OUR HISTORY

Swan City Youth Service Exterior 2 For almost 40 years Swan City Youth Service has been providing assistance for disadvantaged young people in the Midland area.

The service began in 1982 , with one worker housed with other services in the Midland Town Hall. As the service expanded it moved first to the Midland Enterprise Centre, then in 2000 to the vacant Midland Bowling Club. This was facilitated by Charlie Gregorini , late Mayor of the City of Swan who was a vocal advocate of the service until his passing in 2008.
In 2017 SCYS underwent its most significant expansion to date and moved to a new purpose built centre on Padbury Terrace. This development enabled SCYS to improve on existing services and expand into new areas as emergent needs became apparent. This development was facilitated through financial support from Lotterywest and the City of Swan.
The foundational principles of the service were established very early; this was to provide a holistic service for young people aged twelve to twenty five who were struggling to break the cycle of poverty, disadvantage and alienation.
Since the establishment of the service funding has been sourced through local, state and federal governments. SCYS has provided additional support to young people through partnership with local business and community groups.
SCYS has a long history of working in partnership with other services within the community such as WANADA, North Metro Tafe, Holyoak , Aboriginal Alcohol and Drug Service, North St Medical Service, and Headspace.
SCYS is committed to continuing to deliver this service now and into the future.

OUR VALUES

Trust  |  Equality  |  Partnership  |  Empowerment  |  Excellence

OUR MISSION

Working Together to Secure a Better Future for Young People.

OUR VISION

A vibrant youth service that provides inclusive, innovative and sustainable programs that seek to change a young person’s horizons by improving physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing. A place where doors open, not close.

MEET OUR PEOPLE

Ray Tanielu

General Manager

The Service’s ‘music guy’, Ray started his career as a music ensemble director (or, as Ray says, “the fancy name for a music teacher”) with “Music Rocks Australia”. His involvement with Swan City Youth Service started as a two-hour programme once a week. A year later, Ray was offered a full-time position and now pilots what is, arguably, the Service’s flagship programme and one that is unique within Western Australian youth services landscape. The music programme not only opens doors for aspiring musicians but enables young people to engage with youth services. A New Zealand-born, Samoan man, Ray loves the sense of family that Swan City Youth Service provides – not just for young people but for staff as well. He considers his position as one of privilege, learning as much from Service users as from formal study.

Graham

Indigenous Health Senior Counseller

A proud Aboriginal man, role model and father figure to many at Swan City Youth Service, Graham has been in the business of opening doors for young people for 24 years. Graham calls the Service his second home, making the staff and young people his second family – it’s a place where work doesn’t feel like work. He is particularly passionate about helping young Aboriginal people who feel that prison is their ‘rite of passage’ create alternative pathways. With his personal motto of, “I’m on top of the world”, Graham is a much-loved member of the Swan City Youth Service family and believes that everyone has the opportunity to grow – no matter their circumstance.

Orietta

Youth Worker - Education Program

With qualifications in Community Services, Orietta plays a vital role in opening doors for young people to access education and employment. Among other roles, she is a support for the on-site TAFE programme and assists young people in developing resumes, job applications and education support. This first generation Australian from Italian parents, would love to see a change to way that our society views young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. She is a strong advocate for Swan City Youth Service and the supportive environment established for young people.

Rachel

Youth Worker

Rachel started as a casual with SCYS but now is a full time member of the team! Rachel is the resident baker who keeps all of us sweet tooth people happy. Rachel was introduced to Swan City Youth Service when she ran the Equine Therapy Program. With 4 years experience under her belt Rachel brings new ideas with a breathe of fresh air.

Frank

Youth Worker

Frank is the newest member to the team in 2021. Frank jumped at the opportunity to join the team at Swan City Youth Service to pursue his dream to work with youth. His second passion after family is Rugby League and has been coaching young people for the past ten years, where he knew working with youth was what he wanted to do as a career.

Liz

Financial Administrator

Liz is a dynamic member of the team at SCYS. Using her skill set Liz is responsible for performing a variety of financial and administrative duties. She works closely with the team and management committee strategizing on and planning for financial goals by working daily to achieve and maintain the financial health of our organization all with a smile on her face.

Kristine

Operations Coordinator

Kristine came on board as a temporary administration support and became part of the furniture! With a 20-year history in administration and customer service roles, Kristine handles everything from answering phone calls and filing to marketing and baking muffins. She would love the service to have a never-ending, sustainable source of funding that enables Swan City Youth Service to continue to deliver amazing outcomes that open doors for young people. Kristine’s favourite quote from CS Lewis is relevant to the Service – “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending”.

