AYSA Annual Report 2024 by AYSAadmin

2023/24

OUR MISSION

To provide safe spaces, support and services to marginalized young people and their families, to allow them to live independent, fulfilling lives within their chosen communities.

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the Menang people as the traditional custodians of Menang Boodja, the Country in and around Albany.

We pay our respects to their culture, to their elders, past, present and emerging and we commit to working together for our shared futures.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON

LINDSAY CAMPBELL Chairperson | Albany Youth Support Association

It is with great pleasure that I report on the continued success and influence of Albany Youth Support Association across the Great Southern in assisting young people at risk, to forge enhanced lives and experience rising hope and opportunity. AYSA has, through its amazing staff and management, increased its capacity to service the needs of young people, align strategically with other service providers and design and implement corresponding programs and initiatives that are positively recognised locally, regionally and across the State of W.A.

2024 has been a consolidation year for AYSA as we further entrench our programs and delivery, consolidate our principles and values and focus on new and emerging issues. However, the increasing complexity of issues facing society and, hence, our young people, have meant that AYSA has also adopted a broader context for itself, evidenced through more niche programs and expanding geographical presence. Driving this adaptability and success has been possible through the vision, dedication and skills of all AYSA staff, led by CEO, Ian Clarke.

In times of expansion and complexity, there is often a risk to an organisations’ principles as they strive to expand whilst facing limited funding and opportunity.

AYSA has been acutely aware of this, and this year has seen a whole of organisation commitment to consolidating our service principles and values to remain focused, ethical and transparent. We have committed ourselves to apply the following values in all of our decision-making – both strategically and operationally:

• Improving communities [being the voice, entrepreneurship]

• Young people first [advocacy and giving youth a voice]

• Inclusivity and acceptance

• Accessibility of service to all

• Maximum safety and wellbeing [young people and staff]

• Transparent accountability with ethical confidentiality

It is with pride that the Board observes the operational aspects of AYSA to witness the astute organisational restructuring that has occurred through Ian’s leadership and input from all staff. The new model ensures devolved and distributed leadership, more direct access for staff to decision-makers, greater personal control of service delivery and an assurance of accurate and honest reporting. The complexity of service delivery undertaken by AYSA with its multiple streams dictates a strong management of operational activity and compliance and these have been ensured through the leadership of managers Chrystie Flint and Brad Ward.

There is certainty across AYSA with regard to its compliance, policy implementation, financial management and Board awareness. The astute work of the Finance and Risk Management committee ensures continuous revision of policies and applications; the work of the Administration Team in reshaping all AYSA job descriptions, roles and accountability has ensured a transparency of the organisation for all staff and volunteers. In particular, the work of Rachael Wilsher-Saa and Sharon Fiander has been outstanding.

A constant challenge for AYSA, as well as other support organisations, is accessing reliable data to substantiate the need for Government funding of essential programs and initiatives. This absence impacts on funds across many organisations ready and prepared to support young people in need. I am heartened

by the leadership of AYSA to gather this data, and the amenability of many local and regional organisations to collaborate in support of peoples’ needs. Through various local partnership events, hard data exists to demonstrate the above-average levels of youth and general homelessness in Albany compared to metropolitan regions and nationally. AYSA will continue its leadership in highlighting to both State and Federal Governments the need for access to reliable data across their various departments. As with many not-for-profit organisations, AYSA has recognised and demonstrated deficits in funded programs to actually support delivery expectations. Thankfully, AYSA has been able to gain rectification in some key areas ensuring no compromising of its servicing levels.

The many programs across AYSA continue to reflect the necessary diversity of the organisation and its ability to adapt to ever-changing parameters and circumstances. The national strain on cost-of-living, housing shortages and tenuous employment opportunities are precarious for many young people and AYSA’s role in supporting them amidst these factors cannot be understated. Our various programs are all designed to build capacity in young people and provide safety and security. It’s very satisfying to note the success of our initiatives and note the real benefits to individuals we work alongside. The Oak program – an Australian ‘first’ addressing family violence in young people– has been implemented well and now services nearly 20 young people and associated families. The program reflects the value of inter-agency partnerships and AYSA thanks partnering organisations such as Anglicare, WA Police and the WA Department of Education.

