In 2007 the Ian Potter Foundation approved funding to develop a youth leadership program for young people selected from the Redskins Basketball Club. Early in 2008, 20 young people embarked on a journey to become leaders within their communities - they would become the inaugural members of Open Family Australia’s Youth Leadership Program.
The Youth Leadership Program seeks to develop leadership skills for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Melbourne’s Western suburbs. Students meet monthly to participate in workshops to develop skills in communication, public speaking, team work, conflict resolution, peer support and management. Mentors from the community are assigned to support students during the program.
In December 2008, the first group of young leaders graduated from the program receiving their graduation certificates in front of family and friends at Somerset Gordon Place, Melbourne.
In 2009, the second Youth Leadership program was offered to 20 young people however, it was identified that the program needed to be targeted towards a younger cohort aged between 14 and 16 years. The second group graduated from the program on December 7th, 2009.
Open Family Australia would like to thank the Ian Potter Foundation for supporting this pilot program and Ascott International for sponsoring the 2008 and 2009 graduations.
Click here to read about a tall ship voyage undertaken by participants of the program.
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.
