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Posted Mar 18, 2024

THE COURIER MAIL: Violence hits youths hard – Those who flee face homelessness

Domestic and family violence is forcing young Queenslanders into homelessness, a new report (by Brisbane Youth Service) has revealed. Jane, 18, experienced violence throughout her early childhood and teenage years. She said BYS had helped her find what triggered her.” Brisbane Youth Service CEO Pam Barker said more funding needed to be provided by the […]

Posted Mar 13, 2024

ABC NEWS RADIO: Homeless youth ‘more likely’ to have experienced DV: study

Young people facing homelessness experience family and intimate partner violence at disproportionately higher rates than the general population, a groundbreaking new report confirms. Brisbane Youth Service conducted a seven-year demographic trend analysis of 2,800 young people who have accessed support since 2015, the results of which are published today in Young People and Family and […]

Posted Mar 01, 2024

Brisbane Times: Are empty properties in affluent suburbs the key to housing young people?

This is what it looks like when all sectors come together to solve the housing crisis. Last week, Brisbane Youth Service and the Property Industry Foundation, with support from the Queensland government and Brisbane City Council, brought six corporate partners together to turn an empty property in an affluent Brisbane suburb into short-term housing for young people […]

Posted Dec 06, 2023

Families and young people becoming the face of Queensland’s homelessness crisis

CEO Pam Barker and a young person now safely housed with Brisbane Youth Service were part of this powerful ABC 7:30 story, showing the human reality of Queensland’s homelessness crisis. ‘Grace’ arrived in Brisbane aged 17 to pursue tertiary education but could not find a rental. She shared her experience living in a hostel for […]

Posted Nov 24, 2023

10 NEWS FIRST: One in three homeless under 25

The concerning statistics have sparked calls for landlords to consider the impacts of raising the rent, as demands for youth support services soar. Watch the full story on 10 News First:

Posted Nov 08, 2023

COURIER MAIL: Unprecedented: Demand for support services through the roof

Queensland charities are experiencing unprecedented demand, with inflation, rate rises and the housing crisis leading to record numbers of vulnerable and disadvantaged residents seeking help for the first time in their lives. Vinnies, Rosies Friends on the Street, OzHarvest and Lifeline’s UnitingCare have all reported an increase in demand with the vast number made up […]

Posted Nov 06, 2023

For some young people, a sleeping bag and safety plan is their only option

As chief executive Pam Barker explained, the service only provides those items if it’s the only option left. “Our first option is a bed in a hotel or motel or in one of our services,” she said. “If a young person does have to sleep rough, we provide them with a sleeping bag and a […]

Posted Nov 06, 2023

Brisbane Times: Brisbane Youth Service launches fundraising appeal

BYS CEO Pam Barker says youth homelessness in Brisbane has hit a crisis point, and more needs to be done at a time when short and long-term accommodation options are in high demand. “The housing options for a young person with limited funds and no rental history is bleak. There’s just nothing available,” Barker said. […]

Posted Nov 06, 2023

Courier Mail: Youth services buckling under increase in young people with no secure place to live

Schoolchildren as young as 12 are among more than 650 youths knocking on the door of Brisbane Youth Service each month desperately needing help. The housing crisis means that there is often no accommodation available, and young people are now faced with a night of rough sleeping. When they arrive at the service, 47 per […]

Posted Oct 27, 2023

ABC News: Could Australia end homelessness in 10 years?

Australia’s homelessness could end in just 10 years, that’s according to the sector’s peak body. Homelessness Australia has made a number of proposals as part of its submission to the Federal Government’s National Housing and Homelessness Plan. Featured: Faith, woman who was facing homelessness Kate Colvin, Homelessness Australia chief executive Nicole Gurran, University of Sydney […]

Posted Oct 26, 2023

Annual General Meeting – 21 November 2023

The Brisbane Youth Service AGM will be held on Tuesday 21 November 2023. 3:30-5:00pm Brisbane Youth Service Hub 42 McLachlan Street Fortitude Valley We hope you can join us to celebrate the achievements of the past year. Please RSVP by Thursday, 16 November to events@brisyouth.org. The following documents are available to download: Notice of Annual […]

Media Release, Oct 17, 2023

Brisbane Youth Service receives new funding for domestic violence program from the Paul Ramsay Foundation

Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) has been awarded a $250,000 grant to enhance its services for young people using violence. The grant is part of a $13.6 million funding package that the Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF), in partnership with the Australian Communities Foundation (ACF), has distributed to 58 organisations in Australia working with key groups impacted […]