Youth Off The Streets founder to be keynote speaker in Ballina
Father Chris Riley, pictured, founder of the Youth Off The Streets Program for disadvantaged young people, is one of the keynote speakers at the Northern Rivers Social Development Council’s Youth Conference at the Ballina Beach Resort on September 12 and 13.
The conference, From Rhetoric to Reality, will focus on rural and regional young people.
Joining Father Riley as keynote speakers will be:
Chairman of the National Youth Commission, David Eldridge
Designer and TV personality Alison Page
Michael Coffey from the Youth Accommodation Association
Southern Cross University psychologist Dr Rick Van Der Zwan.
The conference MC will be Ian Stenlake, a star of the television drama Sea Patrol.
Northern Rivers Social Development Council president Jenny Dowell said the conference, which she described as a great opportunity to showcase what works for young people, also would include presentations on innovative youth programs from our region.
Workshops for young people will include video production, surfing, percussion, writing, hip hop and circus skills.
Registrations for the conference can be made via the web at www.nrsdc.org.au or by calling 6622 3030.
The conference is sponsored by Lismore and Ballina councils, the Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre, Ttec Youth Services and TURSA.
Youth Off The Streets:
Youth Off The Streets is a community organisation working for young people who are chronically homeless, drug dependent and recovering from abuse. It supports these young people as they work to turn their lives around and overcome immense personal traumas such as neglect and physical, psychological and emotional abuse.
Since opening in 1991, Youth Off The Streets has grown from a single food-van delivering meals to young homeless people on the streets of Kings Cross to a major youth specific agency providing a wide range of services offering a full continuum of care.
