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Posted Sep 08, 2025

What every Australian needs to know about youth homelessness: Pam Barker on the Hair Therapist podcast

“Young people are not the problem. They’re the solution.” That’s the message Pam Barker, CEO of Brisbane Youth Service (BYS), drives home in her conversation with host Mel Alsemgeest on the Hair Therapist podcast. This episode isn’t just about youth homelessness. It’s about resilience and the power of connection. It’s about listening to the stories […]

Posted Aug 08, 2025

Daggy Jumper Day 2025: Brisbane got daggy to change young lives

On 6 August, Brisbane turned up the warmth and the dagginess for Daggy Jumper Day 2025 – and what a day it was! From bold patterns to vintage charm and everything in between, the city came together in style to take a stand against youth homelessness. This year’s event was a powerful show of community […]

Posted Aug 05, 2025

Brisbane Zero Forum: working together to end homelessness

Ending homelessness takes more than good intentions – it takes data, collaboration, and learning from lived experiences. The Brisbane Zero Forum brings all of that together. Now in its third year, the 2025 forum, held on 5 August, focused on practical solutions and frontline insights. Brisbane Zero is part of Advance to Zero, a shared […]

Brisbane Youth Service CEO Appointed Co-Chair of New Queensland Housing Sub-Committee

Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) is pleased to announce that Chief Executive Officer, Pam Barker, has been appointed Co-Chair of the Supportive Housing Sub-Committee within the Queensland Government’s Homelessness Ministerial Advisory Council (HMAC). Pam will serve alongside Sue Pope, CEO of Common Ground, in leading the Sub-Committee’s efforts to advance supportive housing solutions across the state. […]

Posted Jul 21, 2025

SBS News: The ‘invisible victims’ being left behind in Australia’s domestic violence response

Witnessing or experiencing family violence can have a lifelong impact on children and, in some cases, even lead to them becoming perpetrators. Pam Barker, CEO of Brisbane Youth Service, says people who witness or experience domestic and family violence at a young age are also more likely to use violence themselves. She says this is […]

Young people shape a groundbreaking response to help end the cycle of violence and homelessness

Posted May 06, 2025

Brisbane Youth Service launches new program to support LGBTIQA+ young people facing violence

To mark Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, Brisbane Youth Service has launched a new group-based initiative supporting LGBTIQA+ young people aged 18–25 to build safe, respectful relationships and recover from past experiences of violence. The new program, SAGE+, is designed specifically for LGBTIQA+ young people who have experienced domestic, family, or sexual violence and/or […]

Posted Apr 28, 2025

ABC Radio: Brisbane Youth Service CEO Speaks on Urgent Need for Action on Youth Homelessness

Ahead of Youth Homelessness Matters Day, our CEO Pam Barker spoke with ABC Brisbane’s Kelly Higgins-Devine about the urgent issue of youth homelessness in Australia and the need for immediate action. Listen to Pam Barker’s full interview with ABC Brisbane: Key facts: Many Australians are unaware of the extent of this crisis happening right here […]

Posted Mar 20, 2025

BYS launches early intervention program designed to keep families together and young people out of homelessness

Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) is proud to be the first in Queensland to launch Ruby’s, an early intervention program designed to keep families together and prevent children from entering the homelessness system. With homelessness at crisis point in Brisbane and too few beds available to meet the need, early intervention is critical to relieving pressure […]

Posted Mar 10, 2025

ABC Listen (PM Podcast): The year-on-year increase in young people seeking housing support

Our CEO, Pam Barker, recently spoke with ABC’s Elizabeth Cramsie about the year-on-year increase in young people needing crisis accommodation and the barriers they face in accessing housing. With youth homelessness at crisis point, we have joined over 150 other organisations in supporting the national Home Time campaign, urging federal, state and territory governments to […]

Posted Feb 24, 2025

How our Positive Transitions Program supports young people to create new futures

For young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, maintaining stability and independence can feel overwhelming. That’s why our Sustaining Young Tenancies and Transitions services, like our Positive Transitions Program (PTP), are so crucial in addressing the needs of those facing housing challenges. The Positive Transitions Program is proudly supported by Brisbane City Council. This […]

Posted Dec 12, 2024

ABC NEWS: Early intervention services to address Australia’s family violence crisis

Experts say working with perpetrators when they’re still teens could shift the dial on Australia’s family violence crisis. A 2021 Senate inquiry found while early intervention is critical there are too few programs and not enough evidence on what works. Lou Baker [from Brisbane Youth Service] said reports of teens breaking phones or engaging in […]