Youth Accommodation Association ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Working towards ending youth

Contents

Introduction 2

YAA Vision & Purpose 3

YAA Board of Management 4

YAA Members 2009 - 2010 5

President’s Report 6

Chief Executive Officer’s Report 7 - 10

Veronica Penna – Street Care 11

Our Work 2009 - 2010 12 - 13

Youth Homelessness Matters 14 - 15

Youth Emergency Accommodation Line 16

Canterbury/Bankstown Youth Accommodation Services 17

YAA Health Division 18 - 19

Treasurers Report 20

Audited Financial Statements 21 - 26

YAA to 27

Acknowledgements 28

YAA Contacts Back Page

YAA 2010 Annual Report 1 Introduction

Thank you for reading this year’s YAA Annual Report. In this annual report you will find information about the work of the YAA over the last 12 months and what we have been doing to address in NSW.

This year has been a significant year for YAA. Firstly, this will actually be the final “YAA” Annual Report. As voted by our members, YAA will be changing its name to ‘Yfoundations’, with the official launch in December. In the same way we were once the “Youth Refuge Association” and moved to “Youth Accommodation Assocation”, we believe the ‘Yfoundations’ concept and name will better reflect the broader work of ourselves and our members.

Over the year we have started to experience a shift and change from the effects of the COAG, NAHA, “The Road Home”, the NSW Homelessness Action Plan and the, Keep Them Safe reforms. It is exciting to finally see some new resources and projects up and running for young homeless people in NSW as part of the initial down payment on addressing homelessness in . Working towards This will also be our final year delivering services for young people in the Canterbury/Bankstown region, as we transition ending youth these services to a permanent auspice under following a tender process in early 2010. YAA has been in the area for close to ten years via Wruwallin House homelessness and more recently through Canterbury Youth Services, under its Temporary Auspice Program.

In Late 2009, YAA delivered a highly successful sector development event - the Youth Homelessness Matters: YHM 2009 conference in Tweed Heads. This event built on our Newcastle conference in 2008 with close to 200 participants from Australia wide. We have now commenced our planning for a national conference in 2011.

YAA’s CEO, Michael Coffey, completed an international study tour on Youth Homelessness in 2009 which has proven to be an invaluable resource for YAA and the sector at large.

Last but not least, the wave of support behind Youth Homelessness Matters continues to build momentum and the National Day of awareness during Youth Week 2010 was another massive success. These successes and achievements are discussed further in our Annual Report.

YAA continued to operate as a dynamic and leading organisation over the past 12 months. We hope you enjoy reading about our achievements for 2009-2010.

2 YAA 2010 Annual Report YAA Vision & Purpose

VALUES STATEMENT The key principles, values and core assumptions which underpin the intent of the vision and the work of YAA are..

VISION STATEMENT RIGHTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE YAA intends that all young people Promoting opportunity for all young people to develop their are supported appropriately within full potential in a safe nurturing environment their family and/or the wider community to achieve their fullest SOCIAL JUSTICE potential and to lead independent Demonstrating a social justice based approach lives as adults in society

LEADERSHIP Providing positive and proactive leadership for the sector

PURPOSE STATEMENT PARTNERSHIPS YAA is working towards Working in partnership and alliance with other NGO and ending youth homelessness Government organisations in NSW and Australia GOOD PRACTICE Demonstrating and developing good governance and practice

TRANSPARENCY Demonstrating clear and transparent accountability

LEARNING Operating as a dynamic learning organisation

EFFICIENCY Operating as an efficient and effective organisation

PARTICIPATION Encouraging and supporting participation of young people

SOCIAL INCLUSION Proactive engagement with diversity and demonstration of inclusion

YAA 2010 Annual Report 3 YAA Board of Management

CO PRESIDENT Liz Price – Doorways Brett Paradise - NRSDC Reconnect Western NSW Board Delegate Specialist Board Delegate (Reconnect) Ph: (02) 68845254 NSW National Youth Housing Coalition Delegate Fax: (02)68851399 Ph: (02) 6620 1880 Email: [email protected] Fax: (02) 6620 1899 Email: [email protected] Jon Park - Yes Youth and Family Services Riverina Board Delegate CO PRESIDENT Ph: (02) 6021 7046 Mary Biddle - Phoenix House Fax: (02) 6041 5904 Metropolitan Board Delegate Email: [email protected] Ph: (02) 9437 0077 Fax: (02) 9437 0148 Gerina Appo - St Joseph’s Youth Service Email: [email protected] Far North Coast Delegate Phone: (07) 5589 1800 TREASURER Fax: (07) 5524 8026 Kellie Checkley - Shire Wide Youth Services Email: [email protected] Metropolitan Board Delegate Ph: (02) 9525 7919 [ext 27] Nerida Ackerman - YP Space MNC Fax: (02) 9525 1991 Mid North Coast Delegate Email: [email protected] Ph: (02) 6563 1230 Mob: 0417 534 307 Email: [email protected] [email protected] SECRETARY & PUBLIC OFFICER Julia Woods – CYDP Kevin Crowe - Southern Youth and Family Services Hunter Board Delegate South Coast Delegate Ph: (02) 4922 1508 Ph: (02) 4226 5683 Mob: 0412 442 077 Fax: (02) 4925 7922 Fax: (02) 4226 6364 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Donna Spears - UnitingCare Burnside Laurie Matthews - Metropolitan Board Delegate Metropolitan Board Delegate Ph: (02) 4628 3199 Ph: (02) 9389 0999 Mob: 0419 200 215 Fax: (02) 4628 4754 Fax: (02) 9389 6999 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Brian Tranter - The Bridge Youth Refuge Warren Welsh - Burdekin Association Metropolitan Board Delegate Specialist Board Delegate (Out of Home Care) Ph: (02) 9521 6182 Ph: (02) 8976 1777 Fax: (02) 9545 4311 Fax: (02) 9939 0377 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Alan Brennan - Armidale Youth Refuge New England Board Delegate Ph: (02) 6772 6557 Fax: (02) 6771 5004 Email: [email protected]

4 YAA 2010 Annual Report YAA Members 2009 - 2010

(Includes Organisational, Associate and Individual)

Alive Housing Program Lighthouse Community Care (My Place) Allambi House Lillian’s (Lillian Howell Project Inc) Armidale & District Youth Support Services Lithgow Youth Work (Community Projects) Ballina District Com Services Assoc. Liverpool Youth Refuge Barbara Tobin Lotus House Blue Mountains Youth Accommodation & Support Service LYAAC Bondi Youth Accom. Mackillop Family Services (formerly Edmund Rice) Broken Hill Youth Accommodation Marist Youth Care (Westmead) Byron Bay Youth House Inc Medley Community Cabramatta Youth Team Mission Australia - NSW State Office (Membership) Caretakers Cottage Monaro Crisis Accommodation Service Centacare’s Youth Accom & Support Service (Newcastle) Moree Family Support Incorporated Nepean Youth Accommodation Service Come-In Youth Resource Centre Newcastle Youth Accommodation Services Community Connections North Coast Nick Kearns House Community Youth Development Project Northern Youth Support Service Compass Housing NSW Federation of Housing Assoc. Council for Homeless Persons Victoria Parrahouse Doorways - UnitingCare, Burnside (Dubbo) Phoenix House Youth Services Emerge Youth and Family Services Presbyterian Social Serv-Cornerstone Blakehurst Erskinevilla Youth Housing Reconnect - Bellingen/Nambucca Exodus House Red Cross Young Women’s Health Program Fairfield Youth Accommodation Shire Wide Youth Services Fusion Accom Support Service Shoalhaven Youth Accommodation Gordon House (Burnside) Southern Highlands Youth Accom Grandview Lodge Southern Riverina Youth Support Serv Illawarra Youth Housing Southern Sydney Youth Refuge Jacaranda Cottage Southern Youth & Family Services Assoc Jetty Bunker Youth Service Inc. St George Accommodation for Youth Ltd Leith House St Josephs Youth Service St Vincents Adolescent Care (Westmead) Stretch a Family Inc. Taldumande Youth Services Tamworth Youth Care The Bridge Youth Service The Burdekin Assoc Inc. The Crossing The Drum - Burnside (Campbelltown) The Turning Point Twenty10 Gay & Lesbian Youth Support UnitingCare, Burnside (Parramatta) Veritas House Inc. (Bathurst) Vinnies Youth Housing Macarthur Western Housing for Youth YES Youth & Family Services Young People’s Refuge Youth Angle Inc. Youth Housing Support MNC (Merrylands)

YAA 2010 Annual Report 5 Presidents Report

Dear Members,

This year has been one of reflection and transformation Brett Paradise & Mary Biddle for our sector and along with it a process of reflection and Co – Presidents transformation has began within the Youth Accommodation Association.

