annual report 2019...the ted noffs foundation. wesley and amanda worked alongside academics to...
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A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 9
The Ted Noffs Foundation acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work, and pay our respects to their Elders both past and present.
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LEADERSHIP President’s Message CEO’s Message
ABOUT USOverview & History Our Values Our Services
2018/19 IN HIGHLIGHT Yea ir Hn ighlight
THE NOFFS FAMILY Our Young People Staff Spotlight
REPORTING IN 2018/19 Financial 30
2Annual Report
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The Year In Highlight
President’sMessage
It is with great pleasure that I present the Ted Noffs Foundation’s Annual Report 2018/19.
Notable among the year’s many achievements was the address last September to the National Press Club in Canberra by CEO Matt Noffs and former Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Palmer that launched the Take Control Campaign. Take Control is a blueprint for the development of safer, saner drug laws. Coupled with our involvement in the second-ever pill testing trial at the Groovin’ the Moo festival, Take Control is about adopting proactive measures to ensure that Australia’s primary response to drug issues is about health and safety not crime and punishment.
By successfully applying for a grant from CreateNSW under the Making Spaces program, we have tapped into a new source of support for our NSW Street Universities. Create NSW is thestate government’s arts and cultural department and invests in infrastructure, funding programs, partnerships and advocacy. During the year, we received grants for both Liverpool and Mount Druitt Street Universities.
Our relationship with the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network (PHN) continues to flourish. Additional to funding our existing counselling service, the PHN has agreed to provide resources to establish a new Street University at Penrith and an early intervention program for Aboriginal young people along with follow-up case management for those identified as being at risk. This welcome adjunct to services in the Penrith area further strengthens our support for the young people of Western Sydney.
In recognition of our ongoing accomplishments, the Crown Resorts and Packer Family Foundations have extended funding for the Western Sydney Arts Initiative for a further three years. This highly successful project, based at the Mount Druitt Street University, will now continue until the end of 2022.
I’m pleased to report that, as a measure to bolster our corporate governance procedures, we have successfully applied for charitable fundraising licences in each Australian jurisdiction. While this will entail increased annual reporting, it ensures that we meet all statutory requirements relating to raising funds to further our charitable aims.
I would like to express thanks to my fellow Governing Committee members, Jamie Prell, Toni Makkai, Mandy Noffs and Wesley Noffs for their years of hard work and their commitment to our organisation and to enhancing the welfare of young Australians.
I also wish to thank all Noffs staff and volunteers for their dedication, enthusiasm and belief in young people. You are indispensable in helping us to maintain our very high standards of care and to continue to provide real opportunities for young people to lead productive, fulfilling lives.
Frank Hansen APMPresident
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CEO’s Message
Another year of growth – another year of rising to new challenges. Our organisation goes from strength to strength; in fact, we are on the verge of opening our latest Street University in Penrith, something we are very proud of.
The team has grown again and we welcome fresh faces and new ideas. But in our growth, we remember our humble beginnings and the vision of Ted and Margaret Noffs of a world which is safer and saner for our children. We would not be able to continue this vital work without the tireless efforts of our remarkable team across the country. We must continue to compel our governments to be compassionate towards young people, in both word and in deed. It continues to be a challenge to focus resources on supporting this young cohort. And yes, we continue to press on despite the obstacles. If we truly want to see Ted’s vision become a reality we should live by one of his favourite axioms by Pablo Casals: “You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.”
I hope you enjoy witnessing the change depicted within these pages. Thank you for your support. We couldn’t do this work without you.
Matt NoffsCEO
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OVERVIEW
The Ted Noffs Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that supports young people and families experiencing difficulties relating to alcohol and drug misuse, mental and physical health, criminality and social disadvantage. We strive to enhance and evolve the family of humanity by forging new ways of engaging with young people and their communities, to improve the social inclusion of all.
