Bundaberg Youth Refuge
Youth homelessness is often invisible. Young people are the most common group to experience couch surfing. This means they are in temporary living situations with friends, relatives or even complete strangers. If you are experiencing homelessness – or are at risk of becoming homeless, we can help you find and sustain safe, suitable and affordable housing.
Our practices are informed by young people and work to reduce harm by building on young people’s strengths and enhancing health, well-being, independence and resilience.
We welcome all people, regardless of race, gender, status, or sexual orientation. We understand that a safe space for growth is created when people feel believed in, valued, listened to and respected. Our centre provides a supportive environment where you're free to be you.
“If it wasn't for The Salvation Army, I wouldn’t even have had Taylor with me for Christmas."
The Salvation Army Youth Services
For over 20 years, TSA Youth Services have been walking alongside young people across Australia.
We provide a range of services that support young people to secure safe and stable housing, engage in alcohol and other drug recovery, reconnect with school, explore further training and employment opportunities, become safe drivers and navigate justice systems all whilst promoting positive community connections.
We believe every young person deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential!
To help us achieve our goal of supporting every young person to reach their full potential, we have developed our National Model of Care - Journey to Independence.
The Salvation Army Youth Services has a range of programs for young people, their families and the community. To find out more about The Salvation Army Youth Services in Australia, visit Youth services | The Salvation Army Australia
The Salvation Army Youth Services Model of Care outlines how our services are delivered. It sets out our commitment to all young people, children and families. It guides what we say, what we do, how we act and how we respond.
It's our guiding document that ensures everything we do creates intentional and meaningful pathways for young people to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.
About Us
WHAT ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS?
Homelessness can affect anyone. There are many reasons why young people may experience homelessness but, in most circumstances, this is outside of their control. Some reasons include:
- Family breakdown
- Experiences of family and domestic violence
- Abuse
- Neglect
- Mental health issues
- Drug and alcohol misuse
- Long-term unemployment
- Exiting state care
- Intergenerational poverty
- Shortage of affordable housing
WHAT WE DO
We provide a professional, responsive and flexible social welfare service for young people 16-24 years who are experiencing homelessness.
Young people have access to a stable and secure environment based on trust, respect and honesty in which they can develop a better understanding of their situation and work towards the improvement of their living conditions.
Whilst involved in our services, our organisation is committed to minimising risks of harm to young people through safe policies and practices.
Youth Refuge
The Bundaberg Youth Refuge is a 6-bed residential program that provides crisis accommodation and case management to young people between the ages of 16 and 21 years. Staff are on this site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have 8 Youth Workers, 2 Case Managers and 1 Program Manager.
The program offers intensive indiviualised case management to the young person, once they have identified the needs they wish to be assisted with. A key focus in supporting the young person is to build life skills and to help transition them into independent living and accommodation.
There is no set timeframe for the accommodation and case management support being delivered to the young people, as it is period of need.
Semi-independent Accommodation
We provide an external 24/7 supported accommodation service to young families between the ages of 18-24 in our self-contained units.
8 external 2 bedroom partly furnished units are located in two separate areas of Bundaberg and are used to accommodate young families.
Rental contributions via Centrepay or manual payment can be paid weekly or fortnightly on your allocated payday.
Accommodation fees are no more than 30% of income and up to a maximum of $200 per week, per unit. The accommodation fee amount does not include utility contributions. Fees can either be deducted from your Centrelink payment and paid directly to The Salvation Army Youth Refuge, or paid in cash at The Salvation Army Youth Refuge in person.
Supports that includes:
- Individual Case Management
- Assistance in your search for secure, stable and sustainable longterm accommodation
- Referrals to local community services, government agencies and non-government agencies
- Referrals to other local Salvation Army services including:
- The Salvation Army Church
- TSA Youth Minister
- TSA Doorways Caseworker
- TSA Financial Counsellor
- TSA Tom Quinn Community Centre
For most kids, home time is something to look forward to. For others, the end of the day means fear and uncertainty.
Every year, there are almost 40,000 children and young people who have nowhere to live across this country. Around 9,500 of them are 15-17 years old and thousands more lost their homes when they were children.
Current policies are creating lifetimes of disadvantage by failing vulnerable children and young people. It’s time to fix our housing system through policy change and dedicated investment.
We are calling on federal, state and territory governments to:
- Develop and maintain a national pool of 15,000 dedicated youth tenancies for 16-24 year olds.
- Provide linked support services to enable young people to pursue their individual goals and transition to full independence.
- Address the rental gap to ensure viability for housing providers and landlords offering tenancies to young people who
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REACH OUT TO US IF:
Shared Residential Service:
- You are aged 16-21 years without dependent children
- You are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless
External Unit Service:
- You are aged 18-24 years with dependent children
- You are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless
Contact Us
Call our friendly and highly experienced staff 24/7 on:
0411 214 432 or 0448 229 923
Or email us at: byr@salvationarmy.org.au
Call Back
For a call back, please send our team an SMS and a friendly staff member will get back to you as soon as they can.
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Other National and Local Local Support services
Click the links above to find other services that can help you with supports for your individual needs.
A more personalised list can be accessed via the Queensland Government Support services for young people site.
Interpreter Service
If you find it difficult to communicate in or understand English, our team will provide you with more information and support you to access an interpreter through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National). This is free of charge and you can request an interpreter whenever you feel you need one.
Phone 131 450
CONTACT US
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The Salvation Army Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders past and present.
We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are fully inclusive. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.
At The Salvation Army Australia, we seek to create environments where children and young people thrive and feel safe, valued and empowered. We are working hard to hear the voices of children and young people and use their wisdom to enhance our services, facilities and programs. The Salvation Army Australia has a strong and ongoing commitment to safety, and takes a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and harm. All Salvation Army personnel are accountable for ensuring the safety of children and young people and are bound by a Code of Conduct that places children’s safety first.
