Mission Australia believes all young people should have the opportunity to successfully move through their adolescent years and into adulthood, well prepared for life ahead.

At Mission Australia, we believe that every young person is vitally important both for today and for the future. We recognise that the transition from adolescence to adulthood can be challenging and stressful for young people, their families and friends, and sometimes for the whole community.

We work in partnership with young people to develop their strengths and their capacity to make positive life choices. We support them in reaching their goals as well as in developing solutions, skills and competencies to achieve success.

Our range of services includes prevention and early intervention, counselling and case management, education and skills development, mentoring, and residential programs. We also offer innovative programs to encourage young people to stay at school as well as take advantage of further education.

We empower our staff to act locally by tailoring innovative solutions to meet the specific needs of the young person and his or her family.

View our pathways through a successful youth mini-site

Here are some of our services that help young Australians in need:

• South West Youth Services (NSW)
• Onkaparinga Youth Services (SA)
• Alice Springs Integrated Youth Services
• Learning Unlimited (SA)
• Elevate
• Triple Care Farm
• Dubbo Leadership and Cultural Development Program
• Creative Youth Initiatives
• U-Turn
• Youth Withdrawal & Respite Service
• Connections

South West Youth Services (SWYS)

South West Youth Services, located in Sydney, provides education, employment, life skills and other support to marginalised youth.
The service runs many youth-friendly activities and offers drug and alcohol counselling, anger management, conflict resolution and peer mediation.
SWYS has a youth centre that provides the following programs:

• Drug and alcohol awareness program
• Post-release support program - works with adolescents who have left detention
• Employment skills program for adolescents leaving detention
• Links to learning programs
• Job Placement Employment and Training program (JPET)

Onkaparinga Youth Services (OYS)

Operating from three centres in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, and within the community, OYS provides activities, training opportunities, support services and referrals to young people and their families.
Onkaparinga Youth Services is provided in partnership with and funded by the City of Onkaparinga.

Alice Springs Integrated Youth Services

Alice Springs Integrated Youth Services provides outreach youth programs to four remote Northern Territory communities: Finke, Imanpa, Mutitjulu and Docker River.

Learning Unlimited

Learning Unlimited is a suite of services in South Australia with a focus on working in partnership with schools to meet the needs of young people who are at risk of leaving school or home. These programs include:

• Youth Activities Services (YAS) and its complementary program, Family Liaison (FLW) are early intervention programs that challenge young people through outdoor adventure skills and activities. The adventure aspect of the program is complemented by a support service for the families of young people who are participating in the program. YAS and FLW is funded by Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services.
• Pathways and WAVE engage, empower and inspire young people to rediscover the value of learning. They focus on the needs of young people who are at risk of becoming, or who have become, disengaged from mainstream education.

The programs offer accreditation through Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia (SSABSA). They provide a structured workplace learning environment, offer an awareness and development of local support networks and provide the opportunity to explore and develop transition pathway plans to assist young people with re-entry into mainstream education, employment or enterprise initiatives. Case management is also provided, which addresses the social or emotional issues that have prevented the young person from continuing their education.

Elevate

The Elevate Program, operating in NSW and Victoria, is an innovative corporate-community venture between Mission Australia and PricewaterhouseCoopers Foundation. The program develops the leadership potential, employability and enterprise skills of young people. Elevate is a 12-month program that uses co-coaching to build the skills of young people and coaches alike. The unique program fosters the leadership potential of some of Australia's most disadvantaged young people.

Triple Care Farm (TCF)

Triple Care Farm (TCF) is a residential, treatment and vocational training program in the southern highlands of NSW for young people aged 16-24 with complex backgrounds. Triple Care Farm provides residential living skills, counselling and vocational training programs such as metalwork, woodwork and farming. Sports and recreation activities are also available at the farm. A post support program “Stepping Out” is also provided. This program ensures that the young person and their family continue to receive help and support after they have left Triple Care Farm. Click here to visit the TCF website.

Creative Youth Initiatives

Creative Youth Initiatives, located in Sydney, provides free creative programs for young people aged 16 - 25 who are facing many and varied challenges in their lives, such as homelessness, mental health issues or family breakdown. With support from musicians, artists and social workers, students are assisted in developing a broad range of skills and are encouraged to use creativity as an outlet for the issues they are facing in their lives.

Dubbo Leadership and Cultural Development Program

Dubbo Leadership and Cultural Development Program in western NSW helps young Aboriginal students gain leadership skills and culture awareness, and assists them to stay in school.

The Program supports Aboriginal students by providing:

• Weekly after school sessions that are educational, vocational, cultural and fun
• Links with Community Support Services
• Assistance with family mediation and support if needed
• Connections to Aboriginal elders and mentors
• Support with school work and homework;
• Assistance for parents with liaising with schools;
• Assistance for students in the event of suspension;
• Cultural camps during the school holidays

U-Turn

U-Turn, located in Tasmania, is a diversionary program for young people aged 15-20 who have been involved in, or are at risk of becoming involved in, motor vehicle theft. It aims to reduce re-offending rates of the young people participating in the program. Students undertake a structured 10-week automotive training course in car maintenance and bodywork. Post-course support is available and past students are given the opportunity to complete their Certificate 1 in Automotive with support from the U-Turn team.

Youth Withdrawal & Respite Service

The Youth Withdrawal & Respite Service in inner city Perth, provides a safe and supported environment for young people aged 12 - 21 who are wishing to manage their withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs. The facility was established in June 2003 and is still the only youth-specific withdrawal unit in Western Australia.

The service provides 24 hour supportive care, education and information groups, recreation and exercise programs, and access to medical care. It also offers access to a variety of complementary therapies including reiki, nutrition therapy, yoga, meditation, flower essences, aromatherapy, art therapy, and drama therapy. Importantly the service also encourages family interaction by actively involving and engaging families and significant others through support, information and referral.

Connections

Connections is an education and personal development program for young people, aged 13-19 who have been disconnected from mainstream schooling for more than three months. It is a federally funded program that Mission Australia provides in five locations across Victoria and South Australia.