Introduction and History

The Inala Youth Care Community Inc is the incorporated name of the Inala Youth Service (formerly known as Inala Youth and Family Support Service).

IYCC Inc is a tax deductible charity Organisation and is always looking for donations – Please contact Sue Campbell finance@iys.org.au to make a donation .

The organisation was established to accommodate young people who were homeless and provide a timeout period for both parents and young people. This type of accommodation is called a Community Placement Program (CPP) where Caregiver families, once trained, could accommodate young people for up to three months within their own community.

It has been our experience that young people are more likely to be reunited with their families if they can be accommodated with another family for a period of time. If this is not appropriate or the likelihood of returning home is not possible, then different accommodation can be offered. When young people are supported in their own community they are more likely to return to school, still having their network of friends for support and have access to their family.

Early in 1986, the Youth Advocacy Centre Inc. (YAC) was receiving numerous referrals for accommodation from the Inala-Durack-Richlands area, which had virtually no resources for the 10-17 year age group. Research and liaison with the Department of Family Services, Juvenile Aid Bureau, Community House, Community Health Centre, and local shopkeepers and residents proved conclusively the need for an accommodation and support resource to be developed in the area. The result of these early consultations was the development and formation of the Inala Youth Care Community.

The Inala Youth Care Community has been in operation since September 1986 under the auspice of the Youth Advocacy Centre Inc. In 1988 the IYCC was incorporated. In late 1990 the Inala Youth Care Community Inc. was funded by the Department of Family Services and Aboriginal & Islander Affairs under the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (S.A.A.P.) and a worker was employed and a resource centre was established in May 1991. In 1995, the Inala Youth Care Community changed its operating name to Inala Youth and Family Support Service.

This change of service name reflected what the name implies youth and families, young people that need support and accommodation while working with their family through this difficult period with the ideal of family as the bases of society. This has been our endeavour since 1991. The needs of families and young people have been met in our accommodation options as well as our preventative work with both parents and young people. Our approach is a holistic one in that we endeavour to have young people and parents value each other and accept differences even if they cannot understand each other at times.