Our 

 history 

We are proud of our history of leadership in Logan, documented in this timeline.

1981
January 1
Logan declared a city

On 1 January 1981, Logan was declared a city. The administration building on Wembley Road was opened in February 1981.

1983
January
Christian Brothers in collaboration with Logan residents established a secular community based organisation in Kingston

The Christian Brothers in collaboration with Logan residents established a community based secular organisation in Kingston, supporting “at risk” young people and their families with accommodation, unemployment and children’s court matters. Counselling was also available.

1984
March
Community development work started

 

Our community development work included juvenile justice and truancy. Juvenile justice work with young people and their families led to the start of YFS and the truancy work resulted in the start of the Centre Education Programme (now an Edmund Rice Flexi School). Pictured on the right is Mick Devlin, who founded Youth and Family Services. Mick was the organisation’s coordinator/manager until 1987.

1985
July
Atkinson Street youth housing accommodation opened

 

YFS provided this accommodation until the early 1990s.

1985
June
YFS held its first annual general meeting
1986
February
2 Rowan Street, Slacks Creek office opened

 

Youth and Family Service (Logan City) was recognised as an incorporated association. We provided housing and homelessness assistance.

1987
January
YFS coordinator/manager Pam Searle appointed

 

Pam joined YFS in 1987 and led the organisation until her departure in 1989.

1987
March
Youthlink launched

 

Youthlink offered activities for young people, developed to address youth unemployment (Pixies Catering), homelessness and links to education.

1988
June
Juvenile Advocacy Services

 

Funding for this service commenced, signalling the start of the Logan Youth Legal Service.

1989
April
YFS clients performed the play, Charged Up
1989
August
Our Homeless Children Report released

 

YFS was visited by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner Brian Burdekin. Brian commissioned this report, which made recommendations about children having the right to receive adequate housing, to enjoy special protection and to be protected against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation.

1989
September
Health bus clinic started

 

Until 1993, YFS sponsored the health bus, offering contraception and conception counselling, and STI and HIV screening and counselling.

The 1990s

1990
February
4 Rowan Street, Slacks Creek property acquired

 

The property was extended in 1993.

1990
March
Start of Commonwealth Family and Relationships programs

Family and relationship programs included adolescent, parent mediation and family counselling services. They continue today, and are now known as Step by Step (Thriving Young Families).

1992
January
Logan Legal Advice Centre formed by YFS and local solicitors

 

YFS takes on the management of the Logan Legal Advice Centre, which moved to our 4 Rowan Street premises. Also, the domestic violence and Survival Sex programs for young people

1992
January
Queensland Health Young Parents program began

 

The program continued until 2006.

1994
February
Women’s Anti-Violence Support Service separates from YFS

 

WAVSS formed its own organisation so that YFS could focus on working with male perpetrators.

1995
June
Self Organised Youth Accommodation (SOYA) developed

 

Through SOYA, YFS offered young people 17 long-term housing units at 35A Defiance Road, Woodridge. We relinquished management of the property in June 2018.

1996
July
Logan Youth Connections amalgamated with YFS

 

Logan Youth Connections (Community Connections) helped post-school young people with multiple disabilities. It amalgamated with YFS in 1996.

1997
September
376 Kingston Road, Slacks Creek office purchased
1997
July
1997 Community Conferencing program commenced
1998
January
Youth Support coordinator commenced working in Logan high schools
1998
January
1998 Logan River Valley Housing Tenancy amalgamated with YFS

 

Logan River Valley Housing Tenancy (previously Logan Hotline) amalgamated with YFS. This program continued, under the name Logan Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Service, until 2013.

1999
February
M-Power commenced

 

Through M-Power, YFS delivered an early intervention mental health program for young people until 2014.

New millennium 2000 – 2009

2000
January
2000 YFS became a Registered Training Organisation

 

Our RTO status continued until 2006.