The AYSA - Youth Great Southern Youth Centre has evolved to become a key venue for hundreds of young people in Albany and this year has seen building upgrades, expanded programs and activities and the presence of a resident Youth Worker available to participants. AYSA thanks Youth Great Southern for their generous sponsorship of this position which has enabled another tier of support for our young people.

I draw much delight from the vast array of strategic connections AYSA has, developed strongly through our CEO and also through the day-to-day work of all AYSA staff. The complexity facing the wellbeing of young people cannot be addressed singularly and AYSA has been very deliberate in fostering and

consolidating partnerships across the region, State and nation. I refer you to the list in this annual report.

The development of the Great Southern Foyer Program continues and is a commitment across the entirety of AYSA as we seek the establishment of the facility in the near future. There has been progress and much support locally and regionally, however, the project leaders are still seeking the financial commitments required through Government and philanthropic means. There is much evidence from other parts of Australia attesting to the value and success of foyer complexes and we continue in hope that these will be viewed favourably for the Great Southern. Despite multi-billion dollar investments by other States in foyer projects, WA is yet to reflect such a commitment. AYSA notes and applauds the City of Albany for its Foyer land commitment and continued public and political support.

I wish to recognise the wonderful work of the AYSA Board of Management and thank members for their dedication, commitment and loyalty to the AYSA ethos. The collective Board brings diverse and strategic skills and focus to the organisation and shares wonderful relationships with AYSA staff and management. Thank you to members, Shannon McGeown, Julie de Jong, Tanya Paunic, Ashley Ismail, Ricky Burges, Simon London and to new members Meg Slattery and Dennis Wellington. I pay respect and give great thanks also to recently retired Board members Talitha Archer and Andrew Wenzel for their invaluable contributions to AYSA.

Lastly, and again, I thank, in admiration, the amazing team at AYSA, all of whom demonstrate commitment and loyalty to improving the lives of our young people at risk. To Ian Clarke, as CEO, for his outstanding leadership and management and for his forte in bringing together organisations to work in collaboration for young people, and to the Administration Team for their management of the complex issues of funding, human resources management and financial and statutory compliance. To all AYSA staff, on behalf of the Board, your effective and tireless work is recognised and valued, and we thank you all for the wonderful work you do.

Lindsay Campbell

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

IAN CLARKE APM CEO | Albany Youth Support Association

The Albany Youth Support Association has continued to grow as we work in collaboration with agencies in the Great Southern to address the needs of our growing population. The Great Southern, and more specifically, Albany is one of the most liveable areas in Western Australia. Despite this, we have many people experiencing homelessness, mental health and other challenges requiring substantial support, placing a strain on services. To gather data to prove the challenges our community faces, the Albany Connectivity Days were born.

There was a clear need for full and accurate data on homelessness in Albany and surrounds, to combat inadequate funding and the increasing risk to our most vulnerable. The collaboration of several agencies, local government, along with the WA Health Department and the Department of Communities co-operation, saw three Connectivity Days conducted over a 12-hour period during the day, seeking out those experiencing homelessness in Albany as a snapshot in time.

Since the first on the 3rd of May 2023, there have been two others, held on the 6th of December 2023, and most recently the 19th of June 2024 revealing some startling data. In May 23 – 82 people were located, with a total of 130 people including dependents. In December 23 – 98 people were located, with a total of 165 people including dependents and in June 24 – 73 people were located, with a total of 115 people including dependents. Some keys factors, in each case were almost 50% were under 29 years of age and in June it was as high as 66% and 44% were under 19 years of age. Our homelessness rate is 0.62%, compared to WA at 0.39%, or 159% higher than WA.

AYSA became part of the WA Foyer Invest group, who represent the service

providers who lobby on behalf of young people for Foyer Funding through Federal, State and Philanthropic Funding. Participants include Advance Housing, Anglicare, YACWA, and Accordwest. I must acknowledge the ongoing support and commitment of land by the City of Albany, who continue to work in partnership with AYSA and Advance Housing to make Great Southern Foyer a reality.

