The Community Ownership Model enables local business and government the opportunity to partner with Open Family Australia and provide outreach support and services to link in with existing youth agencies. It identifies where real need is, providing out of hours outreach support and linking young people back in with welfare support and youth agencies.
The inaugural model was launched in 2007, in the City of Wyndham and has had phenomenal success in assisting young people in the region. Through Council reports and consultations with key stakeholders, this model addresses the issues and service delivery gaps identified for young people across local regions.
The model is funded through both local and state governments and local businesses and addresses the issues for young people in the respective region.
For futher information, please select a link below:



Mum and I were fighting all the time and it wasn’t a happy place for me anymore. I had told Mum that one of her relatives had sexually abused me. I don’t know why but she didn’t believe me. I think that is what hurt me the most – I’m her daughter and she is supposed to protect me but when I finally got up the courage to tell her what had been going on, she turned her back on me.
The Melbourne Chatterbox operates three nights a week in Melbourne's CBD and inner suburbs. The service is manned by a team of volunteers headed up by Open Family Australia's Volunteer Coordinator and Chatterbox Volunteer Committee. The service has been operational in Melbourne since 2002 and is proudly supported by Cabrini Health, the Tattersalls Foundation and PFD Foods.
Our recycled boutique stocks a large range of quality women's, men's and children's clothing and accessories as well as books and bric 'a' brac.
Open Family Australia works in Victoria and NSW, providing Outreach support to young people at risk in these communities.
Assertive Outreach is a model that offers youth focused services to street frequenting young people in the environments where they congregate. This model of providing comprehensive ongoing support in all aspects of a young person’s life, rather than just concentrating on one issue is successful, as it provides the young person with support from a worker who is available for all their needs and who also works to integrate them into mainstream society.
Community Ownership