community Services Detox/rehab service Education/training Employment/job-seeking Family/friends Financial/debts Juvenile justice Legal Mental health Other Police Physical/sexual health YOTS service
INWARD REFERRAL - Any referrals of young people who come directly to an individual program. Intake is based on young people meeting the appropriate age and other criteria specific to a particular program. OUTWARD REFERRALS - Any referrals of young people in our care to other services who can support them; this may be in partnership with us or, if we are unable to continue to support them ourselves, to a more suitable alternative service. ADVOCACY - The individual support provided by staff across all other programs to assist and empower young people to access another service or program or deal with a family or community issue. Each month, an individual young person may have many instances of advocacy across a range of areas of need.
Percentage of Number OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR SERVICES INWARD REFERRALS
TOTAL 688
6
9
3
17
2
22
1
5
5
3
10
4
13
OUTWARD REFERRALS
TOTAL 978
8
5
3
23
12
6
3
4
5
10
8
5
7
4
ADVOCACY
TOTAL 3131
4
4
3
17
10
7
9
6
5
7
13
3
7
5
Our Highlights | 7
Create safety What we do From homelessness to the HSC. Youth Off The Streets has put young people on the path to education and employment.
Youth Off The Streets’ goal is to see that no young person is denied the right to education, safe accommodation, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, counselling and other support services aimed at breaking the cycle of disadvantage, abuse and neglect.
Does this young person in crisis need help with:
• Coping with drug use • Counselling • Legal stuff • Family breakdown • Problems at school • Help getting a job
8 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
• Debts • A safe place • Feeling isolated and fear • Disconnection from their culture and community
Support growth
Open up options
There is self discovery, development of skill, growth and education for young people involved in our programs and services.
Youth Off The Streets empowers young people to participate in and transform their future through the development of their skills, confidence and relationships with each other, their families and their communities.
Stories of support and growth:
Success stories:
• Bourke Outreach in partnership with the local high
• One of our national scholarship recipients, and rising
school ran Yarr-Pai, a culturally based literacy and numeracy program to get young people back into mainstream education.
• Young people from our Griffith Outreach produced
a book detailing the Wiradjuri History as part of the parental and community engagement program.
hip hop artist, D.Minor was chosen to represent Australia at the World Championships of Performing Arts in the US. The competition runs over two weeks and it is a big achievement to be selected out of 75,000 applications.
• Blacktown Outreach art program, funded by Housing NSW, was held over 10 weeks and the young people were taught four different art styles by six different artists. Resulted in an exhibition featuring artworks.
What we do | 9
Who we help We need to stand together to create a better society In 2014/15, there have been many stories in the media that isolate and ostracise and ultimately lay blame for violent acts at home and abroad at the feet of some of our communities in Australia. Fear mongering words such as ‘treason’, ‘terrorism’ and ‘they are coming for us’ have been bandied about without the thought of the impact they have had on the young person in a multicultural community such as Blacktown or Bankstown. There have been several incidences in Western Sydney that stirred racial tensions in the community – this is true for many areas around Australia – but the community did not let the tension descend into violence.
The communities came together through the work we do in these areas. Many organisations, including Youth Off The Streets, have been talking a lot about social inclusion. As Australians, we need to come together to address the issues and find common ground, something that Youth Off The Streets is always advocating for on a local level. We firmly believes in a community based approach that includes the disadvantaged and marginalised in community events and interactions, providing a sense of belonging to those that do not feel like they have a home. At Youth Off The Streets they find programs that focus on positive options for young people and strength based strategies that do not allocate blame or see kids as the problem. Our programs challenge kids to make decisions for themselves, take responsibility for their own lives, and understand they can do well.
10 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
We are a multicultural, inclusive society and it is our duty as Australians to ensure that no young person is made to feel isolated, ostracised or blamed. We want to see the self-reliance and self-confidence of our young people being built, and the creation of a strong sense of pride in their cultural identity and heritage happening through our programs.
Celebrating the achievements of our young people We celebrate the young people in the communities we work in, from Derwent in Tasmania to Bourke and Griffith in Western NSW and Logan in Queensland. Each year Youth Off The Streets holds an Open Day and invites our supporters and the communities we work in to hear about our work and celebrate what our young people have done over the last year.
“This is the only time where people can see all our services in one place and get to interact with them. We’ve done some great things this year and it would be wonderful to see the community there to celebrate with us. More importantly, those that attend will get a glimpse of our future plans and campaigns.” – Father Chris Riley
In 2014/15, we focused on improving the response rates of our youth annual survey by breaking it down into different business units to give service staff more ownership of the data capturing process. It also allowed for some additional questions to be asked that are specific to the client demographic they service. It has resulted in a 25 per cent improved response rate from 217 in 2014 to 271 in 2015.
We’ve done some great things this year and it would be wonderful to see the community there to celebrate with us.
Year
Total respondents
Staff demonstrate RESPECT very well or well
Staff demonstrate DEDICATION very well or well
Strongly agree or agree that Youth Off The Streets helps me to feel safer
Strongly agree or agree that Youth Off The Streets helps me achieve things I didn’t think I could achieve
Overall experience of Youth Off The Streets is very good or good
2010
105
94% (89)
92.5% (87)
82% (79)
88.5% (85)
93.5% (88)
2011
109
98% (94)
94% (89)
84% (84)
91% (87)
91.5% (86)
2012
157
97.1% (132)
95.6% (129)
87.9% (116)
87.9% (116)
92.8% (130)
2013
149
97.9% (138)
97.9% (138)
86% (117)
80.1% (109)
95.8% (135)
2014
217
98.4% (191)
98.4% (191)
88.5(169)
85.3% (162)
93.8% (204)
2015
271
98% (265)
98% (265)
91%(246)
88.5% (239)
94% (255)
Note: The percentage is based on the number of young people who responded to an individual question not the total number of respondents to the entire survey.
The legislative frameworks we comply with or work within are:
• Out of Home Care and Child Protection
• Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW)
• Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Amendment
• Parental Responsibilities Contracts Act 2006 (NSW)
• Child Protection (Offenders
Registration) Act 2000 (NSW)
• Crimes Act 1900 (NSW)
• Commission for Children and
Young People Act 1998 (NSW)
• The Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW) • NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009
• The Privacy Act 1988 • The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) • Education Act 1990 (NSW) • Child Protection (Working with
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 • Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
• Food Act 2003 • Explosives Act 2003 • Building Code of Australia
Children) Act 2012
• Teacher Accreditation Act 2004 • Institute of Teaches Act 2004 • Disability Discrimination Act 1992
Who we help | 11
Logan, QLD
Where we are
Western Sydney Bankstown Outreach
6 Blacktown Outreach 6 Fairfield Outreach 6 Holroyd Outreach 6
Bourke
Merrylands, Sydney Youth Off The Streets’ Office
6
Chapel School, Key College Merrylands Campus Step Up (Education Program) Singleton Maitland HUNTER VALLEY
Hunter Valley Outreach
NEWCASTLE
Blacktown Merrylands Holroyd Marrickville Fairfield Redfern SYDNEY Bankstown Mascot Maroubra Macquarie Fields Griffith
Bowral Moss Vale
Narrandera
Cordeaux Heights, Illawarra
6
6
ASPIRE Aboriginal Education Program
66 Aftercare/Integration (Education Program) 6 Dunlea Alcohol & Other Drugs Youth Service 6 Mental Health Services 6 6 Mentoring 6
Mascot, Sydney Youth Off The Streets’ Office (Corporate Services)
6
Scholarship Program (Education Program)
6
Maroubra, Sydney South East Sydney Outreach (Aboriginal Program)
66
Redfern, Sydney Key College
6
Marrickville, Sydney Street Walk
66 Food Van 6 6 Mental Health Services
66
Inner West Sydney Youth Homeless Services Homeless Youth Assistance Program Derwent, TAS
12 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
6
6
Moss Vale, Southern Highlands New Pathways (Residential Program) Mental Health Services
Hunter Valley, NSW Hunter Valley Outreach Singleton Op Shop
6 Maitland Op Shop 6
6
6
Maitland Paraphenalia Antiques and Collectables Shop
Bowral, Southern Highlands Bowral Op Shop
6
Tasmania
6
Derwent Outreach
Cordeaux Heights, Illawarra
6
Queensland
Cordeaux Heights Centre for Youth which includes Craig Davis College Aboriginal Residential Care Program
6 6 and the 66
Illawarra Outreach
6
Logan Outreach (Aboriginal Program)
66
6
Macquarie Fields, Sydney Koch Centre for Youth & Learning that includes EDEN College , Mental Health Service and Education Programs
66
6
6
6 Macquarie Fields Outreach 6
Narrandera, NSW Narrandera Outreach (Aboriginal Program)
66
Griffith, NSW Griffith Outreach (Aboriginal Program)
66
Bourke, NSW Bourke Outreach (Aboriginal Program)
66
Key 6 Education Programs 6 School 6 Outreach Program 6 Centre for Youth 6 Aboriginal Programs 6 Opportunity Shop 6 Youth Off The Streets’ Offices 6 Residential Treatment Programs 6 Dunlea Alcohol & Other Drug Youth Services 6 Street Walk 6 Food Van 6 Mental Health Services 6 Sydney Homelessness Service
Where we are | 13
Our Strategy Example of Implementation Create Safety
Support Growth
Open Up Options
2014 – 17 Strategic Outcomes
Organisation Output
Focus 1: To provide values based integrated programs, engaging young people in meaningful and transferable learning and, empowering them to reach their unique potential. A four week trial period is offered to a young person to ascertain the suitability of each program to their needs. If the situation does not work out, we offer pathways in consultation with other educational service providers, the student, stakeholders, parents/carers.
Restorative Practises help to build stronger relationships and a sense of community, which prevents conflict and wrongdoing. By practising this strategy we increased the overall retention rate for students, reduced misbehaviour, bullying and improved the overall climate for learning.
In 2014, our schools helped 38 young people graduate from Year 10, nine young people completed their Year 11 and six completed Year 12 and gained their HSC.
Number of students who participated in our independent and accredited high schools.
179
21.5 per cent of young people were referred by family and friends to our Dunlea Alcohol and Other Drugs Youth Service (Dunlea).
19 per cent of the young people who attended Dunlea were supported through mental health issues.
16.8 per cent of young people transitioned out of Dunlea to either education, training, job-seeking or employment opportunities.
Number of young people who participated in our programs and workshops at Dunlea.
61
84* young people supported in our Inner West Youth Homelessness Service (iWYSH) accommodation.
187* at-risk young people received personal case management through iWYSH and individual support plans.
Our Sydney Homelessness Services psychologist ran 346 counselling sessions and 33 group programs in 2014/15.
Number of occasions of individual support provided to young people by staff at our Sydney Homelessness Service (includes Street Walk, clinical services and iWYSH ).
7136**
Young people are selfsufficient, proud and productive members of the community.
Focus 2: To equip and empower Aboriginal youth and their communities to embrace the future 26.3 per cent of our young people identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
64 young people from our Aboriginal Services completed the 2015 annual youth survey. 95 per cent (56) rated their experience of cultural activities and events at Youth Off The Streets as very good or good.
Held 21 Aboriginal cultural camps establishing connection to country.
Percentage of successful philanthropic and government grant applications were for a service or program directly related to assisting Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander young people and communities.
31
Growth in Aboriginal services which are community based and culturally successful.
Number of new programs and services introduced by Youth Off The Streets.
8
Focused and disciplined to consistently meet the needs of young people.
Focus 3: Being innovative in the youth field with a focus on new programs The School In-reach program is a 10-week program that aims to build resilience in at-risk students and give them the social skills and behaviour management strategies they need to stay in mainstream school.
Bankstown Outreach’s Mind Over Matter program provided young people with education workshops, activities, excursions and access to a support network to help improve their health and wellbeing.
Our Logan Outreach runs a program called Kicking Goals 2 Transition. The program is run inside the local juvenile detention centre and focuses on getting young people to set employment goals and help them achieve those goals.
* These figures represent individual clients; some clients may overlap between the two categories (safety and growth) ** This figure does not refer to individuals but to the total instances of support received by clients across our crisis accommodation, homeless counselling service and Street Walk program. Some components of the Inner Western Youth Sydney Homeless program (iWYSH ) were not included in the total instances of support due to delays in transition onto new data collection systems.
14 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
Example of Implementation Create Safety
Support Growth
Open Up Options
2014 – 17 Strategic Outcomes
Organisation Output
Focus 4: To provide the framework for a sustainable future through accountable, professional and collaborative practice. Illawarra and South East Vocational Support Network 8 May 2015.
“Making Wise Choices”: a new resource for young people with complex needs to address their use of cannabis. Paper for 15th International Mental Health Conference 2014, Surfers Paradise 25-27 August 2014.
Logan Community Organisation Leadership Development Day 15 July 2014.
Number of conferences and sector forums at which Youth Off The Streets spoke.
5
National Drug and Alcohol Research Annual Symposium 8 September 2014.
Fundraising Institute of Australia ACWA Conference 18-20 August Conference – Brisbane Feb 2015. 2014.
Number of conferences and sector forums attended by Youth Off The Streets staff.
34
Local artist, Simon Thomas, helped Illawarra Outreach young people complete an art program that resulted in five beautiful Bellambi bus shelters. The art program was funded by Wollongong City Council.
