Media coverage - West Australian: Call to give kids drug/alcohol lessons

The WA head of Mission Australia wants more comprehensive drug education in primary schools as children as young as 10 dabble in alcohol and cannabis.

Acting State Director Carmen Acosta said better programs and delivered at a younger age could help the small number of children vulnerable to such drugs in primary school. It would have the more widespread benefit of fortifying students against peer pressure in high school.

Ms Acosta said young people were growing up faster but drug education in primary school appeared ad hoc and in some cases absent or ineffective.

Some children relied on inaccurate information from the internet.

"There is most certainly evidence to show children are dabbling as young as 10," she said.

"The biggest risk time is the first year of high school. We need to fortify them with appropriate information before that."

Ms Acosta said the impact of cannabis and alcohol should not be underestimated. About 80 per cent of people using Mission Australia counselling and rehabilitation had cannabis and alcohol problems.

This compared with only 30 per cent in 1999.

Heroin and amphetamines were bigger problems back then, accounting for half their clients, she said.

"Violence fuelled by alcohol and binge drinking is extremely concerning among young people," Ms Acosta said.

"We are seeing many more young people coming to us concerned about their alcohol use than we have ever seen previously."

Ms Acosta said most children would never have problems with drugs and alcohol but would benefit from getting accurate and age-appropriate information in primary school.

Story originally published in The West Australian on 15 August 2011

ABC TV explores Triple Care Farm

We’ve received a fantastic response to last night’s Triple Care Farm story that featured on ABC TV’s ‘7.30’ program.

The segment, ‘A Farm With A Difference’, aired just hours after the official launch of the 'Triple Care Farm: A Safe Place for Change' at NSW Parliament House. The report explores the success of our Southern Highlands program for young people experiencing problems with substance abuse and mental illness.

ABC TV reporter Natasha Johnson spoke with 19-year-old Mat, who started using drugs and binge-drinking at age 13. Last year the young man sank so low that he tried to kill himself:

“I was feeling really depressed. I felt like my life, my whole life had no meaning,” he told ‘7.30’. “I did not have nothing to show for it. I felt like I shouldn't be here.”

Mat is one of 100 young people per year who participate in an intensive three-month residential rehabilitation program at Triple Care Farm. With the support of a coordinated team of specialists, he is learning to take care of himself and get his life back on track.

The story clearly struck a chord with our supporters. Here are a few of the positive responses we received about the Triple Care Farm report launch and resulting coverage:

“Great to see such positive exposure for Triple Care Farm and also to see debate around treatment of drug and alcohol/mental health.”

“It was good to see the program about the Farm tonight. It would be wonderful if more such institutions could be developed.”

“I want you to know how privileged I feel to be supporting, albeit in a minor way, your work in advocating for young persons with combined psychiatric and substance abuse issues.”

“I was able to see the program and what good your people are doing down at the farm.”

“What a wonderful story... Mission Australia has grabbed my heart strings. Please keep me updated.”

“I found the program very interesting, but I’m sure it didn’t show how much hard work goes into the program. The sad reality of life in Australia is that the resources available for treatment of these involved and difficult problems are just totally insufficient to meet the needs.”

For a behind-the-scenes look at this country haven for young people and to hear mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry’s views on existing services, visit www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3267996.htm A transcript of the story is also available.

To learn more about this innovative program, download the ‘Triple Care Farm: A Safe Place For Change’ report.

'Triple Care Farm: A Safe Place for Change' launched

Australia needs more residential drug and alcohol rehab services for young people and existing programs need to offer complementary mental health care to be more effective, according to a new Mission Australia report released today.

Launched by Australia’s pre-eminent youth mental health expert, Professor Patrick McGorry, at an event hosted by Pru Goward, the Minister for Family and Community Services, 'Triple Care Farm: A Safe Place for Change' explores the successful service model that supports young people experiencing problems with substance abuse and mental illness.

The report into Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm – a residential program in the NSW Southern Highlands for young people aged 16 to 24 years – says the service dramatically reduces alcohol and drug use, homelessness, and improves employment and training opportunities by addressing addiction and mental illness at the same time.

The former Australian of the Year and Executive Director of Orygen Youth Health told guests at the launch at NSW Parliament House “it was a national disgrace that so few of these services were available”, and added there was a need for new thinking and new systems for supporting young people with mental health and drug and alcohol problems.