First up there was change in the YAA leadership and we would like to acknowledge the dedication and leadership of the out going President Kevin Crowe. Kevin stood down from the role of President at the last AGM after holding the position since 2006.The Board and staff would like to thank him for his hard work over the past 3 years and we continue to value his input and support in his continued role on the YAA board. Faced with the big job of filling in Like SAAP transforming into Specialist Homelessness Kevin’s shoes, the elected YAA Board for 2010 nominated Services, the YAA will too transform into YFoundations. A us as co- presidents so we could spread the workload and peak, that continues to aim for excellence in engagement, best represent YAA. This made sense given the expected advocacy, education, development and most importantly workload and year of change that we knew was ahead. ending Youth Homelessness and its’ causes. The history of our organisation’s names, the Youth Refuge Action Group This year’s achievements have been considerable. and then the Youth Accommodation Association reflected Significantly, the YAA’s access and relevance as an particular periods in our society’s response to youth organisation ‘working towards a future without Youth homelessness and so too does the title of YFoundations. It Homelessness’ has been demonstrated by the leadership was not a decision taken lightly and considerable time has and representation on the National Youth Coalition for been spent in deliberation. Our intention is for YFoundations Housing, the Youth Homelessness Matters Day Campaign, to express that ending youth homelessness is more than just NSW Community Homelessness Alliance, Minister’s/ providing a bed, a roof and a job. It is about ensuring all FAHSCIA Critical thinkers group, the Premier’s council the foundations are in place for young people to have the on homelessness, the regular lobbying and dialogue with opportunities for positive well being, social justice and social Ministers at all levels of government and their policy makers. inclusion.

Michael and all the staff should be congratulated for Lastly, we would like to thank the Department of Humans their outstanding efforts in providing exceptional sector Services and particularly Community Services for the representation, developing solid informed policy and action, continued financial support and the recognition of our advocating to achieve a better deal for young people and organisation’s role in ending Youth Homelessness, and in especially for strengthening our direct youth engagement in a addition the Department of Families, Communities, Housing time of major change. and Indigenous Affairs and Housing NSW, for contributing resources to the YAA conference, and the ongoing support Taking the responsibility for the Governance of YAA, the we receive from Health NSW. work of the Board has been crucial in looking toward and planning for the future. The Board works to ensure the YAA Thank you for your continued involvement. maintains relevance. Accordingly the YAA Board focused heavily on developing our next strategic plan and in the It is a great pleasure to present the 2010 Annual Report process we asked ourselves some challenging questions. We are extremely proud of the work the Board undertook as part Brett Paradise & Mary Biddle of this process and of the respectful way we collaborated. Co – Presidents It is however because of this work that this will be that last Annual Report of the Youth Accommodation Association. Later in the year we will be officially launching our new strategic plan and new name ‘YFoundations’.

6 YAA 2010 Annual Report Chief Executive Officer’s Report

Dear Members and Colleagues I am pleased to present a report on the work of the Youth Accommodation Association (YAA) for the year 2009-2010 Michael Coffey Chief Executive Officer The Big Picture when programs or strategies What a year it has been, in the last twelve months the that are effective are landscape has begun to shift and change as the effect defunded in an attempt of the COAG, NAHA, “The Road Home” and the NSW to be seen to be doing Homelessness Action Plan and Keep Them Safe reforms something new, when begin to be felt for young people who are at risk of or scarce resources are shifted when time and resources are experiencing homelessness and the services working wasted on restructures or administrative changes that cause with them. unnecessary angst. These developments can interrupt the partnerships and can work against positive outcomes. Youth homelessness continues to be a big issue for our society. The big numbers (at the last census) say that every There is great work being done as we already know. We night in NSW there are 11,800+ young people under the have the existing foundations of the last 25 years of specialist age of 25 years experiencing homeless, this is nearly half youth homeless services. NSW continues to have a wide of the homelessness population and a higher proportion range of models and services, delivered by a wide range of these young people are female. This huge figure does of big, little, regional and local providers. While we are in a not reflect the number of young people who are at risk of time of change and ‘reform’ it makes a lot of sense to build homelessness. Furthermore We only reach about 19% of on existing expertise, quality and good practice as well as young people through existing services. We have only just drawing in and looking for new learning and new ideas. begun to think about tackling the more ‘invisible’ face of youth homelessness. Amazingly, it has only been 18 months since the Australian Government’s aspirational “Road Home” aka – the “White Although it didn’t figure highly in the recent Federal Election Paper” was released in late December 2008. This was homelessness still appears to have a high profile in the policy actioned by the formation of the NAHA and the first agenda at the Commonwealth, State and Regional level. ‘down payment’ of funds to end homelessness through the Homelessness National Partnership Agreements (NPA/ Accordingly your youth homelessness peak, YAA, has been NPP) and augmented by the a ‘Place to Call Home’ funding, very proactive throughout the year at all of these levels Social Housing NPP and the economic stimulus package, working to ensure that the voices and rights of young people which saw the promise of increased affordable housing for at risk / or experiencing homeless are not lost in the ‘big’ people experiencing homelessness and additional resources generic discussions on homelessness and housing. With for homelessness. As responsibility to deliver homelessness an apparent current emphasis on rough sleepers and street projects is increasingly and directly devolved to the States to home modelling, the critical question continues to be following the demise of SAAP, we have new projects up where (and if) young people ‘really’ fit into this thinking. We under the White Paper and NSW Homelessness Action Plan, get worried by generic homelessness/housing approaches NSW Regional Plans and additional approaches such as and economic pragmatism, remembering that various data , supportive housing models as well as the existing collections and our own experience tells us that the large services etc - This is a huge achievement. hidden majority of ‘homeless youth’ intermittently rough sleep, couch surf, sleep in cars, stay in risky accommodation We have made progress on this throughout 2009-2010, etc and that we also know that youth homelessness is through specific ‘youth’ policies such as Housing NSW’s interfaced with a complexity of concerns on top of housing “Youth Action Plan” however, there is a lot of work still to be and income such as wellbeing, child protection, OOHC, done and this continues to be our major policy and political family breakdown, family violence, domestic violence challenge for the future. In a policy context, which maintains and connection with culture/community. Therefore any that homelessness is now everyone’s business, considerable approachrequires a wide spectrum of specific more work needs to go into reimagining where approaches ‘youth’ responses. such KTS, Brighter Future, CSGP, Reconnect, other early intervention strategies and mainstream services might fit However, it can also be very frustrating and disappointing into the “Spectrum of Youth Support And Housing” towards to us at times when the machinery of Government changes, ending youth homelessness in NSW and Australia.