Fairfield and Blacktown Outreaches collaborated with Community First Step to host an anti-bullying workshop and an Oz-tag tournament at Canley Vale High as part of an anti bullying campaign.
Randwick City Council and Youth Number of service Off The Streets won a council partners. partnership award at the 2015 local government Aboriginal Network which recognised the achievement of the partnership in making a significant contribution to Aboriginal communities.
398
The Commonwealth Block Grant Authority through the Association of Independent Schools and a major donor provided capital funding to establish Trade Skills Centre at Key College, Merrylands Campus.
Team Trev, a team of 15 community supporters paddled an impressive 2,000kms from Yarrawonga to the mouth of the Murray in Goolwa SA to raise funds for Youth Off The Streets.
National Scholarship Program Sony Foundation Scholarship recipient, Jason Mobbs-Green, and his singing partner Siobhan Clifford recorded their first professionally produced song at the Sony Music studio in Sydney.
Number of government, corporate, philanthropic and community group partnerships based on funding.
332
Received full year of National Crime Prevention funding for the expansion of Outreach Services.
Federal government’s six year commitment to the new needs-based school funding arrangements based on the Gonski model increased funding to our schools.
Awarded the Inner West Youth Homelessness Service funding in Sydney.
Percentage increase from 2013/14 in income received from government.
41.8
Our active donor database grew Our direct marketing appeal by 45 per cent year-on-year. income grew by 12 per cent year-on-year.
The launch of our regular giving product called ‘Street Lights’ resulted in a 25 per cent increase of regular donors.
Percentage increase from 2013/14 in income received from donations.
25.8
Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Committee consists of eight staff and mangers and 13 support staff from across the organisation.
Our committee was supported by four RAP Expert Advisers, two of who are external to the organisation and two from within.
Eight RAP Champions provide their teams with updates specific to their area of business about RAP actions at team and unit meetings.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Committee consists of eight staff and mangers and 13 support staff from across the organisation.
21
Youth Off The Streets partnered with Randwick City Council to host the Koojay Corroboree at Coogee Beach, an event to celebrate Reconciliation Week 27 May – 3 June 2015.
Our services attended community events throughout NAIDOC Week in 2014 and 2015. Young people came together to celebrate Aboriginal culture and heritage.
KC4Y&L celebrated the unveiling of totem poles crafted by young people of Macquarie Fields to express multiculturalism. This program was supported by the NSW Government through the Community Relations Commission.
Number of cultural and Reconciliation events young people participated in.
63
Our retention rate for staff is 86 per cent.
21 staff that identify themselves as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
444 active individual volunteers in 2014/15.
Number of full-time, part-time and casual employees.
199
32 staff completed our corporate induction.
78 staff undertook cultural Three youth workers completed awareness training, both internal the Traineeship Program. and external (e. g. Dharrawall Country and Etiquette, Corporate Culcha)
Number of training opportunities for staff.
87
Increase visibility in youth policy decision making and a leader in evidence based outcomes for young people.
Be a preferred partner with positive partnerships.
Growing and committed funder base.
Strong PRIDE based, inclusive organisational culture.
Excellence in workforce and work environment.
Our Strategy | 15
How we fit with other services
Young Parents
Court Support
Service Learning
Blacktown Outreach
ommunit ily & C y Se rvi Fam f ce o t s p e • D
Dunlea Drug & Alcohol Youth Services
Illawarra Outreach
om m
ry
eC
as
Narrandera & Griffith Outreaches
th
M
ce
Family Program
rs
•
n il
eJ
u st
i c e / P o l ic e • S e
Key College Redfern Campus Bankstown Outreach
e rvic
Pa
rt
ne
Koch Centre for Youth and Learning & EDEN College
Macquarie Fields Outreach
Fairfield & Holroyd Outreaches Aboriginal Residential Program
School In-reach programs
School Holiday Program
Restorative Practice Mentoring
First Circle – How young people enter Youth Off The Streets Services
Hunter Valley Outreach
&
e
on ve
te
ep
ati
Ju
Derwent Outreach
Aftercare/ Integration
en
Case Work
Logan Outreach
u nit y
Gen er
Ind nd
duc
Bourke Outreach
Be lo
ity os
D ept of E
Food Van
New Pathways
lf • • Se in op Dr
Wellbeing Programs
Counselling
South East Sydney Outreach
ing ng
• Fam ily • N SW
iWYSH & HYAP
Street Walk
Community Support
Cordeaux Heights Centre for Youth & Craig Davis College
Chapel School, ASPIRE Program & Step Up Program (Yrs 11 & 12)
National Scholarship Program
Sports & Recreation
Cultural & Community Support
Second Circle – Youth Off The Streets Services
16 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
Third Circle – Youth Off The Streets Program
Fourth Circle – Aboriginal Services
Focus One To provide values based integrated programs 2014/15 goals
• Adapt to the new funding environment by establishing relationships that help Youth Off The Streets deliver much needed services to young people and secure funding where it’s needed.
•
Coordinate the delivery of integrated services on a local level, as well as across sectors. Improve the full continuum of care delivered to young people across our services and regions.
• Improve young people’s access to social resources and build their capacity to unlock their full potential and transform their lives.
• Develop community awareness and support of Youth Off The Streets by strengthening our ties with other community services.
Ongoing Challenges
• The ability to collect accurate information and data
about service delivery to young people. It is hard to determine the Social Return On Investment without this information which, in turn, makes it harder to secure funding.
What we did Overview
• Service learning remains a key part of Youth Off The
Streets’ integrated programs. Young people from all 35 services participate in some form of service learning. The experience and understanding young people attain through helping and volunteering for others is a key feature of the program’s success. Young people discover their own worth through helping others. Students from Key College do service learning at the Newtown Mission. They serve food, tea and coffee to people who come to Newtown Mission for their lunch service. The students gain skills in service and empathy: valuable skills they’ll need when looking for employment.
• Youth Off The Streets’ four accredited, independent
high schools implemented a nationally consistent collection of data processes for school funding. A consistent approach to data collection will ensure that no student is left without the resources they need to unlock their full potential and leave our care with a job in hand and a place to live.
• Engaging community members and getting wider
community support to tackle issues impacting the young people we help.
Our Strategy | 17
• School holiday camps, leadership
camps, cultural camps, employment and training camps and service learning camps were a feature of Youth Off The Streets’ services in 2014/15. Young people were able to gain valuable life skills and lessons in a short, intense amount of time. From working on their CV’s to learning about their culture, young people were challenged at every turn and were made to leave their comfort zone. Camp participants gained the skills and experience needed to unlock their full potential and transform their lives.
• Youth Off The Streets’ young
people are often dealing with responsibilities well beyond their years. Many programs are offered to help these young people thrive in their current situation. For example, the young parent group at the Koch Centre For Youth and Learning holds classes on how to make affordable toys for your kids, first aid, cooking time, saving and financial literacy. The group offers new parents and expectant parents valuable lessons of how they can thrive and transform their lives for the better.
Teaching young people about drugs, alcohol and sexual health is a focus for Youth Off The Streets. Many parents view these topics as taboo, but we can’t just ignore potential dangers.
Highlights
• Building service partnerships
– The students who attend Key College in Redfern have an average age of 16 years old and are at risk of being or are homeless. These students come to us mainly from crisis refuges such as Parra House, Caretakers, Don Bosco Home, The Bridge, Project Youth and Oasis. We share clear communication with refuge personnel and work with them to build individual case management plans for each young person.
• Takeover basketball tournament
– The takeover tournament is run every school holidays and brings together Youth Off The Streets’ Outreach teams and young people through some friendly competition. This year, the tournament was held at the Koch Centre for Youth and Learning and over 100 people attended the event. It provided opportunities for young people to meet new friends outside of their social circle and introduced them to new experiences.
• Integrated case management –
Several teams and services operate across the entire organisation, allowing young people to access the full continuum of care on offer at Youth Off The Streets. With the integration of case management across programs and regions our young people are given the ability and tools to transform their lives. For example, Fairfield Outreach utilised multiple services across the organisation for the benefit of a young person. The young person participated in work experience through service learning and was also able to access education services through securing a Youth Off The Streets scholarship.
18 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
What’s new 2016 • Strengthening the
organisation’s approach to early intervention and prevention with best practice and innovative approaches to supporting young people. For example, our Bourke Outreach works with local stakeholders to identify youth at risk, provides a safe recreational space for clients to frequent at night, provides positive adult role modelling, advocacy and case management.
• The funding environment is
very competitive and Youth Off The Streets will continue to focus on partnerships when seeking funding.
• Development of work-ready
program and learning support across multiple services at Youth Off The Streets. Youth unemployment is a huge issue across our services, young people are not finding work when they need it most. For example, Youth Off The Streets has services in Illawarra and Blacktown that have a 14.8 per cent and 14.7* per cent youth unemployment rate respectively. Growth in this area is expected to give our young people the chance to break the cycle of poverty through employment.
* Labour Force, Australia, Apr 2015
Who we helped
Case Study
Cordeaux Heights Centre for Youth – Illawarra Community Relationships
The growth of Youth Advisory Groups within our services
The team at Cordeaux Heights Centre for Youth has been working hard this year to increase community engagement in the Illawarra region. The centre has been able to develop strategic relationships and partnerships in the community in the following ways:
Our Outreach Services aim to have input from the young people we work with. One of the most important ways in which we ensure our young people participate is by forming a Youth Advisory Group who works with the staff of that Outreach.
• Engaged in key youth networks including the
Wollongong Youth Network and the Shellharbour Aboriginal Community Youth Association.
• Developed key relationships with youth education services including establishing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Wollongong School of Psychology for fifth year psychology students. This has resulted in four students having successfully completed their 24 week placements.
• Participated in a range of community based
events as a partner. These events included Project 291 (swim/surf program) with Bellambi Surf Life Saving Club, Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre, CareSouth, Wollongong City Council and other local service providers and participating in the Blue Light Dance Party in collaboration with Wollongong Youth Centre, Wollongong City Council, SYFS and Wollongong LAC.
• Attended a range of community-based meetings
such as Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre and Special Education Network in order to raise awareness and support for Youth Off The Streets.
• Developed referral pathways with community
organisations to make sure young people who do not meet our criteria are referred onto appropriate services such as Headspace, Wollongong Youth Drug and Alcohol Service or Illawarra Family Referral Service.
•
Promoted Youth Off The Streets services in the Illawarra region by engaging community radio, distributing Youth Off The Streets flyers and brochures, and engaging in regular speaking engagements to raise funds and to promote our outreach activities.
The goal this coming year will focus on maintaining and increasing these partnerships and support services. The team will also aim to establish future funding sources ,and research and identify possible new outreach locations in order to expand the help it provides to young people.
During these meetings, youth workers will encourage these young leaders to brainstorm pragmatic, innovative, and costeffective programs that target a specific area of concern. Currently, Youth Off The Streets has four Youth Advisory Groups, with plans to expand to a fifth later this year:
• Bankstown Youth Advisory Group: comprised of a diverse group of 12 local young people aged between 13-24 years old. The group meet every month to discuss issues and projects aimed at disadvantaged youth in the local area.
• Blacktown Youth Advisory Group: comprised of five
young people aged 14-18 years old. The group meet once a fortnight over a 12 month period.
• Koch Centre for Youth and Learning (KC4Y&L): the centre has two youth advisory groups, the Koch Centre Advisory Group and the Koch Centre After School Student Advisory Group. The first group is comprised of students from EDEN College and the KC4Y&L who meet once a month to discuss current programs and upcoming activities. The second group is comprised of five young local students between 12-15 who gather together to develop strategies for young people in the area.
In Bankstown, meetings begin with a discussion of the day’s agenda and the project of the day. Each young person is then assigned a particular role that ranges from media promotion, program planning, to security and safety. The groups then engage in a team discussion where ideas are exchanged and an appropriate approach is chosen. In Blacktown, the Youth Advisory Group work through a three step program: 1. Building youth capacity: young people asked to reflect on topics such as values, gratitude and identity. 2. Educational workshops: external programs come in and educate young people about sexual health, mental health and cultural awareness. 3. Action group: involves lobbying council on a particular area of concern. The aim of these programs is to create opportunities for leadership roles through the use of mentoring and group work. Feedback has been very positive. Our Strategy | 19
Dear Father, I am writing to thank you and the staff for helping me through a particularly difficult time and providing me with support when I needed it most. I am now more positive of where my life is heading and have a newfound confidence in myself. From the age of 11 I was living on the streets and by the time I turned 13 I was already addicted to substances and suffering from depression and low self-esteem. I did not realise it at the time, but my issues originated from my troubled upbringing and having been raised by parents who were both substance users. I arrived to Sydney from regional NSW after years of being on the streets and numerous failed attempts at rehabilitation services. When I was first approached by Street Walk staff I was alone and isolated and was contemplating suicide. The staff provided me with food, blankets and kept regular contact with me during the week. Initially, I was reluctant to take them up on the offer of taking refuge at their accommodation at Don Bosco Home, but after a long time, I came to trust the staff enough to accept their help, and this is where things first started to change for me. It is from there that I started to talk with the refuge staff and Anna (Youth Off The Streets psychologist). I soon went from overnight stays at Don Bosco, to becoming a permanent resident and getting my own
20â&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
caseworker. My caseworker then referred me to counselling to address my depression and low moods which originated from family and trauma issues. After six months of counselling intervention my moods started to lift, and I started believing in myself. As a result I was able to secure part time employment and began to further my studies. My caseworker helped me to prepare for transitional accommodation by providing me with living skills, case coordination and aftercare even after I moved out of the refuge and into transitional housing. I now continue to reside in stable transitional housing and am continuing my study and work.
