Brisbane Youth Service

History
Brisbane Youth Service was formally constituted in 1976, and commenced operation in February 1977 as a detached youth service providing outreach, referral and follow-up support services to disadvantaged and homeless young people on the streets in the inner-city area, particularly those harming themselves and the community through drug and alcohol abuse and dependency, prostitution, violence, and other offending behaviors.

Structure
BYS uses a team Executive Management Structure, with all three members of this team, Program Manager, Partnership Manager and Finance Manager all reporting to the Management Committee on a monthly basis. All service staff are accountable to the Program Manager, Finance Staff to the Finance Manager and Admin Staff to the Partnership Manager.

Key Milestones in the delivery of services to young people experiencing primary homelessness

1976 Formally constituted

1977 first youth worker employed and service delivery commenced.

1979 Employment of first female youth worker to focus on young homeless women;

1980 Emergency Relief funding, and first production of Getting By In Brisbane – A Survival Kit For Young People;

1980 Provision of medium–term accommodation (4 x flats);

1981 First Aboriginal youth worker to focus on needs of Aboriginal young people;

1983 Transfer of Aboriginal staff to the Aboriginal & Islander Child Care Agency;

1983 Establishment of supported accommodation at Kedron Lodge;

1986 Establishment of support service for pregnant and parenting young people;

1987 Employment of first community artist;

1987 Funding of first youth HIV/AIDS & Sexual Health Program;

1990 Funding of the Innovative Health Service providing a primary health care treatment centre; sexual health care; ante-natal and family planning services, and an alcohol and drug harm reductionprogram using peer education methodologies;

1991 Provision of culturally relevant health education resources and workshops for young people and youth workers in the greater Brisbane area, focusing on harm reduction in relation to drugs and alcohol, nutrition, and sexual health;

1991 Establishment of a needle exchange targeting young people;

1993 Funding of an outreach and referral service to prevent vulnerable young people entering the sex industry and to intervene in response to sexual exploitation;

1994 Extension of health education program statewide, including distribution of booklets, posters, games and kits as learning tools;

1997 Outposting of a Centrelink Customer Services Officer at BYS to determine new claims, review actions, and liaise re case management, Austudy and Abstudy;

1998 Hosting a mental health outreach service provided by the Child, Youth Mental Health Service, Queensland Health;

1987-00 Conducting a wide range of community arts projects, such as theatre, radio, graffiti, video and music productions, and visual art in public spaces, focusing on harm reduction and education in relation to sexual health, crime and drug use;

1998 Use of premises for Narcotics Anonymous meetings;

1998-99 Funding of Specialised Drug Treatment Team to target young homeless people under the age of 25 years in the inner city area of Brisbane who are injecting illicit drugs and engaging in other high-risk behaviours. The team is co-located with the BYS Health Clinic, and provides specialised drug treatment services;

1999 Funding from Brisbane City Council to:
- conduct a pilot project in Keong Park, Stafford;
- produce a new edition of Getting By In Brisbane
- implement a suicide prevention project in conjunction with Indigenous Youth Health Service;
- implement High Drama - a Forum Theatre project targeting injecting drug users which was performed for 16 agencies, 286 young people and 61 workers;
- recruit a team of young people to clean up discarded syringes and other hazardous waste in the inner city area; and
- coordinate a peer-based safe needle disposal education program in Brisbane.

1999 Funding from Queensland Health for a Hepatitis C prevention program;

1999 Brizburn Fire Event - an end of millennium visual and musical spectacular;

2000 Hepatitis C Peer Support Program established;

2000 Mobile Outreach Clinical Service established in collaboration with Drug-Arm and St Lukes;

2000 Expansion of focus of the HIV/AIDS program to produce education resources for young people in the target group state-wide, and train youth workers south of Mackay;

2000 Produced and printed educational resources such as the Saucy Sex Scale and a range of other health and hygiene posters and booklets to prevent and reduce HIV transmission;

