The Redcliffe Area Youth Service's mission is to work collaboratively with the community to develop the full potential of local
young people through innovative, sustainable and professional programs and services in a safe and inclusive environment.

 

  
 

 

Welcome to the Redcliffe Area Youth Service

LatestNews

HealthyEatingActiveLifestyle (HEAL) Expo
Interface site now up!

NATIONAL YOUTH WEEK 2008
It's back, and it's more awesome than ever before!
Scroll down, you won't regret it...

The Youth Space is a lot of things... we run education and training programs, social support groups, provide free counselling, and we run activities and events!... we run education and training programs, social support groups, provide free counselling, and we run activities and events! Pretty much everything we do is for free, and on the very rare occassion when we actually have to charge for something you're never going to pay more than a few dollars!@@@@

We work primarily with disadvantaged, disengaged, at risk and marginalised young people aged 12 to 25, but we also work with young people from schools and what is often called "the mainstream". We try pretty hard to offer something for everyone, and the events we run are one way of doing that. We're doing stuff all the time, but there are two really huge events we put a lot of energy into every year without fail - our annual Christmas Event (XMAS@RAYS) and National Youth Week (NYW)!

There's a little while until Christmas hits again, but National Youth Week 2008 is here right now louder and prouder than ever!

National Youth Week 2008 starts APRIL 5 and wraps up APRIL 13. This year for National Youth Week 2008 (NYW2008) the Youth Space has gone all out and pulled together some amazing fun stuff for your enjoyment. Scroll on down and be amazed! :o)


SURGE
Date: Saturday April 5 2008
Place: The Redcliffe Area Youth Service (aka the Youth Space) on the corner of Anzac and Oxley Avenues, Redcliffe & the Redcliffe City Skate & BMX Park
Time:11am to 3:30pm
Cost: FREE to watch, gold coin donation to compete!
Line Up: Great prizes and giveaways, great music, professional MC's!

SURGE is huge, and it's probably one of our favourite events! It attracts hundreds of people every year and always features amazing, awe inspiring tricks by talented local young skaters and bikers!

SURGE is proudly sponsored by:
- Moreton Bay Regional Council
- Skatebase
- Bums on Bikes
- Seven

VIBE
Date: Saturday April 5 2008
Place: The Redcliffe Area Youth Service (aka the Youth Space) on the corner of Anzac and Oxley Avenues (next to the skatepark)
Time:7pm to 10pm
Cost: FREE!
Line Up: DJ Talann, great music, fantastic food!

VIBE is a brand new event we're introducing this year. The young people have been asking for a massive dance party complete with a well known professional DJ, and we have provided. Come on down and dance under the stars! It's going to be an awesome night.

VIBE is proudly sponsored by:
- Moreton Bay Regional Council

DECKART
Date: Saturday April 5 2008 to Friday April 11 2008
Place: The Redcliffe Area Youth Service (aka the Youth Space) on the corner of Anzac and Oxley Avenues (next to the skatepark)
Time:8:30am to 5pm every day, open late on Saturday the 5th of April and Friday the 11th of April!
Cost: FREE!
Line Up: Amazing skateboard art from professional designers and from young people on the Peninsula!

DeckArt is something we've been trying to get up for a few years, but now, thanks to the exceptional efforts of Ms Lexie-Jade Keefe it has become a reality! There's some amazing art, come and have a look - you can even buy a board or two!

DECKART is proudly sponsored by:
- Moreton Bay Regional Council
- Seven (He's an AMAZING artist)

BATTLEOFTHEBRAINS2008
Date: Wednesday April 9 2008
Place: The Redcliffe Area Youth Service (aka the Youth Space) on the corner of Anzac and Oxley Avenues (next to the skatepark)
Time:6:30pm to 8:30pm
Cost: FREE!
Line Up: Professional MC, competitors from the Youth Space, Southern Cross Catholic College, and Redcliffe High!

Batte of the Brains is another brand new event we're trying out this year. It's a gameshow with a twist, and it's going to be awesome! There are four teams, four rounds, heaps of questions on popular culture, current affairs, and other items of interest, physical challenges, audience participation, giveaways, prizes, and a massive "annual trophy" generously provided by AllStar Trophies! It's going to be fun!

Battle of the Brains is proudly sponsored by:
- Moreton Bay Regional Council
- AllStar Trophies
- Surf Vision Kippa Ring

REDROCK
Date: Friday April 11 2008
Place: The Redcliffe Area Youth Service (aka the Youth Space) on the corner of Anzac and Oxley Avenues (next to the skatepark)
Time:7pm to late
Cost: FREE!
Line Up: Headliner Act is Marionette, New Days, Angry Odin!

RedRock is our annual massive live music event (which next year will be turned into an annual BATTLE OF THE BANDS for Redcliffe). RedRock features talented young people in local bands who will be singing their hearts out and showing off their musical talent. Come along and support them! The bands are well worth the effort!

RedRock is proudly sponsored by:
- Moreton Bay Regional Council


What's Coming Up?