Working closely with Southern Regional TAFE, supported of Board Member Simon London, and in partnership with the Brotherhood of St. Lawrence, AYSA saw four of our team become inaugural trainers in the delivery of the Certificate 1 in Developing Independence, a first for WA. The course is key to the Foyer Program, with young people required to complete this as part of the ‘Deal’ when signing up to the Program.

This year we welcomed the growing partnership between Albany Youth Support Association and Youth Great Southern who have generously funded both the lease requirements for the Drop-In Centre as well as a full time Youth Worker to increase the capacity and opportunity for many young people to get much needed support through the activities at the Centre, progressing closer ties between our organisations. This partnership has been nurtured through the tireless work of Board Member, Ricky Burges.

The 23 -24 Financial year has seen some improvement in funding through the good work done by our administration team, particularly our Finance Coordinator Sharon. With a clear understanding of the true cost of service delivery, and armed with this evidence, we have been able to successfully argue for increased funding for some of our services.

Ms. Ricky Burges

CHAIRPERSON

The engineering delays we experienced with the renovations to Young House saw a cost blowout equating to a 36% increase on the original budget, The work done by Rachael and Sharon in partnership with our wonderful Board Member, Julie de Jong, working with the Communities Housing Grants team, has secured the additional funding required and an extended completion date to end of June 2025.

The Oak Program was developed in partnership with Anglicare and WA Police, to work with young people 12 to 20 years of age who have committed acts of a family violence with intimate partners and/or family members, and aims to provide early intervention, working with the young people to help change behaviors that may be leading to family violence, and to put in the right supports to reduce harm. As the program enters its second year, we have determined, what does and does not work in this environment, which is the first of its kind in Australia. Initial KPIs, aimed to work with 40 young people over the first 12 months, and with 45 young people now through the program, it was clear the demand for support is there. Importantly, the team are very committed to the program and are developing new and innovative ways of engaging with young people including ‘On Country’ experiences with Larry Blight, a well-known Menang community member. as well as physical training with Rob Lovett Muay Thai, which involves physical exercise, discipline and building resilience.

We were fortunate enough to be selected as one of six RECONNECT providers across Australia to be surveyed and reviewed by NOUS Consultants, highlighting the unique challenges we face with the satellite communities we support within 100 kms of Albany and the growing demand in the communities in Denmark and Plantagenet. I am proud to say the feedback on our team was excellent, and highlighted the great work done by Nat and Kiarra in the RECONNECT team.

There has been much to celebrate this past year, and AYSA is only as good as the team making a difference to families and young people’s lives every day of the year. I can only admire the work done by our amazing team of Youth Workers, Coordinators and Team Leaders who keep the operations going 24/7. The evolution of a new operational structure has seen AYSA refocus on building the skills and quality of service delivery of our team by developing

a strong case management supervision structure, ensuring all staff are well supported, including day to day Team Leader support, regular case reviews with senior staff and a comprehensive professional development agenda led by our highly experienced and skilled Professional Development Manager, Chrystie Flint. The introduction of a Program Manager position, filled by Brad Ward, oversees the reporting and needs of our suite of programs, this role also encompasses a more strategic role in supporting the future needs of the organisation, including establishing improved reporting systems which will ensure we capture critical data.

Like all ‘Not for Profit’ agencies, we rely on the goodwill of skilled community members to support us with their Board work. Each of our Board Members has contributed to our success this year, with our very experienced Chair, Lindsay Campbell, at the helm. The demands of Board roles today are significant, and I sincerely appreciate their contribution to AYSA and the young people in our region.

Much of the behind-the-scenes work we have achieved can be attributed to the excellent work of our Administration Team, Rach, Sharon and Gina and I am looking forward to 24 – 25 being a defining time for AYSA with the progression of the Great Southern Foyer and even more exciting opportunities for the young people in our community.

Ian Clarke APM

OUR WORK OUR VALUES

Fifty-seven to seventy-five percent of Australians will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. While many children grow up in safe and supportive environments, the insidious impacts of interpersonal trauma are still experienced by too many. Trauma has serious effects on the developing brain impacting on comprehension, concentration and memory and can lead to mental health difficulties, substance misuse, homelessness and unemployment. AYSA is a trauma-informed care (TIC) led service provider and as such we realise the widespread impact of trauma and understand the potential paths for recovery, recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system, respond by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into our policies, procedures, and practices and seek to actively resist re-traumatisation.