2000 BYS won a scholarship to present a paper at the International AIDS Conference in Durban;

2000 Partnership with BCC to develop Brunswick Street Youth Space which will showcase young people's artwork;

2000 Collaboration with Mater Hospital to establish a specialist clinic for pregnant and parenting young ,women with drug dependencies;

2000 Music program funded by Gaming Machine Community Benefit Fund;

2000 Young Dad's Group funded by the Queen's Trust to develop a peer education resource;

2001 Community Liaison Officer (12 months) to progress recommendations in the Fortitude Valley Drug Safety & Awareness Subcommittee report;

2001 Employment Project Worker funded by Dept. of Employment & Training;

2001 Sponsorship of Open Doors Reconnect Service for Gay and Lesbian young people at risk of homelessness in schools;

2001 Funding by the Department of Families of an activities program aimed at crime prevention;

2001 50%-funding by the Australia Council of an arts coordinator position located at BYS;

2001 Funding of the Joint Inner City Homelessness Response for 3 months by Queensland Department of Families, Department of Housing and Brisbane City Council;

2001 50%-funding by BCC of an Arts Coordinator position at BYS;

2002 BYS 25th Anniversary Celebration at the PowerHouse (Walking on the Wall performance by homeless young people);

2002 Re-funding of the Joint Inner City Homelessness Response for 3 months by Queensland Department of Families, Department of Housing and Brisbane City Council;

2002 Funding of short-term project to research and educate young people about chroming in the CBD;

2002 Parents YES – a 12 month early intervention trial funded by Department of Families under the Future Directions Strategy;

2003 Gambling Machine Community Benefit Fund annual funding for Community Liaison Officer Position to develop networks and further community priorities between government departments, private businesses and community organisations;

2003 Queensland Health funding renewed (annual, then triennial):
- Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs (ATODS)
- Innovative Health Services to Homeless Youths (IHSHY)

2003 Department of Health & Ageing funding renewed (triennial):
- National Illicit Drugs Strategy (NIDS))

2003 Department of Families funding renewed (triennial):
- Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP)
- Youth At Risk Outreach Service (YAROS)
- Family Work

2003 Department of Families funding renewed (triennial):
- Parents YES Program

2003 Further re-funding of the Joint Inner City Homelessness Response for 12 months by Queensland Department of Families, Department of Housing and Brisbane City Council;

2003 AERF funding for a Chroming Project for 24 months;

2004 Further re-funding of the Joint Inner City Homelessness Response for 12 months by Queensland Department of Families, Department of Housing and Brisbane City Council;

2004 Twelve months funding by the Department of Communities of the Inner City Youth Response – a joint project between BYS and Indigenous Youth Health Service targeting homeless Indigenous young people who are chroming in the inner city area.

2005 Three years funding by the Department of Communities of HART 4000 – a Homelessness Assessment and Referral Team sponsored by New Farm Neighbourhood Centre and involving five other partners, including BYS, West End Community House, Better Housing Projects, Inner Northern Community Housing and Wesley Mission.

2005 Joint project with Hep Council, QuIHN to deliver a series of Picnic’s in the Park targeting homeless people.

2006 Department of Communities (formerly Families) funding renewed (triennial):
- Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP)
- Youth Development

2006 Homeless Health Outreach Team (HHOT, Qld Health) begin and start weekly outreach clinic for mental health to BYS Drop In , formal Memorandum of Understanding Developed

2006 AERF Program Ceased final evaluation completed and resources distributed

2006 CBD Project Completed – no more ongoing committed outreach focused program at BYS – continues within existing programs but with far less capacity.

2006 A new Fundraiser Position is supported at BYS by the GCBF – to explore the new world of corporate participation in the community sector.

2006 BYS participates in the first Homeless Persons Count as part of the ABS Census

2007 Successful in Small Grant from Headspace to develop a larger grant addressing young peoples access to mental health and drug and alcohol services

2007 Parents YES Program submits is final report to the Dept of Communities Future Direction Funding and is transferred to Triennial Funding under Dept of Communities SAAP

2007 Family Support Program Service Plan re-negotiated with Dept of Communities for 3 years .

2007 $80,000 from NIDS for 2 year project focusing on young people with a Dual Diagnosis

2007 $40,000 from Qld Health to analyse 10 years of Drug Survey Data, Update the survey to include Mental Illness and be comparable to national databases and to create a data base.