The launch of the newest addition to our website... INTERFACE! Stay tuned! It goes live at 8pm on the 18th of April 2008!!
Then...
The "Healthy Eating, Active Lifestyle" (HEAL) Expo! That kicks off June 8 and is going to be amazing!
The HEAL Expo also serves as the launch of a brand new outdoor exercise circuit with professionally designed equipment installed by OmniTech. The Redcliffe Area Youth Service won a grant in 2007, has bought the equipment, and is donating it all to Redcliffe as a gift to the city and the community we love!

 
 

There'ssomethingabouttheRedcliffeAreaYouthService...

The Redcliffe Area Youth Service (aka RAYS or "the Youth Space" or just "the Space") is a not-for-profit community organisation. We're a dynamic, friendly, innovative, inclusive and slightly crazy organisation that works primarily with disadvantaged and at risk young people aged 12 to 25.

The Youth Space provides confidential support and referrals, education and training programs, fun activities, and youth culture events to young people. We don't care who you are, what your background is, what you believe, or how much money you do or don't have, you're welcome here and we'll do everything we can to help you out. Just don't bring any alcohol or drugs to the Space, and don't start any fights, and everything will be just fine.

Frequently Asked Questions:

There are a lot of people asking us a lot of questions all the time, which is great! Below are answers to some of the more common questions:

Q - Are you part of the Redcliffe City Council?
A - That'd be a no. We're an independent organisation. Council owns the building we're in - in fact, they built the building especially to house a Youth Service, but we're not a part of Council. They help us out, and are wonderfully supportive of the sometimes strange and unusual things we get up to.

Q - Are you guys part of a church?
A - Nope. Not even remotely. The Redcliffe Area Youth Service is not affiliated with any church group or religion. We do work with a few now and again, but otherwise we have no particular religious bias. We have Christians working here, Buddhists, Atheists, Agnostics... you name it. We're an inclusive environment and while respectful of your particular faith, we don't care who or what you worship.

Q - Why aren't you open all night and of a weekend?
A - We do open of a weekend and of a night every now and again, especially when we host events and activities for young people. The simple truth is that it's very expensive to run this place. We have to be open Monday to Friday to run our education and employment programs, and unfortunately that doesn't leave us with much money spare to open of a weekend or after hours - at the moment! Plus, our jobs are pretty stressfull, it's not all fun and games, and even Youth Workers need time to rest after a rough week. We have families and friends that we like to spend time with also. It is one of our aims to be open most Friday nights throughout the year, and maybe even a Saturday and it's something that we're working towards.

Q - Why aren't you an Outreach Service?
A - We do limited Outreach, and we also do outreach into schools, the community, and other organisations. Out on the road and driving about in a bus outreach is one of the directions we will be taking this organisation in the very near future. But to be successful in Outreach there are a few steps you need to take - first, get a building you can work from that's youth friendly, a great staff team, and make it a safe place. Then you can step out and run amok in the community with a stellar Outreach program! Ya can't run before you can walk, and running an Outreach Program without an established Youth Service and programs to support the Outreach is nuts! Trust us, we're building up to it, and it's not far away!

Q - How do I get a job at the Youth Space?
A - That's easy. Get qualified! I'm afraid we won't even look at you unless you've got your Youth Work Certificate IV.
The Youth Sector needs qualified people and you won't get a job in it without doing the hard yards. Youth Work is one of the most difficult industries to get into. One thing we've learned over the years is just because you want to work with young people doesn't mean you're the right person to work with young people. You need more than passion, you need strong moral values, excellent boundaries, and you need to have worked through your own personal issues so you don't make unwise decisions and give bad advice. So rock on up to a Uni or TAFE and get qualified. Ask the admissions peeps and they'll help you out with a relevant degree or certificate.
Now for a word to the wise... Youth Work is not all fun and games with young people. It is not an easy job. Having fun with young people is about 5% of what we do, the other 95% is writing reports, designing programs, running programs, sweating over budgets, looking for funding, advocating for young people, listening to some really heartbreaking life stories, and chasing politicians for money! It's hard work and it can be upsetting. You've gotta be tough as well as sensitive, non judgemental, understanding, creative, and persistant. If you're serious, get education and get a Positive Notice Blue Card" from the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardians and maybe then you'll be ready!

Q - Do you accept donations?
A - Yes. The Youth Space is a recognised charity by the Australian Government, so if you donate stuff to us, it's tax deductable! Because we depend on government funds we don't always have enough money to replace furniture and computers and stuff, so we do depend on the generosity of the business sector and our local community. If you want to make a donation call the office on 3283 8769 and discuss it with the staff. And a big thank you to you, if you can help us out! We work with thousands of young people every year, and every one of them is in need. Redcliffe is a beautiful place, but it has a lot of unemployment and a lot of families living below the poverty line. No matter where you are or how prosperous the area is, young people are always encountering stuff that makes life really hard for them... sexual abuse, homelessness, financial hardship, domestic violence, peer pressure, drugs and alcohol, broken families... the problems are always there, they don't go away just because we want them to. EVERY young person is at risk and the only way we can help them is with community support.

If you'd like to know more check out the about us page page for more info on what we do and who we are. If you'd like to meet our staff go visit the contact info page.

Thanks for visiting our home on the web! We hope you come back.