MEET OUR PATRON

Hon. Ken WyattAM MP

I am proud to officially accept patronage of the Swan City Youth Service in Midland and look forward to working with the SCYS team to develop further opportunities for the young people of Hasluck. I commend the SCYS on their continued engagement with the youth of the Swan region and more broadly across Perth’s eastern corridor. SCYS continues to engage and help our youth strive for personal excellence and has built an amazing sense of community within the Midland area. By engaging our local youth to join in recreational activities, develop key life skills and encourage them to seek career opportunities, we are building our future generation of young leaders. Michael and his team at the SCYS have created a welcoming environment that allows young members of our community to build their self-confidence and explore their talents. Every time I walk into the SCYS, there is a sense of belonging and the encouraging culture that flows within their staff shows by the enthusiasm displayed among those at the centre. Hon. Ken Wyatt AM MP

MEET OUR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Swan City Youth Service board oversees the corporate governance and performance of the Service. The day-to-day running of the Service is the responsibility of the CEO who is accountable to the board.

Kevin Wilson

Chairperson

Kevin’s career journey has seen him move from self-employment in the small business sector from an early age to make his way up to Executive level leadership in the role of Chief Executive Officer for The Crommelin Group, a 60 year old Australian Industrial business currently experiencing rapid growth through acquisition and diversification. Kevin’s authentic leadership, coaching and mentoring skills honed both in the business environment and within the sporting arena ensures strong team development and support for those around him in reaching their potential. Kevin’s vast experience is also supported through formal qualifications including a Bachelor of Business (Marketing/ IT management), MBA (Strategic Leadership) and a Master of Professional Accounting. Kevin is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Kevin has served on numerous NFP boards including Gridiron Australia and Little Athletics WA as well as several industry and government advisory committees. He also currently sits on the board of several Australian SMEs. Having spent a short time in emergency housing himself as a teenager, Kevin has witnessed first hand the power of organisations like Swan City Youth Service and is excited to have the opportunity to give back and help the service continue to have an impact on the community it serves.

Tony Higgs

Vice Chairperson

I am a 57 year old Ex Construction Manager who has a love of sport, people and the great outdoors. I had a fatherless upbringing and grew up in a country town where I had to learn from a very young age on how to survive and find the basics like food, clothing etc. I have a passion to assist those less fortunate than myself and have been involved with several organisation over the years that give people dignity and hope. I' m looking forward to my next chapter working with the Swan City Youth Service and its dedicated team.

Anastasia Brooks

Secretary

Anastasia is a Community Development professional and has worked in a range of community-facing roles in the tertiary education, not-for-profit and local government sectors. Anastasia brings to Swan City Youth Service expertise in project management, stakeholder engagement, and program development and implementation, as well as her passion for developing healthy, safe and inclusive communities.

Jenny Taylor

Management Committee Member

Jenny joined Swan City Youth Service in 2018. She is a long-time local resident and has a keen interest in social reform, education and welfare, particularly within the Indigenous community. With qualifications in Psychology, Human Resources and Business Administration coupled with experience across industries ranging from higher education to resources and retail, Jenny brings sound knowledge of policy and procedures, governance, organisational development and cultural alignment to the board.

Abhinav Agrawal

Management Committee Member

David Hannah

Treasurer

David is a Chartered Accountant with 15 years' finance and commercial experience gained within mid-tier and boutique accounting firms in Perth. David’s broad financial experience is drawn from advising businesses, both large and small, from a range of different industries. David founded a boutique accounting and advisory business in 2018, where he is Director. After seeing the contributions which SCYS makes to young people’s lives, David was very keen to become involved and to give something back to the community.

Craig Hollet

Management Committee Member

Craig is a highly regarded and well versed commercial litigator with over 20 years’ experience. His extensive experience includes commercial and contractual disputes, building and construction, general commercial litigation, debt recovery, bankruptcy and insolvency, defamation, mortgage enforcement, insurance law, professional indemnity and liability, vocational disciplinary proceedings, OH&S prosecutions and public liability. Craig firmly believes in working towards obtaining practical and cost effective solutions for each client, and the importance of ensuring that each outcome is commercially viable and proportionate to the size and scope of the issue or the opportunity. Craig does not believe in a one size fits all approach to legal matters. Craig has always believed in giving back and making a difference to society through voluntary work. He was formerly a Committee Member and Secretary for the Australian Insurance Law Association and a Board Member of the Baptist Union of Western Australia. He is currently the President of the Bullsbrook Residents and Ratepayers Association and play an active role in that Association. Becoming a Board Member of the Swan City Youth Service in 2020 and a member of the Swan Chamber of Commerce. Craig became a Board Member of SCYS so that he could use his legal skills and background to provide assistance to the SCYS Board, and to contribute to a not for profit organisation that is helping young people and assisting them to become valuable members of society.