YAA 2010 Annual Report 7 Chief Executive Officer’s Report

It is essential that effective services of services such as Reconnect and the CSGP Detached Family Counsellor Michael Coffey program are maintained and expanded and that housing Chief Executive Officer stock which can be used for young people to be directed out of intensive supported accommodation into supportive has given us unprecedented access to the Premier and has ‘youth housing’ arrangements is increased. enabled us to have frank and critical discussions on the roll-out of the NSW Homelessness Action Plan and to flag it’s We are encouraged by the commitment at all levels of successes, challenges and learnings. Government and by the sector to resource national, state and regional plans and the willingness of the sector to critically At the same time as the White paper, DoCS was going engage with different ways of working to achieve better through the Wood Inquiry, and this brought another level results for young people. of uncertainty to proceedings and slowed down our <16s in SAAP work. Following the announcements around We are also encouraged that the NSW Government maintains ‘Keep Them Safe’ and the new understandings around the its commitment to fund three distinct homelessness peaks threshold of ‘significant harm’, YAA has now recommenced in NSW, which acknowledges a deeper understanding the <16’s work in late 2010, as anecdotal evidence suggests of homeless and also places value on the role of peaks, that the number of under 16s in services are increasing again. to support sector development, give frank and fearless This is particularly important in regards to the call by the advice and to speak up for young people’s right to safety, White Paper to reduce exits from institutions and also in opportunity and equity. light of research by Dr Guy Johnson, which suggests links between the young people who leave care and enter the Policy and action … “Making things happen” youth homeless services and chronic adult homelessness.

In the secret bunker in the YAA office a huge complicated The development and maintenance of networks and mind map is sketched out on the big whiteboard, where we relationships is critical to the work of YAA. As well as strategise and chart our progress in the area of policy and action. building relations with key politicians and bureaucrats, YAA continues to work well with other NGOs. Throughout the Policy is not just about arguing about words on pieces of year we have partnered up and worked on various pieces paper, but about making things happen. In this area YAA has of work with: HomelessnessNSW, NSW Women’s Refuge been very busy both upfront and behind the scenes. Often Movement Resource Centre, QYHC, NAAH, Create, CHP this work takes years to materialise and a lot of it is behind Victoria, Parity, NCOSS, Shelter NSW, NSW Federation of the scenes. Community Housing Associations, National Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network, ACWA, PIAC, Mental Health Since the White Paper was released in late 2008, the main Coordinating Council, Mercy Foundation, City of Sydney/ game for YAA was to get involved in the development of the HPIC, Catholic Care, Mission Australia, other organisations NSW Homeless Action Plan (which was something we had such as Foxtel/Aurora, Caledonia Foundation and academics been calling for since our campaigning around the 2006 NSW such as David McKenzie, Dr Guy Johnson and Prof Suzanne Budget). We were also keen to see some new legislation to Fitzpatrick (Uk). be put in place to replace the SAA Act which is in the process of being repealed. At the national level we continue to work through the National Youth Coalition for Housing (NYCH) and as a As a founding member of the NSW Community member of the Board and Executive of Homelessness Homelessness Alliance, by seeking the support and solidarity Australia where as the NYCH rep I hold the position of with the other peaks such as Shelter, Homelessness NSW, Secretary on the Board of . and the Women’s Refuge Movement, YAA has continued to be involved in working on the plan with through a working We have also been out and about exchanging ideas and group with DoCS, NSW Housing, Department Premiers participating and resourcing YAA members and their Cabinet. YAA has also continued to track and monitor the interagencies and networks. roll out of projects under the plan, such as the Regional Planning Process. For a number of years we had also actively This year we have made numerous trips to NSW regions been calling for a high level Premiers Council on Homeless. including: Armidale, Tamworth, Byron Bay, Illawarra and We are pleased to see that this has finally happened and in Western NSW. 2009 - 2010 we had our first meetings. The Premiers Council 8 YAA 2010 Annual Report Chief Executive Officer’s Report

We also presented at numerous homelessness events such “YFoundations”, which better describes the complexity of as conferences, working groups, forums in Melbourne, the work we do and opens up other possibilities. Canberra, Brisbane. It’s a big job … so thankyou to all of the individual Board Following my study trip in July /August 2009 YAA has now members for their ongoing commitment and contribution to expanded its overseas connections, partners and networks: YAA and also to their services in their support of YAA. National Alliance to End Homelessness (US), Empire State Coalition (US), Commonground NYC (US), Lighthouse Youth I would also like to thank Mary Biddle and Brett Paradise for Services (UK), Calgary Homeless Foundation (Canada), their excellent leadership as Co-Presidents, Mary and Brett Sasha Bruce Youthwork (US), Depaul UK, Foyers Federation already demonstrated great leadership and vision. They have (UK), Manchester and Blackburn Foyers (UK), Udenfor (DK), begun to reshape the ‘policy’ process for the YAA Policy SBH (DK) KoefedsSkole (DK), Volksbond (Netherlands), Forums, encouraging more group work approaches and Samusocial (France), UNHAJ (France) FEANTSA (Europe), also supporting young people to participate in the ‘policy Tokyo Institute of Technology (Jp) making’. They have also brought considerable energy and enthusiasm into the organisation. Conferences and Campaigns The reason we continue to get great participation, credibility Other big projects this year relate have been the Youth and energy in the Board and in our work, is because we have Homelessness Matters Campaign and the successful 7th a vibrant and well informed membership. Youth Homelessness Conference held at Tweed Heads in October 2009. In a sense we are ‘relearning’ how to do So thankyou to all the members who in some way have campaigns and conferences. This years effort extended the contributed to our work this year, whether it be contributing momentum of previous years and recalled the work of YAA to the General Meetings/Policy Forums, surveys, the in the 1980’s when conferences and public campaigns were conference or in the YHM campaign. regular events on the YAA calendar and activism was about making things happen, rather than being passive recipients We know how busy you all are …. Thankyou. of government policy.

The “Youth Homelessness Matters” Campaign looks to go up another gear next year as we are currently talking to potential corporate sponsors and supporters, and at the time of writing this report we are working up next years theme.

We are also excited about working towards the holding our 8th Youth Homelessness Conference next year, tentatively in November 2011 and most likely either in Sydney or Tweed Heads. We hope to open this up as a national conference and like the conference last year we aim for it to be down to earth, inspiring, practical and relevant for workers and services. We hope to attract some international speakers and to situate and exchange the work we do within an international context ie. ‘think global and act local’

YAA Board and YAA Membership

Again we have had a full Board. It has been a busy year for the Board members, who on top of the day to day workload of their services also have to deal with big picture and governance issues. During 2009-2010 the Board undertook a strategic planning process, towards building a new plan for 2010 and beyond, this has meant lots of extra meetings and critical and frank reflection. One of the actions from this process was to change the name from YAA to YAA 2010 Annual Report 9 Chief Executive Officer’s Report