Working within a trauma informed care model, we strive to uphold our core values in all our work and interactions with young people, their families and the wider community. With young people at the core of all that we do we always aim to improve our community, be totally inclusive and accepting, making sure our services are accessible to all that need them, whilst ensuring maximum safety for young people and our Youth Workers. In all of this we aspire to be accountable and transparent but also strive to maintain the confidentiality of our clients in ethical ways.

As we grow as an organisation, we will keep our value set at the core of all that we do. During this past year we have revisited our value set to ensure they are based on providing the very best services we can for young people at risk whilst being responsible to our community and funders.

IMPROVING COMMUNITIES

Being the voice, with entrepreneurship

YOUNG PEOPLE FIRST

Advocacy and giving youth a voice

INCLUSIVITY AND ACCEPTANCE

Accepting all young people wherever they are on their journey

ACCESSIBILITY OF SERVICE TO ALL MAXIMUM SAFETY AND WELLBEING

Ensuring culturally safe accessible services

For young people and our staff

TRANSPARENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND ETHICAL CONFIDENTIALITY

Striving for openness whilst maintaining young people’s privacy

IMPROVING COMMUNITIES Being the voice, with entrepreneurship

FOYER Project

“Home Stretch has helped me in many ways. When I was homeless, they always made sure I had a safe space to sleep at night, food to eat, and a place to stay hygienic. While being homeless they supported me through transitional programs and went out of their way to help me secure housing. Now that I have my own house and baby, they are continuing to support me with anything I need, and whenever I need help, I know I can go to them.

I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for the support Home Stretch has given me, even when I don’t need help, they are checking in to see how we are doing. Having no family support is hard, but it’s so much easier with the support of Home Stretch always being there”.

AYSA, with partners Advance Housing, are continuing work towards the construction and establishment of the Great Southern Youth FOYER, an innovative approach to youth homelessness that combines housing, support and access to education and training opportunities to enable young people to transition to independent adulthood. GS FOYER will provide a 50 transitional unit plus a 10 bed crisis care accommodation facility for young people, aged 15-25 years who are at risk of, or experiencing homelessness and will welcome young people from the broader GS region. During a stay of up to two-years, young people will have access to coaching, personalised support, social connections and opportunities that enable them to pursue their education and employment goals and break the cycle of homelessness. With a firm commitment from the City of Albany for the land on which to build the Great Southern FOYER facility AYSA and our partners are working on securing philanthropic and both federal and state government funding to build and operate the facility.

Connectivity Days

The Great Southern region faces a homelessness rate of 0.62%, compared to WA at 0.39%, being 159% higher than that of WA overall. Collecting evidence of this has been accomplished through a multi agency and service providers partnership to run consecutive Connectivity Days. Conducted over a 12-hour period during the day, seeking out those experiencing homelessness in Albany, as a snapshot in time. Since the first on the 3rd of May 2023, there has been two subsequent days, held on the 6th of December 2023, and most recently the 19th of June 2024 revealing some startling data. In each case almost 50% were under 29 years of age and in fact 44% were under 19 years of age. This data overwhelmingly demonstrates the need for an increase in the accessible housing options for young people and other data collected shows the need for increases in support services for youth in the region and will be used to support the development of business cases for increased funding for youth support services and facilities across the region

IN 2024

The Home Stretch program expended $19,688.46 ‘Invest In Me Funds’ directly on young people participating in the program.

During this reporting period, 27 young people were actively engaged with the Navig8 program services with 1063 individual occasions of service provided. Since using Reconnect program services 95% of clients surveyed agreed they had a better understanding of how to access support and services.

94% of clients in the Reconnect survey rated their experience of Reconnect as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very good.’

IMPROVING COMMUNITIES Being the voice, with entrepreneurship

Home Stretch and Navig8 programs:

“It’s good because they don’t judge you, you are not to blame for what is going on in your life.”

- 16 YO female

“Mum and I just want to say thank you so much. You have helped us so much.”

16 YO male

“Thanks for all the help you’ve given me. When I first called AYSA I was at breaking point and I didn’t see myself living much longer. Now I have hope for the future and although I still get sad a lot it seems like there’s a little spark of a happy future and that’s what keeps me going.”

