Youth Empowered Towards Independence

What Youth Empowered Towards Independence does

Youth Empowered Towards Independence (YETI) is a not-for-profit, non-government community services organization headquartered in Cairns, Queensland, that has supported vulnerable young people in Far North Queensland since 1995. The organization operates from a drop-in centre at 3 Winkworth Street, Bungalow, and delivers a portfolio of twelve distinct programs spanning alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment, youth justice diversion, mental health, LGBTIQ+ peer support, post-care transition, and crisis support for young people aged 12–25, with culturally secure service design for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. Programs include the Day Program drop-in service, NQYAODS (including a 10-bed residential rehabilitation centre in Edmonton), the Cairns and Yarrabah Youth Bail Response Program, Strong Together, RADIO (remote AOD outreach), Schools Up North (SUN), SSAY-IT, Just North (VSU response), Next Step Plus / Extended Post Care Support, and Youth Response + Diversion.

YETI does not operate a technology product; its digital footprint consists of case management, referral, and program delivery systems, with no proprietary platform, APIs, or AI capabilities disclosed. Service delivery is human-led through a multidisciplinary team of teachers, social workers, community development workers, counsellors, and psychologists, supported by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, and is delivered directly in Cairns and through partner organizations across Cape York, the Torres Strait Islands, and the Lower Gulf of Carpentaria.

The business model is grant-funded: YETI is financed by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, the Queensland Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, Queensland Health, the North Queensland Primary Health Network, and program-specific co-funders including the Department of Education and Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service. Services are provided free of charge to end users. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Management chaired by Dr. Laurel Downey, with day-to-day leadership provided by CEO Genevieve Sinclair and an executive team covering operations, finance, community partnerships, and cultural practice. YETI was the first organization in Queensland to receive external accreditation under the ISO Quality Framework 'Standard on Culturally Secure Practice (AOD Sector)' in 2014 (recertified 2020) and currently operates under a Reconciliation Action Plan covering 2024–2026.

Name

Youth Empowered Towards Independence

Legal name

Youth Empowered Towards Independence

Website

https://yeti.net.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

YETI is a Cairns-based not-for-profit established in 1995 that delivers twelve community service programs — including AOD treatment, youth justice diversion, mental health, LGBTIQ+ peer support, and post-care transition — to vulnerable young people aged 12–25 across Far North Queensland, Cape York, the Torres Strait, and the Lower Gulf of Carpentaria, funded primarily by state and federal government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Community Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Schools (Behavioral/Disciplinary & Nontraditional Settings) (EDAJAEAC)

Keywords

• Youth community services
• Alcohol drug support
• Youth justice programs
• Indigenous youth outreach
• Case management support

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairns

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: YETI is a not-for-profit non-government organization funded by State and Federal government agencies including the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), Queensland Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, Queensland Health, and North Queensland Primary Health Network.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

YETI delivers free, in-person and outreach-based youth support services to vulnerable young people aged 12-25 in Far North Queensland. Core offerings include a daily drop-in Day Program, individual case management and needs assessments, therapeutic counselling, alcohol and other drug (AOD) harm reduction services, residential rehabilitation, youth justice bail support and diversion, mental health capacity building in remote schools, peer support for LGBTIQ+ youth, and post-care transition support. Services are accessed via self-referral, drop-in, or referral from government and community agencies, and are delivered at no cost to participants.