2000
February
Community Job Plans program commenced

 

In its six-year lifespan, this program offered paid work to a number of unemployed people to develop the Eagleby Wetlands.

2001
June
TASK work enterprise group commenced

 

TASK is a car wash and gardening enterprise initiated by a YFS disability client. It continues to operate today.

2001
July
YFS managed Outer Southern Suburbs Community Accommodation Inc

 

YFS accepted responsibility to manage OSSCA INC based at Moorooka. We managed the organisation until 2005.

2001
January
Centenary of Federation mosaic created

 

Our disability clients went above and beyond by creating a wonderful mosaic celebrating 100 years since Australia’s federation. The mosaic remains proudly displayed in the front courtyard of our office at 376 Kingston Road.

2002
June
YFS acquired funding for the Needle and Syringe Program

 

The Needle and Syringe Program was previously unfunded.

2002
September
Logan Youth Legal received Children’s Lawyer of the Year Award

 

Pictured is a resource created for young people by the Logan Youth Legal Service in 2002. It helped them understand their responsibilities under the law.

2002
December
Long-standing YFS coordinator/manager Tony Parsons farewelled

Tony was one of the longest-standing Youth and Family Services managers. He started in the position in 1991. Pictured is Tony (front row, blue shirt) at his farewell in 2002. Cath Bartolo (front row, red shirt) assumed the role of YFS chief executive on Tony’s departure in 2002.

2003
May
2003 Drug Accommodation Pilot commenced

 

This pilot commenced as a community diversion program and alternative to prison. YFS managed the housing component until 2013.

2003
June
Young people programs diversified

 

These programs included: Job Placement Employment and Training Youth Engagement Service (a school-based program for young people disengaged from the early years of high school; it was funded by Community Renewal).

2004
January
New job seeker and domestic violence programs released

 

YFS began to deliver a job seeker program for parents and domestic violence perpetrator programs.

2004
March
Extra Label
YFS coordinates Friendship Games

Through sport, the Friendship Games helped connect young refugees to assist with their physical, social and emotional wellbeing.

2005
March
Couple counselling and specialised family violence work commenced

 

Changes to the family support policy enabled couple counselling and specialised family violence work to commence.

2005
April
YFS hosted Queensland Governor Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce
2005
June
YFS holds YFest

 

YFest was a festival for young people, organised by YFS.

2006
January
Early childhood team commenced

 

This was an early intervention program that supported families and children under five years of age. It led to YFS opening an office at Waterford West primary school in 2007. The program operated until 2013.

2006
March
2QT2BSTR8 outreach began

 

Through this program, youth and social workers began to provide confidential counselling to gay, lesbian, bisexual, intersexed, transgendered or questioning young people aged 16 to 19 years.

2007
June
Personal Helpers and Mentors (PHaMs) program commenced

 

PHaMs is a mental health recovery support program.

2008
January
ReSolv program commenced

 

ReSolv was a volatile substance misuse program targeting young people, 12 to 17 years of age. The program amalgamated with YouthLink in 2015.

2008
January
The Burrabilly (Indigenous mental health) program commenced

 

The program was initiated with the support of the Logan District Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Aboriginal Corporation for Elders. It operated until 2015.

2008
February
YFS launched the employment program, Participate in Prosperity

 

This program provided intensive case-management assistance for people who faced barriers to employment. It ended in 2013.

2008
May
Next Step Logan Beenleigh Young Person’s Project commenced

 

Next Step was a social inclusion initiative that provided opportunities for government, non-government and the community to work in a more coordinated manner to address the needs of young people. It continued until 2012.

2008
June
Lifelong Planning Community Support Initiative started

 

LPCSI focused on building the ability of mainstream services to support people with disabilities. The program ended in 2014.

2009
November
YFS turned 25!

 

We celebrated by holding a party in Rowan Park. More than 1,000 people joined the celebrations including clients, neighbours, politicians, funding bodies, local community organisations, current and past staff.

