It was a truly special moment on Saturday 31^st March as 93 riders crossed the finish line in the beautiful Kings Park and Botanic Gardens and handed over a cheque for over $1.85 million, a number that surpassed the 2012 target and all expectations.  The 2012 Hawaiian Ride for Youth was the largest, with 93 riders and 25 support crew, and the most successful Ride to date with thanks to the hard work and donations of many. The funds raised from this event will help us to continue to provide our free youth and family counselling services and our mentor and peer support programs over the next 12 months. 

The 10^th Anniversary year saw a second peloton of riders added who rode through the mainland of the Southwest.  The addition of this new route meant we were able to welcome back many more alumni riders and new riders to take part and also reach more students at the local high schools.

The riders all trained for 6 months in the lead up to the event, covering an average of 8,000km each, and all took part in fundraising for the event, with the results speaking for their hard work and dedication.  It was an up and down journey for our riders, not just out on the ride and their hard work is appreciated by all of the young people and families who access our services.

 A big thank you must also go to all of our sponsors, especially our naming rights sponsor Hawaiian, who have supported the riders in their fundraising efforts with many also hosting their own fundraising activities.  Our sponsors were all so engaged and supportive of the ride with a big presence from all at events in the lead up to the ride and with all at the finish line to welcome the rider’s home.

To find out more about the 2012 Hawaiian Ride for Youth, the sponsors, our riders and the many events please visit the website at www.rideforyouth.com.au

If you are interested in taking part n the 2013 Hawaiian Ride for Youth or would like to join the ride family as a sponsor please contact us at events@youthfocus.com.au

Thank you again to all who supported this event which is so important to us, the young people and the families who are in desperate need of our help.  We hope you will all join us next year in our quest to prevent youth suicide, depression and self-harm.

Alan Cransberg addressing guest

Youth Focus and Alcoa of Australia recently entered a two year, $200,000 partnership which will assist Youth Focus address the growing demand for mental health services in the Peel region.

A breakfast to officially launch this partnership was held recently with Alan Cransberg, Alcoa of Australia Managing Director, talking about the partnership goals for this important initiative.

Counsellors from schools and service providers in the Peel region joined local politicians and Alcoa of Australia and Youth Focus representatives over breakfast at the picturesque Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club on Friday 17 February 2012 to learn about how Youth Focus’ services can assist them with youth vulnerable to suicide, depression and self harm.

Guests were also moved as they heard from a current Youth Focus client in the Peel region who detailed her journey and how our organisation has helped her.

Youth Focus would like to once again thank Alcoa of Australia for their commitment and we look forward to working with them.

Photograph by Marcia Skinner Photography.

The Youth Focus Charity House is an exciting project whereby all profits directly benefit Youth Focus in supporting young Western Australians vulnerable to suicide, depression and self harm.

Located within the impressive Banksia Grove development, the Charity House is an initiative by Youth Focus’ long term supporter, Scott Park, and his exciting new brand, 101 Residential.

Banksia Grove joins the Youth Focus family of supporters in this the third Charity House Youth Focus has undertaken.

The Youth Focus Charity House was developed around the concept of ‘youth helping youth’ and provides the opportunity for apprentices to become involved in the building and construction of a house. This not only offers them the opportunity to gain experience and skills, it also provides a sense of satisfaction for assisting young people in need with all the profit from the sale going directly help to maintain the services that we offer to the young people of Western Australia who are battling with depression and issues of suicide and self harm.

This year’s Charity House utilises the exciting new ‘Latte’ design from the team at 101 Residential and is located at 6 Saxicola Road, Banksia Grove. 

The Charity House is nearing sale and Youth Focus looks forward to investing the proceeds to supporting young Western Australians in our community.

For more information on the ‘Latte’ or any other of 101 Residential’s exciting new designs go to www.101residential.com.au

To find out more about how you could be enjoying life in Banksia Grove simply go to www.banksiagrove.net.au

May 2012 marks three years since Steve Richards’ brother, Mark, took his own life. Mark suffered serious depression and in May, Steve will ride and incredible 1,255km from Exmouth to Perth to raise funds for Youth Focus and raise awareness of depression and suicide.

Steve’s incredible challenge will see him average 180kms per day over a gruelling seven days. 

“Through our Ride for Mark we are trying to help other young people deal with this pain as early as possible so we are riding to raise money for Youth Focus”, Steve said.

“Last year we set a modest target of $5,000 and were overwhelmed with the support we received and raised $37,800. My first priority will always be about Mark, but it is also great to know and important that our efforts will be helping with early intervention with young people suffering the same issues as Mark.”

To donate to him click here http://www.everydayhero.com.au/richo2012

Youth Focus Virtual Ride supporting Hawaiian Ride for Youth

The inaugural Youth Focus Virtual Ride was held between 1 – 31 March and was an ancillary fundraising event to the Hawaiian Ride for Youth.

The Virtual Ride comprised 75 people across the country that raised funds which directly benefits Youth Focus via the Hawaiian Ride for Youth.

The event was a great success, raising over $23,000.

Congratulations to our top fundraiser, Belynda Parker, who raised $5,165 and won the $5,000 Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa (Broome) Prize, kindly donated by ENJO.

Congratulations also to our second top fundraiser, Nyssa Kelly, who raised $2,821.00 and won a $500 Good Guys Malaga Gift Voucher.

