Youth services offer opportunities and support 

Our services walk alongside people at all stages of life to achieve their goals. 

It can be difficult for young people, particularly in regional areas, to access support which is why services like our Bowral Youth Refuge and Vinnies Reconnect Youth Hub in Deniliquin play an important role in the local community. 

The Bowral Youth Refuge is a stable environment for young people, aged 16-20, offering short-term accommodation alongside individual wrap-around support.  

Using a trauma-informed and person-centred approach, the service works closely with young people to ensure they receive the right supports at the right time to build safety, routine and independence. 

A range of programs are run through the refuge, all designed to promote wellbeing, connection, and long-term outcomes. These include yarning circles around our fire pit, yoga and meditation, gardening, music and creative expression, budgeting and life-skills development, and education and work-readiness programs.  

The support of the Bowral Youth Refuge has helped people gain longer-term stable accommodation, build confidence with cooking, learn how to drive and address substance usage.  

At Bowral Youth Refuge, our teams are committed to walking alongside young people as they build healthier, more independent futures, grounded in safety, dignity, and opportunity. 

The Vinnies Reconnect Youth Hub in Deniliquin opened last year and provides a safe and inclusive space for people to connect, do homework and access support.  

The Vinnies Reconnect Youth Hub has had a great start to the year after its Grand Opening Youth Expo in December last year, where many services were invited to host stalls and activities for young people. These services included Intereach ROAR program, Wellways, Police Regional Youth Liaison Officer, The End FM Youth Led Community Radio for Southwest NSW, and the Yarkuwah Indigenous Knowledge Centre. 

The Hub had a great response to their recent school holiday program, running a range of activities including included a Table Tennis round robin competition, gem art, pool competition and canvas painting. The holiday program drew in new and familiar young people who engaged well in the activities, each other and staff. 

The Hub acts as a soft entry point for disengaged young people to find their place in their communities. The service is open two days a week during the school term for young people to do homework, socialise, and find support, if needed. 

NSW Government investment in young people 

Services like our Bowral Youth Refuge and Deniliquin Youth Hub play a vital role in supporting young people at a pivotal time in their lives. Having access to additional funding allows services to address service gaps and respond where need is greatest. 

We welcome the NSW Government’s $23 million investment into regional communities across the state to support young people and local communities. 

As part of the investment, a new Community Safety Investment Fund will be established to enable community and non-government organisations to support young people and strengthen communities. 

At St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, we see every day how early intervention, strong family support and local, place-based responses can help young people stay connected.  

We look forward to continue working alongside communities and partners to ensure this investment creates real opportunities for young people across regional NSW.