YAA Staff Team Michael Coffey I give special mention and acknowledgement to the fantastic Chief Executive Officer and dedicated YAA staff team. Everybody in the team each contributes in some specialised way to the collective Last but not least special thanks to George Mudford for his work of YAA - for young people experiencing or at risk of superb work as Operations Manager and as Acting CEO in homelessness. January 2010. George makes everything ‘operate’, makes sure that nothing gets missed, everything gets ‘signed’ and makes I welcome on Clare Blakemore on board as our new sure that the YAA staff work as a happy and coherent team. Research and Sector Development Officer. She has already made a big and positive impression at YAA General He is a loyal and passionate advocate for young people Meetings and Policy Forums and recently at the National and brings a great level headedness, practical experience Homelessness Conference in Brisbane. and new ideas to our work. He has also got a pretty reliable bull**** detector and has frank and fearless advice. In September 2010 following an EOI process and transition period, we will hand over Canterbury Youth Services and I also make special mention of some particular and notable Wruwallin House to Mission Australia. Unfortunately this people who have been very supportive and happy to means we bid farewell to associated staff, many who have provide advice and made significant input into our work been with us since 2002. Special thanks to Simone and the and for young people who are at risk of or experiencing crew at CYS and to Jo Naylor and staff at Wruwallin House homelessness this year. and best wishes for your future. With such a great membership, Board and Staff Team, The YEAL project continues to develop thanks to the good the future of YAA as “YFoundations” looks good. Looking work by Christina, Jerome, Jon, (and Clare at times too) forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead in 2010/11. and the oversight by George. YEAL is less a phone message service and more a direct referral service now-a-days, despite its under resourcing. Thanks to all of the above for their dedicated work on this project and for making a big difference to the young people who use this line every day. Thanks also to our referral partners who help us to find the Youth Homelessness appropriate services for these young people. “ The HOT project / Health Team is much revered and continues to be a big issue for respected project in health promotion sector and their resources and expertise are in high demand. During our society. The big numbers 2009-2010 Brandon and Andre have been out in regional and urban NSW and kept the workshops rolling as well (at the last census) say that as organising the Sexual Health Week. We hope to bring other projects on board here and broaden the ‘health and there are 11,800+ young wellbeing’ agenda and work. people under the age of 25 I need to give special mention to the YAA Management and Admin Team. Following in the footsteps of Jean Robinson years every night in NSW, who left YAA in December 2009, Lauren Minici works hard behind the scenes, making sure that bills are paid, numbers nearly half of the homeless add up, money gets banked, time sheets are checked and that everything runs smoothly. population. There are lots of things we don’t need to worry about ” because Lauren quietly looks after them or thinks about them and has a plan before we do !!!!

10 YAA 2010 Annual Report Veronica Penna – Street Care Message from Veronica Penna know whether you are in a crisis refuge or in short-term (Youth Representative of NSW Consumer Advisory Council) accommodation, you will have for at least three months.

Veronica Penna is one of the founding members of Street A Voice for the Voiceless Care in Sydney. Street Care is an advocacy group consisting entirely of people who have experienced homelessness. As I mentioned at the start of this article, I am a consumer Street Care is set-up and supported to provide advice to representative on the newly formed governments and to other groups about issues that are Premier’s Advisory Council on Homelessness. As part of this important to the homeless community. Through her work in role, and with the other members of the Council, I provide Street Care Veronica is now a member of the NSW Consumer direct advice to the NSW Premier Kristina Keneally on Advisory Council and the NSW Premiers Advisory Council issues to do with homelessness. So that other people have on Homelessness. Both of these bodies provide advice to experienced homelessness have a chance to have their say, the NSW Premier on issues concerning homelessness. The the NSW Government has also set up the Consumer Advisory following is an extract from her contribution to the YAA Council, a group which is made up of 11 people who have Sponsered April 2010 Edition of Parity the YAA Sponsored been or who are now homeless. The role of the Council is “Out of Sight: Young People the Hidden Homeless” to conduct consultations and surveys with people on the street to make sure their voices are also heard by the NSW Fighting for all young people without a home Government.

I had the honour of speaking at the launch of 2010 Youth The Consumer Advisory Council has members from Sydney, Homelessness Matters Day. The theme of this year’s Youth Newcastle and Nepean regions. It also has on it four young Homelessness Matters Day was ‘Countdown, Everyone people who come from very different experiences of Counts’, which was picked to highlight the many different homelessness. Importantly, a couple of the young people experiences of young people who become homeless. who are on the group also have young children. This is a A really cool demonstration of this idea was a massive group that often looked down upon or placed in the ‘too surfboard next to a couch (representing young people who hard basket’ by government and other groups. are couch surfing) that was on display at the launch. For me Recently, the Consumer Advisory Council and I held a series this made the very true point that people who are ‘couch of consultations in Sydney to find out the ideas of people surfing’ often go unnoticed by government and society. who are homeless about the kinds of services currently being When people think of youth homelessness, they think of offered to them and how they could be improved. Just in people who are sleeping out on the streets. While this is a one-day, we were able to get the ideas and thoughts of over very real problem that needs to be fixed, it is important that 100 people! the other experiences of homelessness are not forgotten. Speaking to groups of homeless young people was a great Couch Surfing opportunity for me to reflect about how far I have come When you are couch surfing you have a roof over your and how lucky I have been to find secure housing. Having head, but that is about all. You do not have somewhere that obtained housing is the best thing in the world. It has made you can call home and you are often left with no support me able to feel comfortable and safe as well as giving me a networks at all. platform for all my other achievements. As a ‘couch surfer’ you have absolutely no sense of safety But I also found the views of some of these young people and security as at any stage your temporary shelter can be particularly confronting. For me it was really hard to see the taken away from you. Naturally friendships come and go lack of hope among the people I spoke to, particularly about and if you happen to be living with a friend it can place whether the NSW government will do anything to help them enormous strain on your relationship. Your friend or other in their situation. While they were all helpful and provided person that you are staying with temporarily may also come great ideas, their attitude was that nothing was going to change. under pressure from their other housemates or family to At times I feel exactly like the young people I spoke to as make you move on. When you are staying temporarily with part of our consultation. I worry that nothing will be done to friends or other family, you also have little motivation (and help all young people who are homeless — no matter their indeed support) to attend school or to be out looking for jobs. experience. However, I am now in a position where I can For me, I found my period of couch surfing to be incredibly raise issues affecting young homeless people straight to the depressing and stressful. In a lot of ways I believe it can be government. While I can’t promise that change will come, so much more stressful than living in a refuge. Living in a I can promise to be the best voice I can be for all young refuge, you are given the support of a caseworker and taught people who are in the unfortunate position of being homeless. important life skills. You also have ‘your own bed’ that you YAA 2010 Annual Report 11 Our Work 2009 - 2010

The areas of work / issues for YAA in 2009 – 2010 were broad. Following is just ‘some’ pieces of work we have been involved in directly or indirectly.

Research & Sector Development

• YHM 09:Youth Homelessness Matters Conference (Tweed Heads). • FAHSCIA Homelessness Expo – June 2010. • NSW Homelessness Action Plan. • NSW Regional Action Plans. • CEO Michael Coffey Study Tour of the US and Europe July/August 2009. • CS PBC Implementation Working Group, Performance Based Contracting/Service Agreements. • CS State Wide Capacity Building Project. • Project 40 – Nepean Taskforce Against Homelessness. • Inner City Youth At Risk Project. • National Quality Framework. • Research partnership with Swinbourne Uni. • SAAP Learning and Development Unit Reference Group. • Consultations by ACOSS on the development of a new Emergency Relief Handbook. • 2 Editions of Parity, including a Youth Homeless Conference Edition, and the Out of Sight: Young People the invisible homeless edition. • Developing links with Aboriginal Hostels Limited across NSW. • Sector Development work, through inter-agencies, forums plus individual consultations with services and their boards of management.

Policy

• NSW Premiers Council on Homelessness. • FAHSCIA reference group on progress of NAHA/NPP. • NSW Homelessness Action Plan. • HousingNSW – Housing Partners NGO Reference Group. • Youth Justice Coalition. • Keep Them Safe. • NGO Capacity Building as part of Keep Them Safe . • Children Under 16 in Youth Homeless Services Consultations & Policy. • Keep Them Safe Cross Sector Forums. • Keeping Them Accountable Campaign. • Youth Homelessness Matters Campaign. • Homeless Persons Week. • Federal Election Week Campaign. • Equity Renumeration Working Group. • Consultations by the NSW Ombudsman on improving probity standards for funded organisations. • Reconnect. • Early Intervention Forums (Youth Development Australia). • Sydney University – Winter Sleep out. • NSW Ombudsmans Roundtable.