2009
YFS delivered more than 40 programs

 

By 2009, the population of Logan City reached 260,000 and reflected more than 160 cultures. In that year, YFS expanded to deliver more than 40 programs in five Logan sites, employing more than 130 staff. During the 2009-10 financial year, YFS supported more than 5000 people who sought advice, information, counselling, group work and services.

2009
November
YFS’ 25th anniversary showcased by media

2010 – 2019

2010
January
Information, Referral and Assessment Services (IRAS) commenced

 

IRAS was launched as our ‘no wrong door’ service, for walk-in and telephone enquiries. It’s now called YFS Connect.

2011
March
16 Central was built

 

YFS opened its new, purpose-built building at 358 Kingston Road, Slacks Creek for disability programs.

2011
Respectful Relationships program commenced

 

The Respectful Relationships program helped young people aged between 13 and 24 years. The program was delivered through Woodridge High School, Marsden High School, Logan TAFE, Multilink and YFS.

2011
November
YFS staff development day: Healthy Headspace Conference

 

YFS held its yearly staff development day by staging the Healthy Headspace Conference. Other local organisations attend as well.

2012
July
First Reconciliation Action Plan launched

 

The 2012-2014 plan was the first to detail our commitment to reconciliation and closing the unacceptable gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other Australian’s health and wellbeing.

2012
August
WorkCrew social enterprise commenced

 

The enterprise concluded in 2016.

2012
YFS continued to grow

 

By 2012, 148 paid staff and 42 volunteers were operating from our sites across Logan.

2012
Home Energy Scheme rolled out

 

Home visits and education sessions helped people in Logan, Brisbane, Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley to better manage their energy at home.

2012
Place-based Money Management Service released

 

Income-managed clients learned new skills to manage their money effectively.

2013
SubStation33 created!

 

In its first year, our social enterprise e-waste recycling initiative processed 10,000kg of equipment.

2013
The CLUB (Communicating, Learning, Understanding and Belonging) launched

 

YFS initiated this program for primary school children in partnership with The Salvation Army Communities for Children and five local primary schools.

2013
WWILD co-located with YFS

WWILD moved in with us in Slacks Creek to support Logan women with intellectual disabilities in addressing sexual violence and safe behaviours.

2013
Youth and Family Services rebranded as YFS

And we became a company limited by guarantee. Previously, we were an incorporated association.

2013
YFS services reduced

 

A $4 million reduction in Queensland and Commonwealth Government funding ended a number of our long-term services.

2014
Corporate sponsors secured

 

Macquarie Bank and Westpac Bank became sponsors of a number of our social enterprises.

2014
Indigenous greats speak

 

Our staff heard from keynote speakers Noel Pearson and Wesley Enoch at our annual staff conference.

2014
Problem gambling service launched

 

We launched a new financial counselling service addressing program gambling.

2014
Indigenous groups co-located with YFS

 

We were pleased to begin sharing our Slacks Creek premises with the Logan District Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, including the Murri Men’s Group.

2014
YFS Legal launched

 

Our two community legal centres, Logan Youth Legal and Logan Legal Advice Centre, amalgamate to become YFS Legal.

2014
Get Ready takes off

We introduced Get Ready to help prepare people with disabilities and their families for the NDIS in the Logan, Redlands and Gold Coast areas.

2015
YFS celebrated 30 years of service

 

YFS came into existence soon after Logan’s formation and in 2015, we celebrated 30 years of service with a park-side birthday party. Watch our YFS beginnings – 30 years of wisdom video to find out more. You’ll hear from our founder Mick Devlin!

2015
Browns Plains office opened

 

Through this office, we provided people in the Browns Plains and Beaudesert regions with access to our Intensive Family Support Program. The office closed in 2018 when we opened our Jimboomba centre.