20 YO female

AYSA continues to reflect the voice and expressed needs of young people and aboriginal communities by providing programs co-created in partnership with indigenous communities. This ethical approach facilitated a program of strong cultural principles and frameworks that can be continually adapted or improved while drawing on the strengths of aboriginal culture, families and communities. Working in respectful partnership with the aboriginal communities in delivering these programs guarantees local country, culture and community are at the heart of service delivery.

Through these programs AYSA has assisted 96 young people with continuity in support enabling them to build their independence while supported by a visible and viable safety net of resources that ensures access to housing, foster-care, health care, and educational services in their local communities, allowing connection to family and Country to evolve.

RECONNECT:

Preventing youth homelessness at a community-based level by intervening early with at-risk young people and to stabilise and improve their living situation, is a pivotal and necessary role for the RECONNECT program in breaking the cycle of youth homelessness within our community. With breakdown in family relationships identified as the dominant cause of youth homelessness in the Great Southern, navigating pathways towards prompt resolution is crucial for young people as homelessness often results to disengagement from education, increased safety risks, and heightened mental health concerns. With the RECONNECT program supporting young people and their families in Albany, Denmark, Plantagenet, Mount Barker, Katanning, and beyond, the program is an essential youth service facing an everincreasing community demand for assistance, especially with the economic and housing strain further stressing household relationships,

IN 2024

The Home Stretch program expended $19,688.46 ‘Invest In Me Funds’ directly on young people participating in the program.

94% of clients in the Reconnect survey rated their experience of Reconnect as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very good.’

YOUNG PEOPLE FIRST Accepting

all young people wherever they are on their journey

“The DYO program has supported me with exploring my future goals and after I stopped going to school and felt unsure about what to do, I got information and support that helped me change educational pathways, and it was nice having someone support my choices. Its nice to be listened too and I always feel happier after hanging out with the youth worker”

“The DYO program has helped me with anger management, and I have learnt new and healthier ways to deal with anger and I don’t react the same ways I used too, and my relationships have improved because of it.”

“The SHOT program was really amazing. It helped me to see what it takes to care for a house. I’m so grateful that I was a part of it and had that experience”

Albany Youth Outreach:

The AYO program has supported 245 individual young people aged between 12 to 18 years to prevent crisis within the past 12 months. The service was provided to any young person in crisis or having trouble with family, school, mental health and relationships.

The AYO Youth Worker assisted with mentoring, relationship difficulties and strategies for improving these, access to educational supports, referrals to appropriate or specialised services where required, and advocacy on behalf of each young person.

Denmark Youth Reach :

The Denmark Youth Outreach program has struggled to keep up with the increased demand for services in that area. Providing empowerment to young people the Youth Worker has advocated on their behalf with the aim of growing their independence and their participation in and connectedness within the community Although a donation of $50,000 received from generous benefactors enabled the program to provide increased services for a time, the end of that funding saw an increase in the wait list develop once again. The program delivered services to 44 young people transitioning to independence this past year.

Student Wellbeing Officer Program:

Providing students with the ability to engage with a service that focuses on their emotional wellbeing with an ability to reach beyond the school gates and into the family home, displays to our youth that their voices are heard, and their needs can be met.

Using the students’ needs as a driving force behind improving their wellbeing has seen the implementation of positive change throughout the school. Youth exposed to food insecurities was used as the driving force behind transforming an unkept garden area into a productive fruit and vegetable garden that supports the essential daily Breakfast Club, while the creation of free lunch packs for at-risk youth eases the household financial strain and ensures sustained focus and attention in classrooms.

Drawing on AYSA’s existing strengths, staff and students are offered the services of existing programs that tackle prominent identified risks faced within the school, such as domestic violence, cyber safety, and schoolyard bullying.

SHOT Program :

Our housing program gives young people a chance to establish a rental history while our youth worker helps along the way. We go through the whole process at the side of the young person, assisting with the issues that can present when renting for the first time. Moving into the adult world can be daunting and not having a parent or significant adult in your life makes it even more difficult. Our housing support coordinator is there for the young person from obtaining a rental property to daily maintenance, cleaning and cooking. Budgeting and grocery shopping is taught as part of the Ready Steady Rent program that all housing candidates must complete.

