Youth Development Fund

When moving into a new property, many landlords require holding bonds and/or security deposits - funds that young people don’t readily have access to, simply because they are young. They haven't had the time to save up money nor gain a credit rating yet. They are at a time of their lives where they are studying, in an apprenticeship or a low paying job.

The Youth Development Fund supports our young people into independent living through assisting financially with:

• rent and utility bills,
• sourcing or buying furniture,
• purchasing white goods and/or other necessities, and
• the physical aspect of moving from one property to another.

By donating to the Youth Development Fund, you enable young people to access financial support and stand on their own two feet.

Camp Burdekin provides the opportunity for our young people to laugh and find joy in this world.

The young people will engage in physical activities while on camp - from skiing to fishing, climbing a wall, building a fire, to making damper. Whilst these experiences occur, our skilled staff weave into the day, discussions on goal setting, confidence, self-esteem, drug and alcohol use, financial planning and a myriad of other accidental counselling sessions on a variety of topics.

Many of the children and young people who come to Burdekin have experienced traumatic events such as physical and sexual assault, family violence, physical and emotional neglect. These young people need therapeutic care and a holistic response to overcome behavioural challenges.

Within the public system, young people need to deal with lengthy waiting times and within the private sector, young people deal with prohibitive costs for therapeutic treatment.

In addition, even non-profit organisations offering counselling and therapeutic assistance have waiting times of up to six weeks because they are so busy. In acute circumstances this is not only inadequate but can be dangerous.

Accessing the best, immediately available private therapeutic sessions allows Burdekin to be responsive to critical needs when they are needed by our children and young people.

Burdekin has adopted an integrated approach to working with therapists who are skilled in trauma treatment and provide individualised treatment.

There are times when an event at global, national, state or a local community level affects young people and requires an immediate response. These events could include natural disasters, pandemics, terrorist threats, shootings, accidents and loss of life.

A donation to the Youth Development Fund would give us the ability to provide a critical, immediate, and appropriate response to engage with young people during a time of acute and ongoing crisis when there is no time to seek approval for or raise funds - and when the young people need it most.

Why include community capacity-building in the Youth Development Fund? Because we need to ensure our staff and community stakeholders are operating in accordance with best practices and at their best levels.

To achieve this, we need to develop and strengthen their skills and abilities and improve our processes so together we can survive, adapt, and thrive in a fast-changing environment.

Capacity building activities may take the form of practical training, workshops, information evenings and community days.