HISTORY
Originally named the Wayside Foundation, the Noffs Foundation was founded in 1970 by the great Australian humanitarian, the Reverend Ted Noffs, and his wife Margaret. During their remarkable careers of pioneering initiatives for young people, the couple set up the first drug referral centre in Sydney in 1967 and established Sydney’s first crisis centre in 1968. They also co-founded the Aboriginal Affairs Foundation in 1962 and were involved in the creation of what would eventually become Lifeline. Ted’s son, Wesley Noffs and his wife, Amanda, took over the foundation after Ted suffered a stroke, renaming the organisation the Ted Noffs Foundation. Wesley and Amanda worked alongside academics to create the country’s first drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre for adolescents, known as PALM. The community and government immediately supported the idea and the work of the Ted Noffs Foundation (or, simply, the Noffs Foundation) soon spread across Australia. The Noffs Foundation continues Ted’s legacy today by providing a range of innovative services for young people and their families. Every Noffs service is based on leading research and is continually evaluated.
Overview& History
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SAFETY:Every young
person deserves to be and feel
safe
EXPERIMENT: Be brave
enough to try new ideas
YOUNG PEOPLE
AUTHENTICITY:Be genuine and
open
CHALLENGE: Question the
norms. Ask “Why?”
EVIDENCE:We need to know what
we’re doing works
FAMILY OFHUMANITY:No young
person is a write-off
OUR VALUESOur values define our workplace culture, and act as the starting point from which all our decisions
are made. Our values also determine how we work with our young people, stakeholders, partners and colleagues.
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ENGAGEMENT RECONNECTION
TREATMENT
OUR APPROACH
This diagram was designed by Noffs staff and our research partners at UNSW to create a visual image of our work. We actualize our vision by
engaging, treating and re-connecting those young people who are at risk of or do slide into the dip.
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OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE INOUR ADOLESCENT REHABS:
83% have been expelled from school at least once.
44% have lived in three or more places in the past six months.
61% have suffered physical abuse from a person they know.
77% have serious mental health concerns.
70% have problems with violence and aggression.
41% have tried to take their own lives.
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Our young people are experiencing much more than just drug problems.
Overview & History
Ending the harm caused by drugs – one young person at a timeNOFFS WORKS WITH ONE OF THE MOST AT-RISK GROUPS OF PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA.
These are young people who feel that they have never been in control. Their connections to their family and community have broken down. They have serious psychological difficulty in saying “no” – be it to drugs, unsafe behaviour or inappropriate relationships.
They desperately need the support Noffs services provide. By providing disadvantaged youth with a world that is safe again, our programs help them overcome the trauma that the overwhelming majority of them have experienced in their lives. This is all made possible by an environment which makes them feel valued and supported.
Our Canberra PALM program conducted over 800 individual counselling sessions this year.
“... I started to realise there was more to life. That I did not need drugs. That I could work through my issues. That I could change.”
- Female, 16 years
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While the funds required to create these services are significant, the results in terms of the development of a generation of young Australians who lead productive, fulfilling lives, free of the devastating effects of drug use, mean it is money well spent.
REAL, LASTING CHANGE IS ACHIEVABLE FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE - AND THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETAL BENEFITS ARE PALPABLE.
After leaving adolescent rehab:
Crime drops by over 60%Drug use drops by over 50%Suicidal ideation drops by 68%
When you invest in Noffs projects, you’re not just changing young lives, you’re investing in a safer Australia. Please give now.
No one else does the work Noffs does
“This place is actually f-ing awesome and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”
- Male, 17 years
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No one else does the work Noffs does
STREET UNIVERSITY (QLD, ACT & NSW)
The Street Universities are innovative therapeutic centres that provide workshops and activities incorporating creative arts and educational and vocational programs with the aim of connecting marginalised young people with treatment for mental health and substance use problems. Their strength lies in their capacity to engage these young people - who would otherwise be reluctant to seek professional psychological help - on their terms, in a non-traditional, youth-friendly environment. The Street Universities operate within a harm reduction model and provide counselling and drug and alcohol programs while linking young people with essential services.
PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENT LIFE MANAGEMENT (PALM) (SYDNEY & CANBERRA)
PALM is a residential treatment program for young people to address drug and alcohol, mental health, family dysfunction and criminality issues. The service provides a holistic, intensive, multi-disciplinary, residential treatment program staffed by professionals specifically trained in dealing with trauma, challenging behaviours and complex needs. The program offers counselling, family therapy, group work, vocational/educational modules and recreational activities.
