Launchpad consistently strives to reduce and prevent youth homelessness by enhancing young people’s capacity to fully participate and engage in the community.

OUR STAFF

Angela Buckfield

Executive Officer

Angela has over 18 years experience in the Human Services Sector and Non-Government Organisations. Her experience is in Team Management and Case Management, predominantly with high needs youth and families. Angela’s strengths are in engagement and complex needs.

Email Angela

Emily Hampton

Manager, Casework Team

Emily is a Case Manager with over 10 years’ experience working in the Youth Sector.
Emily’s experience is in Out of Home Care, Mental Health, Assertive Outreach, Team Management and Homelessness.
Emily’s strengths are in mental health and working with young people who have complex needs.

Email Emily

Ren Caskie

Outreach Case Manager, Sydney Youth Homelessness Hub

Ren has been working in the community service sector for 7 years in various roles focused on drug and alcohol misuse, mental health, juvenile justice, out of home care, and homelessness. Ren is particularly passionate about supporting young people in the LGBTIQA+ community find safe accommodation and supports. Ren’s strengths are in advocacy and working alongside young people with complex needs.

Email Ren

Melissa Leon Munoz

Outreach Case Manager, Sydney Youth Homelessness Hub

Melissa has over 8yrs of experience supporting individuals with complex needs to achieve positive life outcomes. She has worked within the prison system, assisting inmates with rehabilitation and reintegration, and has also supported young people. Melissa’s strengths include working with individuals with complex needs, crisis intervention, case management, conflict resolution, trauma-informed care, and risk assessment.

Email Melissa

Matthew Allen

Outreach Case Manager, Sydney Youth Homelessness Hub

Matthew has 5 years’ experience working in homelessness and community services, supporting women, families, and young people with diverse and complex needs. He has a strong focus on advocacy, empowerment, and helping clients navigate housing, mental health, and legal systems.

He works to build trust and provide practical, goal-focused support that helps clients overcome barriers and regain stability and direction in their lives.

Email Matthew

Joseph Tohilima

Community Engagement Coordinator

Joseph has been working in the social work field both as a statutory and community caseworker for over 20years working with child youth and families. His strengths are in advocacy, communication and being positive. He is passionate about working with the youths in providing a platform that can help our young people create a pathway for the betterment of their future.

Email Joseph

Sam Deylami

Finance Officer

Sam has been serving as the Finance Officer of Launchpad Youth Community since 2015. He holds an undergraduate degree in Management and an Advance Diploma of Accounting. He is a registered BAS agent and member of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) as well as the Institute of Financial
Accountants (IFA). He has extensive experience as an accountant and financial consultant, particularly in non-for- profit organisations.

Email Sam

Nikita Byrne

Outreach Case Manager, Young Parents

Nikita has been working in the Community service sector for over 8 years. From working with adults and young people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland, to working with young people in OOHC care in Australia to now working with young people and young parents escaping domestic and family violence and youth homelessness.

Nikita is a qualified Social Worker and understands the importance of advocating for people that need support and ensuring they maintain a good quality of life even though they have been faced with many obstacles.

Nikita specialises in working with young parents to find them stable accommodation and supporting them to maintain a healthy and stable life for themselves and their children. Nikita’s strengths are advocating for young people and supporting them to have a voice in their community.

Email Nikita

Segen Girmay

Outreach Case Manager, Young Parents

Segen has been working in the Community Services sector for 5 years. From supporting young people in OOHC and young people experiencing homelessness, Segen has a strong commitment to making a positive impact on individuals and communities.

Segen’s strengths are client advocacy, crisis management, and trauma-informed care. Segen is passionate about empowering others.

Email Segen

Kath Marsh

Assertive Outreach Case Manager

Kath has over 11 years of experience in the community service sector, supporting people with mental health challenges, those transitioning from incarceration, young individuals in out-of-home care, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Kath has worked with people to help them achieve the best possible experiences in life, leveraging her extensive experience in the community service sector.

Kath’s strengths are working with people in crisis with complex needs, advocacy and homelessness.

Email Kath

Rahnia Mackey

Tenancy Case Manager

Rahnia has over 20 years’ experience working in the community services sector primarily working with young parents, and Youth Homelessness. Rahnia has extensive knowledge of services and partnerships in the local community and has formed strong relationships with these organisations. Rahnia’s strengths are advocating for young people and supporting them to have a voice in decisions about their life.

Email Rahnia

Charlie Hooley

Administration Coordinator

Charlie has over six years of administration and customer service experience across a variety of industries. His strengths lie in attention to detail, clear communication, and supporting both clients and teams. He brings a steady, organised approach to daily operations and enjoys helping create smooth, positive experiences for everyone.

Email Charlie

Launchpad Board of Management

The Launchpad Board of Management are highly experienced local community members who undertake governance responsibility for the organisation.

Read our Code of Conduct for Board of Management members

Toni Ottavio

Chairperson

Toni Ottavio, is a Registered Nurse with over 25 years experience working in neuroscience, mental health and health service management across public, private and not for profit sectors. Toni is currently employed as General Manager in Uniting Hope and Uniting Recovery programs which include specialist homelessness services, mental health and psychosocial services, community living support, Lifeline Western Sydney and Responsible Gambling counselling across Nepean to the Central Coast. Toni Ottavio has participated on working parties developing NSW Work Health and Safety Roadmap for NSW 2022, NSW Youth Health Framework 2017-21. Toni is a current youth mental health first aid trainer. Publications: A clinical staging model for early intervention in Youth Mental Health(2014) S Cross, D Hermens, E Scott, A Ottavio, P McGorry, I Hickie.

