Brisbane Youth Service

#FlashbackFriday 💜 From the appointment of our first youth worker in 1977 to delivering 68,310 occasions of support this past financial year, Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) has grown into a force for hope and change. Our journey is captured in this video timeline, showcasing key events in BYS history that reflect how much we've adapted to meet the needs of vulnerable young people and young families. Each step has been fuelled by the resilience of the young people we support, the dedication of our team and the generosity of our community. 🙏 Thank you to everyone who has walked alongside us, from long-standing partners to new supporters who share our commitment to promoting a just society for young people. Together, we will continue to strive towards a world where all young people can thrive and have a safe place to call home. Here’s to creating more moments in history – championing young people and shaping #NewFutures.

A heartfelt thank you to Tyrone Shandiman for visiting our Youth Support Centre and to the Insurance Advisernet Foundation for their incredible $25,000 donation. Since 2019, the foundation’s continued generosity has played a vital role in providing housing, healthcare and support to young people and families facing or at risk of homelessness. This ongoing partnership enables us to grow our impact and help young people build brighter, more stable futures. We are truly grateful to the Insurance Advisernet (IA) Foundation and the Insurance Advisernet Australia team for their unwavering belief in our mission. #NewFutures #IAFoundation #CommunitySupport #EndYouthHomelessness

'Tis the season for giving!✨🎁 We are incredibly grateful to our generous supporters – Holding Redlich Brisbane, KPMG Brisbane, Reidy House St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, and Corinda State High School – for contributing to even more Christmas hampers for those we support. Packed with pantry essentials and festive treats, these hampers provide comfort and stability for young people and families during what can be a difficult time of year. A massive thank you to everyone involved. Your generosity reflects the power of community to bring hope when it’s needed most. 🫶

Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear pink, like the amazing Share the Dignity volunteer, Kym Brookhouse! She recently visited our Youth Support Centre with over 100 beautifully prepared ‘It’s in the Bag’ donations. These meaningful gifts from the community are filled with life’s essentials and a touch of luxury to remind young people facing homelessness or domestic violence they are not alone. For young people leaving unsafe environments or navigating the challenges of homelessness, receiving one of these thoughtfully packed bags – complete with toiletries, menstrual products and baby care items for mums and bubs we support – offers a little bit of love, a little bit of hope and the dignity they deserve. 🩷 Thank you, Kym, and all the supporters of Share the Dignity, for helping us empower young people and bring hope this festive season! #itsinthebag #sharethedignity #newfuturesforyoungpeople

Our wonderful friends at MinterEllison Brisbane have done it again, donating a record-breaking 200 Christmas hampers filled with pantry essentials and delicious snacks for the young people and families we support – the most hampers donated by a single organisation for the second year in a row! 🎉 For over a decade, MinterEllison has been a key supporter of our mission, providing pro bono legal advice, volunteering, fundraising, and playing an instrumental role in securing leases for our Youth Support Centre and Young Women, Families and Safe Relationships Centre. These safe spaces offer young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness the opportunity to find hope, stability and pathways to a brighter future. A special shout-out to Michelle Bold and Oscar Kawamata from MinterEllison for making multiple trips to deliver these incredible hampers. Your kindness, generosity and ongoing support make a real difference, especially during a time of year that can feel so uncertain for many.🎄🎁 #NewFutures #CommunitySupport #EndYouthHomelessness

Family and intimate partner violence remain among the leading causes of homelessness for young people in Australia. Unfortunately, many young people we meet do not recognise they are in domestic and family violence (DFV) relationships, as violence has often been their norm. This cycle of violence can continue as young people often mirror the ways their caregivers respond to conflict or are survivors of abuse themselves. BYS’s Young Women, Families and Safe Relationships Senior Manager, Lou Baker, recently spoke with ABC News to highlight the importance of early intervention services, like our K.I.N.D. program, in addressing Australia’s violence crisis. Read the article at https://lnkd.in/gsPUHhSt