12 YAA 2010 Annual Report Our Work 2009 - 2010

Health

• NSW Youth Health Council, the SESIAHS and SWAHS Hep C Governance Prevention Committee, • Transition to Injecting Drug Use Campaign Working Group • Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council Sexual Health Campaign Advisory Committee • NSW Chlamydia Prevention Working Group • Hep C Exposure and Transmission Research Committee and the Street Shot Judging Panel for 2010 • NSW Youth Association Youth Health (NAYH) Board • Multicultural Mental Health Australia and Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit Partnership - Homelessness Research Project Reference Group

YAA General Meetings & Policy Forums 2009-2010

• Under 16s in Specialist Homeless Services Forum • Couch Surfing Forum • Youth Homelessness Matters 2010 Launch • SAAP Futures • Dr Shelly Mallet “Young People’s Pathways in and Through Homelessness” Research Forum • Housing NSW Youth Action Plan Forum

YAA 2010 Annual Report 13 Youth Homelessness Matters

Youth Homelessness Matters is about raising the public In NSW, the Youth Homelessness Matters Day campaign was awareness about youth homelessness and to celebrate launched at the Wesley Centre in Sydney with guest speakers the resilience of young people who are experiencing the Federal Minister for Housing, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek, homelessness in Australia. the NSW Minister for Housing David Borger and Veronica Penna, consumer representative on the NSW Premier’s Essentially Youth Homelessness Matters Day represents an Council on Homelessness. attempt to bring the issues regarding youth homelessness into the public arena as well as providing ways for the There were around 20 registered events run across the state general public to become involved in and support future including, community BBQ’s, service open days, a night campaigning. under the starts event, street exhibitions, sports, photography and artwork form young people and much more. YAA is committed to conducting this national event annually to highlight youth homelessness in our communities. We would like to thank all the organisations, workers and community members who dedicated so much time and Youth Homelessness Matters Day 2010 was held on the resources to this important event and continue to highlight 14th of April during National Youth Week. Events were the message each year in their local communities with an conducted across Australia by youth services, peak bodies increasingly louder voice. and interested community members including schools and social justice networks. It was a resounding success with the NSW Event locations 2010 campaign receiving national media coverage.

Sydney Central Moruya This year the campaign theme was ‘Countdown — Everyone North Sydney Mid North Coast Counts’ to reflect the fact that youth homelessness affects Manly Byron Bay a range of young people in different circumstances and for Belmore Albury different reasons. Blue Mountains Deniliquin Campbelltown Armidale The YAA had the pleasure of hosting Federal Housing Wollongong Glen Innes Minister Tanya Plibersek who was able to attend the Griffith Tweed Heads Sydney event, speak and answer questions. Cooma Port Macquarie Nambucca Shire We were also pleased this year to partner with the Australian Bureau of Statistics highlighting the Census 2011 and how we can all contribute to an accurate counting of young homeless people in Australia.

NYCH continues to supply wristbands, stickers, hats, shirts, magnets, bags, balloons and mouse pads at little or no cost. This year NYCH developed an Information and Campaign Kit that included fact sheets and resources as well as a poster. For more information on Youth Homelessness Matters Day please visit the website at www.youthhomelessnessmatters.net

If you are interested in providing sponsorship to this event please do not hesitate to contact the NSW NYCH Council members listed below.

New South Wales Michael Coffey (NYCH Vice Chair) [email protected]

Brett Paradise [email protected]

14 YAA 2010 Annual Report Youth Homelessness Matters

YAA 2010 Annual Report 15 Youth Emergency Accommodation Line

Youth Emergency Accommodation Line (YEAL) technology especially in regards to young people, would be a major oversight, especially given the latest research YAA has a dedicated Homeless Youth Support Worker shows this is a space where young people feel safe in getting which provides a simple and reliable way for young people information and advice. This is reflected in the great work and workers to connect with suitable accommodation and of organisations such as the Inspire Foundation. A survey support services via our YEAL service. This includes an we ran with members during the year also reflected this, online portal via the YAA website, which constantly updates demonstrating that the YAA website is the first source of register of vacancies for emergency and supported information workers turn to, to get information (including housing services. vacancies for young people). In the NSW Homelessness Action Plan, the NSW government Whilst the number of calls to YEAL has decreased over committed “to Improve coordination between the NSW crisis the years, and does not receive the caller volume that was phone lines for homeless people” which includes the (Adult) received 5 or 10 years ago, the calls we receive now are Homeless persons Information Centre, The Youth Emergency complex and time consuming for a number of factors, Accommodation Line (YEAL), The After Hours Temporary including that close to 70% of calls received are for young Accommodation Line (Housing NSW) and the Domestic people under 16. The role of the YEAL worker increasingly Violence Line becomes one of family support, advocacy and assisting Whilst for the first time the role of the telephone hotlines in people navigate a complex system, where the gaps for NSW has been flagged, some key questions remain. YEAL children in this age group remains of significant concern continues to receive limited resources despite the size and post Keep Them Safe Reforms. needs of the population of children and young people in NSW that we service. This affects the quality of staff we can YEAL, Year at a Glance recruit, and the hours we operate. YEAL received: 2,196 Calls Total Support Periods = 455 We also remain unclear how more importantly than the Support Periods by Age 20-24 Years = 56 ‘coordination between the NSW Hotlines” is how to better 10-14 Years = 29 Support By Sex coordinate between YEAL and the sector at large, the 15-17 Years = 292 Females = 259 Housing NSW Temporary Accommodation Line, and the 18-19 Years = 74 Males = 196 Child Protection Helpline.

Top 3 reasons for seeking assistance. We continue to collect data on the SMART Data system, 1. Relationship/Family Breakdown (124) which was not designed for the majority of one day support 2. Time Out from family/other situation (119) periods. Given so many workers call on behalf of young 3. Itinerant (Moving from Place to place) (106) people, complexities around consent and participation in data collection in general are problematic. YEAL Feedback We are hopeful though that some of these challenges will be taken up by the NSW Homelessness Action Plan, in the “I think the service is essential and I believe it needs to be coming year. delivered through as many different mediums as possible” “It is a great project. It really helps us for referring people to Along with our YFoundations launch in December, we are other organisation, especially when we are full.” hoping to rename and re-launch the YEAL with a new name and emphasis. “YEAL is an amazing resource for both young people and workers. The fact that it is updated daily is very useful for This includes shifting emphasis to prevention and early all. Without such a project the ability to assist in finding intervention by providing telephone and online counseling, appropriate accommodation promptly would be massively and a new website portal where we provide young people reduced. Keep up the good work!!” with a number of new ways to engage with support form the YAA. “it is extremely important cos some of the young people we The YEAL section of the YAA website in the last financial work with may leave the service unexpectedly and we give year had over 30,000 hits demonstrating this is increasingly them the YEAL card so they at least use this. They often do becoming a critical information, advice and support to when they are ready to and I do not know what else they workers and young people. Ignoring the shifting world of would have done without the service.” 16 YAA 2010 Annual Report Canterbury/Bankstown Youth Accommodation Services

YAA under its temporary auspice program continued we supported the DoCS tender which sought two combined to deliver two direct services for young people in the the two services, with enhanced funding. This will be a great Canterbury Bankstown region of Sydney. outcomes for young people in the region.