2015
R4Respect commenced

 

In its first nine months, our youth-led violence prevention initiative generated more than 300 social media posts, attracted almost 1,200 Facebook likes, and reached about 3,000 young people face-to-face through more than 15 events in schools and communities.

2015
YouthLink expanded to the Redlands

 

Our YouthLink team worked in an expanded catchment area, taking in people in the Redland City including the Bay Islands who need intensive support to gain the skills for independence and to avoid disadvantage.

2015
YFS Connect launched

 

We reshaped our financial services area to create YFS Connect, a hub bringing together services that help people deal with financial crisis and learn how to manage money for the future. YFS Connect incorporates our intake and referral service (formerly IRAS), our financial counsellors, Money Smart financial capability workers and emergency relief services.

2015
Intensive Family Support service began

 

And it quickly reached capacity, working with families with child protection concerns to help them keep their children safe.

2016
QSTARS moved in

We were very pleased to welcome Tenants Queensland’s QSTARS tenancy advice workers to share our Slacks Creek premises.

2016
YFS becomes a ParentsNext provider

 

ParentsNext is a Federally-funded program for parents of young children to prepare to enter the workforce. We help parents define career goals, and make and implement plans to achieve them.

2016
NDIS planning underway

 

We supported people using our disability programs to begin planning for the NDIS, employing a worker to help with pre-planning.

2016
Substation33 built up its innovation hub

 

More than 300 people did almost 35,000 hours of work experience at Substation33, learning how to function in a workplace as well as how to disassemble electronic goods and use 3D printers.

2016
Project Hera launched

 

Queensland Police Service Logan and YFS Ltd entered into a new and unique partnership agreement, Project HERA. A YFS worker began to be co-located with the Logan District Domestic and Family Violence Unit to provide prompt assessment, referral and support to those affected by domestic violence.

2016
Not Now, Not Ever in Logan solidified support

 

YFS joined Federal, State and local government, businesses, organisations and services to take up the challenge to put an end to domestic and family violence. As part of the campaign, the Rotary Clubs of Logan, Loganholme and Beenleigh funded the production of a pocket Quick Help Guide, outlining sources of support and information for Logan people experiencing violence.

2016
372 Kingston Road office opened

 

When we opened a new office at 372 Kingston Road Slacks Creek, we were pleased to include co-location space for the Logan District Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Elders.

2016
Beaudesert and Jimboomba domestic and family violence service started

 

In October 2016, we became the domestic and family violence service for the Beaudesert and Jimboomba region.

2017
YFS expanded The Club

 

Involving seven additional schools in 2016, The Club worked with 397 vulnerable students to help them improve their social skills and ability to thrive in the school environment.

2017
Done With Debt campaign kicked off

 

The Done with Debt campaign helped prevent Logan residents getting into debt through rental of appliances, computers, phones or furniture. Billboards, bus shelter ads and shopping centre ads were displayed across Logan promoting the message “easy lenders can make life tough”.

2017
Substation33 established Solar Signs Solutions

 

Substation33 partnered with Logan City Council to manufacture flood warning signs for low-lying road crossings. The signs proved themselves during Tropical Cyclone Debbie in early 2017, when no motorists attempted to drive through floodwaters at the nine crossings where solar signs were installed.

2017
YFS actively contributed to Logan Integrated Service Response to Domestic Violence

 

The improved information sharing between organisations greatly increased our collective ability to support victims of high-risk perpetrators to achieve safety, and to hold perpetrators accountable.

2017
75 YFS volunteers and clients moved into paid work

 

We helped Substation33 volunteers move into paid work once they gained experience and skills with us. We also worked with clients in our case management teams, particularly our PHAMs mental health recovery service. They joined our ParentsNext team to improve work readiness of people facing significant barriers to employment.

2017
Sure Steps family coaching service launched

This service helped public housing tenants with young children identify and achieve aspirations for their families. We developed the approach in consultation with Logan Together and the Department of Housing and Public Works.