Product overview

YETI is a non-profit youth services organization offering a coordinated portfolio of 12 distinct social service programs for young people aged 12-25 in Far North Queensland. The programs are delivered through a unified service model centered at the YETI drop-in space in Cairns, with outreach across Cape York and Torres Strait regions. Core offerings include the Day Program (drop-in crisis support), Youth Support Program (case management), and Youth Response + Diversion (after-hours support), complemented by specialized programs addressing alcohol and other drug issues (NQYAODS, RADIO, AOD Support), youth justice (CYYBRP, Strong Together, YR+D), mental health (SUN), LGBTQIA+ support (SSAY-IT), out-of-care transition support (Next Step Plus, EPCS), and volatile substance use prevention (Just North). Programs are delivered through partnerships with government agencies, health services, and community organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Support Program A program providing needs assessments, family reconnection support, referrals, outreach, case collaboration, and social and personal development programs for vulnerable young people aged 12-18 in the Cairns area.
• Youth Response + Diversion An innovative after-hours program aimed at reducing offending and promoting positive outcomes for young people aged 10-15 at high risk of offending, combining diversion services with support addressing substance misuse, disability, education, and health issues.
• Cairns and Yarrabah Youth Bail Response Program (CYYBRP) A program addressing reasons behind young people being remanded in custody by providing support and interventions to increase court and police confidence that young people will comply with bail conditions, co-delivered with Gindaja Treatment and Healing Indigenous Corporation and Youth Advocacy Service.
• Day Program A youth-friendly drop-in space in Cairns providing crisis support, kitchen facilities, laundry, showers, computers, bike tools, entertainment, activities, and access to a nurse (Tuesdays) and a Centrelink support officer (Wednesdays) for vulnerable young people aged 12-25.
• Just North A program addressing volatile substance use (VSU) through supply reduction and capacity development, supporting professionals and communities across Far North Queensland and the Lower Gulf of Carpentaria with online incident reporting via justnorth.net.
• Next Step Plus & Extended Post Care Support Support services for young people exiting care (foster, kinship, or residential), providing information, case management, and practical support for housing, employment, training, health, and relationships.
• RADIO (Remote Alcohol and Drug Interventions and Outcomes) Alcohol and Other Drug support for young people aged 12-25 in Cape York and Torres regions, providing information, referrals, case management, and connections to services across remote communities delivered through partner organisations.
• Schools Up North (SUN) Youth mental health capacity building program for secondary school communities across Cape York and Torres Strait Islands, supporting educators in enhancing student engagement and early referral for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
• SSAY-IT A peer-led support group for LGBTIQ+ young people aged 14-25, providing a safe space for exploring gender and sexuality with social activities, counselling, advocacy, and workshops.
• Strong Together A therapeutic crime prevention initiative providing intensive family support and case management for young people aged 10-17 at risk of or involved with the criminal justice system, delivered in partnership with Queensland Youth Justice.
• North Queensland Youth Alcohol + Other Drugs Service (NQYAODS) A voluntary integrated treatment and care service offering community-based support and a 10-bed residential rehabilitation program (delivered through Youth Support + Advocacy Service in Edmonton, Cairns) for young people aged 13-18 experiencing alcohol and other drug concerns.
• Alcohol and Other Drug Support Counselling and psychosocial case management services for young people aged 12-25 at risk of or engaging in illicit drug use, providing harm reduction, care coordination, and wrap-around social support.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Queensland organization externally accredited in ISO Quality Framework Culturally Secure Practice Standard for Alcohol and Other Drug Sector (2014)

