Youth Off the Streets

What Youth Off the Streets does

Youth Off the Streets is an Australian not-for-profit youth services organization founded in 1991 (incorporated 1994) and headquartered in Alexandria, NSW. It supports young people aged 12–24 in NSW and Queensland who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and disadvantage, delivering services through a wraparound model that combines crisis accommodation, alternative education, alcohol and other drugs counselling, mental health support, youth justice programs, First Nations cultural services, and a National Scholarship Program. The organization operates six accredited independent high schools across Greater Sydney, Illawarra, the Central Coast, and the Hunter Region (with a seventh described as newest in Maitland), multiple youth spaces and drop-in centers, and a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 41450) delivering accredited vocational qualifications.

The underlying operating model is a trauma-informed service delivery framework (the Sanctuary Model) embedded across all programs, with no proprietary technology platform — the asset base is people, places, and accreditations rather than software. The organization employs more than 200 paid staff supported by over 330 volunteers, holds ACNC registered charity status with deductible gift recipient (DGR) endorsement, ASES quality accreditation for its Dunlea AOD service, and is a member of the National Redress Scheme.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of individual donations (including the Street Lights Partners monthly giving program at $25, $50, and $80 tiers), corporate partnerships, gifts in wills via a Safewill partnership, retail revenue from a single remaining op shop in Bowral, and federal and state government grants. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Anne Fitzgerald and led by CEO Judy Barraclough following the 2020 step-down and August 2025 passing of founder Father Chris Riley AM.

Name

Youth Off the Streets

Legal name

Youth Off The Streets

Website

https://youthoffthestreets.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Youth Off the Streets is an Australian not-for-profit delivering wraparound homelessness, education, mental health, and youth justice services to people aged 12–24 across NSW and Queensland through schools, refuges, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Homelessness and Community Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ), Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

Keywords

• Youth homelessness services
• Alternative education programs
• Youth mental health support
• Substance abuse counselling
• Community social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and regular donations from individuals supporting the organization through various giving options including online donations, regular giving programs, and event participation.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with businesses including program sponsorship, fundraising event support, pro bono services, workplace giving, and in-kind donations.
3. Bequests and Legacy Gifts: Gifts left in Wills by supporters, promoted through partnership with Safewill for online Will creation.
4. Op Shop Revenue: Retail revenue from op shop in Bowral selling donated goods, with cessation of Maitland and Cessnock shops announced.
5. Government Grants: Funding from federal and state government for homelessness services, youth programs, and education services as part of their five-year strategy to 2028.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Youth Off The Streets is an Australian not-for-profit that delivers wraparound services for 12-24 year-olds experiencing or at risk of homelessness in NSW and QLD. Its core offerings include crisis accommodation, alternative accredited high schools, alcohol and other drugs counselling, mental health support, youth justice diversion, First Nations cultural programs, life skills training, vocational education (as a Registered Training Organisation), and a national scholarship and mentoring program. All services are provided free of charge to young people and funded through donations, corporate partnerships, government grants and retail op shop revenue.

Product overview

Youth Off The Streets is a not-for-profit youth services organisation offering a comprehensive wraparound service model for young people aged 12-24 in NSW and QLD. The organisation operates six accredited independent high schools (Alternative High Schools), homelessness and housing services with crisis accommodation and refuges, alcohol and other drugs services (Dunlea), mental health support, youth justice programs, First Nations cultural support, life skills programs, and a National Scholarship Program. Additionally, it functions as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 41450) providing vocational education courses including Certificate II, Certificate IV in Youth Work, and Diploma of Community Services. The organisation also offers mentoring programs (general, iDrive driver mentoring, and scholarship mentoring), corporate training workshops, community and youth engagement activities, and operates op shops. All services are delivered through a trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dunlea Alcohol and Other Drugs Youth Service: A specialized service helping young people aged 12-24 in Western Sydney to take control of their substance use, including assessment, casework support, family casework, psychoeducation programs, and SMART Recovery groups. Founded in 1996.
• National Scholarship Program
• iDrive Program
• Street Lights Partner
• Hike4Home

Products and services

• Homelessness and Housing Support Services
• Alternative High Schools
• Dunlea Alcohol and Other Drugs Youth Service
• Mental Health Support Services
• Life Skills and Personal Growth Programs
• Youth Justice Support Services
• First Nations Cultural Support Services
• National Scholarship Program
• Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Courses
• Activities and Community Programs
• Corporate Training Workshops
• iDrive Program
• Father Riley's Op Shop (Bowral)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 scholarship recipients have benefited from the National Scholarship Program since 2004
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SafewillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Safewill to offer supporters the opportunity to create an online Will at 50% off. Safewill's online platform makes it easy to protect what matters most while supporting Youth Off The Streets. The partnership supports the organization's gifts in Wills program and legacy giving initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wesley Mission: Australian community services organization delivering homelessness, mental health, youth, and family services across multiple states. Comparable wraparound service model and reliance on donations and government funding.
• The Smith Family: Major Australian children's charity focused on education and disadvantage, with similar structured giving programs, scholarship-style support, and school-based interventions. Direct peer in targeted youth education support; the current CEO Judy Barraclough previously served as Deputy CEO here.
• MacKillop Family Services: Catholic agency providing out-of-home care, education, and youth justice services across Australia. Comparable in alternative education, residential care, and youth justice diversion programs.
• Jesuit Social Services: Australian Jesuit agency delivering youth justice, mental health, and education programs for disadvantaged young people. Comparable in trauma-informed practice, youth justice support, and education engagement.
• Mission Australia: Large Australian non-profit providing homelessness, housing, youth, and community services nationwide. Direct peer in youth homelessness and multi-state service delivery, with comparable scope of housing, education, and employment programs.
• The Benevolent Society: Australia's oldest charity, providing child and family services, aged care, and disability support. Comparable in multi-service community delivery and focus on disadvantaged children and families.
• Barnardo's Australia: Australian child welfare charity providing alternative education, out-of-home care, and youth support services. Directly comparable in alternative schooling and child/family casework for at-risk youth.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Australia: Large international humanitarian organization with extensive Australian presence in homelessness, crisis accommodation, and youth services. Broader and more diversified than Youth Off the Streets but operates many overlapping emergency and youth programs.
• Australian Red Cross: Major Australian humanitarian organization with broader mandate including disaster relief, migration support, and community programs. Overlaps in youth community support and is a comparable employer of the current Head of Fundraising (Vanessa Byrne was previously at Australian Red Cross).

Regional players

• Anglicare Sydney: NSW-focused community services arm of the Anglican Church delivering homelessness, youth, and family services in the same primary geography. Direct peer in NSW service delivery but with denominational scope advantage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/youthoffthestreetsyoutube
• Facebookfacebook.com/youthoffthestreetsaustralia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-off-the-streets
• Instagraminstagram.com/youthoffthestreets
• Xx.com/YOTSAustralia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Youth Off the Streets