Located south-west of the Sydney Central Business District The YAA would like to thank the staff who ensured that the Canterbury Bankstown region encompasses the Local during a long period of uncertainty we continued to deliver Government Areas of Bankstown, Punchbowl, Yagoona, services in the region on behalf of the Community Services. Condell Park, Greenacre, Chullora, Mount Lewis, Birrong, Bass Hill, Sefton, Regents Park, Potts Hill, Villawood, In particular we thank the leadership of Jo Naylor Chester Hill, Georges Hall, Lansdowne, Milperra, Panania, (Wruwallin House Co-ordinator) and Simone Payne East Hills, Padstow, Padstow Heights, Revesby, Revesby (Canterbury Youth Services – Co-ordinator). Running these Heights and Picnic Point. Ashbury (part), Belfield (part), services, we believe has been of great value to YAA and the Belmore, Beverly Hills (part), Campsie, Canterbury, Clemton sector in our broader policy and structural advocacy work Park, Croydon Park (part), Earlwood, Hurlstone Park (part), as we have been able to keep our ears and eyes close to Kingsgrove (part), Lakemba, Narwee (part), Punchbowl the ground and always listen to the voices of young people (part), Riverwood (part), Roselands and Wiley Park. who are homeless, in addition to keeping services open for young people in the region. The Canterbury / Bankstown region according to the ABS is one of Australia’s most culturally diverse areas, with a large The service consists of a 5 bed refuge and 4 CAP properties, population of residents identifying with a variety of cultural, provides outreach and tenancy support and a range of religious and ethnic groups. For example, Bankstown programs designed to assist young people break the cycle is considered one of the most multicultural areas in the of homelessness. country with over 60 different languages spoken by the people of this suburb. Canterbury Bankstown Year at a glance……

There is a significant importance for social and community 124 Young People Supported (51 were supported over services in the area given the high number of new or recent the course of the year) arrivals from overseas to the area. Recent arrivals includes Support Periods by age persons who were born overseas and arrived in Australia Under 10 = 3 and intending to stay in Australia for at least one year. In 10-14 Years = 0 2006 Bankstown City reported 11.1% of its population was 15 – 17 Years = 24 born overseas, and Canterbury alike recorded 43.7% of its population was from a NESB. 18-19 Years = 47 20-24 Years = 1 Since 1999/2000 financial year YAA has administered the Wruwallin House and since 2007 Canterbury Youth Services. Combined the two provide a range of services for young people including prevention, early intervention, outreach Special Thanks to the staff at Canterbury Bankstown support, groupwork programs, information, advice, general Accommodation Services, we wish you the best of luck for support and supported housing options for young people. the future. This will be our final year delivering services for young people in the Canterbury/Bankstown region, as we transition Co-ordinators - Simone Payne, Jo Naylor these services to a permanent auspice in Mission Australia Staff - Lorna Macaulay, Amanda Byrne, Barbara Tobin, Elaine following a Tender Process in early 2010. Macnish, Frances Ralph,Kim Mcpherson, Teresa Johnson, Julie Yeung, Kassie Paice, Jerome Leach, Dirk Lackmann, Under the new program the Canterbury Bankstown Youth Wayne Atkins, Jim Itil, Emily Woods, Carol Donhue, Jodie Accommodation Service offers an unique opportunity to Thomas, Diana Halse. fully realise the potential synergies and innovation that is possible in a new combined integrated service model, and YAA 2010 Annual Report 17 Health Division

The YAA Health Division aims to deliver health services to All Health Division work is backed up by current research homeless and at risk young people across New South Wales. and relevant policies, (and all our education can be tailored This service is provided through capacity building training to to specific requests and needs). We also aim to deliver youth workers and others who work with young people and education in partnership with local health providers and those advocating for the needs and rights of homeless young other services in to strengthen local referral networks and people on the health and youth health agendas. partnerships.

The YAAHD strongly believes that homeless young people Education currently delivered by the Health Outreach Team deserve the same healthcare rights as mainstream young includes.... people. These rights are set out in the Convention of the Rights of The Child. We also believe that for a variety • Setting the Scene (what is sexual Health?) of reasons homeless young people face a unique set of • Empowering Adults from your Adolescence circumstances that can make it difficult for them to receive • Sexual Health on the Local Level – Done by local the same level of healthcare as mainstream young people. service provider • Communicating with Young People about Sexual Health The Health Outreach Team (HOT) • Running the YAA HOT Game • Running the YAA Saucy Sex Scale The YAA Health Outreach Team, a sexual health and • Familarsation with the YAA One 2 One Resource blood borne virus education and sector development • New Media and Sexual Health project, which has provided services to the NSW Youth • Bringing Up Sexual Health with Young People sector for more than a decade. Young people are grossly • Consent overrepresented in statistics for sexually transmitted • Values and Attitudes infections. The YAA aims through its work to contribute to • Getting into Young People’s Shoes the Millennium Development Goal of reducing the current • The Internet and Sexual Safety HIV rate. • Advertising and Media’s impact on Sexuality • Sexual Diversity Mental Health • Legal Issues for Youth Workers Young people have the highest rates of mental health • The PLISSIT (Permission, Limited Information, concerns than any other age bracket, and adolescent Specific Suggestions, Intensive Therapy) Model – mental health care is not being provided at adequate levels How Much do Youth Workers need to know according to the 2009 Garling Report on health services in • Adolescent Pregnancy Interventions (Still in development) NSW. Youth Homeless Services are seeing the effects of • Running groups re Sexual Health Issues mental health issues each and everyday in their work with • Work Based Action Planning young people. • Communication and Consent

Physical Health If you are interested in training for your staff or networks, Young people who are sleeping rough or couch surfing often please contact the Health Outreach Team brandon@yaa. lack access to basic food sources and other physical health com.au or (02) 9698 5833 [EXT. 32] and well being support. The YAAHD aims to work with health professional to develop resources and information YAA Health Division year at a glance...... for workers and young people to support healthy decision making about keeping fit and well. • Training days on basic sexual health, sexual diversity, consent, communication, self esteem and negotiation Alcohol and Other Drugs skills were run in several locations including Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Deniliquin, Kings Cross, Sutherland, Harmful use of substances whether legal like tobacco or Marrickville, Liverpool, Wyong, Wollongong and Nowra. cigarettes, or illicit can be very damaging to the short and long term health of young people. The YAAHD hopes to use • More than 200 workers engaged. Many of the workers innovate methods to increase worker capacity to tackle the we trained in the core sexual health trainings either issues of AOD with their clients. returned for our extension ‘Communication and Consent’ training, or requested in-service trainings for workers at their service.

18 YAA 2010 Annual Report Health Division

• HOT also continued its involvement in long standing • In the last financial year YAA Health has also been partnerships which continue to be fostered. One working hard on increasing client contact with young significant partnership with the Sexual Health Week people. Trainings have been run with staff at Rosemount Advisory Committee was strengthened with a staff Youth and Family Services in Marrickville and we member sitting on the 2009 Community Grants Working continue to engage young people in the focus testing Group, as well as chairing the Resources and Campaign and design and development of new resources. Working Group. For the 2010 Sexual Health Week Advisory Committee, both YAA Health staff members sat • The YAA continue efforts to shape and influence the on the Advisory Committee, one as co-chair, and one as NSW Youth Health Policy: “Healthy Bodies, Healthy a member of the Resources and Campaign Working Group. Minds, Vibrant Futures” through being involved in consultations and written submissions and ensuring • YAA contributed to the development of a Medicare that the health system can better support the health resource encouraging young people to get a Medicare and well being to achieve health and wellbeing of card at the age of 15 to encourage greater access to young homeless people. We also continue to monitor health services by young people, as well as a project to the impact of the recent National Health and Hospitals redevelop the YHunger nutrition and fitness manual for Reform and how this will impact on services for young youth and youth workers. These resources complement homeless people. the ever popular suite of resources designed and distributed by the HOT Project which continue to sell well. 17 HOT Kits and 78 One 2 One resources were distributed across NSW and Australia and as far away as the United Kingdom. Thank you. I found the • The HOT Project was able to be present at a number “training to be informative, of unique opportunities during the financial year which had a great impact on the work that YAA are carrying well planned and engaging. out. Thanks to a partial funding grant from NAYH a staff member was able to attend the 9th International Association for Adolescent Health Conference which I leave equipped with new was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and carried the theme of ‘Public Issues, Private Lives’ – a focus on skills and energy the sexual health of adolescent young people. It was interesting to hear about the sexual health of our target Youth worker, Nowra hot training” 2009 group from a global perspective and some of the findings presented at the conference have informed changes in the training that the HOT Project delivers.