2018
Functional Family Therapy Queensland trial began

 

YFS became the only Queensland organisation funded to trial Functional Family Therapy – Child Welfare, an evidence-based program developed by New York Foundling LLC that works with complex, high needs families at risk of entering statutory child protection services.

2018
Assessment and Service Connect introduced

 

ASC began working alongside statutory workers to assist with assessment of family functioning and identification of appropriate support services for families with children at risk of entering child protection.

2018
YFS lights a Spark

We launched Spark, an exciting initiative for people in Logan public housing who want brighter futures, and the program is now taking referrals. Spark lights the way and connects people with opportunities to work, learn, volunteer or start their own micro business.

2018
YFS opened Jimboomba office

 

Recognising population growth in the western Logan area, we opened a new campus in Jimboomba. Our Functional Family Therapy-Child Welfare, Intensive Family Support, and Beaudesert Domestic and Family Violence Service for Women and Children teams are based there.

2018
YFS co-hosted Logan’s 10th anniversary National Apology event

 

We were proud to partner with the Healing Foundation to host the Logan Apology event, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. Logan Elders and community members, elected representatives and school students joined to share stories, songs and messages of reconciliation and hope.

2018
Substation33 partnerships drove innovation

 

Substation33 made significant progress in its innovation, developing solar-powered charging units in conjunction with PowerWells and water-quality testing meters in a partnership with Griffith University. Its flood-warning-sign partnership with Logan City Council continued to grow.

2018
Domestic violence cinema advert rallied community, won award

 

The Not Now, Not Ever cinema advertisement featuring Logan identities, including rugby league great Corey Parker, speaking out against domestic violence won the not-for-profit category in the 2018 Safe City Logan awards. The advert was a joint effort between The Centre for Women & Co, local businesses, service clubs, Queensland Police Service, Logan City Council and the Queensland Government.

2019
YFS now trauma responsive

 

We introduced a Trauma Responsive Practice Framework to support our staff to understand the impacts of trauma on our clients. Developing a deep understanding of trauma is helping our staff support people to create real change in their lives.

2019
The Thriving Families project launched

 

Working with Logan Together, the Community Service Industry Alliance, the Australian Centre for Social Innovation and homeless families themselves, we designed Thriving Families, which the YFS Board funded as a demonstration project. Thriving Families brings together family coaches and a housing specialist in an integrated team to help homeless families move from crisis to thriving. There is irrefutable evidence that a supportive housing approach – combining affordable housing and tailored support – supports long-term change.

2019
Disability support transitioned

 

We stopped providing community participation programs for people with a disability and our Personal Helpers and Mentors service (PHaMs) for people with mental health issues ended. We helped our clients to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) where possible and transition to other supports if they were not eligible. We were sad to farewell these clients and staff, some of whom had been with YFS for more than 20 years.

2019
We held Logan’s first Deal with Debt Day

 

Our Financial Counsellors tried means of helping people manage their money better, including ways to reach people who find it hard to gain help. Our inaugural Deal with Debt Day at the Logan Entertainment Centre in March brought together 20 organisations, from energy companies to Centrelink. We also partnered with Logan’s largest Facebook group, Mums’n’bubs Logan, to offer live Q&A sessions to the group’s 22,000 members.

2019
Financial support now available at our “front door”

 

We embedded our financial counselling and capability services into our front door, YFS Connect, to further enhance our responses to homelessness and financial crisis. YFS Connect now combines our intake, advice, referral, money management, emergency relief and financial counselling services. This integration has improved the effectiveness, efficiency and targeting of our services.

2019
LGBTIQ+ support expanded

 

We linked with the youth service Open Doors to support their work with LGBTIQ+ young people in our region. Open Doors is providing outreach in Logan from a base at YFS, linking with young people who are struggling with gender, sexuality or other issues. Open Doors also delivered LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy training to our staff.

