NDIS Provider no: 4050008536
STAFF INFORMATION
RYSS CEO - Kim McLoughry
This year staff have supported over 753 (2014/15 493) young people with 482 (2014/15 440) of these supported by RYSS Casework and Advice/Referral services. RYSS provided over 8458 (2014/15 9525) occasions of service including events and community development activities with young people. RYSS conducted 229 skills based workshops. In August 2016 I reached another milestone of twenty three years of service with RYSS. As the CEO I am privileged to be the leader of an inspiring team that continue to foster significant results with many young people from diverse backgrounds in our region.
RYSS Operations Manager - Alex O'Neal
The truly inspiring team of individuals across RYSS all but guarantee success into the future, and will continue to set a standard that we can be proud to be part of. I as Operations Manager am energised by the team around me, and am confident that the coming 12 months will be a period of innovation and development across the organisation – as we enter the new world of NDIS, Early Intervention reforms, the rollout of the newly developed BUS project, and all other new and exciting projects and programs yet to come.
Early Intervention Placement Prevention Leader - Gail Cosentino
As team leader for the Early Intervention Placement Prevention (EIPP) team for Child, Youth & Family, I continue to work with a dedicated and passionate team of caseworkers. It never ceases to amaze me how the team continue to work day to day supporting our vulnerable and at risk young people within our community. Our team work to identify presenting issues through Advice Information and Referral, assessing the young people’s individual needs to ensure the very best referral process, and if needed, continued case work support.
Wyoming Youth Skills Centre Youth Program Worker - Beck Johnson
Wyoming Youth Skills Centre (‘WYSC’) achieved outstanding results in 2015/16 running programs and activities for young people aged 12 – 17 years, with a focus on living and social skill development. During each school term and holiday break period throughout 2015/16, young people were offered a range of support programming designed to blend learning with recreation, and encourage positive engagement through an inclusive and supportive environment. Feedback remains consistently high, with young people reporting that programming is relevant and engaging and that support staff at the centre are helpful and supportive.
EIPP and LGBTQIA+ Caseworker - Alexa Morris-Lovell
The RYSS GenQ program continured in 2015-2016, working closely with the Holden Street Sexual Health Clinic, ACON Hunter, NSW Health and PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Central Coast. The GenQ group has doubled in size and meet once a month to support the LGBTQIA+ youth on the Central Coast with participation in workshops and activities in a safe and inclusive environment. The group have participated in workshops on LGBTQIA+ inclusive sexual health, healthy relationships, alcohol and other drug use, gender,sexuality and identity.
The BUS Youth Worker - Virginia Walshaw
The RYSS Bus Project, supported by a range of local community and business groups, this full sized transit bus has been fully integrated with the latest technologies including AV systems, Wi‐Fi, and gaming capabilities. The Bus can not only deliver ‘seminar’ style sessions to seated groups, but also one‐on‐one support work, a social chill space. The beauty of this project is that it is designed with flexibility and creativity in mind – if a community has a specific need, then The Bus aims to fill it - providing information & advice at a local shopping centre, raising awareness & highlighting an emerging community issue, running a short film evening alongside a local beach, hosting an acoustic music event, providing a safe space “Chill Out” zone at a festival, or through targeted outreach support to young people in an area where support services have previously struggled to reach – The RYSS Bus Project wants to be able to deliver the solution on a scale never before seen on The Central Coast.
Living Skills Caseworker - Sandy Small
Living Skills was delivered 9 times across the 2015/16 period, facilitated by Sandy. During this period 28 individuals successfully completed the program, with many going on to be further supported by RYSS in case management, accommodation support, all through other programs and activities delivered by the organisation. The RYSS Living Skills program was established several years ago, initially based on the Housing NSW Rent It Keep It program, however with a number of additional elements of the program being modified and added, to better reflect the needs of young people, this tailored program is robust and effective in delivering a program targeted specifically at young people on the Central Coast.
Youth & Family Resource Worker Bronwyn Smith
The primary role of the Youth & Family Resource worker is to be the first point of contact for Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS). The main responsibility is to refer people to appropriate supports in order to ensure all young people, particularly those who are new to RYSS, are directed to the appropriate program and people within the organisation. Therefore, ensuring the best support possible for young people and other community agency workers under EIPP Advice Information and Referral.
Abilities Leader- Kerry
The introduction of NDIS means that clients currently in the program are supported through this transition from a state government funding body to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. All services are available to be developed with clients and support agencies to support individual goals of the Young Person. With RYSS being a registered disability support provider under NDIS we are excited by the prospect of sustainable growth of the Abilities program in the coming years and remain focused on becoming the standard of quality for Youth Disability support in the sector.
Youth Arts Coordinator - Sharon Aldrick
My position develops the programs from a needs basis, secures funding and works with professional arts mentors/tutors in implementation and delivery. This year we developed six programs each term providing opportunities for emerging Directors, Playwrights, Actors, Artists, Musicians and Song Writers to realise their true potential and go on to becoming future cultural leaders, paving the way into education and employment
opportunities.