• The YAA along with the Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health (CAAH) contributed to a well received youth health forum on homeless and marginalised young people chaired by YAA CEO Michael Coffey at Westmead Children’s Hospital. The YAA were able to ‘road test’ out in progress working document of 10 Principles for good Health in Homeless Young people which is currently being developed. This forum was attended by over 100 participants.

YAA 2010 Annual Report 19 Treasurer’s Report

In my first report as Treasurer of YAA I am extremely excited to report that we operated to Budget for the 2009/ 2010 financial year and that our accounts are looking extremely healthy.

The reason for looking so healthy is the good financial planning by the Board of Management and generally good operational management.

We are ahead of where we were expecting to be at the end of this year, which sees the completion of the 5 year financial plan. Due to the expiration of the current financial plan we have gone through the process of developing the financial plan which will see YAA move ahead into the next 3 years. This plan will allow YAA to maintain the existing Human Resource structure while continuing to build on the work we do and also be ready for new opportunities as they arise.

As a part of the new financial plan we have ensured that YAA will be able to continue to run and support some of our more successful and enjoyable parts of our work including ensuring we are able to run a NSW Youth Homelessness Conference next year, conduct some one day regional Youth Homelessness Conferences in 2011/ 2012 as well as upgrading the new ‘YFoundations’ website and upgrading our IT capacity.

So with the future looking bright I would like to acknowledge the great work of the YAA team. Michael your passion and dedication to the cause is inspirational and I know if it wasn’t for you and your team, particularly Lauren and George, the financial state of the organisation may not be looking quite as healthy. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Anna and Chi from Matrix on Board for keeping us up to date with easy to read financial statements each month.

Treasurers Report Kellie Checkley

20 YAA 2010 Annual Report Audited Financial Statements

6 October 2010

The Treasurer Youth Accommodation Association (NSW) Inc Level 2, 619 Elizabeth St SYDNEY NSW 2016

Dear Sir

2010 AUDIT

Please find enclosed three bound copies of the Financial Report in respect of the year ended 30 June 2010.

If you are satisfied they are correct please have the Exec¬utive and Members adopt the accounts at the Annual General Meeting. Upon adoption, two committee members should sign the accounts and return all copies to me for signing.

An emailed version has been sent allowing for copying for the annual report. One bound set is for my records, the others being for your retention.

Also enclosed are the audited statements of the individual projects. The three copies should be signed similarly to above. One copy is for the appropriate Department, one copy is for your retention while the third copy is for my records.

Yours faithfully

Stephen A Sproats

YAA 2010 Annual Report 21 Audited Financial Statements

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO MEMBERS OF YOUTH ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION (NSW) INC

I have audited the accompanying financial report of Youth Accommodation Association (NSW) Inc which comprises the Statement of Position as at 30 June 2010, Statement of Changes in Equity, Income & Expenditure Statement and Cash flow statement for the year ended on that date, a summary of significant accounting policies and the executive declaration.

Responsibility for the Financial Report The management of the Incorporated Association are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations). This responsibility includes designing, implementing and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report that is free of material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error: selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Auditors Responsibility My responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based upon my audit. I conducted my audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. These auditing standards require that I comply with relevant ethical requirements relating to the audit engagement and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial report is free of material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial report. The procedures selected depend on the auditors judgement, including the assessment of risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by, s well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report.

I believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for my audit opinion.

Independence I am independent of Youth Accommodation Association (NSW) Inc, and have met the independence requirements of the Australian ethical pronouncements.

Auditor’s Opinion In my opinion, the financial report presents fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position of Youth Accommodation Association (NSW) Inc as of 30 June 2010, and of its financial performance and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations)

Stephen A Sproats Dural Registered Company Auditor 3932 6 October 2010

22 YAA 2010 Annual Report Audited Financial Statements

YOUTH ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION (NSW) INC STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30 JUNE 2010

2010 2009

ACCUMULATED FUNDS $886,635 $869,832

Represented by:-

CURRENT ASSETS Cash on Hand 1,080 1,350 Cash at Bank 76,617 88,569 Debtors 19,193 23,026 Term Deposit 582,602 551,796 Prepayments 17,162 11,792 Shares – Community Bank 20,000 20,000

Money on Deposit 843,761 748,838 1,560,415 1,445,371 FIXED ASSETS Plant & Equipment – at cost 266,573 227,434 Accumulated Depreciation (179,790) (148,494) 86,783 78,940 TOTAL ASSETS 1,647,198 1,524,311

CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors & Accrued Expenses 78,263 62,046 Provision for Projects 407,500 242,500 Grants in Advance 128,179 197,029 Provision for Employee Costs 146,621 152,904 760,563 654,479 NET ASSETS $886,635 $869,832

YAA 2010 Annual Report 23 Audited Financial Statements

YOUTH ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION (NSW) INC STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010 2010 2009 Operating Surplus (Deficit) Before Tax 16,803 156,400

Income Tax Applicable thereto Nil Nil Operating Surplus (Deficit) and Extraordinary Items 16,803 156,400 Unappropriated profits brought forward 869,832 713,432

Unappropriated Profits at 30 June 2010 $886,635 $ 869,832

YOUTH ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION (NSW) INC STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

Cash Flows from Operating Activities 2010 2009 Receipts from Customers 1,589,199 1,917,905 Payments to suppliers and employees 1,436,553 1,792,578 Net Cash inflow from Operating Activities 152,646 125,327

Net Cash flow from investing Equipment Purchases (39,139) (3,948)

Net Increase (Decrease) in cash held 113,507 121,379 Cash at beginning of year 1,390,553 1,269,174 Cash at End of Financial Year $1,504,060 $1,390,553

Reconciliation of Operating Profit after tax to Net Cash Inflow from Operations Operating Profit After Income Tax 16,803 156,400 Depreciation 31,296 42,846 (Increase)Decrease - Debtors 3,833 (13,683) - Prepayments (5,370) (1,159) (Decrease)Increase – Creditors 16,217 (51,650) - Provision for Projects 165,000 12,000 - Grants in Advance (68,850) (8,719) - Employee Costs (6,283) (10,708) $152,646 $125,327

24 YAA 2010 Annual Report Audited Financial Statements

YOUTH ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION (NSW) LTD CONSOLIDATED INCOME & EXPENDITURE STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

2010 2009 INCOME Grants Received 1,368,375 1,708,169 Interest 60,809 79,918 Membership 17,975 17,485 Rent 32,867 25,712 Conference 61,790 55,835 Sundry Revenue 47,383 30,786

1,589,199 1,917,905

EXPENDITURE Accounting 18,924 - Advertising 3,040 2,920 Audit Fees 5,250 6,450 Bank Charges 1,896 1,330 Conference 41,341 36,027 Consultant 1,173 1,400 Client Disbursements 24,559 38,850 Depreciation 31,296 33,377 Equipment 1,700 53,527 IT Support 17,689 26,686 Insurance 29,322 35,952 Materials & Resources 80,926 97,146 Management Costs 15,150 11,020 Motor Vehicle 9,941 16,877 Payroll Tax - 15,813 Printing, Postage & Stationery 31,204 24,456 Provision for Project costs 165,000 12,000 Provisions for Employee Costs (6,281) (10,710) Repairs & Maintenance 12,044 14,918 Rent & Electricity 82,826 81,195 Sponsorship 10,000 5,000 Subscription 12,580 4,672 Sundry 12,410 23,236 Superannuation 71,424 89,951 Telephone 26,740 39,653 Training 3,594 2,684 Travel 31,000 24,467 Wages 833,030 1,071,967 Workshop 4,618 641

1,572,396 1,761,505

OPERATING SURPLUS (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR $ 16,803 $156,400

YAA 2010 Annual Report 25 Audited Financial Statements

YOUTH ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION (NSW) INC NOTES TO AND FORMING PART OF THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

1. Corporate Information Youth Accommodation Association (NSW) Inc operates under the Association Incorporation Act (NSW). Its business operates in throughout Sydney Metropolitan and NSW

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (a) Basis of Preparation This general purpose financial report has been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards. The financial report has been prepared on the basis of historical cost and does not take into consideration changing values of money or cur- rent valuations of non current assets.

