Youth Focus will continue to provide services for young people and their families on 26 January.
This is a date that means different things for different people. We acknowledge for some it is a day of celebration, the start of an ongoing connection with Australia through receiving citizenship, or a day to spend time with family and friends. For others, it is a day of sorrow and a distressing reminder of a traumatic history.
This year, our employees have the option to work on 26 January. Many of our sites have made the important decision to keep their doors open on this day.
Youth Focus believes the process of healing cannot begin until we have honest conversations and truth-telling about our history and its impacts. We believe our nation will be enriched by acknowledging, celebrating and preserving the unique and enduring cultures, languages and identities of the First Australians.
The development and release of our inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2021 shows our deep commitment to change and desire to make a positive impact on the emotional and social mental health of First Nations Australians. The RAP is an agreed strategy, which has been developed in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and details how Youth Focus plans to achieve a greater level of trust, understanding and connectedness to these communities. Find out more and view our RAP here: https://youthfocus.com.au/launching-inaugural-reflect-reconciliation-action-plan/