CONTINUING ADOLESCENT LIFE MANAGEMENT (CALM) (SYDNEY & CANBERRA)
CALM is the aftercare module for clients who have participated in the PALM program and offers a range of community-based therapeutic services including individual and family counselling, life skills development and educational and vocational programs. A key component of CALM is the use of social media to maintain open communication with clients and provide ongoing support as well as information and resources on health and lifestyle issues.
TED
TED is an online system developed by Noffs to manage the data, research and client management requirements of both residential and non-residential services. It is a comprehensive tool that enables real time management of clients from any location. It is a bespoke design and allows for adaptation to diverse needs and changes in service models or funding requirements. Its versatility has been
Our Services
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widely acknowledged and it has been previously funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health for implementation across six NGOs external to Noffs. YOUTH HOMELESSNESS SERVICES (EASTERN SUBURBS & INNER CITY, SYDNEY)
Noffs is part of two partnerships in the South Eastern Sydney and Sydney Districts to provide specialist homelessness services. These services mean that young people have access to the right support locally, when they need it and before they reach crisis point.
Noffs provides post crisis support to help keep young people housed, and will provide targeted strategies for young people exiting out-of-home care, and those with complex needs. This service has a strong focus on responses for Aboriginal young people and is accessible to young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
GENERAL COUNSELLING PROGRAM
All Ted Noffs Foundation facilities offer general drug and alcohol and mental health counselling services to young people and their families. In addition to this, the counsellors in these services have developed partnerships with a range of local youth services and government agencies and are able to use their facilities to provide specialised counselling for young people in the area. These areas include the Blue Mountains and Nepean regions in NSW, and Sunshine Coast and West Moreton in QLD.
NOFFS QUEENSLAND
Noffs Queensland is a counselling and case management-based service located in south eastern Queensland for young people aged 12–25 years. Clients are offered evidence-based treatments that cater for drug, alcohol and mental health issues. The primary focus of the clinicians in the Queensland Service is to comprehensively assess all clients referred, develop an individual treatment plan and provide brief
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Our Services
intervention to support clients achieving their goals.
DEADLY DREAMING (WESTERN SYDNEY)
The Deadly Dreaming program delivers a series of school-based workshops aimed at bolstering the art and cultural aspects of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community with the aim of addressing youth disengagement. The workshops achieve this by supporting participants to develop and maintain connection with culture, appreciate heritage and reconnect with Elders within the community.
GETTING IT TOGETHER SCHEME (WESTERN SYDNEY)
This Indigenous-specific program operates in Western Sydney and provides an early intervention service, one-to-one counselling and facilitates small group workshops.
The program uses a range of practical and effective methods such as fishing, bushwalking, sports and swimming activities to engage and build trust with Indigenous young people. It uses this therapeutic relationship as a basis for addressing issues young people would normally be reluctant to discuss.
TAKE HOLD (CANBERRA)
Take Hold is a mentoring, life skills and social enterprise program. This service is part of a suite of programs aimed at reducing the ACT homeless population. The primary goal of the program is to support young people who are transitioning out of homelessness, to develop the life skills necessary to connect them back into their community. This is done through mentoring, life skills development and the creation of social enterprises.
Our mentors work collaboratively to support mentees in the enhancement of their skills and capacities as they redevelop their healthy connection with community.
PATHWAYS (GOULBURN & MURRUMBIDGEE)
In partnership with Directions Health Services, Pathways delivers treatment and support services to young people and adults with a substance abuse issue. Services are provided in a non-judgmental and respectful manner that also recognises the need for localised solutions, delivering a model that is responsive to regional and rural areas. The service includes case management, counselling and group therapy based on an individual treatment plan.
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OVERVIEW
It has been another ground-breaking twelve months for the Noffs Foundation, with the launch of multiple new initiatives, the growth of our key services for young people, and a continued strong presence in the media.
September 2018 saw Noffs launch the Take Control campaign for Safer, Saner, Drug Laws at the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra. The campaign has gone from strength to strength, with over 10,000 people expressing their support and helping propel drug law reform to the forefront of the national consciousness.
