Young People's
Stories

In my younger years, I had my share of struggles at home and school.

Before I got in touch with BYS I was residing with my mother, who then at the time packed up and moved back to our hometown.

I joined a young women’s group run by BYS that helps women learn about self-understanding and healthy relationships.

I reached out to BYS after my school’s youth worker referred me. They had heard that I was sleeping rough, and they saw that I needed help.

I am a young Aboriginal, Gurang Gurang woman, who didn’t have the best upbringing which led to me living on the streets.

I was going through a tough time with my mental health and I first contacted Headspace and they referred me to BYS to the Recovery and Discovery (RAD) program.

Two years ago I was well set up in my life, working 70 hours a week, in a relationship. I’d never been homeless; I had a pretty good life. Then, over the last few years, I was hit with a bad set of circumstances. I broke up with my partner, lost my job, and stopped talking to my family.

I moved to Brisbane from Northern NSW after the Lismore floods in July 2022 and was living in a boarding house before I found BYS.