Event Supporters

Youth Focus has been busy during the first quarter of 2012, accepting 242 referrals. We are glad that we can be seeing as many young Western Australians as possible to assist them with the problems associated with suicide ideation, depression and self harm.    

Family Counselling continues to progress with the new role dedicated to this area now well and truly established. Although being based at our Burswood office, our family counsellor is also building up a caseload in the Rockingham/Kwinana area and provides counselling there one Friday morning per fortnight. This provides a counselling service to families in the Rockingham/Kwinana area that may not have the means or ability to travel to Perth, but would still benefit from seeing a Family Counsellor. There is no time limit as such to the sessions with families able to see our counsellor for as long as they require or until they are assessed as not requiring the service any longer.

As Youth Focus is an early intervention service, we provide 2 intake sessions using a solution focussed therapy approach. We are currently undertaking research to determine the effectiveness and sustainability of the intake process. We aim to present this research at the Seventh World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health (Mental Health and wellbeing of young people) on the 17^th to 19^th October 2012. Previous research on the intake process conducted 2010 revealed that a significant percentage of clients reported having their needs met by this brief intervention. Continuing to provide this support for young people, Youth Focus aims to determine if young people are still experiencing these benefits and how we can further improve.

We recognize that educating the community, whether it be parents, grandparents, teachers, sports coaches or employers is a key strategy to improving the mental health of our community, especially in our young people.  As a result Youth Focus has developed a range of new training initiatives designed for adults working or living with adolescents.

These programs have been successfully rolled out  to a range of companies and community organisations over the past 12 months.  Participants learn the signs and symptoms of a range of mental health problems, including where and how to get help.

Youth Focus can tailor a mental health training program to suit your needs including time and budget.

Our next scheduled two-day Youth Mental Health First Aid course will be held on 9th and 10th February 2012. Please see below for more information.

 
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is targeted at individuals and parents within the community who live or work with young people, or would like to learn more about prevalent youth mental health issues.

Not restrictive to mental health workers or community workers, this course is designed to up-skill and educate absolutely anyone who is interested in prevalent mental health issues in young people and how to notice and react to symptoms, signs of distress and mental health crises whilst providing appropriate support and information.

The course includes an interactive, in-depth look at depression, eating disorders, psychosis, anxiety and substance misuse disorders along with crucial information regarding adolescent development and behaviour.
Participants are not required to have any prior knowledge of mental health issues nor experience working with young people. The course is about awareness and up skilling our community to assist people to access appropriate mental health care. Another beneficial element of this course is that it can be easily applied to adults as the principle of support remains the same.

Youth Mental Health First Aid informs and teaches a model of support that is both appropriate and safe when working or coming across a person who is experiencing a mental health issue or crises. Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a nationally recognised program that is now facilitated in over 12 developed and developing nations across the globe and is supported by Orygen Youth Health Research Centre and Melbourne University.

For further information and a full overview of the course please visit the Mental Health First Aid Australia website: http://www.mhfa.com.au/Youth_mhfa.shtml

COURSE INFORMATION:
WHEN: Thursday 9th & 10th February 2012
TIME: 9:00am – 4:30pm both days
WHERE: Youth Focus, 54 Goodwood Parade, Burswood WA
              
Youth Focus is conveniently located a leisurely 300m walk from the Burswood Train Station. Plenty of free street parking is also available. Please do not park in the red paved parking bays directly in front of the building as they are reserved for clients.

COST: $275 per person; includes GST, all catering and course resources (participants will receive a comprehensive YMHFA handbook).
* 100% of the course must be completed in order to warrant a completion certificate.

HOW TO REGISTER: Please complete the YMHFA registration form and scan to elaine.liebetrau@youthfocus.com.au, or fax to Youth Focus on 6266 4300 attention to Elaine: YMHFA Rego.

Confirmation of registration will not be guaranteed until payment is received in full.

RSVP BY:  Thursday 2nd February 2012. First in first serve basis. Confirmations will be emailed to the address listed on the registration form.

Postal Address: 54 Goodwood Parade, Burswood WA 6100

For further information please contact Elaine Liebetrau at Youth Focus on 6266 4333.

Youth Focus has been busy during the first quarter of 2012, accepting approximately 240 referrals from youth in need. We are glad that we can be seeing as many young Western Australians as possible to assist them with the issues associated with suicide ideation, depression and self harm.    

The Family Counselling program continues to grow with the team well and truly established. Although being based at our Burswood office, a family counsellor is also building up a caseload in the Rockingham/Kwinana area and provides counselling there one Friday morning per fortnight. This provides a counselling service to families in the Rockingham/Kwinana area that may not have the means or ability to travel to Perth, but would still benefit from seeing a Family Counsellor. Sessions are unlimited with families able to see our counsellor for as long as they require or until they are assessed as not requiring the service any longer.

As Youth Focus is an early intervention service, we provide two intake sessions using a solution focused therapy approach. We are currently undertaking research to determine the effectiveness and sustainability of the intake process. We aim to present this research at the Seventh World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health (Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young People) on the 17^th to 19^th October 2012. Previous research on the intake process conducted in 2010 revealed that a significant percentage of clients reported having their needs met by our intake process. Continuing to provide this support for young people, Youth Focus aims to determine if young people are still experiencing these benefits and how we can further improve.