“When you look at the facts contained in this report,” he said. “you see the power of the holistic approach.”

According to the report:

• Almost one-in-ten (88 per cent) used at least one drug chronically when starting at Triple Care Farm (TCF). Six months after leaving, almost half (45 per cent) were abstaining from drug use, while 52 per cent were abstaining from alcohol.
• Approx four-in-five (79 per cent) used cannabis at chronic levels when arriving at TCF. Six months after leaving, only 4 per cent reported chronic cannabis use.
• Of 160 former TCF clients surveyed, 91 per cent were unemployed when entering TCF. Six months after leaving, almost half (43 per cent) had some form of paid employment. More than one-third (36 per cent) were in training.
• 31 per cent of the 160 surveyed were homeless at time of TCF intake. Six months after leaving, only one person in this group reported being homeless.

At the launch Ms Goward said she had visited Triple Care Farm, which is in her electorate, several times:

“Going to a Triple Care Farm graduation is like going to a revival meeting – you leave with a great sense of belief.

“Often with teenagers we think it’s just a stage they’re going through, but we can forget they are so vulnerable… Seventy per cent of Triple Care Farm students had experienced family breakdown.”

She added that the sense of trust Triple Care Farm instils should be replicated in all other services for young people.

Transformation in action

A current Triple Care Farm student told guests at the launch, including representatives from the Macquarie Group Foundation, Sir David Martin Foundation, Friends in Giving and Key Foundation, how the program is transforming her life:

“Before I was admitted to Triple Care Farm, I was constantly putting myself into situations that were not safe for me – physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I was so caught up in drug-taking and that lifestyle that there was no chance for me to take a breath and really think about what I was doing… I felt trapped and caught on a merry-go-round.

“I realised I needed help. I’ve been a Triple Care Farm since early June. I immediately felt comforted by the environment and the location. At my admission myself and my family were treated with respect, and no question was too silly to ask. I feel as though I can make the changes I need to make with no judgement or pressure. I’m starting to see there are other options for me and I’m excited to explore them at Triple Care Farm.”

Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall, said the reason for such success is simple: it supports the young people in its care with both their drug/alcohol problems and their mental health issues at the same time.

“Despite this, most services continue to offer young people with drug and alcohol problems help with either their addiction or their mental health, not both. What we provide at Triple Care Farm – and what this new report shows is a far more effective approach – is combining both drug/alcohol rehab and mental health services. For young people, addiction and mental illness are very often related. They need to be managed together, not separately.

“The fragmentation that occurs between some services offering drug/alcohol rehab while others focus on mental illness increases the chances of young people not getting the help they need,” Mr Hall added.

“Meanwhile, Triple Care Farm can only take 100 enrolments each year and yet receives more than 6,000 inquiries from around Australia. That level of demand clearly indicates a national shortage… There aren’t enough services for this vulnerable group and what exists often isn’t effective.”

Triple Care Farm will feature on ABC TV’s 7.30 program tonight. If you are unable to view the program tonight, you could try ABC’s website at a more convenient time.

Further reading:

• 'Joint drug and mental illness treatment showing signs of success' on ABC Radio’s AM
• 'Another doorway opens for at-risk youth'
• Download the 'Triple Care Farm: A Safe Place For Change' report.

Media coverage - SMH: Families are the city's hidden homeless

The number of homeless families in Sydney has risen alarmingly, says a report out today.

Families are the hidden face of homelessness, making up between a quarter and one-third of Australia's homeless population, says the Wesley Mission, which provides crisis accommodation to about 500 people each night.

Contrary to the popular image of homeless people as male, single and sleeping on the streets, the report, based on interviews with 50 homeless families, finds that just 7 per cent of Sydney's homeless sleep rough, with the rest in crisis accommodation or "couch surfing" with family or friends.

Women are just as likely to be homeless as men, and mother with children make up more than half of all homeless families.

"Alarmingly, the population of homeless families is on the rise," Wesley Mission's chief executive, the Reverend Keith Garner, said.

"They are in our suburbs, sleeping on the floor in a relative or friend's house, sleeping in their car, living in a refuge after they've left a violent partner, sitting patiently at Centrelink trying to arrange emergency accommodation or living with their three kids in a motel room until a vacancy comes up on the long waiting list for public housing."