2019
ANROWS proved R4Respect’s value

 

Research commissioned by the Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) was released, showing R4Respect’s unique peer-to-peer model, which empowers young people as leaders and agents of change, works. The research provided evidence of the power of young leaders to sway negative attitudes to violence against women among their peers. Also, the team’s peer-led interventions were proven effective in engaging young people on sensitive topics.

2019
First Nations collaborations strengthened

 

Our collaborations with First Nations community groups continued to strengthen, with 10 partnerships operating, including closer relationships with Mununjali, ATSICHS and our long-term partners, the Logan District Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Elders. Also, we gained a better understanding of the experiences of our First Nations staff, which has set the groundwork for us to improve our recruitment and support of First Nations peoples.

2019
Family Matters endorsed

 

We endorsed the national Family Matters position paper to create a national commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. First Nations children continue to experience levels of social disadvantage that are completely unacceptable.

2019
Community Youth Response and Diversion program began

 

We were selected to partner with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service, the Department of Youth Justice and Queensland Police Service to deliver the Community Youth Response and Diversion program in Logan. Coupled with more intensive work to prevent and address causal and related factors like family dysfunction, youth homelessness and solvent misuse, this program has the power to change the trajectory for young people on the brink of serious legal and life problems.

2019
Federal Minister confers national crime award on R4Respect

 

Our youth-led peer-to-peer respectful relationships education strategy, R4Respect, took out a gold award in the 2019 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards. Federal Minister for Home Affairs Hon Peter Dutton MP announced the win at Parliament House in Canberra.

2019
Substation33 received environmental and community accolades

 

Our Substation33 crew won the Minister’s Award for the Environment at the 2019 Banksia Sustainability Awards and the Community Group of the Year award at the 2019 Queensland Community Achievement Awards.

2019
YFS Legal commences student legal clinics with QUT and UQ

 

YFS Legal began hosting UQ and QUT law students who are learning from our lawyers how to work with people on legal matters. The QUT students work for our Family and Civil Law Clinic and the UQ students work for our Culturally Competent Criminal Law Practice Clinic.

2019
YFS Legal solicitor named Australia’s Indigenous Lawyer of the Year

 

Candice Hughes of YFS Legal won the Women in Law Indigenous Lawyer of the Year Award in late 2019. This was a well-deserved honour for a strong advocate and great contributor to YFS, the Logan community and First Nations people.

2020 and into the future

2020
Logan community rallies behind DV street banner campaign

 

We joined Logan City Council and 30 Logan businesses and community groups in supporting Not Now, Not Ever in Logan to blanket the major shopping streets of Woodridge, Beenleigh and Jimboomba with street banners. A vibrant social media campaign uniting the local community to say no to domestic and family violence supported the banners. Logan retailers and community centres put up posters, circulated postcards and shared social media posts that encouraged everyone in Logan to take action.

2020
Men4Respect launched

 

We launched what is believed to be an Australian first: a program run by young men for young men and boys, helping them understand the line between what is healthy and what is harmful in relationships. Called Men4Respect, the program aims to influence men’s attitudes towards relationship violence from a young age, redefining what it means to “be a man”.

2020
COVID-19 pandemic hits, YFS pivots

 

The COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges for vulnerable people throughout Logan. We were at the forefront of responses, working with Logan City Council, the Queensland and Federal Governments and other organisations to provide the safety nets needed for locals in hardship.

At start of the outbreak, we pivoted by establishing the Logan Response Hotline and refurbishing PCs for school students who don’t have a device, so they could learn at home. For the hotline, we united with Logan City Council, Lighthouse Care, the State Emergency Service, food charity OzHarvest, Givit, Share the Dignity, and businesses and Logan residents combined to deliver care packages to Logan people doing it tough as a result of the pandemic. Councils and community groups from other areas called us asking how we were able to do it. To help as many Logan school students as possible to learn online while staying home, our Substation33 crew attracted the support of Logan City Council and Logan Together to refurbish hundreds of computers.