IN 2024

The SHOT (Supported Housing Outreach and Tenancy) program saw a full turnover of all five units over the past twelve months with four of its former tenants moving onto private rental accommodation.

Albany Youth Outreach services were provided to 240 young people in the past 12 months with 72 of these being direct referrals from other agencies.

A philanthropic donation of $50,000 from Craig and Rosemary Thompson of Sea Corp, allowed Denmark Youth Outreach services to be extended to provide critical and intensive Youth Work services for an extra 14 young people who were at high risk.

INCLUSIVITY AND ACCEPTANCE

“When I first started going to the Youth Centre I was really shy and anxious but I really enjoyed catching up with my Youth Worker. They helped me get my ID to open a bank account, apply for Centrelink and get counselling for my mental health. The more I met with my Youth Worker the more confident I become and I’ve met some really cool people there. Even though I don’t need to see my Youth Worker as frequently, I just go to the Youth Centre to hang out with my friends, record music and do Art. It’s good to know I can go to the Youth Centre and ask for help when I need it and have a space to hang out where I feel comfortable and safe.”

“Young House has given me somewhere to live, and they helped enrol with alternative education, connect with mental health services and are helping me develop life skills such as cooking and cleaning.”

“Young House has done so much. They helped link in with services such as lawyers who provided free consultation and representation. They are helping me create a positive routine, helping with sobriety and implementing my strategies as well as helping me to find employment and upskilling such as RSA.“

“Young House has helped by showing DOH forms, sorting Medicare and MyGov accounts and helping me to find a rental. They provided support letters as it will be first rental for me. Living at Young House has really helped me make progress forward which probably wouldn’t have happened if I was living with family, as my previous living environment was very dysfunctional.”

Advocacy and giving youth

a voice

Youth Great Southern – AYSA Youth Centre:

With 3475 individual visits to the Youth Centre in the past year, there is no doubt the awareness and profile of the Youth Centre by Young People, their families and community members is increasing as is the recognition that the Youth Centre is a space that provides young people with a diverse range of activities to engage in and opportunities to receive support based on their terms.

Being accepted and respected in a safe and supportive space that promotes individuality is the right of all young people which both Youth Great Southern and AYSA firmly uphold. Providing this space for creativity and self-expression in an environment where they can meet others who may be dealing with similar struggles allows for meaningful engagement with Youth Workers who can offer support and assistance with the young person’s current situation, alleviating any increase of risk the young person may be exposed to.

Healthway Program:

With the key message being Act, Belong, Commit the Healthway funded ‘Open Access Art Studio’ once again has proven a very popular avenue of engagement for 833 young people where they have been able to experience workshops in various forms of visual arts, photography, pottery, various music series including song writing, post-production editing, creative music generation using DJ decks and performance. This program continues to grow, especially with the anonymous donation of a new Open Access Bus allowing any young person to be transported to different sites for participation in workshops such as nature photography. The completion of a one-off, arts-based project where young people completed striking murals covering the new AYSA Outreach trailer was a highlight of the program.

Young House:

Young House prides itself on being inclusive and accepting of all young people, providing positive supports and encouragement to any young person reaching out to us, regardless of their cultural choices, sexual preferences, preferred identity or the trauma’s they have experienced. 164 young people have received some form of support from us this past year. Our residents have self -identified as Aboriginal TSI (38), Indian (1) and South African (1), the reminder Australian. They also identified as 65 male, 92 female and 7 other or non-binary.

We have had three young people choose to change their sexual identity and preferred name whilst at YH. This shows that we are providing a safe space in which they feel comfortable to be able to express themselves as they choose and live their lives how they wish to be accepted. We are understanding of Mental Health issues and are aware many young people feel discriminated against or judged because of this. Our approach is to listen to the young people’s experiences and advocate for them to be truly heard and get the support they need.

IN 2024

Over 832 young people participated in arts based workshops in the Open Access –Act Belong Commit - Arts Studio.

Albany Youth Support Association received an anonymous donation of a new bus for transporting young people to events, workshops and service-based group activities.

Albany Youth Support Association directed $203,744 directly into support services for young people within the Albany region.