Domestic violence is the No.1 cause of homelessness in families, followed by relationship breakdown or divorce.

"They're mostly young, more often than not women, and are almost always accompanied by young children,'' Dr Garner said.

This was worrying because there is a strong intergenerational link to homelessness: more than half of the adults in the 50 homeless families surveyed for the report had been homeless as children. Children raised in homeless families often became "socialised" by the experience, repeating the pattern as adults.

"It is clear from these results that having a parent who has been homeless is a significant predictor of being homeless as an adult," the report says.

"Poverty and alcohol are also common links, with more than half having had parents who had financial problems and issues with alcohol abuse."

Of children aged more than 10 in the families surveyed, six in 10 had been arrested or incarcerated, compared with just 1 per cent of all children aged 10 to 17.

Wesley Mission proposes an 11-point plan to tackle homeless families, including a ''tell us once'' approach from government agencies so that the families do not have to repeat their histories ad nauseam and a single access point to government services and payments. It also proposes better training for those working with the families, more, and more flexible, housing options and more effective management of NSW public housing properties, which often are empty or underused.

Story originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 3 May 2011.

QBE Big Dry brings in big funds for Triple Care Farm

QBE staff, customers and suppliers who came together as part of this year’s QBE Big Dry have raised more than $60,000 for Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm – our residential program for young people experiencing homelessness, substance abuse and mental health issues.

The QBE Big Dry, now in its nineteenth year, ended last week at an event held at the international insurance group’s Sydney headquarters.

Among the guests were QBE CEO Frank O’Halloran, Mission Australia CEO Toby Hall, NSW Waratahs team member and Mission Australia supporter Drew Mitchell, as well as Nicholle Sullivan, Supervising Psychologist at Triple Care Farm.

Former Triple Care Farm student Jason also took time out of his studies to attend. He eloquently reassured event guests that their efforts were all for a worthwhile cause. The 22-year-old was referred to the Southern Highlands program last year when he was struggling with alcohol dependence, depression and problem gambling.

Jason flourished during his three-month stay at Triple Care Farm and was awarded a scholarship at the 2010 graduation ceremony. Now studying a Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedics), he said he is eager to give back to the community.

“I really believe in that place – in the structure of it,” he said. “Without the staff there Triple Care Farm would just be a bunch of buildings in the bush. The combination of the place and the people there make it really worthwhile.

“I am happy to speak at any event about Triple Care Farm because they helped me so much,” he said. “I would do anything for them because they’ve done wonders for me – Triple Care Farm changed my life around.”

Mission Australia sincerely thanks QBE for its ongoing and very generous support as well as everyone who participated to raise funds for Triple Care Farm.

For every dollar donated to Mission Australia from The Big Dry, QBE also donated 50 cents to Create Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to empower children and young people placed in out-of-home care through direct service provision and systemic advocacy.

Find out more about Triple Care Farm here

Goverment Media Release: New sobering up shelter opened in Katherine

The Federal Minister for Indigenous Health and Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon today officially opened a new sobering-up shelter in Katherine today.

The construction of the new $1.5 million facility in Giles Street has been funded by the Australian Government, with the Northern Territory Government providing ongoing operational funds.

“The new Yarrlalah Shelter replaces and upgrades an outdated facility in Katherine and will offer rehabilitation and treatment services to up to eighteen people.

“We know that excessive alcohol consumption is closely associated with a broad range of health, social and economic problems in all populations and has a particularly harmful impact on Aboriginal Australians, their families and communities.

“This upgraded facility will continue to be a valuable asset to the community because it will continue to operate as a safe place for people heavily influenced by alcohol who would otherwise remain on the streets, at risk of being harmed or of causing harm to others,” Mr Snowdon said.

Named Yarrlalah after consultation with Dagaman, Wardaman and Jawoyn people, the facility’s new accommodation, cooking and living areas, will encourage clients to return to a healthy lifestyle. The name Yarrlalah translates to feeling good and being safe and reflects the purpose of the facility.

Health Minister Kon Vatskalis said the NT Government will fund Mission Australia to run the facility.

“Mission Australia will help provide improved access towards rehabilitation and treatment services, which can help clients address substance misuse and other health issues.

“I am confident that this service will continue to support the valuable work being undertaken in the Katherine region to improve the treatment of alcohol misuse. It will also help reduce anti-social behaviour in the community.”