Your staff believed in me and gave me the confidence to build a better life for myself. Although the resentment that I have towards my family is still there, thanks to you I am now better equipped to deal with these emotions and work towards my values and goals. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Steve* *Name changed to protect privacy
Focus Two Equip Aboriginal youth and their communities 2014/15 goals
• Increase recruitment and retention of Aboriginal staff across Youth Off The Streets’ services.
• Identify and develop programs that provide
culturally appropriate care to all our young people in our services.
• Build and improve relationships with Aboriginal communities.
• Initiate and foster positive relationships with Juvenile Justice courts and help young people who have offended connect back with their culture, country and community.
Ongoing Challenges
• The Aboriginal team is spread across the entire
organisation with a team member in each location. The geographical distance of staff hinders information flow and team work.
• Securing sustainable and long term government
funding is a challenge as the federal government has now cut 150 ‘Indigenous affairs’ programs from the budget (merging them into five key areas).
What we did Overview
• Aboriginal Outreach services (South Eastern Sydney,
Bourke, Griffith and Macquarie Fields) ran young men’s groups, mentoring programs and young women’s groups. These programs were developed to teach young people about their culture and what identity means to them in modern society.
• Youth Off The Streets held 21 Aboriginal cultural
camps. The camps are hosted by Aboriginal Elders and the activities are designed with cultural considerations and awareness in mind. The structured yet flexible workshops and activities offer a range of planned and situational learning opportunities all of which will contribute to a better understanding of one’s world and one’s part within it, enriching their cultural identity, building their communication skills and enhancing their leadership qualities. Youth Off The Streets also helped many schools run their own cultural camps, lending expertise to ensure the camp’s success.
Our Strategy | 21
• The ASPIRE Aboriginal Education Program at Key College, Chapel School, Merrylands Campus to helped eight Aboriginal students realise their full potential and transform their lives.
• The Aboriginal Services team
continued to develop ties to Juvenile Justice. Logan Outreach began a ‘Kicking Goals 2 Transition’ program, which involves connecting young people back into the community after their time in detention. The team at Koch Centre for Youth and Learning continued their work at Campbelltown Children’s Court where they help young Aboriginal kids in legal trouble.
Highlights
• Wellbeing programs – Improving
the health and fitness of young Aboriginal people has played a major part in the ability of young people to transform their lives. For example Griffith Outreach’s Fitness Beyond Barriers program taught young Aboriginal people the importance of exercise, eating healthy and living a balanced
lifestyle. Through this program, young people increased their school attendance – a true testament to the power of healthy living.
• NAIDOC Week activities – Youth
Off The Streets’ services attended community events throughout NAIDOC Week in 2014. Young people from many different backgrounds came together to celebrate Aboriginal culture and heritage.
• SES Identity Program – The South Eastern Sydney outreach team ran a program for young Aboriginal people aged 12 and older. It taught them how to respond and act when confronted with challenging situations: about drugs and alcohol, sexual health, cooking and paying bills. The young people involved in the program now have a set of skills that will help them live independently, and cope with dangerous situations as they grow older.
22 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
What’s new 2016 • Juvenile Justice cultural
camps – South Eastern Sydney Outreach will be implementing cultural camps for young Aboriginal offenders. The aim is to connect them back to country and a way of life that their ancestors used to thrive in.
• Youth Off The Streets’
Aboriginal services have a renewed focus on connecting with the Elders in the community they operate in. Ensuring that those respected in the community are present at our programs is essential for the health and development of young people
• Employing new staff members to act as cultural advisers to the team. All programs and services created by Youth Off The Streets will run through the cultural adviser to ensure that programs are culturally sensitive and appropriate for Aboriginal young people.
Who we helped
Case Study
Reconciliation Week – Coogee Beach Event
PACE Project Griffith
Each year National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May – 3 June commemorating the landmark achievements of the 1967 referendum, the Mabo and Wik High Court decisions and Sorry Day. The week also serves to highlight the issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in a broader Australian culture.
The Parental and Community Engagement (PACE) program began in 2013 and ran to June 2015. It was based in Narrandera, New South Wales a small town where 10 per cent of the population identified as Aboriginal (four times higher than NSW average of 2.5 per cent).
This year the event, called Koojay Corroboree, was hosted by Randwick City Council in collaboration with Youth Off The Streets, to celebrate the shared histories, cultures and achievements of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. Community leader and local Ranger of Warada Kinship, Dean Kelly, commenced the morning’s celebrations with a Welcome to Country, to help onlookers recognise the traditional owners of the land, Aboriginal history and culture. Dean also explained the cultural significance of the fires that surrounded the Corroboree area and about the meaning of reconciliation. “If you ask what reconciliation is about; it’s about you. Reconciliation is a gift that costs you nothing but time,” Dean said. The crowd then enjoyed the rich performances of the Warada Dancers and the Soldier’s Settlement Public School choir. The Director of Aboriginal Services at Youth Off The Streets, Chad Ritchie, also addressed the crowd on the topic of reconciliation and his journey through life as an Aboriginal Australian. He spoke on the issue of racism and the importance of young people understanding their Aboriginal culture and background. The event, which gathered hundreds of people on the day, aimed to equip our first people with the abilities and tools to make a difference and close the gap between black and white Australia.
The project began with community consultation which resulted in a total of 21 parents/carers and community members attending. The results identified that many community members did not value education due to their own poor schooling experiences. There were also cultural and learning barriers that prevented some parents from helping their kids with homework. Therefore, the PACE program focused on communication, discipline, participation of parents, attitudes of parents to school/education, and the role of Aboriginal support staff. The project incorporated traditional educational practices for both parents and young people to facilitate them operating in western and traditional Aboriginal culture. It acknowledged traditional culture through informal meet and greet sessions that built relationships between families and community, while linking clients with appropriate community services organisations for longer term care. After the program, a feedback survey was conducted to measure parent engagement and attitude towards education. Some key findings were:
• All respondents indicated that they had received support to get their child back in school.
• 45 per cent of respondents indicated that they have seen dramatic change in their child’s attitude to education and learning.
• All respondents indicated that they had seen a dramatic change in their connection to their culture/country.
The project has been successful in providing Aboriginal parents/carers with a culturally appropriate and safe context to share and express personal experiences and views about their child’s education. The PACE program was made possible through funding from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Collier Charitable Fund. The team will continue to look for ways to secure funding to expand this program to areas in need.
Our Strategy | 23
We don’t want to see Aboriginal young people over represented at our services any longer. We want them to be equal and have every chance at success. – Father Chris Riley
Dear Beny, Logan Outreach I want to thank you for giving me the courage to make positive changes in my life. Thanks to the work you do, I have been able to get my addiction under control and have been able to finish my education. I never saw much of my parents growing up. My father was in prison most of his life until he died when I was only eight, and my mother has a substance abuse problem that makes it difficult for her to take care of me and my younger siblings. As a result, I found myself caught up in drugs; such as, glue and ice at a young age which led me to commit some serious crimes. Eventually, I dropped out of school and spent most of my days with my friends getting high. Things got worse when my boyfriend was tragically killed in a train accident whilst under the influence of glue. That’s when I knew something needed to change; I came to Logan Outreach with the intention getting clean from using drugs and have never looked back since. Over two years, you and the team helped me to make some significant changes to my lifestyle; I stopped using drugs and went back to school. Your staff drove me to school when I wasn’t able to, it was a big help to get a lift. I was also involved in boxing workshops and cultural workshops with local elders, as well as school holiday programs.
24 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
Thanks to your team and help Beny, I was able to complete Year 12 and eventually got an award from Youth Off The Streets for showing significant positive change and responsibility. I have since then gone on to commence further study – a diploma of beauty – and hope to open up my own beauty salon one day. My relationships with those closest to me have also improved and I am happy to say that I am currently expecting my first baby with my new partner. This has motivated me to set more goals such as getting my licence, completing my study sooner than first planned and even getting my own house one day.
Thanks for your help throughout all of this. Thanks to you I am now a more mature, responsible and respectful young lady with amazing goals and intentions for my future. – Jenny* *name changed for privacy reasons.
Focus Three Being innovative in the youth field with a focus on new programs 2014/15 goals •
Providing young people with the help they need to transform their lives. From satisfying their immediate needs, to self-esteem building, to connecting young people back into their community.
• Continue to review the viability and impact of our
programs and services and amend or enhance the programs and services accordingly.
• Constantly strive to improve the learning outcomes
for each student in our independent and accredited schools through an integrated curriculum and personalised learning plans.
Ongoing Challenges
• Restriction on program development due to funding
changes and shortened contracts. Dunlea Alcohol and Other Drug Youth Service is funded for a certain period, when that period runs out it’s not clear whether the service will continue with government funding or not.
• Youth Off The Streets reaches young people at a
time that suits the young person, however not all organisations within the youth sector work outside of standard 9am to 5pm business hours. This hinders our ability to refer young people to the appropriate services that can help them transform their lives.
• Engaging and maintaining partnerships with
community members and services due to the instability of funding in local community areas.
What we did Overview
• Bankstown Outreach’s Mind Over Matter program
– Provided young people with education workshops, activities, excursions and access to a support network in order to improve their health and wellbeing. The program worked with local partners to deliver informative and fun sessions around important issues facing young people. Participants learned a lot about alcohol and other drugs, mental health, sexual health, behaviour management and how to get a job. Young people gained confidence, self-esteem, empathy and self-worth from the program and got to hear from a variety of respected community members.
• Mental health workshops – Youth Off The Streets’
psychologists have partnered with Headspace to deliver mental health workshops for young people. The workshops covered a number of issues including: managing emotions; self-esteem; depression; sleep hygiene; healthy relationships; anxiety; parenting; and life skills.
Our Strategy | 25
youth workers work closely with at risk students to re-engage them with education and put them on a path to positive life choices.
• Yarr-Pai – Youth Off The Streets’
• The UNITY Project – The UNITY
Project was an organisational wide program aimed at integrating culturally and linguistically diverse young people into their community. Eight workshops were held throughout the year where young people taught each other about their backgrounds and culture. Young people also got to hear from staff, volunteers, mentors and special guest speakers. The project helped all young people better understand themselves and others, building their selfesteem and confidence. Young people from diverse backgrounds came together with a new found respect for each other’s cultural differences.
Highlights
• Restorative practices – Individuals who push the boundaries of what we define as acceptable behaviour will go through the restorative practices process to either correct the behaviour or address the feelings of the affected parties of the poor behaviour. Restorative practices are used across Youth
Off The Streets’ services and helps build stronger relationships and a sense of community. Stronger relationships and a sense of community, in turn, prevent further conflict and wrongdoing. By adopting the restorative practices model, our schools have improved their overall retention rate for students, reduced misbehaviour, and bullying and improved the overall environment for learning.
• School in-reach – Many students
arrive at Youth Off The Streets’ independent and accredited schools with chronic behavioural problems and a long history of skipping school. Without help, these students will have difficulty finishing school and entering the workforce. These students face a greater likelihood of drug taking, alcohol abuse and criminal behaviour than other students. The Youth Off The Streets School In-reach program is a 10-week program that aims to build resilience in students and give them the social skills and behaviour management strategies they need to stay in mainstream school. Our
26 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
Bourke Outreach, in partnership with the local high school, ran a culturally based literacy and numeracy program for young people disengaged from mainstream education. The goal of the program was to transition the young people back into mainstream education by rapidly increasing their ability to read, write and do maths. The success of the program is down to teaching young Aboriginal people through culturally appropriate lessons and trying to bring a sense of fun back to the classroom.
What’s new 2016 • Continue to implement and
grow successful transition programs for young people that help them develop the skills they need to build confident relationships with each other, their families and their communities.
• Strengthen our approach
to early intervention and prevention with best practice and innovative approaches to supporting young people.
• Improving the way we work
internally across programs and services, and increase collaboration with partners and external stakeholders.
Who we helped
Case Study
Job Readiness
Setup of Inner West Youth Homelessness Service
Youth unemployment is a serious issue in Australia. Our annual young person survey indicated that roughly 31 per cent of young people listed this as their top priority and reason for attending Youth Off The Streets’ services. Most of the young people we work with are also battling with personal problems and mental health issues, which can make it harder for them to get employed. That is why our services have put various programs into place to assist young people transitioning into work.
The Inner West Youth Homelessness Service (iWYSH) has been established as part of the NSW Government Going Home Staying Home reform. This service is funded under Specialist Homelessness Services within the NSW Department of Family and Community Services. The model has an increased focus on early intervention and a district model of support for young people 16 – 25 years who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the inner west district in Sydney.