There were 12 in-house lifeskills sessions delivered at Young House on the topic of budgeting which were delivered by a financial counsellor.

ACCESSIBILITY OF SERVICE TO ALL Ensuring culturally safe accessible services

“Oak have helped me to become more independent and learn more about myself”

“ I have found the sessions educational, informative and I really like the group outings”.

“The AOD Educator has helped with me not drinking as much as I used to and helped get me to see Community Mental Health and Palmerston”.

“If I didn’t have this I would have nowhere to go to wash and dry my clothes.”

“I can’t afford the laundromat and being able to wash and dry my uniforms here is so good. I don’t earn enough to pay for the laundromat, it cost too much. This really helps me. ”

Drop-In Centre:

The Youth Great Southern - AYSA Drop-In Youth Centre provides support to any young person aged 12 to 24 who are in crisis or experiencing a difficult journey through adolescence. The Centre provides facilities such as a washing machine and dryer, showers and hot meals for those experiencing homelessness or sleeping rough. The increase in uptake by young people, of the services on offer, positively reflects their value to those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This year, Youth Great Southern have provided a full time Youth Worker to work alongside the Albany Youth Outreach Youth Worker who are available for support whenever the Centre is open. This addition has ensured a safe and supportive space for young people to receive Youth Worker support and referrals to specialised agencies/ services, participate in activities (including music, games, art, life skill programs and more ) or just hang-out in a relaxed, youth friendly, all-inclusive environment.

OAK Program:

The OAK program directed $370,000 in the past 12 months toward breaking the cycle of youth domestic violence before abusive and violent behaviours become entrenched, ingrained and resistant to change. The OAK program delivered services to 45 young people and their families from across the region and to a mix of genders and backgrounds. Referrals to this program came from various sources including self-referrals. The OAK program has provided services to clients from as far away as Bow Bridge and Kendenup , ensuring that those that need this critical service can access it no matter where they live.

AOD Program:

With 100% of young people participating in the AOD Educator program “Agreeing” or “Strongly Agreeing” that the program increased their knowledge of AOD enough to make informed and safer choices about their own AOD use, the success of this ongoing service cannot be underestimated. Primarily delivered to Young House residents, the program is also offered to outreach program clients. The education in strategies and development of knowledge in AOD issues by AYSA Youth Work staff has been a key part of the program in the past 12 months. This has ensured assistance given by all Youth Workers, aids in harm minimisation in each program delivered by AYSA, thus spreading its positive impact to all AYSA clients.

IN 2024

The OAK program directed $370,000 in the past 12 months toward breaking the cycle of youth domestic violence before abusive and violent behaviours become entrenched, in-grained and resistant to change.

The program delivered services to 45 young people and their families with 66.7% reporting a positive reduction in aggressive or violent behaviours or incidents.

178 individual counselling sessions were provided by the AOD Educator with 396 attendees to AOD group sessions across the twelve months.

Albany Youth Support Association directed $139,717 toward Alcohol and Other Drug Education for young people in the Great Southern region.

MAXIMUM SAFETY AND WELLBEING For young people and our staff

“Living at Young House has helped me find regular employment after having trouble to find a job. Its really good to have a place to stay.”

“The addition of a new kitchen with the space for us to deliver cooking classes will provide opportunities for us to work alongside our young people, teaching them essential cooking, kitchen and hygiene skills, increasing their confidence, lifeskills and independence. The classes will also provide hospitality skills that can be transferred to the workplace, opening up further employment opportunities.”

SHERP Project:

Refurbishment of Young House to include a state-of-the-art kitchen which will enable group cooking classes to be held, resident bathroom upgrades and the addition of a larger Youth Worker office was delayed due to a change in the plans to accommodate a critical incident safety exit which needed to meet fire compliance. Working closely with the Department of Communities Housing Grants team we were able to secure an extension to the original project as well as increased funding of more than 30%. This will allow Young House to meet all regulatory safety requirements and improve the facilities for those living and working there. The project is due for completion in late April 2025.

