LAUNCHPAD

Launchpad delivers evidence-based services, respecting the diverse needs of young people and their communities.

YOUTH

Launchpad strives to empower young people and their families to successfully achieve independence.

COMMUNITY

Launchpad promotes the ongoing development of collaborative partnerships with other organisations, businesses, government and the wider community.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

Sustainability:

Build a service model that grows Launchpad’s longevity through revenue diversification, good governance and effective partnerships.

Actions:

Recruit a Business Development Officer to forge effective partnerships with businesses and philanthropists to source ongoing funding opportunities. Regularly review, evaluate and improve the operational and governance structures of the organisation. Identify and respond to emerging trends and opportunities in the sector to enable growth and diversity in revenue and service delivery.

Client Centered:

Provide evidence-based services that achieve sustainable positive outcomes for young people and their communities. Actions Develop strategic responses to issues of youth homelessness that are evidence based and deliver best practice services to young people experiencing homelessness. Regularly review and evaluate the organisations core business to ensure services delivered best meet the needs of young people in the homelessness sector.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Establish a strong brand through marketing and awareness raising activities. Actions Provide partner organisations with access to Brokerage Funds in a transparent and equitable fashion. Actively participate in local, state and national committees and forums that aim to address the issues of youth homelessness and youth participation. Develop and implement a marketing and stakeholder engagement strategy promoting the organisation as a model of best practice.

Advocacy:

Build a service model that grows Launchpad’s longevity through revenue diversification, good governance and effective partnerships.

Actions:

Provide an advocacy platform for partner organisations in the City East and City South working groups, ensuring these activities are in line with the organizations values. Develop a client charter and complaints mechanism with involvement from young people. Develop a strategy for client participation and feedback into the organizations operations and governance.

Advocacy:

Build a service model that grows Launchpad’s longevity through revenue diversification, good governance and effective partnerships.

Advocacy:

Build a service model that grows Launchpad’s longevity through revenue diversification, good governance and effective partnerships.

OUR VALUES

Empowerment:

We encourage and support young people to enhance their strengths, build resilience and make positive change.

Respect:

We foster trust, acceptance and celebrate diversity in our relationships with young people and their communities.

Stability:

We recognise the importance of providing consistency and continuity of care as an organisation in our work with individuals in the youth and homelessness sectors.

Integrity:

We are honest, accountable and transparent in our work and relationships.

Opportunity:

We believe in providing a platform to build solid foundations for growth, success and contributions to individual, organisational and community wellbeing.

OUR HISTORY

Launchpad Youth Community (formerly Erskinevilla Youth Housing Inc.) is currently in its 25th year of operation. The service was originally established in 1985.

The service was incorporated as an independent housing organisation in November 1995, after having run for the first ten years under the auspice of South West Inner Sydney Housing (SWISH) Co-op Ltd.

Since this time the service has continued to offer medium to long term accommodation for young people aged from 16 to 25 years of age.

Launchpad Youth Community was recently successful in tendering for two SHS service packages in Sydney.The Sydney District Young Parents Program, is a partnership with Good Shephered and YWCA, and the Sydney Youth Homelessness Hub is a partnership with WEAVE Youth Services and the Ted Noffs Foundation. Both of these projects aim to support young people experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness.

After the release of the Federal Government’s new policy directions to reduce homelessness (also known as “The White Paper”) the Launchpad Board are determined to pursue a new service model. This model aligns with the goals and directions of the plans, in particular moving towards “prevention” and “early intervention based services”. The model aims to utilise the service’s existing resource base to reduce homelessness for young people through the provision of a client centered case management framework. The change has been generated by the Management Committee to achieve better pathways and outcomes for young people.

The central objective for the proposed service model is to provide a comprehensive set of services that are flexible and client focused, to respond sensitively and appropriately. The model aims to deliver services in a manner that are respectful to the young people’s individual needs and cultural identity. This will occur through a comprehensive assessment and case management model that builds the capacity of the young person to build their skills, knowledge and confidence, and to live independently within the community.