(b) Cash Cash on Hand and in banks and short term deposits are stated at their nominal value

(c) Trade Debtors Trade Debtors are stated at original invoice amount less any Provision for doubtful debts where applicable

(d) Plant & Equipment Fixed assets are written off in the year of expenditure.

(e) Grants in Advance Grants in Advance are carried forward at their original amount and are to be provided subsequent to the balance date

(f) Employee Leave The liability for Annual & Long Service Leave is recognised and measured at the amount expected to be paid when liabilities are settled

(g) Provisions These are recognised when there is a present obligation as a result of past funding and it is probable that an outflow will be required using reasonable estimates.

(h) Government Grants Grants are matched against expenditure in the year expenditure is incurred and in accordance with funding body requirements

3. Contingent Liabilities $Nil

4. Capital Expenditure Commitments $Nil

5. Income Tax The Association is registered under the Charitable Collection Act, 1934, as amended, and is exempt from income tax by sec- tion 26 (e) of the Income Tax Assess¬ment Act, 1936.

6. Activities The accounts include the following projects: Operations Account, Policy, YEAL, HOT, Wruwallin House, and Canterbury Youth Service. These operate solely within NSW.

26 YAA 2010 Annual Report YAA to Yfoundations

Coming soon.... Yfoundations Website www.yfoundations.org

foundations “Creating a future without youth homeslessness. ”

As voted by YAA members “Yfoundations” will be our new name following our official launchLogo in December 2010.

Just as YAA originally was the “Youth Refuge Association” in 1979, and our most recent name change to our current name (Youth Accommodation Assoication) in which ‘accommodation’ was intended to be a reflection of the new and much broader medium, long term, brokerage and other services types, that began to emerge in the 90’s.

Yfoundations as a concept and a name extends on this thinking even further. In order to create a future without youth homelessness, a whole wide range of work needs to be undertaken in areas such as ‘health’, ‘child protection’, ‘housing’, ‘income support’, ‘education and employment’ and ‘sector development’.

We look forward to providing members with details of the official launch and our exciting new website soon.

YAA 2010 Annual Report 27 Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following individuals, All the guest speakers at the YAA Policy Forums organisations and businesses that contributed to ending youth homelessness over the last year. We hope that we can Special thanks also to the following: continue to work together on future projects. David Keegan, Chris Hartley & Veronica Penna (Street Care), A big thank you too….. The team at Matrix on Board (Chi Man and Anna Collett) Liz Giles, Daniel Adler (City of Sydney) Felicity Reynolds (Mercy Department of Human Services (Housing NSW and Foundation), Cindi Peterson and Amanda Webster (Inner Community Services), NSW Health and Federal Department City Youth at Risk Project) David Shields (CDM Print) Claire of Families, Housing, Communities and Indigenous Affairs Warner & Zen Textures, Chrisse Thomas (Twin Towns Resort, for funding and sponsorship. Tweed Heads),Rey Bennet (Community Management) Stephen Sproats,University Of Sydney, University of Department of Families, Housing, Communities and Technology Sydney and the University of Western Sydney, Indigenous Affairs: The Hon, Tanya Plibersek, Pia Van de Pandt. Paul Van Ryk, Lisa Harvey and the team at Energetica, The team at Jabbowki (Cameron Newman, Nelson Nyguen and Department of Community Services: Minister Burney, Jenny Johnathon Teoh), Paul Bullen & Stephanie Brennan Mason, Linda Mallett, Phillip Fowler, Judy Giese, David Mcguire, John Purcell, Adrian Foon, Phillip Borg, Anthony Shannon, Mary Lou-Spratt, Graeme Falconer, Zoe Benjamin, Skevi Panayi, Libby Galligher, Seide Ramadani, “Tragically, this year saw the passing of a very loved and Deborah Conway, Heather Kemp. caring woman, Maha Abass. Maha had worked for several years at Western Housing for Youth as a Youth Housing Housing NSW / Community Housing Division: Minister Borger , Worker. She continued to work tirelessly throughout her Minister Terenzini Mike Allen, Maura Boland, Roxanne Shaw, illness and always made time for the young people she John Macmillan, Katherine McKernan, Vivian Hanich, worked with. Maha was a true inspiration Trish Connolly. to the people who had the honour to work with her. She is missed” Department Premiers & Cabinet: Stephen Powter, Philip Berry, Heather Allison

Health: Hepatitis NSW, Christine Pallanchi & Megan Brooks (Health NSW), NCAHS HARP Health Promotion Twenty10, ACON North Coast, Harp Kalsi, Jackie Davis, Bruce Cherry GWAHS HARP Health PromotionJackie Drysdale, Jessica Dawber, Wendy Machin, Kirketon Road Centre, Mid North Coast Youth Worker Interagency, Byron Bay Youth House, Christo House, Jetty Bunker Youth Services, Madeline Holtman, Fiona Robards.

NSW Peaks: Sue Cripps, Digby Hughes, Lara Sabbadin (Homelessness NSWACT:), Cat Gander, Taryn Champion (WRRC) Alison Peters, Warren Gardiner, Dev Mukherjee (NCOSS) Andrew McCallum, Sylvia Ghaly (ACWA) Emily Jones, Rey Reodica (YAPA), Mary Perkins, Katie Florance, Craig Johnston (Shelter NSW) Chris Martin (Tenants Union) Adam Farrar (NSWFHA) Emma Marshall & Jason Appleby (NAYH)

Homelessness Australia & the National Youth Coalition for Housing:

All organizations and individuals who supported the Youth Homlessness Matters Campaign in 2010

28 YAA 2010 Annual Report

YAA Contacts

Youth Accommodation Association Street Address: Level 1, 619 Elizabeth Street, Redfern NSW 2016 PO Box: 3115, Redfern, NSW. 2016 Ph: (02) 9698 5833 Fax: (02) 9318 2058 Email: [email protected] Youth Accommodation Line: 1800 424 830

Chief Executive Officer, Michael Coffey (02) 0908 5833 [EXT. 4} [email protected]

Operations Manager, George Mudford (02) 9698 5833 [EXT. 5] [email protected]

Research & Sector Development Officer, Clare Blakmore (02) 9698 5833 [EXT. 9] [email protected]

Project Support Worker, Lauren Minici (02) 9698 5833 [EXT. 6] [email protected]

YAA Health Team Leader, Brandon Bear (02) 9698 5833 [EXT.32] [email protected]

Andre Zabellos, Youth Health Worker (02) 9698 5833 [EXT. 33] [email protected]

Homelessness Youth Support Worker Jonathan Derkenne (02) 9698 5833 [EXT. 25] [email protected]

Youth Accommodation Association (NSW) Inc. ABN 20 512 756 029