Bill Ma

Treasurer

Santanu Lodh

Secretary

Theona Bustos

Ordinary Member

Theona is a Senior Clinical Psychologist with other 20 years of experiencing working with young people who are experiencing challenges with trauma, mental illness and homelessness across public, private and not for profit sectors. Theona is currently working for the Department of Communities and Justice assisting young people who are in out of home care. She has assisted with the development of sexual assault policies and procedures for the university sector, is an active supervisor of mental health professionals and has taught child clinical psychology at the University of Western Sydney. Theona is passionate about holding space for all people to tell their stories and to actively listen and support young people to raise their voice in all aspects of their lives

Annual Reports

2024-25 Annual Report

2023-24 Annual Report

2022-23 Annual Report

2021-22 Annual Report

2020-21 Annual Report

2019-20 Annual Report

2018-19 Annual Report

2017-18 Annual Report

2016-17 Annual Report

YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD

The Launchpad Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a group of up to 12 young people who advise Launchpad Youth Community on their operations. The YAB will give a voice to young people in experiencing homelessness, advocacy around creating awareness, and enhancing youth participation throughout the community.

Andee Neloe

My name is Andee Noele , I am currently working as a hair and makeup artist. I have joined the Youth Advisory Board to give back to the same service that supported me in my time of need. I am very passionate about helping those in vulnerable situations, I feel that I am a community minded person, and I hope to make Launchpad more accessible and known to more youth to help guide them in the safe and right direction.

Kalab Templeman

My name is Kalab Templeman, I am passionate about helping people through my professional and creative work. I recently completed studies within screen and media. I am currently working as a freelance contractor for various media creative companies, as well as customer facing roles. I hope to help and support other young people through my own personal and professional experiences.

Jennifer Amponsah

My name is Jennifer Amponsah, I’m 20 years old and recently joined the Youth Advisory Board at Launchpad. My interests are music, film, and television. I am very passionate about working with youth and young people especially surrounding homelessness. My career goal is to become a Youth worker. I am hoping to gain community service experience from being a part of the Youth Advisory Board.

Jake Blondin

My name is Jake Blondin. I am currently completing my HSC. I am passionate about mental health and interested in basketball and singing. I would like to gain experience around supporting people experiencing homelessness. I am passionate about caring about the needs of others.

Abdullah Sankari

My name is Abdullah Sankari I am 22 years old residing in the City of Sydney area. I am currently studying Theatre and Performance and Arabic at The University of Sydney and working in the hospitality and creative arts sector. I am extremely passionate about advocating and supporting QTBIPOC “at-risk” young people and sharing the knowledge I’ve gained from my own lived experiences to advocate and support other young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Launchpad was previously a support to me, and it feels rewarding to be able to use the wisdom of my lived experience to implement positive change within Launchpads organisation.

Ethan Domroese

My name is Ethan. I am a university student studying a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Politics and International Relations. Having grown up in Sydney and experienced many of my friends and family not being able to keep up with ever-growing costs of living I understand the great stress of having to leave a community you grew up in, forcibly severing a familiar connection.

I joined Launchpad to gain experience, give back, and hopefully help other youth stay connected during tough times. Through my own experiences I’ve learned how important community is. It’s always better to build bridges than try to face everything alone. And here, you’re never alone.

Emma Faulkes

My name is Emma, and I joined the Youth Advisory Board to be part of something that empowers young people and champions their voices. As someone currently completing my HSC, I know how important it is to feel supported, especially during stressful and uncertain times. I’m incredibly passionate about mental health and supporting those experiencing homelessness, especially because I’ve seen firsthand how deeply these issues affect people through my experience. I’m a creative person with a passion for music and by being involved in Launchpad I can channel that creativity into something meaningful, helping to shape spaces that are safe, inclusive, and genuinely youth-led.

OUR PARTNERS

Launchpad collaborates with a number of individuals, organisations, government departments and businesses. All with the common goal of maximising opportunities for young people.

GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENTS

The Department of Communities and Justice who provide the core funding for Launchpad services.

The City of Sydney Council who provide funds for the Brokerage Program and a position for Assertive Outreach.

Housing NSW who offer accommodation options for young people and young families.

COMMUNITY HOUSING
PROVIDERS

Metro Community Housing who are our key partners in providing affordable housing to young people across Sydney.

Women’s Housing Company who provide affordable housing to our young people across the City of Sydney.

SVDP Society Housing Australia who provide affordable housing to our young people across the City of Sydney.

Bridge Housing who provide transitional housing to our young people across the City of Sydney.

CONSORTIUM
PARTNERS

YWCA NSW is a consortium partner for the Sydney District Young Parents Homelessness Service.

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is a consortium partner for the Sydney District Young Parents Homelessness Service. (Sydney Young Parents Program).

The Noffs Foundation is a consortium partner for the Inner City Sydney Homelessness Prevention and Support Service for Young People. (Sydney Youth Homelessness Hub).