Goodna YACCA

Philosophy & Vision

The Base Youth Agency aims to assist in the reduction and prevention of criminal behaviour involving young people living in Goodna and surrounding areas. The Base works closely with young people and their families/carers, involving them in thoughtfully constructed and well supported programs, to decrease the risk of offending and to build healthier functioning families.
Our Vision
To empower young people and families to create positive change, to achieve their aspirations.

Characteristics of the area in which we work

The Base is located in Goodna, 20km south-west of Brisbane. The Base's clients reside in Goodna and surrounding suburbs within Ipswich. The Goodna area is viewed as a low socio-economic area, with the majority of accommodation in the area being public government housing. Goodna has a multicultural population of over 35,000 with one quarter of the population being young people under 19 years and 33% of the population born overseas. The suburb of Goodna is geographically located within close proximity to 3 of Queensland's correctional facilities as well as Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and The Park - Centre for Mental Health. Many people choose to live in the Goodna area, to be close to a family member residing within one of these facilities.

The young people and their families, who access services at The Base, have experienced more than one of the following:

• Offending behaviours/Charged with offending behaviours
• In care under the Child Protection Act.
• Involved with the Youth Justice Service or Youth Justice Conferencing.
• Advice/Order from the courts to attend our service.
• Family conflict/breakdown.
• Aggressive behaviours/Anger management issues.
• Disengaged /Excluded from school.
• Social isolation.
• Trauma.
• Mental health issues.
• Parent/carer abuse by children.
• Unemployment and/or low education levels.
• Financial hardship

Activities and services that we provide

At The Base, young people access:

• Individual Case Management
• Group activities
• Health education & support
• Education support/advocacy
• Anger management programs
• Mediation
• Access to carry out Community Orders
• Community Service

Group activities at The Base include:

• Value-based programs, including the ropes course at Boonah Outlook.
• Girl's Group - Self esteem, self worth / self concept, safe expression of emotions, healthy wellbeing and recreation focused program.
• Boy's Group - Anger management, conflict resolution, healthy peer relationships, safe expression of emotions and recreation focused program.
• Holiday programs including team sports and various recreational activities.

There are also a variety of facilitated parent groups /activities available.

Our model of service delivery

To access The Base Youth Agency, one needs to be referred from:

• Department of Communities
• Department of Child Safety
• Youth Justice Service
• Youth Justice Conferencing
• Child & Youth Mental Health Services
• Child Protection Investigation Unit
• General or Specialised Practitioners

When a young person is referred to The Base, the parent/carer must attend an initial meeting called a First Brief and other sessions as required.

Each client is case-managed. Our service delivery is carefully planned and implemented for each young person and their family/carer(s), based on their needs. Case reviews between YACCA and the referring body take place minimally, quarterly.

Recent Outcomes

• An increased emphasis on holistic case management, including young people and their families/carers.
• Stronger links with the local community - including schools, government departments and other community agencies that our young people may be involved with. The Base has also strengthened ties between the local cultural communities.

• An increased number of clients that are shared between The Base and other mainstream agencies. These partnerships have improved the consistency of support offered, making better use of resources and are producing positive outcomes for our young people.
• Group Outings - In 2009, young people who completed the required steps in their individual program were rewarded with an end-of-year outing. The program included goal setting, with attendance at end-of year outing being one of the goals.

Recent Community Development projects

• With support from a local Recognised Training Organisation, The Base was able to provide a Get Set for Work Program for young people in the local area in 2009.
• Planning of and participation in Youth Week celebrations in the local area, in collaboration with the Ipswich City Council and other community agencies.