2020
Pandemic changed DV work

 

The COVID-19 pandemic saw changes in our domestic violence work. Staff of our Responsible Men, Project Hera and Beaudesert Domestic and Family Violence teams mobilised to enhance our capacity to respond. Our DV teams maintained their focus on clients, never shutting their doors.

2020
Next Step Plus launched

 

Launching Next Step Plus has given us an important opportunity to respond to a very vulnerable group of young people: those who have experienced out of home care. Many of our clients fall into this cohort now, but Next Step Plus brings us a specialist team with a strong understanding of the impacts of out of home care and the ways to support successful transitions to independent adult life.

2020
Yarrabilba, Jimboomba gain emergency relief and financial capability services

 

Our support for people in Yarrabilba and Jimboomba expanded, with YFS Connect introducing emergency relief and financial capability services in the area and YFS Legal offering a co-located Domestic Violence Lawyer at Centre 4 Women, Beaudesert and YFS Jimboomba.

2020
R4Respect, Not Now, Not Ever in Logan earn Queensland honours

 

The Queensland Government inducted the youth-led violence prevention program R4Respect into the Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Honour Roll.

The Honour Roll also recognised the community campaign Not Now, Not Ever in Logan, which YFS helps coordinate, alongside local businesses, individuals and organisations for their work in making Logan a safer place for everyone.

2020
Council recognises YFS Men4Respect for making Logan safer

 

Our Men4Respect program won a 2020 Logan City Council Safe City Award in November for helping make Logan more welcoming, inclusive and safe.

The program backs young men to challenge violence-supportive attitudes and actions.

2020
Launch of YFS First Nations Cultural Framework

We launched the YFS First Nations Cultural Framework.

The framework sets out our continuing commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the actions we will take, and how we will assess our progress over time.

2021
Thriving Families Evaluation

We launched an evaluation of our Thriving Families demonstration project.

The evaluation found that the approach worked for two reasons: the integration of specialist and general supports, and the family resourcing approach that backs the family to set and pursue their own priorities.

2021
YFS Theory of change launched

The YFS Theory of change sets out our understanding of change for vulnerable people living in Logan and surrounds and how we contribute to change in their lives.

2021
Partnership with Hand Heart Pocket

Hand Heart Pocket funded a two-year integration project to combine case management for young families with specialised supports including employment, housing, counselling, social connections and safe relationships.

2021
Integrated Family Housing

Family Housing Specialists were embedded in the YFS families' programs. The Family Housing Specialists support families with housing solutions and sustaining tenancies.

2021
Logan Advance to Zero started

The Logan Advance to Zero campaign is an initiative to end homelessness and rough sleeping in the Logan region through a coordinated, collaborative and person-centred approach.

2022
Home and Healthy program launched

The Home and Healthy program assists people to navigate systems such as housing, physical health care, drug and alcohol, mental health and social enterprise.

2022
Resolve launched

Resolve is an early intervention Youth Case Management and Diversion program. Resolve aims to divert young people from pathways that lead to crime and help them get back on track.

2022
Substation33 celebrates 10 years

We celebrated the 10th anniversary of our social enterprise Substation33.

2023
Pride working party started

The Pride @YFS working party is an initiative for staff to review and recommend improvements to YFS' inclusive practice.

2023
Stretch RAP launched

We launched our 2023-26 Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

2023
After 21 years at the helm our CEO Cath Bartolo left YFS

After more than 21 years as Chief Executive Officer, Cath Bartolo AM left YFS. Christopher John replaced Cath as CEO in July 2023.

2024
YFS Homelessness Outreach launched

The YFS Homelessness Outreach team goes wherever there are people in need to provide support, information and advice to people in temporary accommodation or sleeping rough. 

2024
Disability and Neurodiversity working group started

Our employee-led Disability and Neurodiversity working group provides a voice in building an inclusive and diverse workplace.