Annual Report 2017-18 02 | Annual Report 2017-18
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Annual Report 2017-18 02 | Annual Report 2017-18 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We acknowledge that we work on Aboriginal land and that sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to elders past, present, and future, and extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We celebrate diversity in all forms and believe diversity amongst our staff makes Yfoundations a more effective organisation. Yfoundations acknowledges that our efforts towards inclusivity and solidarity must be ongoing and always evolving. We always welcome feedback from the sector and community members. Thank you to all the workers striving to create a future without youth homelessness. 03 | Annual Report 2017-18 CONTENTS Yfoundations in 2017/18...............................................................04 President's Report.........................................................................05 CEO Report.....................................................................................06 Projects and Policy........................................................................07 Health Report.................................................................................09 Financial Overview.........................................................................10 Our Staff........................................................................................13 Our Board.......................................................................................14 Members and Supporters..............................................................15 04 | Annual Report 2017-18 YFOUNDATIONS IN 2017/18 It has been an exciting year at Yfoundations. The team has delivered some impressive work to raise the public profile of youth homelessness and support the community sector to better meet the needs of disadvantaged young people. This year's Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD) was the largest YHMD event to date, with 250 attendees, 22 stalls, high profile speakers including Minister Pru Goward and Tanya Plibersek MP. Yfoundations together with one of our Youth Ambassadors featured in the Fairfax article You can see it in their eyes: The hardest thing about being homeless. Yfoundations made a number of other media appearances in 2017-2018 including: SBS Filthy Rich & Homeless ABC Tonightly with Tom Ballard ABC News Breakfast The Guardian Hope FM MISSION AND VISION Yfoundations works to create a future without youth homelessness by providing a leading voice for young people experiencing and at risk of homelessness and the services that support them. We work collaboratively with service providers, NGOs, government departments and community members to provide research, sector development and policy advice, health projects and services for young people. All of Yfoundations' efforts focus on five foundations: Safety & Stability, Home & Place, Health & Wellness, Connections & Participation, and Education & Employment. 05 | Annual Report 2017-18 PRESIDENTS Yfoundations has worked hard this year as can be seen by the numbers of meetings, submissions, Sticky Stuff REPORT trainings that have been attended, written and delivered. By Nerida Ackerman The office moved (back) to 619 Elizabeth Street and are excited to be in 2017 we welcomed At the previous AGM in the fresh new (old) space. of Yfoundations. Zoë Zoë Robinson as CEO Yfoundations continues to have strong rom Deloitte, her joined Yfoundations f partnerships with other Peak Bodies challenging, but an first year has been a and the community. e. Zoë’s enthusiasm exciting learning curv is an asset, her list and high energy level Yfoundations has also developed long in this firsts 12 of achievements are strong relationships with private and months as CEO. business organisations - and we look forward to sharing more about these in Yfoundations Under Zoë's guidance 2018-2019. Thank you to our members ated a new position, restructured and cre and supporters for a great year. Gemma Luckett filling Research Lead, with ed back Jessie this role. We welcom Whilst it was a challenging year for role at Yfoundations Halligan in a full time Yfoundations, it has thrived. Youth ts Officer - Youth. as a Policy and Projec Homelessness Matters Day was the t was continued and The Health NSW gran biggest to date and we hosted 22 o deliver the Sticky Ben Corio continues t services and welcomed a number of ia Gale also took on a Stuff training. Natal politicians, academics and advocates. nd Projects Officer - new role as a Policy a conducting a Sector and has been This year we have welcomed Daniel work focused on substantial piece of Daylight (Infinite Hope), Lex juvenile justice. young people exiting Lutherborrow (Youth Off The Streets) and Brittany Jack (VERTO) to the Board. tone and Marella We farewelled Chris