Our Logan Outreach runs a program called Kicking Goals 2 Transition. The program operates every Tuesday and is run inside the local Juvenile detention centre. It focuses on getting young people to set employment goals and starts off by asking them to reflect and think about what it is they want to do for work. Young people then brainstorm ideas on how they would go about achieving these goals and what skills they think they would need to get there. After this initial brainstorming session young people are taught how to prepare for employment by taking part in classes that help them build their job hunting skills; as well as helping them to write a professional cover letter and resume. Participants are then taught how to effectively look for work, apply, and are prepped all the way up to the interview stage where they are given tips on how to prepare for an interview and what to wear. As part of the Cordeaux Heights Centre for Youth we look for ways to support young people through referrals. At our Berkley Outreach service, the centre runs one on one group workshops which focus on increasing the chances of young people getting employed by helping them with their job search and application writing. Alongside this help, the centre also provides employment and training referral pathways to support services such as the partnership between the centre school, Craig Davis College and the University of Wollongong (UoW). This partnership engaged in the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) program, which involved Aboriginal students from UoW working with Aboriginal students at the school to help them identify and set employment goals. Through these partnerships two young Aboriginal people recently gained chef apprenticeships. During the coming year, Youth Off The Streets will continue to support young people through our inhouse programs and referrals and will be looking at new methods for improving employment prospects amongst our youth.
The Inner West Homelessness Service is a partnership between Youth Off The Streets, Wesley Mission and YWCA NSW. The service will support over 450 young people per year, covering six Local Government Areas in Sydney including: Ashfield, Burwood, Canada Bay, Marrickville, Leichhardt and Strathfield. This partnership is administered by Youth Off The Streets and has different elements of the holistic model managed by each of the partners:
• Youth Off The Streets provides support to young people
across the areas of assertive outreach, early intervention, crisis and transitional accommodation, support for clients with complex needs and brokerage. All services all provided with an appropriate case management response. Youth Off The Streets also works with contracted Community Housing providers to successfully house young people across the district.
• Wesley Mission provides a transitional accommodation
response supported by case management preparing young people for independent living This is achieved through partnerships with social and community housing providers and also by utilising non-government properties contracted to iWYHS. In addition Wesley Mission also provides early intervention case management.
• YWCA NSW’s experience in providing traditional and non-
traditional housing for clients has equipped them well to provide a rapid rehousing program response for young people. Through a continuous case management response YWCA NSW is able to provide post crisis case management. YWCA NSW also assists in early intervention and assertive outreach responses.
Through the strong partnership we have been able to provide 6392* occasions of individual support to young people from the area. During the coming year, all services will continue to work together to reduce and prevent youth homelessness and will continue to provide support to the most vulnerable in the community. * These figures represent individual clients; some clients may overlap between the two categories (safety and growth)
Our Strategy | 27
During the past 2 years that my granddaughter has attended EDEN College, I have seen her change from an insecure drug addicted adolescent with little or no self esteem or self worth, into a confident, drug free, mature young woman. – GrandParent comment
Dear Carly, EDEN College My dad left us when I was in Year 7. It was a relief, he couldn’t hit us anymore. But I was just not interested in doing anything. I refused to go to school and I was not interested in learning anything or being with my family. I did not know what to do with all the feelings I had about my dad. My school sent me to you’s at EDEN. It took me nearly two buses, a train and a bus to get to there but it was worth the two hour trip. At first I just came to school, but I did not want to speak to anyone or do anything, but Kelly and the other teachers made sure that I felt ok to speak about what happened with my dad.
I just want to say thanks for believing in me. It was heaps good to get a prize for my leadership in the classroom and for being a good example to the other guys. I am just about to graduate Year 10, and am going on to start Year 11 next year. I want to finish my HSC.
It was also good to speak to the counsellor, she really helped me understand what I had been through. My school work started to improve and it felt great to go to school.
– Alice*
28 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
I could not have done it without all of you at EDEN College.
*Name changed to protect privacy
Focus four To provide the framework for a sustainable future through accountable, professional and collaborative practice 2014/15 goals
• Focus on building and solidifying partnerships with other community service organisations to ensure government funding opportunities.
• Complete the implementation of the 2012/13
fundraising and branding review three year recommendations to ensure a diversification of revenue sources.
• Develop an organisation wide minimum data set
and start rollout of linked-up service databases to provide consistent and accessible program results for reporting.
Ongoing Challenges
• Consolidation of grant programs by both federal and
state governments have led to increased competition for funding and increased emphasis on partnerships between Not for Profits to ensure the delivery of a broader range of programs.
• To balance the increased expenses and return on investment in the short term.
• A rapid increase of staffing in programs and services
funded by new government contracts led to pressure on organisation administration and induction.
Our Strategy | 29
What We Did Systems and Infrastructure As part of the framework for a sustainable future for our organisation, Youth Off The Streets reviews the viability and impact of our programs and services. In 2014/15, Youth Off The Streets began the implementation of an organisation-wide minimum data set. In addition we began a process to link-up service databases to provide consistent and accessible program results for reporting. This approach is being rolled-out over the next 12 -18 months, starting with our Dunlea Alcohol and Other Drug Youth Service and our Outreach programs.
Risk Management At Youth Off The Streets, our focus is on effective risk management in order to better support young people. All staff are part of the risk management system and are encouraged to report and manage risk pro-actively. Managers implement the risk management system, which assesses, monitors and manages operational, financial, project, strategic and compliance risks. Each responsible manager assesses risk annually in the context of their programs or department as part of an integrated, organisation-wide risk management system. New programs or projects, or significant changes, trigger a risk assessment. See Risk Assessment Process diagram at www.youthoffthestreets.com.au/risk.
Youth Off The Streets operates a risk management framework based on the principles and guidelines for risk management established by AS/ NZS ISO 31000:2009. It provides the Youth Off The Streets Board with a communication process to continually assure them that the risks inherent in the operations and activities of the organisation are identified, evaluated and then managed through internal controls. The Board has delegated the regular monitoring and review of risk management to the Audit and Risk Committee. Youth Off The Streets has identified the top material risks it faces. These include: succession planning issues; securing ongoing funding for our work; reputational damage potential; client, staff and volunteer safety; child protection risks associated with being a child-related employer; securing and retaining appropriate and skilled staff; employee-related issues; establishment of new services where they are not planned in line with our strategic plan. Risk management plans have been devised to manage each of these top material business risks. Incidents, injuries and workplace hazards are reported by staff through a central database which is used throughout the organisation. The database enables systematic review of incidents by management (and the Board for those incidents with high impacts) and trend analysis.
Sustainability Youth Off The Streets works in collaboration with corporate partners, supporters, volunteers, young people and our staff to implement programs and services that provide a framework for a sustainable future.
• Environmental Sustainability –
Youth Off The Streets adopted the United Nations Energy Program (UNEP) Energy Efficiency in Buildings framework in 2012/13. The organisation has continued to implement best practice methodology across all of our sites without losing the flexibility required in an environment where the safety and security of the young people we work with is the major priority.
• 2014/15 Facility Carbon and
Energy Initiatives – Youth Off The Streets’ aims to deliver carbon savings across the organisation, it should be noted that working within leased premises delivers unique constraints and different challenges than working in an owned premises, and that not all carbon saving actions will be applicable in all circumstances. Some initiatives implemented were:
- Retrofitted motion sensors on external lighting.
- Tariff comparison is being
undertaken at all sites to ensure each facility is paying only what is necessary for their energy use.
- Retrofitting energy efficient
water heating systems when replacement is required.
30 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
• Waste Management and Recycling
– At each of our five major sites, Youth Off The Streets has a 1.5mt recycling bin, which is emptied twice a month. This is 3.0 cubic meters of cardboard and paper being recycled per month, for 12 months (36 cubic meters), for each site. We recycle at least 108 cubic meters of cardboard and paper per annum, which is just over 63 tonnes. Every ton of high quality paper (e.g. office paper) recycled saves up to 24 trees4, so in the last financial year Youth Off The Streets’ recycling has saved up to 1512 trees. Additionally we have increased capacity with comingled and paper/cardboard only waste bins at our major sites as well as leased premises where applicable.
• Energy Efficiency – In 2014/15,
Youth Off The Streets continued to streamline its I.T. infrastructure to provide a more sustainable and efficient platform across all of our services. Legacy servers were replaced with new servers, providing a reduction in energy use of over 30% on the previous year. Through 2015/16, Youth Off The Streets has secured a co-location opportunity in a local data centre which will provide further energy savings of 20 per cent going forward. Whilst this reduction in consumption is a good outcome, this also provides a significant cost saving to Youth Off The Streets. Youth Off The Streets continues to partner with Canon to ensure energy efficiency and sustainable development in any new photocopier or printer as Canon continue to develop sustainable manufacturing processes, and machines that reduce the energy required to run. Both the Dell servers and the Canon copiers comply with the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive (2002/95/EC) [1], which aims to solve the problem of increasing amounts of hazardous waste from electronic equipment.
How The Funds were Raised Youth Off The Streets is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient by the Australian Taxation Office, and holds a Charitable Fundraising Authority from the New South Wales (NSW) Government. All our appeals and fundraising comply with the Fundraising Institute of Australia’s Principles and Standards of Fundraising Practice, Trade Practices Act, The Privacy Act and we are Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant. Our fundraising proposal form and other assistance is available on our website. We do not undertake face to face fundraising.
Cost of Fundraising The discussion around cost of fundraising continues in the not-forprofit industry, and until a formula is agreed and used as a standard, Youth Off The Streets’ figure is calculated by taking into account expenses such as:
• All costs of direct mail appeals
and newsletters including, print, processing, and postage.
For the year ended 30 June 2015, Youth Off The Streets reported a surplus of $1,241,117 (2014: deficit $1,600,183) which represented a 178 per cent increase on the previous year. Income received from government increased by 41.8 per cent from $8,101,451 in 2014 to $11,487,008 in 2015 attributable to the full year of the National Crime Prevention funding for the expansion of our Outreach Services and the growth in funding from the federal government’s six year commitment to the new needs-based school funding arrangements based on the Gonski model. Income from this source represents 48.5 per cent (2014: 44 per cent) of total revenue. Income from donations grew 25.8 per cent to $9,900,054 reflecting the ongoing impact of the implementation of the fundraising and branding review recommendations of 2012.
Income 2015 1% 7%
2% 3%
4% 6% 48%
• All salaries of staff involved in fundraising, events, finance processing and database management.
• Ancillary costs including premises, transport and office expenses in running Corporate Services.
• All costs associated with running internal and external events, advertising and promotions, merchandise expenses and website costs.
Youth Off The Streets cost of fundraising for 2014/15 was 23 per cent excluding government income and 12 per cent including it.
29%
Government Grants Individual Donations Corporate Supporters Foundation & Trusts Community Fundraising & Events Capital Income Op Shop Sales Finance & Other
4 www.conserveatree.com/learn/ Enviroissues/Treestats.shtml
Our Strategy | 31
Individual Fundraising
Highlight Ten years of support from PepsiCo Australia PepsiCo Australia has been a proud supporter of Youth Off The Streets since 2005. In the last ten years PepsiCo has supported us financially through payroll giving, gift in kind and corporate funding (over $1.1M); plus prizes and donations to our Gala Dinner; staff volunteering; support of EDEN College, one of our independent and accredited high schools; and a calendar of events for our young people that included opportunities to meet the Black Eyed Peas and Usain Bolt, mentoring, sporting challenges, career expos and an opportunity for our young people to train with the GWS Giants for an AFL clinic via their association with Gatorade. At this year’s Schools Sports Day, where our schools competed in a number of games, our friends at PepsiCo pitched in and helped with hosting the BBQ, refereeing, being part of the teams, and cheering the players on. The team at PepsiCo really enjoy the opportunity to spend time with the kids so when they get an opportunity to do so, they jump at the chance. We would like to thank all staff past and present for their support of Youth Off The Streets. You have contributed to helping disadvantaged young people achieve their school certificate, play in a sporting team for the first time, build a relationship with a trusted adult, and discover something great within themselves.
In 2014/15, our focus was on donor care and stewardship, particularly in relation to our elderly donors. We invested time and resources in understanding the needs and wants of our donors in relation to frequency and preferences of communication. Our direct marketing appeal income grew by 12 per cent year-on-year from $2.07M to $2.3M. This was a result of continuing to acquire and on-board new donors to the organisation and generate increased revenue from our loyal donors. Our active donor database grew by 25 per cent year-on-year. With an increased focus and investment
in acquiring new donors to the organisation through mail, digital channels and lead conversion campaigns we will continue to grow our donor database and our individual giving revenue. We developed a regular giving product called ‘Street Lights’ which launched in the final quarter of 2014 through a small telephone conversion campaign to our appeals donors. This resulted in an increase in our number of regular donors by 45 per cent and increased regular donor income by nine per cent. With additional regular giving acquisition and conversion activities planned for 2015/16 we will see this area continue to grow.