As part of the campaign, Noffs hosted a private pill testing demonstration for media and politicians from across the political spectrum. The event attracted significant public attention and helped inform ongoing debate in parliament.
Meanwhile, data from Noffs services continues to make an important contribution to academic literature, including ‘Koori Voices’ (ANZ Journal of Public Health), and an evaluation project of the Street Universities conducted in collaboration with UNSW.
The following pages are dedicated to highlights from our units across Australia.
NSW
• An event was held with Easts Leagues Cluband the Sydney Roosters to celebrate thelaunch of Randwick Street University. LocalMP Bruce Notley-Smith attended alongsideEasts CEO Scott Bennetts and media.
• Randwick Street University was the firstNoffs site to hold a pilot of the new Iron Labprogram, run in collaboration with Apple toteach disadvantaged youth coding and appdevelopment. The program was a resoundingsuccess, and is expected to expand to all theStreet Universities.
• Liverpool Street University hosted visits froma number of high profile politicians, includingNSW Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard, then-shadow health minister, Walt Secord, andformer opposition leader, Michael Daley. PALMwas also visited by then-deputy oppositionleader Tanya Plibersek and local federal MPMatt Thistlethwaite.
• Members of the Deadly Dreaming programhosted First Nation - Tribal Voice, whichbrought together diverse First Nations peoplesfor a series of indigenous cultural exchangeworkshops. Highlights included a visit fromNorthern Pomo Dancers from NorthernCalifornia.
• One of Liverpool’s local dance crews, KCC,flew to Arizona to represent Australia in theannual Hip Hop World Dance Championships.
• Street University Liverpool held art workshopsas part of the ‘No Excuse for Abuse’ campaignand representatives attended an anti-domesticviolence march in Lakemba.
The Year In Highlight
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• A professional artist visiting from Barcelona worked alongside local artists on a collaborative mural at the Liverpool site.
• Street University Liverpool partnered with OzHarvest to host the annual CEO Cookoff. The event attracted over 2,000 people, and brought senior business leaders, professional chefs and notable community members together to fundraise and celebrate the success of Street Harvest, a weekly program which gives donated food back to the community.
• As part of the Create NSW Western Sydney Making Spaces program, we partnered with Casula Powerhouse Museum, Liverpool Council, the United States Consulate and Next Level USA to deliver a two-week intensive music program for young people with US-based industry music professionals. Participants performed at live music events interstate and overseas and at the end of the program, Next Level donated $6,000 of music equipment to the Street University and invited one of our young people to perform at an event in the USA.
• More than 30 young people found employment in creative industries as a result of the Western Sydney Making Spaces program. A number of our young artists, including A.GIRL and Ebony Rose, have since kickstarted their careers in the music industry and achieved mainstream success.
• As part of Mental Health Month, Street University Mount Druitt held an event to promote awareness amongst young people of mental health issues. The day provided an opportunity for young people to discuss their experiences with peers in a safe environment.
• The Sydney PALM building underwent major renovations, receiving a new lick of paint and a brand new music studio space to provide young people with another outlet for creative expression.
• Noffs continues to connect with students from a number of schools in the Greater Western Sydney, Blue Mountains, Inner Sydney and Eastern Suburbs regions, engaging them in drug and alcohol education programs.
• The Mount Druitt Street Sessions series has enjoyed great success showcasing our talented young artists in a live music setting. Many of the artists featured in the series have gone on to pursue music as a career. QLD
• Logan Street University hosted a series of ‘Block Party’ events to engage the community and celebrate the achievements of young people across all the Queensland sites. The events were well received by attendees, including local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders.
• Caboolture Street University successfully relocated to nearby Morayfield, with refurbishments of the exciting new space now approaching completion.
• As part of Queensland Youth Week, a number of popular events and activities were held across the region, including graffiti workshops and dance performances.
• Working closely with Queensland Police, our Queensland services created Street Tag, an Oz Tag competition which has proven a fantastic way to engage young people through physical activity. ACT
• The Take Hold program took a group of homeless young people to the NSW South Coast, where they learnt about the importance of water safety and were given surfing lessons.