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Gindaja Treatment and Healing Indigenous CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGindaja provides cultural oversight and healing services for the Cairns and Yarrabah Youth Bail Response Program and NQYAODS. Gindaja is an Aboriginal community-controlled organization providing culturally appropriate treatment and healing programs.
• Youth Advocacy ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in the Cairns and Yarrabah Youth Bail Response Program (CYYBRP) providing advocacy support for young people in the youth justice system.
• Queensland Youth JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for the Strong Together program which provides intensive family support and case management to young people aged 10-17 at risk of or involved with the criminal justice system.
• Cooktown District Community CentrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization delivering RADIO (Remote Alcohol and Drug Interventions and Outcomes) services in the Cooktown area for young people in remote communities.
• Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner delivering RADIO AOD support services in the Cooktown and surrounding Cape York region.
• Mossman Elders Justice GroupsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner supporting RADIO program delivery and providing Elder guidance for young people in the Mossman area.
• NPA Family & Community ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner delivering RADIO services in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) for young people across Cape York communities.
• Torres Health Indigenous CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization delivering RADIO alcohol and drug intervention services for young people in the Torres Strait Islands region.
• Weipa Community Care AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner delivering RADIO program services for young people in the Weipa and Western Cape area.
• Youth Support + Advocacy Service (YSAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYSAS delivers the Residential Rehabilitation Program component of NQYAODS from their 10-bed centre in Edmonton, Cairns. Provides 24/7 structured support for young people aged 13-18 with AOD concerns.
• Department of Education (DoE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides education and learning programs for NQYAODS residential rehabilitation and supports the Schools Up North (SUN) program in remote schools across Cape York and Torres Strait Islands.
• Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers mental health services for young people in the NQYAODS residential rehabilitation program and collaborates on the Schools Up North program.
• Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Schools Up North (SUN) program providing health support for remote school communities across Cape York and Torres Strait Islands.
• Menzies School of Health ResearchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for the Schools Up North (SUN) program, contributing to evidence-based approaches for youth mental health in remote schools.
• Central Queensland UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting the Schools Up North (SUN) program with research and evaluation expertise for youth mental health in remote Indigenous communities.
• James Cook UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and education partner for SUN program, contributing expertise in Indigenous mental health and developing resources such as 'Stress & The Brain' video content.
• Queensland University of TechnologysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to the Schools Up North (SUN) program for school-based mental health capacity building in remote communities.
• Queensland Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government partner for the Schools Up North (SUN) program, supporting mental health platform development in remote secondary schools across Cape York and Torres Strait Islands.
• Queensland HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth department partner supporting the SUN program and providing mental health resources for youth in remote school communities.
• Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeak body representing Aboriginal and Islander health organizations in Queensland, supporting YETI's culturally secure practice approach.
• Queensland Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (QNADA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeak body for alcohol and other drug agencies in Queensland, supporting YETI's AOD service delivery and sector coordination.
• Balkanu Cape York Development CorporationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCape York development organization supporting regional coordination and development initiatives.
• DovetailsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueensland Government initiative supporting youth alcohol and other drug services, providing resources and coordination for vulnerable young people.
• Cairns Regional Domestic Violence ServicesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner providing domestic violence support services available at YETI premises on Tuesday to Friday, 9-5pm for young people and families experiencing violence.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Anglicare Australia: Federated network of NFPs delivering family, youth, and aged care services including foster care transition and community programs. Strongly comparable to YETI's Next Step Plus and Extended Post Care Support services.
• Life Without Barriers: Large NFP delivering out-of-home care, disability, youth justice, and mental health services across Australia. Comparable to YETI's care-leaver support (EPCS) and youth justice programs at greater regional scope.
• headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation): National youth mental health network with centres delivering early intervention for 12-25 year olds. Comparable to YETI's SUN mental health capacity building and SSAY-IT peer support model.
• Mission Australia: Large national NFP delivering youth homelessness, mental health, and employment services. Comparable to YETI's wraparound case management, but at much broader geographic and demographic scale.
• The Benevolent Society: Australia's oldest NFP providing child, family, and community services including youth justice, out-of-home care, and disability support. Overlapping service model with YETI's Next Step Plus and bail response programs.
• Salvation Army Youth Services: Major national NFP delivering youth homelessness, AOD, and family services including Crossroads and Doorways programs. Comparable to YETI's drop-in crisis support and youth justice work at greater scale.

Emerging players

• ReachOut Australia: Digital-first youth mental health service delivering online counseling and resources for ages 12-25. Partial overlap with YETI's mental health (SUN) and LGBTIQ+ support (SSAY-IT) programs, with a different delivery model.

Direct peers

• Ted Noffs Foundation: Australian NFP providing youth AOD treatment, counseling, and diversion programs across multiple states. Directly comparable to YETI's AOD, mental health, and youth justice portfolio (e.g., NQYAODS, RADIO, Strong Together).
• Odyssey House NSW/QLD: Operates residential rehabilitation and youth AOD programs in Australia. Comparable to YETI's NQYAODS 10-bed residential service and community-based AOD counseling.
• Whitelion: Australian NFP supporting at-risk young people aged 10-21 with case management, mentoring, and justice diversion programs. Strongly comparable to YETI's Youth Support Program and youth justice diversion offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/YETIyouthempowered
• Instagraminstagram.com/ssayit_yeti
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-empowered-towards-independence

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Empowered Towards Independence