2007 Day to Day Living Program Funded via Commonwealth Dept of Health and Aging

2007 Young People and staff are invited to and participate in the Premiers Summit into Young People and Drugs

2007 Young People and staff present at the National Enquiry into Youth Homelessness and a submission is also prepared

2007 As part of a machinery of government move IHSHY program moves from Dept of Health to Dept of Communities. The Commonwealth commitment to IHSHY beyond one more year is unconfirmed. Some changes are likely

2007 Young people and staff present at the National Youth Conference

2007 Church St is nearly sold and BYS spends lots of energy negotiating its future location

2007 The Cross Agency Project in conjunction with four other local area agencies almost finalises its lease with BCC for the new space at Green Square.

2007 Funding received from the Attorney Generals Dept for ‘Staying Out’ an intensive support pilot for young people being diverted from reentering the criminal justice system. The 2 years of supporting the Homeless Diversion Court within existing resources is finally supported!

2007 Funding received from the Commonwealth Dept of Health and Aging for a Clinical Drug and Alcohol/Dual Diagnosis capacity building initiative.

2007 The Picnics in the Park Initiative continue to be supported by BCC and win a National Award for Hepatitis C Prevention at the National Conference.

2007 Re-designed the 3rd version of the Deadly Deck – awaiting funding for printing

2007 The BYS Misfits – Indoor Cricket Team are supported by BCC and finally come second in the season!!!!

2007 The NIDS Drug Intervention Worker (DIW) develops her ATSI focus further by designing and delivering a young women’s support and education program – Young Women’s Business. Youth Development Team develop Young men’s business and BCC via Black Diamonds Fund for the second round in 2008.

2007 A successful grant from Trust Company Lt, as a trustee for the Fred P Archer Charitable Trust to host a celebration for 30 years of BYS. Planning begins for an event in early 2008.

2007 A formal Memorandum of Understanding is finalised between BYS, Indigenous Youth Health Service and the Salvation Army’s Youth Outreach Service (YOS).

2007 HART 4000 is externally evaluated and the agencies in the consortium explore additional ways to work together in the new year.

2007 BYS successful in a Building Links Initiative Grant (Dept of Communities) to develop itself further In readiness for the move of location and new working partnerships.

2007 BYS with YOS and the Mecca Bah host their 3rd very successful Xmas day lunch

2007 Funding announced for ‘Homeless to Jobs’ a Department of Employment and Industrial Relations program aimed at assisting 30 young people into training and employment.

2008 BYS funded for a National Youth Week event.

Current Funding

BYS currently receives core recurrent funding from 6 programs, including:

Department of Communities:

Supported Accommodation Assistance Program for drop in, outreach, case work, housing services and Intensive Parenting (early Intervention) Programs;
Youth Development for diversion from crime and facilitation of personal skill enhancement;
Family Support Program for young pregnant and parenting women and men. Innovative Health Services for Homeless Youth Program for a clinical health treatment service and sexual health education;

Commonwealth Department of Health & Ageing:

National Illicit Drug Strategy for a Drug Intervention Team;
as well as funding for the provision of Emergency Relief;

Queensland Health:

Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs fund a Specialist Youth Drug Intervention Worker;

In addition, BYS currently receives non-recurrent funding from:

Dept of Communities under the Building Links and National Youth Week Initiatives

Jupiter’s Casino Community Benefit Fund and Gambling Community Benefit Fund for renovations, upgrade of premises and vehicle replacement;

Brisbane City Council for Outreach Support, Indoor Cricket and Brokerage;

Qld Health for Dual Diagnosis Survey report and re-design project

Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing:
- Under NIDS for a Dual Diagnosis Health Project,
- Under the Day to Day Living Program for individualised support to young people with a dual diagnosis
- and a Clinical Drug and Alcohol Initiative

Dept of Employment and Industrial Relations under the Skilling Qld For Work Initiative for a project getting young people into training and employment