Direct marketing Appeals income 2,500,000 2,400,000
2,322,103
2,300,000 2,200,000 2,100,000
2,072,360
2,000,000 1,900,000 1,800,000 1,700,000 1,600,000 1,500,000
2013-14
2014-15
Regular Giving Income 580,000
567,810
570,000 560,000 550,000 540,000 530,000 520,000
520,787
510,000 500,000 490,000
32 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
2013-14
2014-15
Government income
Investments
1,000,000 0
2011
2012
2013
Federal
2014
$5,556,035
$4,071,790
$4,029,662
$4,286,535
$3,683,789
$2,886,876
3,000,000 2,000,000
$5,701,856
4,000,000
$3,038,532
$5,206,826
5,000,000
$5,930,973
6,000,000
2015
State
Investment breakdown 50% 40%
48%
46%
41%
37%
35%
32%
31%
30%
35%
30%
28% 24%
The domestic equities and the exchange traded fixed interest investments are managed by JBWere under a discretionary facility. The portfolio’s objective is to achieve benchmark performance of plus three per cent above the ASX Top 300 index. In the current year, the portfolio achieved a net yield of 4.3 per cent (2014: net yield of 4.4 per cent) against the ASX index net yield of 1.1 percent. All cash investments are held with Australian Prudential Authority (APRA) regulated Australian banks with a Standard & Poors rating of A or better and government bonds and notes and corporate bonds and notes must have a long term credit rating of BBB or better to qualify for inclusion in the portfolio.
20%
Community Fundraising and Events
13%
10% 0%
Cash and Cash Equivalents 2012
AUD Fixed Interests 2013
Government In 2014/15 Government revenue increased from 2014: $8,101,451 to 2015: $11,487,008. This was due to the Inner West Youth Homelessness Service funding in Sydney, the National Crime Prevention Funding for the expansion of our Outreach Services and the growth in funding from the federal government’s six year commitment to the new needsbased school funding arrangements based on the Gonski model. This revenue increase happened despite an increasingly tough government funding environment for Not for Profits (NFPs). There is a continuation of the trend toward consolidating the source and grouping of government
2014
Investments 2015
funding that has led to fewer funding opportunities and a greater focus on partnerships between NFPs. In addition, the government is testing and implementing a range of social impact investment models as an additional source of government funding and contracts with NFPs. This has led to a need for improved collation and measurement of organisation outcomes. Youth Off The Streets has responded to these changes in government funding by proactively engaging with the government prior to tenders being announced through policy submissions and contributing to evidence based implementation models and will continue to develop this approach in 2016.
The number of community fundraising events in the last financial year was 138, a 24 per cent increase on the previous year. Eight of those events were worth over $10,000 each. These events are either sourced by the fundraising team or by members of the community who are provided with an Authority to Fundraise on behalf of Youth Off The Streets.
Capital Projects The total amount received for capital projects was $519,100, $269,100 was received from the Commonwealth Block Grant Authority through the Association of Independent Schools, and $250,000 from a major donor, both for site preparation to establish vocational training at Key College, Merrylands Campus.
Our Strategy | 33
Op Shop Sales
Corporate Partnerships
Our Op Shops have consistently provided affordable and quality second-hand clothing, bric-a-brac, linen and furniture goods to those who are financially struggling (including the young people from our services). The income, from purchases at our Op Shops, goes directly to our cause to assist young people. We take pride in the items that we are able to supply at our shops and for the fantastic and friendly service that our volunteers give continually to our customers. The income for our Op Shops this year (2015: 724,874, 2014: 683,385) was six per cent less than the previous year.
The trend towards better linking between Not for Profit (NFP) program outcomes to social impact has continued in corporate partnerships funding. In addition the rise of technology based brokers to facilitate the relationship between NFP and the corporate supporters has continued. This has led to more of a direct relationship between the NFP and the corporate employee through digital based communications. In 2014/15, our corporate support revenue included one-off donations, payroll giving, onsite fundraising, corporate and private foundation and trust funding, skilled labour, gifts in kind and pro-bono support, which totalled $2,500,956, this was a slight decrease of 0.5 per cent from the previous year. The Corporate Partnerships team continued to support our corporate partners (which include Corporate Trusts and Foundations) by building and driving the success of their community programs and offering opportunities that inform our partners on where their sponsorship will be best suited in our organisation. In addition, we have worked with our partners to identify and deliver opportunities for staff engagement with our services that range from staff events to volunteering opportunities.
Philanthropic Foundations Unlike Corporate Trusts and Foundations, Private Philanthropic Foundations generally consist of family members with particular funding priorities and approaches, often driven by personal experience or interest. There are around 5,000 philanthropic organisations in Australia who give more than $500 million per year5. At Youth Off The Streets we continue to maintain and develop mutually beneficial partnerships with these funding bodies which resulted in three less philanthropic supporters than last year (2015: 34), however there was a greater proportion (2015: 56 per cent, 2014: 54 per cent) that provided funding over $10,000 each. In addition, four out of five of our philanthropic supporters provided funding of $5,000 or more.
5 http://www.philanthropy.org.au/toolsresources/fast-facts-and-stats
34â&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
Corporate partners 14.3%
4.7% 2%
58.8% 33.8%
Platinum > $150K Gold > $100 - $149K Silver $51K - $99K Bronze $10K - $50K Supporters < $10K
Where The Money Went Expenses 2014-15 25%
58.8%
2%
5% 4%
23% 13%
Residential Treatment Services Education Services (inc. all schools) Sydney Homeless Services Alcohol & Other Drug Services KC4Y&L (exc. EDEN Collage) Aboriginal Services (exc. Residential Care) Outreach Services
Snapshot Brand Refresh
Highlights HOGS for Homeless Ride Brad Fittler has been a great supporter of Youth Off The Streets ever since he began volunteering and participated in our Street Walk program. Wanting to give back, Brad started the Hogs for Homeless ride with Ian Schubert and Nathan Hindmarsh. Every year, the Hogs for Homeless ride raises much needed funds for Youth Off The Streets. The ride was supported by NSW Rugby League, and two new members, Josh Perry and Steve Menzies, who joined Brad, Ian, Nathan and Matt Cooper. Together they visited 20 towns, over 12 days, riding over 3,500kms, raising awareness about youth homelessness and raising funds for Youth Off The Streets.
#laceitup Winter 2014 The #laceitup concept has developed into a flagship campaign for Youth Off The Streets, with the potential to reach 13-17 year olds, schools and workplaces and inspire a new generation of supporters and advocates for youth homelessness. A pilot campaign was launched for winter 2014 with sales of the new blue branded shoe laces and a focus on the hashtag #laceitup to amplify our message. Demand for the blue laces was high during the pilot, and social media was the key driver for the campaign, resulting in more than one million Australians potentially reached through the hashtag in 2014. A targeted Facebook campaign and Ambassador program of online influencers were both utilised as the primary promotional channels for the campaign, moving Youth Off The Streets strategically into the digital realm. It became clear that the campaign is a highly effective and visual way to reach new supporters. The first half of 2015 in the lead up to winter saw a standalone website for the campaign launched, and an efficient fulfilment process implemented, along with other extensive planning to establish the campaign well for the official launch in winter 2015 and beyond. Youth Off The Streets’ #laceitup 2014 inaugural campaign won the Media Federation Of Australia’s Grand Prix award (best overall campaign). The #laceitup campaign will continue and be a cornerstone of our fundraising and awareness efforts.
The branding and fundraising research that took place in 2013 as part of the fundraising and branding review identified the need to refresh our brand and marketing materials, including our website. In 2014/15, Youth Off The Streets implemented this refresh based on the feedback received in this research and in consultation with our young people (through our Outreach programs) and a working group consisting of service staff, an Executive Team member, a Board member and the marketing and communications department. Working with L+L Design, the logo change (see below) was followed by refreshing the look and feel of the organisation’s posters, signs and stationery, creating some audience specific materials for fundraising, and creating youth focused material such as program contact cards. This refresh was rolled out from August 2014 into 2015 as materials were replaced once existing ones ran out. The final element of the refresh was the overhaul of the organisation’s website as it was out of date, difficult to update and poorly measured. In addition, it had limited mobile compatibility, which was limiting the visitor growth that other NFPs are experiencing. From December 2014, Youth Off The Streets worked with Agency, a full service creative studio, to develop the new website with a focus on ensuring that it is easy to navigate, measurable, reflective of our new look and feel, responsive and optimised for mobile devices. It was launched on 1 September 2015. Previous logo
Updated logo
Our Strategy | 35
OUR Stakeholders
Communicating with Stakeholders
Government
Young People in our Service
Corporate Partnerships
YOUTH OFF THE STREETS
Service Providers
Youth Off The Streets shares important news and advocates for our youth with personalised letters from Father Riley and relevant staff, our bi-annual newsletter, Youth Off The Streets Facebook page, Twitter handle, Instagram account, Pinterest account, our website, and comment in the media from Father Riley and relevant staff on youth issues such as youth homelessness, education, child protection, poverty, Juvenile Justice, mental health, alcohol and other drugs and Aboriginal youth issues.
Media
Staff
Our services and staff have relationships with our young people, their families, their communities, partner organisations, government, corporate and general supporters, volunteers and donors. We meet with our partners, sponsors and fundraisers regularly, providing the opportunity for two way feedback, engagement and improved relationship building. We acknowledge the support of our donors, volunteers and corporate partners with relevant recognition on our website and our communications.
Supporters
Volunteers
Donors
Organisational Growth 2006-2015 $25,000 $20,000
‘000s
$15,000 Income
$23,706,000
$10,000
Expenditure
$5,000
$22,465,000
$0 2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Our KC4Y&L is part of the Macarthur Multipurpose Homelessness Service for young people, run by UnitingCare Burnside. We offer alternative education models for at risk and homeless young people. – KC4Y&L Centre Manager Lou Single
36 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
How we communicate
• Regular updates • Our annual surveys • Sharing reports and evaluations
• Attendance at inter-agency and
• Email newsletter update for
• Memberships of relevant peak
• Invitations to events • Appeal opportunities • Staff presentations and posters
• Phone calls • E-mails • Bi-annual newsletter
• Website • Youth Off The Streets Thank
sector meetings
Corporate Partners
bodies and sector agencies
with donors and partners
at conferences
You Events
• Youth Off The Streets Annual Open Day
• Youth Off The Streets Annual Presentation Night
Feedback from our Stakeholders For the last six years, Youth Off The Streets has surveyed our staff, the young people in our services, our stakeholders and volunteers. We use all this feedback to improve our programs and services. Feedback across all survey groups remains positive overall, continuing our
annual trend, with high rates of satisfaction expressed by the majority of respondents. Critical feedback or suggestions for improvement are reviewed by the Executive Team and by managers and their staff as a part of our quality improvement cycle. Volunteers always contribute
useful suggestions about how we can improve our equipment and processes to increase their engagement and satisfaction. Stakeholders continue to seek ways to strengthen our partnerships with them; especially in areas where we have expanded our service reach.
Year
Total respondents
Volunteer respondents
Parent / Guardian respondents
Over 24 months involvement with YOTS
Staff demonstrate PRIDE values very well or well
Overall experience of working with YOTS as rated very good or good
Parents / Guardians rate support received for their child as High / Very High
2010
110
31
N/A
46%
95%
85%
N/A
2011
137
60
N/A
82%
85%
89%
N/A
2012
186
88
N/A
51.5%
90%
78.5%
N/A
2013
178
86
N/A
63%
97.3%
94%
N/A
2014
199
59
N/A
53%
97.1%
93.3%
N/A
2015
151
48
15
56%
97.0%
96.5%
73%
Our Strategy | 37
Interaction and Media Talking to a younger audience
Media
In 2014/15, there was a 324 per cent increase in visits to the website yearon-year. There was also a 50.8 per cent increase of online donors from the previous year and a 27.8 per cent increase of online income , which is due to the implementation of our direct marketing strategy. The most common content accessed during the year was our volunteer page, followed by our Outreach Services (due to expansion of this service), then the donations page.
Similarly to the previous year, there is a global shift in the media industry from traditional media (TV, radio and print) to online (including social media). In Australia, the media landscape has continued to cut editorial staff from community and metro newspapers on a local level. Amalgamating content creators to serve a wide geographical area has also led to more reliance on short drafted content, such as placed articles and letter to editors, rather than media releases and interviews that required a story to be written by the media outlet. As a result, Youth Off The Streets had less interviews than the previous year (2015: 96; 2014: 120), however we sent out the same amount of announcements (press releases, Letters to Editors, media statements and article placements) 2015: 67; 2014: 67. This is a similar
38 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
6058 Radio
Magazine
Social Media
Other Internet
83
68
2013-14 Newspaper
756
2752 2012-13 TV
811
72 163 754 12
6500 6000 5500 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
22 118 654 5
In 2014/15, the organisation’s Facebook page was also used as an advertising platform for the fundraising asks throughout the year. Posts were boosted to support direct marketing appeals and have contributed to Youth Off The Streets’ excellent fundraising results for 2014/15.
Our media coverage (which includes traditional media, online news and social networking sites) was also tracked by issues and activities to better understand which Youth Off The Streets messages were being published in traditional and online media (as well as social networking sites), which type of media achieve greater coverage and to ascertain why certain issues received greater prominence. In 2014/15, there was an increase in coverage in comparison to the previous year around nearly all of the issues, Youth Off The Streets fundraising and events, and coverage of the support we have received from our corporate partners.
Media coverage by channel
52 166 710 23 350 1267 171
Our Facebook page, Youth Off The Streets Australia, grew through the year with a 37 per cent increase in ‘likes’. Through this forum we are able to engage with our ‘fans’, informing them of the happenings at Youth Off The Streets and encouraging them to become involved in our initiatives, events and to fundraise on behalf of the organisation. Youth Off The Streets continued to post messages through Instagram to support our fundraising and awareness campaigns such as #laceitup and Youth Off The Streets’ Sleepout at schools. As these campaigns are visual in nature, the messages worked well for this platform. This year, Youth Off The Streets created a Pinterest account to add to its visual based social channels. Pinterest will be used to support our fundraising initiatives as well as #laceitup and Sleepout.
trend to last year where the amount of interviews and announcements decreased but the amount of media coverage increased. This year our media coverage increased by 66 per cent (2014: 68 per cent).
