Our Staff & Board

As a not for profit organisation, the contribution of our volunteer Board of Management and staff are key to our success. We wish to recognise and thank those who have been a part of the AYSA team during the past year, including previous staff members, artists and volunteers. The people contributing to AYSA provide a valuable link to community for many young people. In our work individuals and the relationships and compassion they bring creates transformative opportunities for change.

2017-18 has been an exciting year for Albany Youth Support Association, with the organisation seeing growth and expansion into new directions, new programs, new partnerships and new staff, while at the same time remaining true to our mission: providing safe spaces, support and services to young people and their families.

AYSA Chairperson’s Report

AYSA continues to deliver the high quality programs and services for which the organisation is well known – support for young people at risk of disengagement and homelessness across the two arms of AYSA service delivery – Residential and Outreach services. Our strong base has provided opportunities for AYSA to take on programs outside of Albany, supporting the young people of Denmark and up into the Great Southern as far as Katanning,.It is exciting to think that young people at risk in the Great Southern now have access to more opportunities for support in what has traditionally been an area with little to offer outside of Albany.

I am particularly excited about the new partnership with Youth Futures which will see the establishment of a new CaRE School Campus in Albany in the next year. After receiving Advanced Determination from the WA Education Department, work has begun in earnest on premises, programs and people to provide another much needed option for young people disengaging from traditional education pathways.
While the new growth is exciting, it is also pleasing to see existing programs validated by our funders and given the opportunity to expand to best meet the needs of our population. This year the Reconnect Program has successfully sought refunding from the Commonwealth Department of Social Services with a model that is leveraging off partnerships established through the growing Great Southern Youth Outcomes Forum, which will see collaboration around supporting our young people increase to add value to the Reconnect Program.

I would like to thank the hard working and dedicated AYSA Staff under CEO Rick England, and members of the Board for their passion in the roles they perform. In particular I would like to thank outgoing Chair Dennis Blewitt for his role in steering Albany Youth Support Association to the healthy place it is now and look forward to this continuing into the coming year.
Andrew Wenzel