Thank you for your contributions to our vital, life-saving work through your support of and involvement with Youth Focus and the Hawaiian Ride for Youth. As advised in July, I have resigned from Youth Focus to take up a new role externally.
I am pleased that I leave Youth Focus in a strong position, with an outstanding team, a refreshed brand and a revitalised financial position. Moreover, I’m pleased that the crucial youth mental health services of Youth Focus and its headspace centres continue to deliver quality health outcomes for their young clients. Youth Focus is on a truly exciting journey as it heads into its 25th anniversary year in 2019 and beyond.
In particular, I am pleased that, together, we have increased the number of young people supported by almost 50%, from 2,506 in FY16 to 2,872 in FY17 and 3,678 in the last year of FY18.
I acknowledge the outstanding work of our professional teams of committed, passionate people who strive to make a positive difference to young people every day of the year. I also acknowledge the voluntary work of our Board and thank former Chair Peter Harold for his leadership and support and current Chair David Gray for his continued guidance.
In closing, thank you for your support and your collegiality. The experience of leading Youth Focus as its CEO has been deeply rewarding for me personally and professionally, and I look forward to following the continued success of the Hawaiian Ride for Youth and the important and inspiring work of all at Youth Focus.
The Board of Youth Focus is in the processing of recruiting a new CEO and an announcement will be made in due course.