2014-15 Social Media News
In 2014/15, the audience reach for our traditional coverage (TV, radio, and print) was tracked showing that our message had a potential audience of over 56.8M. The standard approach to measuring online reach is to calculate total monthly unique views to the general website or social media platform that has featured a Youth Off The Streets story or social media post.
The day [Lipstick Luncheon] went flawlessly and was full of emotion, my cheeks were sore from laughing. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house as we listened to the young person tell her story.
Media coverage by Issue 2014/15 5%
• Continue to adapt to
13% 38% 7% 6% 6% 9%
What’s new 2016
14% 2%
General YOTS Homelessness Education Aboriginal Issues Child Protection YOTS Fundraising YOTS Events and Activities Community Fundraising Corporate Supporters
the changes in funding requirements and opportunities from the various federal, state and local governments provided through relevant grants; as well as individuals and communities; and private philanthropy and corporate support.
• Ensure that existing business needs are being met and that there is flexibility and alignment with future business needs.
• Build on the strong ground
work of the fundraising and brand review recommendations and invest in what is working and review what is not to ensure a better return on investment going forward.
Our Strategy | 39
Youth Off The Streets gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the following major supporters and partners in 2014/15: Corporate Trust and Foundations and Corporate Supporters
Platinum
Gold
Silver
40â&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
Bronze • Acxiom Pty Ltd • AMP Foundation • Ausgrid • Australian
Communities Foundation
• Australian Financial • Australian Hotels Association (NSW)
• Bank of New York Mellon • Bankstown Sports Club • Beach Road Hotel • Bennelong Foundation • Berkeley Hotel • Campbelltown Catholic Club • Canterbury Leagues Club • Charities Aid Foundation • City Tattersalls Club • Collegians Rugby League Football Club Ltd
Philanthropic Foundations
• Bagnall Foundation • Beeren Foundation • Beswick Family Fund • Carlo and Roslyn Salteri Foundation • Collier Charitable Fund • Coorparoo Foundation • Dick and Pip Smith Foundation • Harold Mitchell Foundation • James N Kirby Foundation • JLDJS Foundation • The Rainbow Foundation • Lacetree Pty Ltd • Marian and E.H. Flack Trust • Marich Foundation • Packer Family Foundation • Ted Dunn Foundation
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia • Count Charitable Foundation • Crown Resorts Foundation • CSR • Dick Smith Foods Foundation • Eden Foundation • Ernst & Young • Goldman Sachs • Harley Davidson • Holding Redlich • Illawarra and Shoalhaven Clubs Committee
• Inghams Enterprises • Insurance Australia Group • Karma Currency Foundation • Liverpool Catholic Club Ltd • Macquarie Group Foundation • Max Employment • Microsoft Australia • The Orgill Family Foundation • William McIlrath Charitable Foundation
• Mounties • Munich Reinsurance Company of Australasia
• Myer Pty Ltd • NRMA Motoring and Services • Pacific West Foods Australia Pty Ltd • QBE Foundation • Revesby Workers Club • Salmat Ltd • Singtel Optus Pty Ltd • State Street Corporation • Sydney Airport • Trading Pursuits • UBS Foundation • UN LTD • Western Sydney Leagues Club • Westpac Banking Corporation • Wilson Parking • NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet
• NSW Department of Educations and Communities
Australian Government
• The Association of
Independent Schools
• The Attorney-
General’s Department
• Department of Education • Department of Employment • Department of Health • Department of Immigration and Border Protection
NSW Government
• Department Social Services NSW Family and Community Services
• NSW Department of Health • The Community Relations
Commission for a multicultural NSW (Multicultural NSW)
Community Fundraisers
• Engadine Rotary • Cooley Auctions • Hogs for the Homeless • TAFE NSW • Team Trev Paddles The Murray 2000Kms
• Gavel & Page Lawyers
• NSW Office of Communities
Our Strategy | 41
Ethan organised and took part in a Sleepout event and sleep rough for homeless youth. This is his experience.
Dear Youth Off The Streets, The rain cleared, the people came and the stars twinkled. Once our movie was over I said farewell and thank you to all those people who supported our movie night and went with the team into a building where we chose a spot to make our home for the night. At first it was still warm and I felt excited about the novelty of trying to sleep on a hard floor with no pillow, no mattress or sleeping bag. We spent time together on reflection tasks trying to imagine if we were homeless how would we survive. We talked about feeling hungry, feeling vulnerable, feeling scared. I started to feel hungry, I started to become tired and I started to wish for my own bed, my own room, my own family. It was going to be a long night. Between 2am and 4am all I could think of was trying to stay warm, trying to fall asleep. I could do neither. As I walked in my front door, I smelled bacon, toast, and craved fresh orange juice. I felt dirty, smelly and wanted to brush my teeth. After a shower and breakfast, I crawled into my warm, soft bed and fell fast asleep. It never felt so good.
42 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
We are more aware, we have experienced in some small way even if only for one night, what it feels like to be homeless. We came home, the youth on our streets don’t. Thank you to my Year 6 team, to our teachers, to our families and to our friends for sponsorship. Virile Agitur.
We are more aware, we have experienced in some small way even if only for one night, what it feels like to be homeless. – Ethan Hansen, Knox Grammar Prep Sleepout participant and highest fundraiser 2014
Our people Our Staff Youth Off The Streets is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and has a diverse cultural mix of people working and volunteering to meet the needs of the young people in our organisation. Youth Off The Streets encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for roles within the organisation. At 30 June 2015, we had 199 full-time, part-time and casual employees, and had 444 volunteers. The Human Resources (HR) team continue to develop, review, update and implement policies, processes, systems, training, governance, and the means of living the Youth Off The Streets values of Passion, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Engagement (P.R.I.D.E.). HR provides specialist support for: employees and volunteers across recruitment; learning and development; industrial relations; Work Health and Safety; reward and recognition; performance and career management; rehabilitation and workers compensation; and payroll. As an organisation in the child related employment sector, Youth Off The Streets is required to have all staff and volunteers, including those who do not work directly with children, complete full and detailed Working with Children and criminal history checks.
We love what we do and truly believe that we are making a change for our youth. You will have some days just laughing along with students and celebrating their milestones and other days you will all mourn and be saddened by news that has been shared. Either way, it is experienced together in a safe and supportive environment. – Youth off the streets staff member
2014/15 Goals
Ongoing Challenges
• Build and maintain a customer
• Providing career development
focused and organisationally aligned HR department that empowers people through good HR practices.
• Deliver systems, processes
and practices that embraces individual ownership to employees and volunteers.
opportunities that align with employee expectation.
• Maintaining efficiencies
in a growing environment without affordable electronic system support.
• Meeting the diverse needs of the
business due to the uniqueness of each of the client groups.
• Meeting casual employee
resourcing requirements for operational purposes.
Our people | 43
Years of Service
Gender Balance
Staff by age
7% 9%
10%
11%
24%
15% 42%
26%
58%
22%
34%
<1 Year 1-2 Years 3-5 Years 6-10 Years >10 Years
Female Male
What We Did
Highlights
•
•
Reviewed processes and took steps to introduce manual systems that track and communicate the various stages of life cycle of employees. This is an ongoing project that has enabled the HR Team to respond to enquiries from all levels of the organisation in real time.
• Redrafted and implemented a
large number of employment agreements reflecting the Fair Work Act 2009 and making employment terms and conditions totally transparent to employees.
• Reduced the number of and
redrafted HR policies with the purpose of simplifying policies and employee search processes.
42%
HR Team – the team of HR professionals worked closely with services and built a partnership to ensure unique and diverse service needs were met.
• Recruitment – further
enhancement to recruitment through process improvement and training has seen improvements in this area.
• Youth Off The Streets Rewards
Program – The previous year’s API Lifestyle Benefits Program was expanded upon to become the Youth Off The Streets Program and included improved discounts with retail partners, significantly better technology and user experience, and 24/7 employee support, 365 days of the year. This program is available to all full/part-time employees after their successful completion of the probation period.
• Traineeships – ongoing success
with trainees progressing to fully qualified Youth Workers.
44 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
<25 Years 25-34 Years 34-44 Years 45-54 Years 55+ Years
What’s New 2016
• Review all current HR systems,
policies and processes ensuring free flowing, user friendly and transparent delivery of HR service to all stakeholders.
• Expand Youth Off The Streets
recruitment practices under the EEO Policy ensuring recruitment campaigns cover all areas of the community by utilising diverse advertising platforms.
• Develop and implement HR, IR
and WHS Frameworks that reflect current legislation and regulations (Federal and State jurisdictions).
• Partner with Services Directors
and Managers to build upon the already strong sense of PRIDE within Youth Off The Streets. Implement strategies formed by the Executive Team to improve in leadership, cross unit cooperation and learning and development.
• Develop and implement an online learning platform.
Our Volunteers At Youth Off The Streets, our volunteers are a valuable resource and an essential component to the success of the organisation. We had 444 active individual volunteers this year (2014: 442) who worked alongside our staff to provide the best quality of care for our young people and contribute to an estimated value of just over $1.6M* to our organisation. Our volunteers are aged between 21 – 80 years old and work within most of our services through one off events, as skilled volunteers and as regular community volunteers. Volunteers are critical to our Food Van and Street Walk programs, without which the services could not be offered. Other critical services our volunteers provide include: providing assistance to teachers and students at our schools; assisting at our Outreach programs with recreational activities; supporting the maintenance and upkeep of all our facilities and more specialised tasks such as data analysis.
Our volunteers provide a positive adult presence throughout our programs and services, support our staffs with day to day tasks, which enable our teams to spend more time on the frontline engaging with our young people to achieve positive outcomes. The feedback from our annual volunteer survey said that 98 per cent of respondents would recommend Youth Off The Streets to family or friends as a good place for volunteering.
2014/15 Goals
• Develop improved engagement strategies for long term contribution of volunteers.
• Expand variations of
volunteering opportunities within the organisation.
Ongoing Challenges
• Filling high need operational
duties such as gardening, general maintenance, cleaning and warehousing.
• The Office of Children’s Guardian implemented a new Working With Children Check system that required Youth Off The Streets to transition current active volunteers and new volunteers into the system. This audit and transition impacted the level of administration, communications and compliance for the volunteer department.
It can be quite confronting, but I feel happy that I’m doing something worthwhile that may ultimately lead to helping some of those kids. – Street Walk volunteer
*based on Australian Bureau of Statistics estimate of private sector average adult ordinary time earnings.
Our people | 45
What We Did Youth Off The Streets continues to comply with the national standards for volunteering and is a member of the Centre for Volunteering. The process for the recruitment of new volunteers and the matching of volunteering opportunities with the right candidate is as below:
• Recruitment – vacancies are
advertised on this website, on Seek Volunteer and Go Volunteer. Application packs are accessible online.
• Screening Process – volunteers complete an application form and sign a Code of Conduct and other relevant policies including Criminal Record checks and Working With Children checks, which are conducted prior to commencement.
• Learning and Development
– Mandatory inductions are conducted for most programs, including the Food Van and Street Walk.
• Workplace Health and Safety
(WHS) – The safety of our volunteers is critical. Safety and risk are discussed during inductions, incident report forms are distributed with all induction packs and volunteers are encouraged to report incidents and near misses to enable us to manage risk appropriately. All our volunteers are covered by our Personal Accident Voluntary Workers Insurance.
• Induction – A Volunteer Handbook is distributed to all new volunteers during induction. The handbook includes the WHS policy, Code of Conduct, history of Youth Off The Streets, Confidentially and Privacy Policy, Child Protection Policy, Complaints and Feedback form.
Communicating with Our Volunteers Youth Off The Streets continues to communicates regularly with our volunteers. This is done through a quarterly email called Volunteer Connections that includes one off volunteer opportunities and information about Youth Off The Streets activities and events. Youth Off The Streets communicates indirectly with volunteers through the bi-annual Streets Ahead printed newsletter, dedicated Facebook posts and website articles profiling individual volunteers. Volunteers are also invited to a number of events throughout the year including: Annual Presentation Night, Open Day and a thank you event with Father Chris Riley during National Volunteer Week in May. The feedback from our annual volunteer survey said that 98 per cent of respondents would recommend Youth Off The Streets to family or friends as a good place for volunteering.
• Successfully recruited and trained
20 new mentors for the National Scholarship Program. Inducted 20 new Food Van volunteers for our regular roster.
What’s New 2016
• Review the volunteering
processes and systems and subsequent resourcing of the department.
• Improve the collection of
volunteer records to improve the accuracy of active and inactive data.
Active volunteers 3%
Total 444
33%
6%
Highlights
• Five volunteers were nominated
for the Youth Off The Streets’ Circle of Courage Awards, the most prestigious award given to volunteers and supporters at Youth Off The Streets; four were awarded on Presentation night.
• Annual Thank You Event was held
on 4 June 2015 in light of National Volunteer Week. Macquarie Group kindly hosted the event, with 60 people attending. Two young people shared stories of how volunteers had influenced their lives.