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The Year In Highlight
• Street Jamz saw our talented home-grown artists perform impromptu gigs in the centre of Canberra’s CBD, while Street Sessions continues to offer our young artists a chance to hone their skills in live music in front of a supportive audience.
• Street University Canberra also started a weekly podcast, “Listen!”, which gives young people the opportunity to share their thoughts on current topics.
• As part of Big Picture Graffing, a public wall was provided for a series of popular graffiti workshops. Held over 12 weeks, young people were encouraged to express themselves through the medium of street art. SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
• A new Randwick op shop has recently opened at 206A Alison Road, Randwick and has been enthusiastically embraced by the local community.
• Noffs Shops hosted several successful garage sales, which have been well received by the community and raised thousands of dollars for our services.
• The Marrickville shop has relocated to 290 Marrickville Road, Marrickville, and after a renovation, business is booming.
• Noffs has now joined the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations (NACRO), who work to assist charities to reduce their environmental impact.
• This year, we partnered with the UNSW Business School as part of their Global Scope program. Students helped us develop a social media marketing strategy, and we are already seeing increasing online interest in our shops.
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Our Young People
STORY OF A YOUNG PERSON: JOHN John was brought by the police to one of our Street Universities for a number of fare evasion and graffiti offences. Despite never attending previously, he had told the police that he was on his way to the centre, hoping it would deter them from giving him a fine or arresting him. The police then brought the young person to Street University to corroborate his story.
He was introduced to a senior arts facilitator who immediately connected him with the weekly Street Art program. In the weeks following, John was mentored and started to attend the centre on a daily basis. While working closely with John, our youth workers were able to identify that he was experiencing significant mental health issues. A referral was made to our in-house counsellors who, along with our youth workers, supported John through his mental health treatment plan. John divulged a number of drug dependency issues as well as family trauma.
The Street Art workshop connected him to a community of like-minded peers and assisted him in his professional development. As a result, John is no longer using drugs and is no longer involved in criminal activity. Instead, John has been progressing his talents, often assisting in the completion of murals, as well as occasionally
volunteering his time as an art workshop facilitator. John is now pursuing his art professionally and is focused on positive change for himself and his community. He has recently started his own business, which is focused on the creation of murals for private and corporate clients. The Street University continued to support him through these ventures, teaching him various skills including budgeting, business registration, tax fulfilment and invoicing.
Note: Aspects of this case study, including the young person’s name, have been altered to protect their identity.
Our Young People
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STORY OF A YOUNG PERSON: MARTIN
Martin was referred to the non-residential drug treatment service by Juvenile Justice. He reported problematic use of cannabis and alcohol over the past several years, though he did not feel comfortable admitting to the full extent of his drug use until further into treatment. Martin also reported prior drug-related hospitalisation, criminality in the form of trespassing and, due to a history of bullying, was not attending school. Martin struggled with anxiety and anger, low self-worth and stated that he had previously experienced suicidal ideation. His use of cannabis was largely driven by his belief that it helped him manage these feelings. During treatment, Martin completely ceased his use of cannabis and alcohol, as well as reduced his use of cigarettes. When assessed several months later, he expressed a strong desire to continue to abstain from cannabis. Martin reported his feelings of anxiety and anger had reduced, and that his resilience had improved overall. He felt he was now using constructive coping strategies to manage his mental health issues, and was no longer experiencing insomnia.
Martin was provided support in obtaining his L’s drivers’ licence, something that he had previously felt unable to achieve due to feelings of low self-worth and a lack of belief in his own intelligence. The service assisted Martin in exploring alternatives to school and was able to work with him to set the goal of obtaining his construction qualification. He subsequently became enthusiastic and motivated to find employment. With the counsellor’s support, he engaged with an employment agency to continue working towards this goal. Additionally, Martin appears to have stabilised his relationship with his family and now has a long-term and supportive partner. Note: Aspects of this case study, including the young person’s name, have been altered to protect their identity.
Martin felt he was now using constructive coping strategies to manage his mental health issues.
Martin is one of hundreds of young Australians Noffs has
supported this year to turn their lives around.
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Our Young People
In 2018-19, Noffs services engaged with 773 individual young people in Queensland alone.
Our Street Universities across Australia connect with around 3,000 young people every year.