Mr Snowdon said the Australian Government is also providing $1.6 million for the construction of a new sobering-up shelter in Tennant Creek, with the NT Government providing operational funds.

The Australian Government is committed to working with the Northern Territory Government to Closing the Gap In Indigenous health outcomes by providing better access to a range of health and emergency and community services, particularly in remote and regional areas.

In 2010-11, the Australian Government is providing more than $16.3 million across the NT for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment.

Media contacts:

• Alice Plate 0400 045 999 (Snowdon)
• Maria Billias 0401 119 746 (Vatskalis)

Media Release issued by Warren Snowdon MP, Federal Member for Lingiari and Minister for Indigenous Health, and Kon Vatskalis MLA, Northern Territory Minister for Health

Ban the booze for FebFast and help young Australians

When she was in high school, Carrie* started drinking alcohol every day to feel "happy and numb".

Then, after receiving disappointing Year 12 results three years ago, her life "spiralled out of control" and alcohol began to take control.

"I was a bit suicidal, a bit hopeless and my future was going nowhere," she said. "Mentally, I was in a really bad place and I couldn't dig myself out of it. I was hurting my family really badly."

After receiving counselling, she stayed at the Drug and Alcohol Youth Service (DAYS) in Perth for three weeks.

This program, which is a partnership between Mission Australia and Next Step, provides young people with drug and alcohol issues and their families with a comprehensive range of support services.

"The first week was terrible," Carrie recalled. "But I didn't want to leave because I'd put so much effort and planning into coming (to DAYS) and my family was so proud. I didn't want to let anyone down, least of all myself.”

Carrie is now studying writing at university while working at a pharmacy. She credits DAYS with helping save her life and is participating in FebFast to raise money for the centre.

"DAYS changed my life so much," Carrie said. "I don't like to think about what would have happened if I hadn't (stopped drinking), but I dare say I would probably be taking drugs by now and be waking up in hospital."

FebFast asks people to take a break from booze throughout February in order to raise funds for Mission Australia youth support services.

By taking part you will be supporting services such as DAYS; our Hindmarsh Centre’s after-hours mobile youth support service in South Australia, and Youth Beat, which reaches out to young people from it's base at Chigwell House in Glenorchy, Tasmania.

Time is running out, so register today at www.febfast.com.au (or click the FebFast link on our home page). You can kick-start your fundraising by donating $25 ($10 concession) as a registration fee.

*Name and image have been changed

FebFast - ban booze for a month and help our youth

Feeling worse for wear after the silly season? Why not take part in FebFast and support Mission Australia’s services for young people with serious drug and alcohol issues.

FebFast asks Australians to take a break from the booze during the shortest month. Imagine what 28 alcohol-free days could do for your health and wallet, not to mention waistline - 60 per cent of past FebFast participants lost weight!

By taking part this February you’ll also set a positive example for young Australians. According to the 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, nearly one in 10 young people aged 14 to 19 drink at levels that put them at risk of long-term alcohol-related harm.

In Mission Australia’s National Survey of Young Australians 2010, participants also identified drugs and alcohol as the second-most important issue in Australia today.

Fittingly, any money you raise during FebFast will go towards three Mission Australia services that help young people to overcome drug and alcohol issues.

By forgoing alcohol for four weeks you will contribute to:

• The ongoing management of our Drug and Alcohol Youth Service (DAYS) Residential Rehabilitation program in Western Australia;
• An after-hours mobile support service to operate from the Hindmarsh Centre, which is South Australia’s only youth-specific non-medical sobering-up facility up for young people;
• Maintaining Mission Australia’s Youth Beat bus in Tasmania. Your support will also enable our youth workers to reach out to young people in the Glenorchy area.
• And if you do feel the need to toast a special event (like Valentine’s Day) in February, you can buy a date-stamped ‘Time Out Certificate’ for $25, which gives you a 24-hour break from your FebFast.
• So why not do your body, bank balance and young Australians a favour this February and sign up at www.febfast.com.au. Your $25 ($10 concession) registration fee will kick-start your fundraising.

Once registered, you can build a personalised FebFast page where you can direct your family and friends.

Take a month off the booze this February and make a healthy start to 2011!

Triple Care Farm opens its ‘place of meeting people’

After many years of planning, Triple Care Farm has a new multipurpose facility to help students through their journey at the farm.