46 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
15% 2% 1% Aboriginal Services (0%) Sydney Homeless Services Education Services Koch Centre for Youth & Learning Cordeaux Heights Centre for Youth Outreach Services Opportunity Shops Corporate Servcies
40%
Executive Team
Father Chris Riley Chief Executive Officer and Founder Father Chris Riley AM has worked with disadvantaged youth for more than 35 years in a variety of roles including teacher, youth worker, probation officer, residential carer and Principal. Father Riley officially founded Youth Off The Streets in 1991. See page 52 for complete biography.
Lou Single
Cass Herring
Director and Principal Education Services and Koch Centre for Youth & Learning
Centre Manager, New Pathways Residential Services
• • Bachelor of Education (Special) • Master of Education (Special) • Diploma Management Diploma of Teaching
Lou trained and worked for over 25 years as a teacher and then Principal at Boys’ Town Engadine, with Father Riley. In endeavouring to share her experience she took up a role to tutor and lecture in Special Education at the University of Wollongong and the University of Western Sydney. She has taught children in Primary and with learning difficulties in Catholic, State and Independent schools and trained Teachers Aides (Special). Lou continues to be active in other school committees and parent groups. She represents all special school Principals with the IEU for NSW. In May 2012, Lou was the recipient of the National Excellence in Teaching Award (NEiTA). In collaboration with managers she oversees the four high schools, and Educations Services which include National Scholarship Program, Aftercare, Service Learning and Mentoring Programs. In 2013 Lou was awarded The Youth Off The Streets Employee of the Year Award.
• BA (Psychology) • MA (Child Protection Investigation) Cass has worked at New Pathways since 2003, commencing as a Specialist Youth Worker before moving into Coordinator and Case Worker roles. Cass has been the Centre Manager for New Pathways since 2007. As well as working as the Centre Manager for New Pathways, Cass also acts as the Case Work and Compliance Manager for Residential Services offered through Youth Off The Streets to ensure that the NSW Standards for Statutory Out-ofHome Care are met and Youth Off The Streets accreditation status for Residential Care is maintained. Cass’ Masters dissertation examined the importance of family involvement within the therapeutic aspects of the New Pathways program and attempted to discern the feasibility of formalising a family based therapeutic component within New Pathways. Cass is also a member of Australian and New Zealand Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse (ANZATSA) and participates in clinical supervision through Child Sex Offender Counsellor Accreditation Scheme (CSOCAS).
Our people | 47
Lex Lutherborrow
Mark Twomey
Ranna Peera
Centre Manager Sydney Homelessness Services
Director Corporate Services
Acting Director Outreach Services
•
Bachelor of Social Science (Double Major in Psychology and Criminology)
Lex has extensive and diverse experience in the community services sector. Lex has 15 years of experience working with young people in need and has had a variety of roles. She has worked in community services and for the government as a Unit Coordinator for the Department of Juvenile Justice. Lex draws on this vast experience as she currently manages Youth Off The Streets’ Homeless Services, where she works closely with partner organisations Wesley Mission and YWCA NSW. Lex continues her commitment to education and professional development by undertaking an Advanced Diploma of Management.
• Master of Professional Accounting – MPA
• Master of Applied Finance – MAppFin
• Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand – CA
• Fellow Financial Services Institute of Australasia – FFIA
Mark has a wide range of business experience in accounting, manufacturing and financial institutions covering a variety of roles ranging from business owner, general management, human resources and group strategic planning to corporate and commercial finance. Mark joined Youth Off The Streets in 2011 and in this role is responsible for the future development and growth of the organisation in collaboration with the CEO and Executive Team within the parameters of the vision and the constitution of the organisation. Mark is responsible for leading and managing the Finance, Fundraising, Human Resources, Information Technology, Operations and Development strategies for the organisation and has accountability for the statutory compliance and corporate governance of the organisation.
48 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
• Diploma in Community Services • Certificate IV in Youth Work • Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Ranna has worked in the community and youth services sector for over 15 years, in a multitude of roles in youth, family, disability and early childhood services. She spent a significant part of her professional life working to empower and support disadvantaged young people through designing and delivering educational and skill based programs, before moving into managing teams within the Not-forProfit sector. She joined Youth Off The Streets in February 2014 as the Development Manager in Outreach Services and is currently acting in the role of Director of Outreach Services where she oversees the operations a number of outreach programs.
Suzi Kenney
Chad Ritchie
Nadine Mills
Centre Manager Cordeaux Heights Centre for Youth
Director Aboriginal Services
Program Manager Dunlea Alcohol and Other Drugs Youth Service
• • Master Inclusive Ed (School Bachelor of Laws – LLB Leadership)
Suzi commenced work at Youth Off The Streets in 2003 as a Specialist Youth Worker at New Pathways, before moving across to Matthew Hogan School as a teacher in 2004. Suzi commenced managing the school in 2005 and has built up an extensive repertoire of experience and credentials in teaching and working with young people in out of home care. In 2012, she took on the role of managing the final stages of development of the new Centre for Youth at Cordeaux Heights. In December 2012 she moved into the role of Centre Manager, where she now oversees Craig Davis College and the Illawarra Outreach Program. Suzi is also an accredited Child Protection Investigator (Licence CK1049).
• Diploma Community Services • Certificate IV Frontline Management
• Certificate IV Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Chad is a proud Dhungatti man who has worked in the community services industry for the last 10 years, mainly dealing with Aboriginal young people. Chad joined Youth Off The Streets in January 2013 as an Aboriginal Youth Worker. Through hard work and determination, Chad is now the Director of Aboriginal Services and oversees all Aboriginal programs at Youth Off The Streets.
• Certificate IV Community Services • Diploma Community Welfare Work • Certificate IV Frontline Management
Nadine left school early to chase her dream of working in community and youth services sector. She completed her diploma of community services at the age of 18 years old and got her first job working with young people in out-of-home-care who have challenging behaviours. She went onto to work for community mental health where she developed and ran a program for Aboriginal people in western Sydney with mental illness. Nadine started working for Youth Off The Streets in 2011 as an alcohol and other drugs case worker. She became the manager of the Dunlea Alcohol and Other Drugs Youth Service in 2013. Nadine obtained her Certificate IV in Frontline Management and continued to maintain the program’s high level standard of accreditation with the Australian Council of Health Care.
Our people | 49
Directors Report Directors The names and details of the Company’s Directors in office during the financial year and until the date of this report are as follows. Directors were in office for this entire period, unless otherwise stated. Committee Membership:
• Development Committee – Chair from October 2007
• Audit, Finance and Risk Committee • Nomination Committee Richard John Gibbs GAICD Chairperson A Director since 2006, Richard was appointed Chairperson in February 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) and a Master of International Economics and Finance specialising in macroeconomic policy, finance and public policy administration. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia, a Master of Business Administration and a Graduate Diploma in Executive Performance Management. Richard is a member of the Australian Business Economists and the National Association of Business Economics (NABE) in the United States. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the Australian National University, School of Arab and Islamic Studies, a Trustee for the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), a Member of the AustraliaOman Business Council, a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA) and Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Anna holds a postgraduate Diploma in Physiotherapy from Cumberland College of Health Services and a Bachelor of Science from the University of New South Wales. Anna is a graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a graduate of the Benevolent Society Sydney Leadership Program. Committee Membership:
• Services Committee – Chair Anna Marie Ainsworth GAICD Director Anna has been a Director since 2002. She served as Chairperson of the Board from 2008 to February 2011. Anna is the Community Development Manager of Eden Gardens and Garden Centre, North Ryde and a Director of the Eden Foundation. Anna’s earlier career was in Public Health Practice where she worked as a Paediatric physiotherapist. Anna is a member of the Development Advisory Committee of the Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust and a member of Philanthropy Australia through the Eden Foundation.
50 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
Craig Stuart Davis Director Craig Davis has been a Director since 1998. He was elected Deputy Chairman in 2000 and served as Chair of the Board from 2002 to September 2008. He was also elected a Youth Off The Streets Ambassador in August 2009. After a successful career playing Australian Football League (AFL) for Carlton, Kangaroos, Collingwood and Sydney Swans, Craig now works in sport at the University of New South Wales.
Craig was honoured with the Australian Sports Medal and Life Membership for AFL New South Wales (NSW)/Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 2000 and brings with him vast experience in Board membership. Craig was the Chief Executive Officer of the NSW Australian Football League (1990 – 1998), the Chairman of Selectors Sydney Swans (1986 – 1987) and Deputy Chairman of the NSW Sports Federation (1996 – 2003) as well as Chairman of the Non-Olympic Sports Task Force (1996 – 2000).
Rebecca was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (1979), Northern Territory (1992) and South Australia (1994). Rebecca also received accreditation as a mediator by LEADR (1994). Rebecca is a member of the Law Society of NSW. Committee Membership:
• Services Committee • Nomination Committee – Chair
Craig holds a Surveying Certificate from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Youth Off The Streets Craig Davis College at Cordeaux Heights Centre for Youth was named for him in 2013.
Richard John (Rick) Millen Director
Rebecca Monica Grace Lynch Director Rebecca has been a Director since 2005. Rebecca is a special counsel at Thomson Geer Lawyers. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney and brings with her a great deal of experience in the legal profession. Rebecca has practised in the area of commercial litigation for over 30 years. She was a partner at DLA Phillips Fox until she retired from the partnership in May 2007.
Rick has been a Director since 2007. Rick was a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) (retired June 2011). During his time Rick led the Advisory Practice and sat on PwC’s leadership team. For 5 years, from 2006-2011, Rick led PwC’s corporate responsibility agenda in Australia including running the PwC Foundation. From 2008 to 2010, Rick also coordinated PwC’s corporate responsibility agenda globally in some 140 territories. Rick is a director of Australia for UNHCR and a director of Cabcharge Limited. Rick holds a BA in Law from Oxford University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. Committee Membership:
• Development Committee • Audit, Finance and Risk Committee – Chair
Nicholas James Spooner Director Nick joined the Youth Off The Streets board as a Director in 2015 having supported the Development Committee since 2009. Nick is the National Leader for PwC’s Digital Services practice having joined in 2013. Nick has also held a number of executive roles with some of Australia’s leading businesses and has a wealth of commercial experience in leading and running digital enterprises. With close to 20 years within the digital industry, Nick’s experience spans across a range of disciplines including commercial sales, marketing, product, operations, technology and program delivery across consulting, telecommunications, government, media and marketing services. Prior to his current role, Nick championed and executed a significant business and structural transformation, successfully integrating eight separate businesses to form what is now Salmat Digital. He also played an integral role in the digital success of Ninemsn as its Chief Operating Officer and Network TEN as its Chief Digital Officer. In addition to this Nick has held senior roles with Singtel Optus and global consulting group Accenture. And as Chairman of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Australia, he sought to promote the convergence and growth of the local digital industry.
Directors Report | 51
Nick’s interest in digital extends beyond his professional life and he is passionate about the opportunities that digital offers to enable transformation beyond the business realm. Nick is a dual British and Australian citizenship and holds a First Class Honours Degree in Business and Technology (Industrial Studies). Joined May 2015. Committee Membership:
• Development Committee
Previously Director of Media, Public Affairs and Brand Development across Bauer Media’s portfolio of 60-plus titles and magazine websites, Deborah was responsible for media, corporate marketing, PR, public affairs, sponsorships and events, plus the development of new revenue streams. These initiatives included licensed products for major magazine brands in partnership with leading retail chains across Australia and New Zealand. Deborah was also responsible for the company’s licensed international titles and was a Director on the Board of Post ACP, the company’s joint venture between Bauer Media and the Bangkok Post (Thailand). Resigned October 2014. Committee Membership:
• Development Committee Deborah Thomas MAICD Director Deborah joined the Board of Youth Off The Streets in August, 2013. She was appointed as both a Director of Ardent Leisure Group and the Manager in December 2013. On 10 March 2015, Deborah was appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Group and commenced in this role on 07 April 2015. Deborah is a former Editor-in-Chief of one of Australia’s biggest selling magazines, The Australian Women’s Weekly, a position she held for almost a decade. During the course of her career, she edited and managed some of Australia’s most popular women’s magazines before moving to a corporate role within ACP Magazines, now Bauer Media.
Father Chris Keith Riley, AM Founder and CEO Father Chris Riley AM, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Youth Off The Streets, has worked with disadvantaged youth for more than 40 years in a variety of roles including teacher, youth worker, probation officer, residential carer, principal and CEO. Father Chris officially founded Youth Off The Streets in 1991.
52 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
As Chief Executive Officer of Youth Off The Streets, Father Chris oversees the operation of over 35 programs that employ over 200 staff and involve more than 400 volunteers. He has implemented innovative behaviour modification strategies to help young people deal with a history of trauma, abuse and neglect. He has grown the organisation from a single food van delivering meals to young homeless people on the streets of Kings Cross to a major youth specific agency providing a wide range of services such as crisis accommodation, independent schools, residential treatment programs, centres for youth, Aboriginal programs, and early intervention and prevention programs into troubled suburbs through an outreach service. Many of these strategies have been adopted by schools across Australia and by government agencies. Father Chris believes there is no such thing as a “child born bad”, but acknowledges that there are bad environments, circumstances and families that impact negatively on our young.