Work Safe Guardian Program:

During late 2023 Albany Youth Support Association began a roll out the Work Safe Guardian App for all youth work staff. Ensuring the safety of our Youth Workers is paramount, especially with increased client interaction occurring out in the region. This lone worker app allows our Youth Workers to log their location and timeframes for client interaction, no matter where they are and no matter what time of the day or night. With a simple shake of their phones, they can activate an alert which will be responded to, in two minutes or less. The roll out of the Work Safe Guardian app has been positively received and means AYSA is meeting worker safety regulations and standards.

“Lifeskills such as cooking and hygiene may seem like simple things that we do every day without thinking, but it is these daily skills that many of our young people have never been shown. They have done these tasks for survival, not for the joy and pleasure of creating and sharing a healthy nutritious meal.”

IN 2024

Albany Youth Support Association secured an additional $136,000 from the Department of Communities – Housing toward the Young House refurbishment project to bring the total project budget up to $507,955.

Albany Youth Support Association Youth Worker staff have completed a total of 467 individual training units in the past 12 months and attended a total of 103 individual supervision sessions across the three levels of supervision.

The AYSA Finance and Risk Management Committee and the Board of Management have prioritised Safety and Wellbeing polices in the Policy Review Process in the past 12 months.

MAXIMUM SAFETY AND WELLBEING For young people and our staff

“The WorkSafe Guardian app assists to ensure a safe environment while working out in the regions and when visiting clients that often live on properties off the beaten track. It not only works to keep me safe by monitoring my location, it can also be used to send for help in case of medical emergency.“

“Supervision is so important in this job role. I continue to utilise and benefit from supervision working at AYSA. It is so beneficial for me that I am able to discuss my work worries and concerns in supervision with someone who works in the same space, understands the young people I work with and can give me new perspectives on situations.”

New Supervision Structure

At its core, supervision is a structured, collaborative process aimed at enhancing a Youth Worker’s professional skills, personal development, and overall effectiveness as a Youth Worker. It is like having a seasoned mentor by their side, guiding them through the difficulties of this fulfilling but challenging work. Through implementing a new three-tiered supervision structure, AYSA is demonstrating its commitment to this critical aspect of staff development and wellbeing. With immediate and regular access to an experienced senior Youth Worker as well as the Professional Development Manager all AYSA Youth Workers have safe spaces to reflect on their experiences, successes and challenges, whilst developing their tools and knowledge to handle complex situations effectively. The new supervision structure also gives our Youth Workers access to supervision which teaches crucial self-care strategies to prevent burnout and how to maintain their own well-being.

“The structure of supervision within AYSA is really useful and supportive. Supervision is essential in this role, and I’ve always felt confident in utilizing it when working with complex clients. I’ve gained valuable knowledge from senior staff members and have had access to the necessary support whenever needed. I feel comfortable reaching out for assistance, knowing that help is always available.”

TRANSPARENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND ETHICAL CONFIDENTIALITY Striving

for openness whilst maintaining young people’s privacy

“The ability to easily capture, record and maintain comprehensive client records with accuracy and security and access that data and share client data across programs and services will be a game changer.”

“Our current mandated data systems don’t talk to each other so sharing data means lots of duplication and sometime triplication. To be able to develop data categories to suit all reporting purposes and as evidence of trends, needs and outcomes will take us to the next level.”

Policy and Procedure Review:

Starting in 2023 the AYSA Finance and Risk Management Committee embarked on a review process of all AYSA Policies and Procedures. The policies were prioritized through a risk matrix. At the same time, the AYSA Board of Management revisited and assessed the core values of AYSA to ensure they were relevant and underpinned by our culture, our practices and our interactions with clients, stakeholders and the broader community. This review process ensures we meet all statutory, regulatory and best practice requirements as a leading youth service organisation. The process is ongoing and will form part of our continual improvement cycle.

New Data Collection System:

With the increased demand for data to support business cases for increased funding, the development of new youth services and programs, and to provide a strong evidence base for outcomes-based reporting, the AYSA Board of Management have been considering a new, easily accessible and comprehensive client management system to be rolled out in the next financial year. This system will ensure the rights of young people to privacy and the collection of their personal information is maintained at the highest level whilst allowing the data collected to be shared easily with other major government client management systems. The efficiency of the new system will negate the duplication of data collection and will mean that AYSA Youth Workers will spend more time in direct interaction and active case management, where their time is most valuable to our clients.

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