Ninety guests, students, staff, volunteers, project personnel and supporters attended the 20 September opening of the Buralga building.

Mission Australia's Triple Care Farm (TCF) has been helping young Australians overcome homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness or acute behavioural problems for more than 20 years.

Buralga's journey began almost four years ago when Triple Care Farm’s management realised that the growing demand for the service, and the increasing diversity within the program, would lead to a critical shortage of space.

The new purpose-built facility serves as a space for workshops, a training area for hospitality students, a reception area for families and carers on their first visit, and a consultation space for assessment interviews.

The name, Buralga, was chosen in honour of the traditional landowners – the Gundungurra. Meaning “place of meeting people” in the local language, Buralga was recommended by Adrian Shafer, a Gundungurra Elder and historical researcher into cultural identity.

Everyone at Triple Care Farm would like to thank the many people who have been involved in the building of Buralga over the past 18 months. The new centre would not be possible without your generous support.

Many thanks to the Project Management team:

Rosemary Smithson CEO of the Property Industry Foundation; Alec Horley, Property Industry Foundation Project Manager; Kirsty Bower and Karl Alderson, who are Project Managers from Turner & Townsend; Nic Skulander, Project Manger from Octavius; Jannine Jackson EO of the Sir David Martin Foundation; Leonie Green: NSW/ACT Community Services Director for Mission Australia; Wendy Hildebrand, Mission Australia Operations Manager; Max Ellet, our National Property Manager and Anika Ekholm, the architect who designed Buralga.

Triple Care Farm wins top international award

Senator Moore and Gabriella Holmes

Congratulations to the dedicated team at Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm on winning silver last week at The Mental Health Services Conference 2010 Achievement Awards.

Triple Care Farm won the award for excellence in Infant, Child and Adolescent Services. It was given in recognition of a comprehensive residential treatment program that uses a positive whole-of-life approach for young people with drug and alcohol and mental health issues.

The award was announced on 15 September at the Annual Conference in Sydney. It was presented to Gabriella Holmes, Service Manager of Triple Care Farm, by Senator Claire Moore, who is Senator for Queensland and Chair of the Senate Community Affairs Committee.

Established in 1989, Triple Care Farm (TCF) is a unique and successful residential rehabilitation and treatment program for young people experiencing a problem with alcohol or other drug use. The young people assisted by Triple Care Farm are often homeless, have a mental illness, have family problems, and problems with education and getting work.

The facility covers 45 hectares of farmland in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales and offers young people the chance to develop emotionally, socially and vocationally in a safe and secure environment.

The Achievement Awards are presented every year by the Mental Health Services Conference of Australia and New Zealand to recognise and encourage best practice, excellence and innovation in mental health service delivery. The awards have been presented annually since 1992.

The Mental Health Services Conference is the largest mental health and addiction services conference in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. The conference aims to promote positive attitudes about mental health and mental illness, and to stimulate debate that challenges the boundaries of knowledge and ideas about mental health care.

Kelly's story

Aged only four years old Kelly* was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, a behavioural condition characterised by social isolation and eccentric behaviour.

By the time she was 17 Kelly had been hospitalised for anorexia and her agoraphobia – an anxiety disorder associated with fear of public places – became worse.

Diagnosed with depression, she began to self-harm and attempted suicide three times. She then turned to alcohol and developed an addiction.

But Kelly’s life took a turn for the better when she completed an intensive 12-week program at Triple Care Farm. With professional treatment from a psychologist, Kelly began to address each of her problems.

Since completing the program in May 2010 Kelly has learnt to manage her multiple mental health issues and has conquered her reliance on alcohol.

She is taking regular medication to control her conditions and receives ongoing counselling from a mental-health service in her home town.

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Spring Appeal

Mission Australia launched the Spring Appeal in August to help raise funds for services that assist young people like Kelly who are battling mental health issues and substance abuse.

How do donations help?

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* Name and image have been changed to protect client's privacy

Media Release: Survey reveals stark difference in outlook between homeless and non-homeless youth

Homeless young Australians are significantly more concerned about body image, alcohol and bullying than their contemporaries in stable accommodation according to national community service organisation Mission Australia.

The results, compiled from data from Mission Australia’s 2009 National Survey of Young Australians, also found that young homeless people were far less concerned about drugs and personal safety – leading issues of concern for the majority of young people.