“...honestly I have never met a group/community of people who have so much passion.”
- Male, 17 years
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Our Young People
A LETTER FROM A 17 YEAR-OLD FEMALE UPON HER COMPLETION OF NOFFS’ PALM PROGRAM.
Before I came to PALM, I was hating myself and everyone else. My life was going out of control. I was always down and suicidal and I felt like I was fighting an endless battle within myself. It got to the stage where I really didn’t want to live another day. I started always feeling hostile, angry and depressed and I started to lash out towards the world and everyone that cared about me. I was putting my family through s**t and not even remembering why because I had used so many drugs. I just wanted to escape the things I was fighting against.
After hard consideration and reflecting, I realised that if I didn’t go get help I could have ended up dead or in jail, and then I would never have had the chance to save the world.
The first time I went into PALM was the hardest, I hated everyone there and I wasn’t willing to work on myself. It took a few times before I started opening up to the real cause of the madness inside of me. I had my fair share of arguments with the staff and residents, before I began to see everyone as an equal and that I am not god’s greatest gift. Each and every one of you have inspired me to go on and achieve great things, and helped me realise that my life is actually worth living.
A special thanks to my counsellors that had to listen to me ramble off with utter bulls**t. I really am going to miss this place and all the memories that we have created here, and the staff that always dedicate their time to me and always
seem to have a smile on their face. I know it’s going to be heartbreaking for everyone here to say goodbye to me but don’t worry one day you will see me again whether it’s on TV or even in the streets fighting for justice.
Since I have left PALM I have decided I am going to go back to school and do my year 12, do my Cert 4 in drug and alcohol and maybe go to university and study psychology.
The advice that I would give PALM residents would be: remember you’re here for yourself, you’re going to have your ups and downs but as you move forward the good days will outnumber the bad days, and never forget that your life is your journey so stay calm and be happy and remain hopeful.
Note: Some details have been omitted to protect the young person’s identity.
“Since I have left PALM I have decided I am going to go back to school.”
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Staff SpotlightSpotlight: Ian ‘Esky’Assistant Manager/Drug & Alcohol Counsellor, Street University Mount Druitt
As Assistant Manager of Street University Mount Druitt, my responsibilities involve coordinating and scheduling the various programs at the Street Uni, but in my capacity as a Drug and Alcohol Counsellor, I also do counselling with young people in the Penrith-Nepean area. There is no such thing as a typical day for me at Noffs! If I’m not in the Penrith area facilitating counselling sessions, I am at Street University running the recording studio, and everything in between.
The first time I set foot in the Street University was 9 years ago - as a young person wanting to attend the music program. From there, I began helping with and later running the music programs on a voluntary basis. This resulted in me gaining a paid position as a youth worker and inspired me to study social work at university. After some years as a part-time youth worker, I am now the Assistant Manager of Street University Mt Druitt and a Drug and Alcohol youth counsellor.
Beginning my journey with Noffs as a budding musician, participating in the music workshops run by 6Pound, I witnessed first hand the massive impact the Street University had on my local community ofMt Druitt. Till this day, I am still active in the music scene - gigging frequently and just recently having my music video showcased on ABC’s Rage!
There were a few things that drew me to Noffs. The positive impact the organisation has is evident. The programs work. It felt like something that was worth getting involved in and matched my personal values of being the change you want to see in your community. And hip hop! Hip hop definitely drew me to the Noffs Foundation/Street University.
Within the team, I like how everyone is very accommodating and fun to work with. It must be due to the set-up of the programs and the kind of people this work attracts, but the Street University is a very creative space. Throughout my 9 years being with the organisation, I can say that the Street University model really encourages innovation and provides a space for staff to be creative and inspired to try new initiatives.
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Staff Spotlight
This is VERY important, given that our target group are one of the most dynamic and every changing groups of society.
Out of all the things I enjoy about working with our young people, the conversations are definitely what I like most. Initially, young people are shy, but once the conversation gets going they are quick to become unfiltered and sincere. It’s these interactions that I appreciate the most. They make me feel privileged and humbled that they trust me enough to share their stories and thoughts.