S I want to thank the Board for their d want to take this Gouvernet. The Boar service and their support throughout wledge their opportunity to ackno this year. contribution and effort for their work. Pictured (L-R): Warren Welsh (Burdekin), Eleonore Johannson (Southern Youth and Family Services), Nerida Ackerman (YP Space MNC), Jody Pearce (Veritus), Zoë Robinson (CEO), Alan Brennan (Pathfinders), Nigel Parker (St Laurence House) and Laurie Matthews (Caretakers Cottage) Photo: Yfoundations Board Members 2017/18 06 | Annual Report 2017-18 CEO REPORT The Yfoundations team has worked very hard during the last year and that is seen in By Zoë Robinson the number of submissions, the citations in reports and the success of Youth It is a privilege to write this report. It has Homelessness Matters Day - our biggest to been almost one year since I took on the date! I want to thank the team for their role as CEO of Yfoundations. I have had energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the great fortune to travel across NSW to work during this year. meet with members and young people and to speak at a number of functions. I have I want to thank the Board for their ongoing spent time with government and with the support and for welcoming me into my role. community. I have also had the opportunity to engage with the public and I want to thank each and every member who with businesses to talk about youth has emailed me, welcomed me into their homelessness and bring awareness to the service, who has called me and who has crisis. worked with us this year. Our job is a privilege and it is because of our members During this time a number of major reports and young people that we achieve what we have been released and statistics have achieve. shown us that youth homelessness is at a crisis point. The work that we undertake 2017-2018 was a big year for Yfoundations as a Peak needs to be informed by young and we have strong foundations for 2019 people and our members so that we can and beyond! effectively advocate for and on behalf of our most vulnerable. We have been working very hard to be heard and we have 101 39 had many opportunities to work with Meetings with Service government in shaping future policy. Government Visits OUR NEW (OLD) OFFICE After more than a year at 10 Stokes Ave Alexandria, Yfoundations has returned to 619 Elizabeth Street Redfern, now in the newly refurbished Suite 4. It is great to be back in our old neighbourhood, close to our NGO comrades. The office is perfect for our size and our work. It has an abundance of natural light and is walking distance to Central and Redfern Railway Stations, as well as great cafes, bars, restaurants, and parks. Photo: Yfoundations new office space 07 | Annual Report 2017-18 PROJECTS AND POLICY KEY SUBMISSIONS A 2 T 5 T 0 ALRC REVIEW OF THE FAMILY LAW SYSTEM A E T N Yfoundations' submission to the Australian Law Reform D Y E Commission states that the family law system needs to be 1 2 H E Y M S improved to resolve family disputes quickly and affordably, I C D O L while maintaining a focus on the safety and wellbeing of P E N I T T children and young people. W R T S T P U SHAPING A BETTER CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM O U This submission, supported by Youth Action, covered early intervention, restoration and court processes. THE JUSTICE PROJECT, LAW COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA 9 S 1 3 G Yfoundations' submission on young people's experience of I N D E T E the justice system was repeatedly quoted and E D M E N referenced throughout their final report. T T A PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION DRAFT REPORT ON REFORMS TO HUMAN SERVICES Yfoundations submitted a response to the Productivity 2 8 Commission's report “Introducing Competition and Informed J U V E User Choice into Human Services". J N I L C U S E NSW PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY NEW PARENTS & BABIES O N T I C S U E Yfoundations' submission to the inquiry focused on young L T A T parents experiencing homelessness due to the over- I O N representation and high vulnerability of this cohort. S RURAL, REGIONAL AND REMOTE REHAB SERVICES A number of issues were identified in this submission: significant lack of youth-specific drug rehab services, a lack of detoxification services, and strict requirements that prevent early intervention. YHMD 2018 On the 18th April, Yfoundations hosted an event for Youth Homelessness Matters Day. The day was a great success with over 250 people in attendance. A host of services who provide support to homeless young people set up stalls including Caretakers Cottage, Legal Aid, Mission Australia and Burdekin Association, among others. Speakers included Minister Pru Goward, Tanya Plibersek MP and the Advocate for Children and Young People, Andrew Johnson. Photo: Some of the 250 strong crowd at YHMD, Prince Alfred Park. 08 | Annual