To download a copy of the latest report please click here

When asked to rank their concerns about 15 issues, body image was ranked most frequently in the top three by 37.5 per cent of young homeless respondents. In comparison, 25.0 per cent of young people living in stable accommodation ranked body image as a major issue.

The second highest issue of concern to young homeless people was alcohol – with 37.3 per cent of respondents indicating it was a major issue – compared to 22.4 per cent for those in secure housing.

Bullying/emotional abuse was ranked as a major concern by close to one-in-three homeless young people compared to one-in-four of those in stable accommodation.

The main worry for young people in secure housing was drugs with 26.9 per cent compared to only 17.4 per cent for homeless young people.

Similarly, personal safety was viewed as a pressing concern by close to one-in-four non-homeless young people with only one-in-ten homeless youth considering it as such.

Mission Australia’s spokesperson, Anne Hampshire, said the results exposed the differences between young people influenced by their access to secure accommodation.

“We tend to think of young people as an homogenous group but they’re incredibly diverse. And when a young person has experienced homelessness it can have a dramatic impact on their concerns, the things they value and the people or places they turn to for help, particularly compared to those not in that situation,” said Ms Hampshire.

Other differences between homeless and non-homeless respondents identified in the survey include:

• Young homeless people ranked feeling needed and valued (39.1 per cent) as of higher importance compared to non-homeless youth (25.8 per cent). Conversely, young homeless people placed a far greater emphasis on being independent (55.9 per cent) compared to their contemporaries (32.3 per cent).
• While both groups of young people valued family relationships (homeless 66.9% / non-homeless 76.1 per cent) young people in stable housing placed a greater emphasis on friendships (other than family) at 61.4 per cent compared to only 42.6 per cent among homeless youth.
• Homeless youth place a far greater importance on non-family members as a source of advice than those in secure accommodation. Close to one-in-two homeless young people go to community agencies for primary support compared to one-in-ten non-homeless youth. 

Similarly around one-in-two homeless young people use the Internet as a major source of help compared to one-in-five in stable housing. In addition, 30% of homeless young people don’t have access to enough information when they have a personal problem.

The national survey, conducted annually by Mission Australia, tested the views of close to 48,000 young people between the ages of 11-24 (97.9 per cent aged 11-19). Among those who took part, 386 were homeless or in insecure housing; 225 were in out-of-home/foster care; and 460 were living in a juvenile justice centre or prison.

As to why such stark differences existed between homeless and non-homeless young people on issues such as body image, alcohol and drugs, Ms Hampshire said a number of reasons could be responsible.

“Young homeless people are no different to other young adolescents – how they look, their appearance and presentation is important to them. However, their concerns are likely to be magnified if they don’t have access to the resources to buy new clothes or are possibly reliant on donated goods. It’s hard to look after your appearance if you’re couch-surfing and don’t have a safe and secure place to stay.

“Poor body image is also tied up poor self-esteem and an overall lack of well-being. The high concern about alcohol among young homeless respondents – particularly when compared to those in secure housing – could relate to their experience of alcohol misuse in their family or their own usage of alcohol as research has shown there’s an increased likelihood of homeless young people having high levels of alcohol consumption.”

“A lower level of concern about drugs among this group – when it is the chief issue for young people in stable accommodation – might suggest a greater familiarity with drugs and if that’s the case it requires us to put more efforts into drug education and health campaigns for this particular group,” said Ms Hampshire.

According to Ms Hampshire the results also reveal the importance of personal connections in keeping a young person out of homelessness or helping them back on their feet.

“Developing and sustaining connections with family and friends is a key foundation for a young person’s wellbeing. We also know that family conflict is the most common reason for homeless young people leaving home.

“Personal connections are a cornerstone in helping a young homeless person back on their feet – that’s why programs which intervene early to help young homeless people re-build these sorts of relationships are so important,” said Ms Hampshire.

National Homeless Persons’ Week (2-8 August) is also the time for Mission Australia’s Winter Sleepout.

Winter Sleepout encourages Australians to show their support for homeless people by spending a night away from their beds and raising funds for Mission Australia’s homeless services.

Simply get together with your family, friends, colleagues, social teams, schools and clubs and ‘sleepout’ and seek sponsorship for your efforts.

For more information visit www.wintersleepout.com.au

Media contact: Patrick Flynn (02) 9641 5031 or 0407 411 256