Former YFS Board
Craig Smiley: Service through strategy
“… [YFS] gives Logan what every community needs.
YFS gives Logan a heart.”
Stories of YFS
YFS has been part of the Logan community since 1984. Over the past 40 years, we’ve grown, evolved and helped shape countless lives.
To mark our 40th anniversary, we’re sharing stories from the people who make YFS what it is—clients, staff, and community partners. Throughout the year, we’ll be releasing new stories, highlighting the impact of YFS over four decades. These stories reflect resilience, growth and the impact of community-driven support.
Staff Story
Joe: Support in the legal system
“A lot of people, understandably, can feel lost in a courtroom. I see the difference that our service makes.”
Client Story
Cheryl: Opening new doors
“It’s the little things, like being able to cook with something other than a microwave. Or being able to do a load of washing whenever you want.”
Former Staff Story
Rosie Bell: An abundance of resilience
“I think there are always going to be challenges for First Nations staff in any organisation across Australia. Racism is strong across all our communities [but] I believe in YFS and our values – we have a genuine, authentic approach to supporting each other and a strong understanding and awareness of diverse needs.”
Partner Story
Jackson Hills: Better together
“YFS is always on the precipice of wanting to better understand the community’s needs, so they can position their service to be as effective as possible.”
Partner Story
Chris-Maree Sultmann: Building Capacity for Care
“With rapid growth and expansion, organisations and people within them can oftentimes lose their way…I think YFS has done a remarkable job of holding on to its founding ethos of existing for this community – to confront disadvantage and to walk alongside those in need.”
Staff Story
Nick: Solid foundations for the next generation
“When [university] students come in we try to give them the best possible placement so they are ready for whatever journey they take. You only get one chance to lay the foundations for your practice and you want to get that right.”
Client Story
Amy: Strategic steps to safety
“They were like a breath of fresh air, right from the start. They literally pulled everything together…I will be forever grateful to the team.”
Staff Story
Tamara Charlton: Family and doing what it takes
“I realised that I’m not in this world to make money for other people. I’m in this world to help people who are doing it tough.”
Former Staff Story
Cath Bartolo: Like a family…a very big family.
“By being at YFS for a long time, I was privileged to see the changes that occurred in our clients’ lives over many years. They would return to YFS to tell us about their employment, their homes, and their children’s education – a result of YFS’ influence in their lives.”
Client Story
Rangi: Kicking goals, creating change
“You can’t change someone, they have to want it for themself. [But] you can speak truth to them, check in on them.”
Board Story
Philip Beresford: A commitment to morality
“YFS is making such a difference to the community that I live in that it encourages me to keep giving and try to make it more effective to achieve [even] more for more people.”
Client Story
Casey: Finding financial freedom
“Financial literacy is everything. Our system, our whole society runs on a financial system and if you don’t know how to use that system, then you become downtrodden.”
Partner Story
Maria Leebeek: Community connections for hopeful futures
“The strength of YFS is in the relationships it has with people, the trust that the community has in the organisation, and the organisation’s ability to work together to make change because lasting change only happens through those processes.”
Client Story
Jodie: Love, laughter, and reconnecting with family
“My girls have seen me bounce back, with a bit of support. [My YFS worker], she really had my back. She guided me and had a huge impact.”
Staff Story
Meegan: Growing a skilled, steadfast team
“Seeing colleagues and staff members evolve in their professional development – it is really satisfying, such a win-win scenario.”
Partner Story
Samantha Barnett: Christmas Elf
“I don’t ever want a child to feel isolated and different because they can’t access the same things as other kids…these kids are our future and I want all of them to know the world is full of love and opportunity.”
Former Staff Story
Judith Hunter: Compassion in lifelong learning
“I think the thing that always amazed me was how resilient the people that we were supporting were. They’d get up and try again when things went wrong, they’d find ways to make things work, and with our help they could find really positive, effective ways.”
Partner Story
Karyn Walsh: Partnering for zero
“There’s no border for someone who is experiencing homelessness. So you really need to be collaborating across areas to make sure people don’t have to start all over again.”
Client Story
Jane: A Strong Family
“I keep coming back to YFS. They really listen to your story and understand the angle you’re coming from.”
Partner Story
Victoria Parker: Transformative partnerships, intergenerational opportunities
“That transference of expert advice from these young mums who have lived experience of disadvantage and housing instability and domestic violence…it has led to this solution.”
Client Story
Noeleen: Flying Free
“For anyone who’s out there in the same situation, it’s so scary. But I would definitely recommend SHINE. It’s a really good way to escape. They’re totally supportive in every way you could possibly think of.”
Client Story
Taylar Wright: Building a circle of support
“YFS has been a big, big support for me. I never felt like I had anyone on my side, I always felt like everyone was against me. As a parent, as a person.”
Client Story
Lillian Ford: A new chapter
“They didn’t have to do that – to spend so much time with me and reassure and support me. Afterwards I was able to calm down and safely get home, which was a massive thing for me.”
Client Story
Cameron Thayer: Leading with lived experience
“The biggest thing that stood out to me was that they took time to listen. It’s probably the first time I ever really felt validated – like someone was seeing me and cared about my story.”
Our 40-year
anniversary logo
anniversary logo
Our 40-year logo is a story in itself. The fingerprint symbolises the individuality and diversity of the people we’ve supported over four decades, as well as the lasting impact YFS has made in our community. At the same time, the logo is a map of the Logan area, representing our deep connection to this place and the communities we serve every day.
It’s a tribute to Logan’s unique identity and our shared journey over 40 years of creating positive change together.
YFS respectfully acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australia’s first peoples and the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we meet and work. We recognise the important role they have within community and country, and we pay our respects to the Elders of this land past and present.
YFS is a proudly inclusive organisation and is an ally of the LGBTQIA+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy community.
Copyright © 2025 YFS Ltd. | ABN58239250649 | ACN 167122527