During the year the team intensively supported 37 young people, with open cases averaging 22 clients throughout the year. The age range was 14 to 25, and 66% were self referrals. Of the 37 young people 50% were living at home, however the rest of the clients were living with friends in squats or couch surfing. The ethnic background was predominately Anglo Saxon and the two major issues facing young people were family relationship breakdown and problematic use of alcohol or drugs.
The community spirit is very positive in the City of Wyndham. The team initiated a Krumping Program for young people, with the aim to encourage them to use dance as a form of exercise, to improve their communication skills and to basically have fun. The program has grown during the year and is now being driven by the young people themselves. It has also provided a venue for the team to make contact with a large number of young people who may, in the future, seek their assistance. We have also supported the RecLink Football program with James, our Outreach worker and a number of young people participating weekly. The team won the Western Grand Final which was a fantastic achievement.
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.
In 2007, Open Family Australia secured funding through the Property Industry Foundation for the refurbishment and fit out for a mobile youth outreach service for Sydney. Recognising that Sydney's CBD is well catered for by other agencies, Open Family Australia decided to launch this service into Sydney's western suburbs, frequenting hot spots in the Warwick Farm, Liverpool and Fairfield regions. 
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.
