Southern Youth Foyer Project have had a big 2020, as well as being featured on Australian television series Filthy, Rich and Homeless they are about to hit the milestone of supporting almost 400 young people since operations began .
Get to know Southern Youth Foyer Project, NSW by reading the below question answer section with Foyer manager Belinda:
How long has your Foyer been open?
We have been operating a service since March 2001 and have supported close to 400 young people.
The Southern Youth Foyer Project was initially run as a semi supported accommodation program with voluntary support but has seen significant growth and development since then and is now proud to be an Accredited Foyer.
How many people do you house?
We can accommodate approximately 50 young people across three different Foyer sites and additional young people in dispersed Foyer sites.
What is your favourite thing about your Foyer?
It is an environment in which to support young people to practice their skills and transition to independence. The Advantaged Thinking model encourages and gives some structure to a positive environment. Being able to provide young people this opportunity, which has such an aspirational culture and environment for them to grow and flourish in, is very rewarding. The thing that has always stuck out to me about the Foyer Model is it provides a structure that supports and harnesses young people’s goals, dreams and does not focus on the negatives or disadvantages.
What makes your Foyer unique to your local community?
The Southern Youth Foyer Project has three main Foyer sites. The sites differ slightly in terms of size and set up. Our Foyer has adopted a staged model in two sites – where young people can graduate from an all in one bedsit with communal areas to their own one bedroom apartment. The third site has a combination of bedsit and one bedroom units and communal facilities.
We are medium to long term so young people aged 16 years to 24 years can achieve stability , giving them the opportunity to really take advantage of the affordable accommodation and support that the program offers while they mature and gain skills.
Our Foyer is a community based Foyer,with education, training and pre-employment support a strong focus for us. Education, Employment Training services are co-located at the sites and are fully integrated into the model. We are also a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). The SYFS RTO was established to enhance the young people’s employability skills and opportunities by providing accredited, quality training and assessment.
We have run a Statement of Attainment in Café Skill’s utilising our social enterprise café for the practical assessments. The aim is to run a full certificate II and III Hospitality Course in 2021.
Our Foyer is a service offer of Southern Youth and Family Services (SYFS)
All Services, programs and strategies provided by SYFS include the maintenance or provision of stable and affordable housing to assist young people to attain their personal goals, dreams, hopes and aspirations.
What is something you’re looking forward to?
I’m really looking forward to tackling new projects and activities for our young people post COVID. We have had to adapt a new way of working and delivering some of our programs and activities so it will be good to get back to this and really creating some fun for what’s been a very challenging time for all.
Anything else?
I really hope the NSW government continue to support Foyers and that we continue to work together nationally to ensure that Foyers are here for the long run as it’s something I really believe in.
Southern Youth Foyer Project is located in Illawarra, NSW
