Youth off the Streets
Youth off the Streets is a community organization founded by Father Chris Riley that works with young people who are chronically homeless, drug dependent, and recovering from abuse. They provide crisis care for homeless youth with a food van, youth refuge, and outreach programs such as drug and alcohol treatment and secondary schooling.
Dr Brendan Nelson has worked to raise over $700,000 in funding for Youth Off The Streets program. In 2002, he helped obtain a $120,000 Commonwealth Government grant that assisted the organisation develop and run a new programme in schools. The new programme assists young people at risk of becoming disconnected from their families or from mainstream education due to issues such as drugs and alcohol, physical or emotional abuse, aggressive behaviour, criminal activity or family breakdown.
Dr Nelson also helped provide Youth off the Streets a funding boost of $600,000 that went towards a Drug Education Programme in Surry Hills that helps young people deal with drug related issues while completing a high school education.
Dr Nelson has also been involved in the Alternative Support Programmes Intervention Rehabilitation and Education (ASPIRE) in the Parramatta region which aims to re-engage youth who have become disconnected from mainstream education and their community.
Dr. Nelson has also worked with Father Chris Riley to formally launch the National MathsPOWER Challenge.
For more information on the great work that Youth off the Streets do, or to speak with a volunteer, please contact 9419 7559 or log onto the StreetWork website www.streetwork.org.au