The conclusion of this year's #16DaysOfActivism Against Gender-Based Violence coincides with Human Rights Day. This day is a powerful reminder of how human rights are a pathway to solutions, playing a critical role as a preventative, protective and transformative force for good. At Brisbane Youth Service, we see firsthand how the power of human rights can transform lives. For the young people we work with, particularly those experiencing or at risk of homelessness due to domestic and family violence (DFV), claiming their rights means having access to age-appropriate supports, securing safe housing, breaking the cycle of violence, and building healthy relationships. Through our trauma-informed services, like our Young Women, Families and Safe Relationships programs, we support young people to heal, reclaim control and develop the skills they need to to navigate life’s challenges with confidence. We believe that when young people are empowered to know and assert their rights, they can thrive in their communities and create the futures they deserve. This 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Human Rights Day and beyond, we stand with young people to build a world where their rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. #NewFutures #HumanRightsDay #OurRightsOurFuture #EndGenderBasedViolence

The holiday season can be a challenging time for many young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. It’s also a time when we’re reminded of the incredible kindness and generosity of our community and corporate supporters. We recently received some very special deliveries from families at Wheller House, Brisbane Boys College and the Brisbane team at Fulton Hogan Utilities. These food hampers, filled to the brim with pantry staples, bikkies and other goodies, will be distributed to young people and families we support. Thank you to Gail and Mel from Fulton Hogan Brisbane team, Emily from Brisbane Boys' College Wheller House and everyone who has kindly contributed to these simple but meaningful gifts. Thoughtful gestures like these provide more than just practical help – they remind young people that they are valued and important. 🤝😊

At Brisbane Youth Service, we are dedicated to breaking the cycle of violence and homelessness by providing tailored support for young parents. We support them to regain control of their lives and create safe, nurturing environments for themselves and their children. Our K.I.N.D program offers youth-specific, one-on-one interventions for young people who use violence. This trauma-informed program recognises that many of the participants have also experienced violence in their own lives. By providing a safe space for healing and growth, we support them to develop emotional regulation skills, improve communication and learn healthy coping strategies to break the cycle of violence. Join us during the #16DaysOfActivism Against Gender-Based Violence and help build communities where young women, and all young people, are safe and equal. It all starts with respect. #NewFutures #16Days #EndGenderBasedViolence

Last week, we proudly celebrated the grand opening of Brisbane Youth Service's new Youth Support Centre in Fortitude Valley! More than a decade in the making, this centre brings essential services together under one roof, offering a safe and welcoming space for young people facing homelessness to access tailored programs and services that support them to build brighter futures. As part of the celebration, we were honoured to experience a moving cultural fusion dance performance by Tjilala Brown-Roberts from the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts, reminding us of the strength of connection and culture. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to: 🌟 The Department of Housing and Public Works for making this dream a reality. 🌟 Archway for their incredible work in designing a space that is both functional and inspiring. 🌟 Our outgoing Board Chair, Mark Wheatley, for his leadership and commitment. 🌟 Our dedicated BYS employees, partners and young people, whose compassion, determination and valuable insights have helped shape our direction and brought this vision to life. We’re also thrilled to welcome back Jordan Bruce, a former BYS Arts Health worker, who painted the vibrant pylons that warmly greet everyone who enters the centre. As our CEO, Pam Barker GAICD, shared: “Today we celebrate not just a building, but the future it represents. Thank you for being part of this journey and for standing with us as we continue to create opportunities and build brighter futures for young people in Brisbane.” #NewFutures #YouthSupportCentre #BrisbaneYouthService Meaghan Scanlon MP Grace Grace Annemaree Callander Mark Wheatley Michelle Wade GAICD Di Mahoney Loretta Lynch Shelley Sorrenson Josh Maris Rachana Rajan Jordan McCarthy James Kirkpatrick Liam Pinkstone Dr Admire Matsika Catherine Scott