Phoenix House  is a community based organisation that has been in operation for more than 30 years. It provides early intervention and support services for young people living in Sydney’s northern suburbs. Its services have been expanded to provide free confidential counselling, community support and entitlements, information and programmes to support education, training and employment.  Its key objectives are 1) place challenged young people at the heart of what we do 2) build trusting relationships with these young people and support them as long as they need us 3) support them to be Learn ready, Work ready & Life ready.  
 
Mary reminded us that 1:8 of north shore’s youth are not in school or employment, Mosman’s has one of the highest volumes of domestic violence figures in Sydney.
 
Under their Learn Ready program Phoenix House has 17 referrals from schools attending their Transit course with 3 obtaining employment, 1 has an apprenticeship and 6 returning to Years 11 & 12 at school. There were all assigned case worker.
 
The Work Ready program aims at giving them work experiences with Rotary scholarships playing a key role (i.e.  Real Estate apprenticeship). Mary had recently attended a government youth employment round table, and it looking at engaging more local businesses.
 
Life ready is about life skills competencies. Currently looking for ideas & volunteers for teaching youths to learn to drive.
 
On the financial side they are aiming to significantly reduce their need for government funding, and really appreciated the “fund raising” review done by Crows Nest Rotary. Thanks to Harold & Alon. 
    
For more information please visit Phoenix House