We must have the courage to demand greatness from our youth. Qualifications:
• Diploma of Teaching (three
years trained) Australian Catholic University, Chadstone, Victoria, 1975
• Secondary Teachers Certificate of Registration No. 37378, 1975
• Primary Teachers Registration Board, 1976
• Bachelor of Theology, Melbourne College of Divinity, Clayton, Victoria, 1982
• Bachelor of Arts (major Sociology and English) Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 1984
• Diploma of Abuse Counselling,
Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors, Queensland, 1996
• Diploma of Psychology, Applied
School of Psychology, Sydney, 1997
• Diploma of Aboriginal Studies, TAFE NSW OTEN, 2010
• Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs, TAFE NSW OTEN, 2010
• Honorary Doctorate of Letters,
University of Western Sydney. “This award is in recognition of your outstanding humanitarian service to the community, especially youth,” 2010
• Masters of Special Education, University of Southern Queensland, 2010.
• Diploma of Life Coaching,
Registered Training Australia, 2014
• Diploma of Youth Work • Master of Science in Restorative
Practices, International Institute for Restorative Practices Graduate School (current)
Committee Membership:
• Services Committee • Nominations Committee
Principle Activities Youth Off The Street Limited was incorporated in New South Wales on 30 April 2002. The principal activity of the Company is the provision of rehabilitation services to youth affected by drugs, alcohol and homelessness. Youth Off The Streets Limited commenced operating as a company, limited by guarantee, on 1 April 2003. There have been no significant changes in the nature of these activities during the year.
Operational and Financial Review Principal activities to meet objectives For the year ended 30 June 2015, Youth Off The Streets Limited reported a surplus of $1,241,117 (2014: deficit $1,600,183), which represented a 178 per cent increase from the previous financial year. This result was impacted by an amount of $178,569 attributed to the net loss on sale of our Southern Highlands properties, Better Homes Farm and Foundation House, which had previously been identified as surplus to requirements and written down by $605,664 in the previous financial year. Income received from government increased by 41.8 per cent from $8,101,451 in 2014 to $11,487,008 in 2015 attributable to the full year of the National Crime Prevention funding for the expansion of our Outreach Services and the growth in funding from the federal government’s six year commitment to the new needs-based school funding arrangements based on the Gonski model. Income from this source represents 48.5 per cent (2014: 43.8 per cent) of total revenue.
Income from donations grew 25.8 per cent to $9,900,054 reflecting the ongoing impact of the implementation of the fundraising and branding review recommendations of 2012. Funding for capital works is included in government income. The total amount received for capital projects was $519,100, $269,100 was received from the Commonwealth Block Grant Authority through the Association of Independent Schools, and $250,000 from a major donor, both for site preparation to establish vocational training at Key College, Merrylands Campus.
Operating results for the year The operating result for the year ended 30 June 2015 was a surplus of $1,241,117 (2014: deficit $1,600,183).
Short Term and Long Term Objectives and Strategy Youth Off The Streets will continue to provide services consistent with our mission of helping disconnected young people discover greatness within, by engaging, supporting and providing opportunities to encourage and facilitate positive life choices. Our 35 services include homelessness services, alcohol and other drug services, counselling, aboriginal services, accredited high schools, centres for youth, outreach programs and specialised residential programs. This is in accordance with our renewed three year Strategic Plan which is reviewed annually to ensure that the organisation is well
Directors Report | 53
positioned to meet new challenges in our key focus areas. See page 14 and 15 for detail on our strategy. Youth Off The Streets has continued to outline the external and internal factors which will impact our organisation for the next three years, as part of our focus on providing a framework for a sustainable future through accountable, professional and collaborative practice. Youth Off The Streets will continue to adapt to the changes in funding requirements and opportunities from: the various federal, state and local governments provided through relevant grants; the generosity of individuals; and private and corporate donors. The organisation completed the implementation of the fundraising strategy and brand recommendations given from a fundraising and brand review that took place from January to June 2012. The Board continues to set clear expectations about the number and quality of programs provided to young people. The Board, in line with the CEO, have agreed reports for these programs noting progress towards strategic outcomes with these reports reviewed at the monthly Board meeting.
Performance Measurement Donation revenue of $ 9,9,900,054 (2014: $7,868,752) increased by 25.8 per cent largely from donations by individuals as well as bequests. This represented 41.8 per cent of total revenue.
Expenditure for the year was $22,476,014 (2014: $20,106,769) largely due to an increase in related costs to staffing and related costs to support the growth of our Outreach programs, the New South Wales (NSW) government’s Going Home Staying Home (GHSH) Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) funding for the Inner West Youth Homelessness Services, as well as the increase in the Department of Education and Training funding based on school enrolments
Likely Developments and Expected Results Change in Government Funding Models Based on Outsourcing Social Services As stated in last year’s report, there has been a strong trend toward consolidating the source and grouping of government funding and an increased emphasis on partnerships between Not for Profits to ensure the delivery of a broader range of programs, with one of the partners having the extra responsibility of administering the delivery of the program as a criteria to qualify for funding. For example, the Inner West Youth Homelessness Service. In addition, the government is exploring social impact investment models for future funding. Social impact investments are organisations and financial funds with the intention to generate social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.
54 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
There are a range of models being tested and implemented in Australia over the next couple of years, all of which are underpinned by the financial product – a social bond. The outcome of these projects will impact the future of government funding.
Implement Planned Business Growth The Board and the Executive Team held a Strategy Day in November 2014 facilitated by an external organisation. This collaborative approach between the Board and the Executive formed the 2014-2017 Strategic Plan. The aim of the day was to ensure that existing business needs are being met and that there is flexibility and alignment with future business needs. It resulted in the creation of nine projected outcomes and milestones needed to be reached to ensure these outcomes are successfully achieved over the next three years.
Continue to review the viability and impact of our programs and services As part of the framework for a sustainable future for our organisation, Youth Off The Streets reviews the viability and impact of our programs and services. In 2014/15, Youth Off The Streets began the implementation of an organisationwide minimum data set. In addition we implemented an up-grade and collation of our service area databases to provide consistent and accessible program results for reporting. This approach is being rolled-out over the next 12 -18 months, starting with our Dunlea Alcohol and Other Drug Youth Service and our Outreach programs.
Next Steps in our Fundraising and Brand Strategy In January 2012, Youth Off The Streets engaged More Strategic to review its fundraising and marketing structure and assist in the formulation of a three year fundraising strategy and brand development model that is sustainable and scalable. The review recommendations focused on building a fundraising team, implementing and reinvigorating the revenue streams related to all individual fundraising such as Appeals programs, Regular Giving, and Donor Relations, and establishing proactive campaigns around Major Gifts and Bequests. Youth Off The Streets’ began its three year fundraising
strategy focused on balancing the financial investment in fundraising with the expected return of investment in 2012/13 with a focus on establishing and resourcing Individual fundraising with a focus on best Direct Marketing practice. In 2013/14, the investment continued with the creation of the Father Chris Riley Society for our supporters who have decided to acknowledge Youth Off The Streets in their will, increasing the use of and implementing guidelines for our customer relationship management software to ensure better analysis and strategic decision making regarding income generation, and building an acquisition program for new donors and supporters. In 2014/15, our focus was on donor
care and stewardship, particularly in relation to our elderly donors. We invested time and resources in understanding the needs and wants of our donors in relation to frequency and preferences of communication. In addition, we implemented the refresh of our brand and marketing materials, which included an update logo, more youth-oriented marketing materials and a new website. Going forward Youth Off The Streets will build on the strong groundwork of the review recommendations and invest in what is working and review what is not to ensure a better return on investment going forward.
Directors Report | 55
Directors’ Meetings The number of meetings of Directors held during the year and the number of meetings attended by each Director is as follows: Name of Directors
No. of meetings held while in office
No. of meetings attended
Christopher Keith Riley
11
9
Craig Stuart Davis
11
9
Anna Maree Ainsworth
11
10
Rebecca Monica Grace Lynch
11
10
Richard John Gibbs
11
10
Richard John (Rick) Millen
11
10
Deborah Thomas (resigned October 2014)
3
2
Nicholas James Spooner (joined May 2015)
3
3
Committee Membership Directors acting on the committees of the Board and the meetings attended are as follows:
Audit, Finance and Risk Committee Meetings Name of Directors
No. of meetings held while in office
No. of meetings attended
Richard John Gibbs
10
9
Richard John (Rick) Millen
10
10
Christopher Keith Riley*
10
7
Anna Maree Ainsworth (joined February 2015)
5
5
* Attendance by invitation only Audit, Finance and Risk Committee changed to the Audit and Risk Committee via a resolution of the Board meeting held April 15, 2015.
Nominations Committee Meetings Name of Directors
No. of meetings held while in office
No. of meetings attended
Rebecca Monica Grace Lynch
2
2
Christopher Keith Riley
2
2
Richard John Gibbs
2
2
56 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
Services Committee Meetings Name of Directors
No. of meetings held while in office
No. of meetings attended
Anna Maree Ainsworth
9
8
Rebecca Monica Grace Lynch
9
9
Christopher Keith Riley
9
8
Name of Directors
No. of meetings held while in office
No. of meetings attended
Richard John Gibbs
8
8
Richard John (Rick) Millen
8
7
Deborah Thomas
8
1
Nicholas James Spooner (joined November 2014)
5
4
Development Committee Meetings
Member’s Guarantee
Indemnification of Auditors
The Company is a public company limited by guarantee that is incorporated and domiciled in Australia. If the Company is wound up, its Constitution states that each member is required to contribute a maximum of $20 each towards meeting any outstanding obligations of the Company. The total liability of members in the event of winding up the Company is $400 (2014: $400).
To the extent permitted by law, the Company has agreed to indemnify its auditors, Ernst & Young, as part of the terms of its audit engagement agreement against claims by third parties arising from the audit (for an unspecified amount). No payment has been made to indemnify Ernst & Young during or sine the financial year.
At 30 June 2015 the number of members was 20 (2014: 20 members). The maximum number of members allowed under the Company’s Constitution is 100 members.
Auditor Independence The Directors received an independence declaration from the auditor, Ernst & Young. A copy has been included on page 9 of our Financial Report.
Signed in accordance with the resolution of the Directors.
Christopher Keith Riley, Director Sydney, 2015
Richard John Gibbs, Director Sydney, 2015
Directors Report | 57
Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income For the year ended 30 June 2015 Notes
2015 $
2014 $
11,487,008
8,101,451
Donations
9,900,054
7,868,752
Fundraising
1,794,090
1,566,585
Government grants
Finance revenue
4.1
434,141
456,943
Other income
4.2
101,838
512,855
23,717,131
18,506,586
Revenue
Employee benefits expense
4.3
(14,366,703)
(13,215,701)
Depreciation expense
4.4
(1,168,194)
(1,132,973)
Other expenses
4.5
(6,941,117)
(5,758,095)
1,241,117
(1,600,183)
_
-
1,241,117
(1,600,183)
–
–
1,241,117
(1,600,183)
Surplus/(deficit) before income tax Income tax expense Surplus/(deficit) for the year Other comprehensive income Total comprehensive loss for the year
The above statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
58 | Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
Statement of financial position As at 30 June 2015 Notes
2015 $
2014 $
Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents
5
6,866,626
4,095,820
Other receivables
6
31,008
30,472
Other current assets
7
4,365,511
3,731,493
Assets classified as held for sale
8
-
2,211,266
11,263,145
10,069,051
4,177,228
4,046,637
16,049,883
16,460,821
Total non-current assets
20,227,111
20,507,458
Total assets
31,490,256
30,576,509
Total current assets
Non-current assets Investments
9
Property, plant and equipment
10
Liabilities and funds Current liabilities Trade and other payables
11
2,365,857
2,839,606
Employee benefit liabilities
12
1,065,880
899,022
3,431,737
3,738,628
195,852
216,331
195,852
216,331
3,627,589
3,954,959
4,295,888
4,295,888
Retained surplus
23,566,779
22,325,662
Total funds
27,862,667
26,621,550
Total funds and liabilities
31,490,256
30,576,509
Total current liabilities
Non-current liabilities Employee benefit liability Total non-current liabilities Total liabilities
12
Funds Contributed funds
The above statement of financial position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
Directors Reportâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;59
Professional Services Investment Advisers Youth Off The Streets appointed JBWere to manage our investment portfolio under a discretionary investment facility, from 1 September 2013.
Legal Advisers Youth Off The Streets corporate legal advisers Minter Ellison, Wilshire Webb Staunton Beattie Lawyers and Henry Davis York Lawyers.
Bank Youth Off The Streets main bank accounts are with Westpac Banking Corporation. We also have accounts with National Australia Bank and Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Independent Auditors Ernst & Young
60â&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Youth Off The Streets Annual Review 2015
Youth Off The Streets is accredited as a Designated Agency and maintains policies and procedures that comply with the benchmark standards as defined by the Office for Children the Children’s Guardian. All donations over $2.00 are tax deductible. Charitable Fund Raising No. 12611. Youth Off The Streets Limited ABN 29 100 388 412. Phone: 1800 062 288 | Email: info@youthoffthestreets.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/youthoffthestreetsaustralia Twitter: @YOTSAustralia | Instagram: @youthoffthestreets Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/youthoffstreets/ Youtube: YOTS011 www.youthoffthestreets.com.au