On the flipside, there are challenges. The young people laugh at me when I attempt to copy their dance moves! But also, it can be tough not bringing work home with you after a day of hearing their stories. I manage this with some good ol’ yoga and meditation.
In terms of the bigger picture, I think one of the most important things the Foundation does is it listens to its workers when it comes to drug and alcohol concerns facing our young people, and advocates policies that reflect those concerns on a national and global level. I love that!
Looking back, probably my most memorable moment working at Noffs was performing my first song with Street University out in the mall. That was an awesome feeling. And more recently, witnessing Dijana (a colleague) sing during our karaoke programs was memorable… though that gave me mixed feelings!
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Staff Spotlight
“Everyone here is incredibly passionate about what they do”
Spotlight: Shelley Campaigns & Policy Coordinator, Head Office
As the Campaigns & Policy coordinator here at Noffs, my role is very much centred around the advocacy side of the organisation; the campaigns we run around harm reduction and drug policy reform. For example, right now I’m heading up the Take Control Campaign for Safer, Saner Drug Laws.
I’ve been here for a little over two and a half years now - it feels like it’s gone so quickly and at the same time like I’ve been here forever!
Prior to Noffs, I was in another field entirely - I worked for a company that provided TV captions. I was also working at the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre at Kings Cross in a voluntary capacity, basically as a research / project assistant.
What attracted me to working at Noffs was watching a very candid documentary on people living with ice addiction. It had a profound impact on me because it humanised people withaddiction. They want the same things we all do; love, friendship, security, dignity. I like Noffs because I think this is how we view the young people that come through our programs. It’s awesome to be part of the organisation that is making a difference in their lives.
The thing I like most about the team I work with here is that we are very close knit - we all get along very well, and being in the not-for-profit sector, we have similar values. When I started, everyone was incredibly welcoming and I immediately felt like I had found my niche. And everyone here is incredibly passionate about what they do, which is important to me.
From my perspective, the most important thing about the work Noffs does is that I truly believe that it makes a difference in the lives of so many young people. And in terms of my role, I think Noffs’ work in the political space is an important contribution to the push for drug law reform and policies based on harm reduction, not prohibition.
One of the most memorable moments from my time at Noffs has to be my involvement in establishing the first pill testing trial in Australia last year. Following on from that, developing andlaunching Take Control is a highlight, because I think it is really impacting the way political leaders and the broader community approach drug policy.
Annual Report 2019
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Total: $12,220,837
Total: $11,537,075
REVENUE 2018-19 ($)
EXPENDITURE 2018-19 ($)
Annual Report 201930
Program for Adolescent Life Management (PALM) 148 Avoca Street, Randwick NSW 2031 350 Antill Street, Watson ACT 2602
Youth Homelessness Service 206A Alison Road, Randwick NSW 2031
Street University 1 Speed Street, Liverpool NSW 217011 Cleeve Close, Mount Druitt NSW 2770 23 East Row, Canberra ACT 2601 206A Alison Road, Randwick NSW 2031 1/4 Goodyear Street, Southport QLD 4215 4G/21 Station Road, Logan Central QLD 4114Building C, 299 Morayfield Rd, Morayfield QLD 4506
Western Sydney Outclients / Arts Program 11 Cleeve Close, Mount Druitt NSW 2770
Continuing Adolescent Life Management (CALM) 206A Alison Road, Randwick NSW 2031 23 East Row, Canberra ACT 2601
Getting It Together Scheme (GITS) 11 Cleeve Close, Mount Druitt NSW 2770
ACT Mentoring & Life Skills 350 Antill Street, Watson ACT 2602 Community Outreach Out Client Program ACT 23 East Row, Canberra ACT 2601
Pathways 23-25 Montague Street (Access via Marima Medical Clinic) Goulburn NSW 2580
Queensland Outreach 1/4 Goodyear Street, Southport QLD 4215 4G/21 Station Road, Logan Central QLD 4114Building C, 299 Morayfield Rd, Morayfield QLD 4506
Noffs Shops 206A Alison Road, Randwick NSW 20314 Elizabeth Street, Randwick NSW 2031 461 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042 454 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 290 Marrickville Road, Marrickville NSW 2204
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