The Links to Learning Project has been operating from our Cabramatta office since 2001 and is funded by the Department of Education and Training. The project aims to provide a literacy, numeracy and employment training based educational program for early and/or at-risk young school leavers.
Currently, there are 20 (17 male and 3 female) young people enrolled in the project aged between 15 and 19 years of age. Each student attends the Links to Learning classes at Open Family Australia’s Cabramatta office. In addition, our worker provides ongoing Outreach episodes of support to the students in this program. The education component is provided by Weatherill Park TAFE.
The Links to Learning Project provides continual success with approximately 75% of students having gone on to undertake further study or entering vocational training/employment. The success of the program relies on retaining students’ interest with non-traditional education subjects such as photography, film, music, art and multimedia.
Outcomes from the program have included production of a yearly calendar, photographic exhibitions and a short film.
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.
