Our history

We've Been Supporting Central Coast Young People For Over 33 Years

1986-1990- Gosford Youth Services was formed in 1986. In1989 the service consisted of one-part time youth worker providing support to the new housing estate in Kariong.
Gosford City Youth Services was set up with funds from the NSW Government in 1986. Sandra Braithwaite oversaw the start of the project in her role of Youth Development Officer with Gosford City Council. Sally Jope was employed with Youth Worker Malcolm and started engaging with young people 12-18 years at Kariong and Kincumber. At Kariong they met in the hall on the grounds of the then Mt Penang Juvenile Justice centre and in Kincumber they met in the cottage that was the community centre. Providing weekly drop in centres at both places and additional excursions and events with young people.

By 1993 GYS was operating new, permanent youth centres in Wyoming and Kincumber, and in June of that year began a youth coffee shop at Kincumber centre. During the early 1990's GYS was very active in juvenile crime prevention, operating a valuable discussion group for truants, as well as providing several arts workshops and programs in Kariong, Wyoming and Kincumber. A new venture begun with GYS support of Wyong-Gosford Youth Radio which also served as base for the youth group meetings. Programs Actors With Attitude, Memories Music Magic, Youth Radio, Youth Newspaper, Young Actors, Youth Coffee Shop, Out of the night & into the light Graffiti Project, Visual Art Classes

In 1989 GYS initiated NSW first mobile youth centre targeting geographically isolated families. The mobile Youth centre project ran drop in sessions from Kariong radio shack, Springfield Primary School, The Ronald Ave church hall, and Wyoming and Kincumber neighbourhood centre. The groups were established to take services to young people where they were and set the scene for establishing permanent youth facilities.
In 1993 Kim McLoughry was employed as the first Wyoming Youth Centre Coordinator, and worked with three staff in GYS Donnison Street Gosford office and Kincumber Youth
Centre.

In 1996 GYS established a youth cafe, The Labyrinth, in Gosford CBD as well as setting up a new 'shop front' youth service access point in the same building. Thanks to the support of St George Foundation and several other new partners-including numerous local Rotary clubs and the Inspire Foundation. The Labyrinth provided a free, readily accessible and independent space for young people in Gosford for over three years. The space not only created a social space but also a venue for art events, poetry readings, live music performances and visual art exhibitions. The Labyrinth in Gosford CBD created a culture for Gosford Youth and created innovative projects that combatted youth issues.

In 1998 Gosford Youth Services became Regional Youth Support Services Inc reflecting the increasingly broad range of services offered and the widening geographical distribution of the communities benefiting from our services. By this time the success of The Labyrinth as a youth cafe and the parallel success of the youth programs being offered contributed to RYSS developing the concepts of a youth-run business enterprise (in the form of a restaurant) and a standalone multi-purpose youth facility.

1999 - 2001 Donnison's on the Park provided industry training and jobs for young people. The further development of a potential youth business was facilitated in 1999 by RYSS and ET Australia forming a partnership to bid for the breakthrough' funds offered by the Foundation for Young Australians. This secured $250,000 over 4 years to set up the restaurant. Through consultation with the Gosford Chamber of Commerce a likely venue was identified in the vintage Kibble Park Tea Rooms in Gosford CBD, a building owned by Gosford City Council. With Council's support, 'Donnison's on the Park' opened in 2002, employing 3 casuals and 3 permanent full-time staff, all aged under 25. Over 150 people worked at the restaurant in it's 5 years of operation.

In 2001 Gosford City Council purchased the Parkside Centre, a defunct shopping centre in the heart of Gosford CBD, to provide a base for the multi-purpose youth services facility. Parkside now houses six youth service providers including RYSS, ET Australia, Vertico Traineeships, After Care Resource Centre, Relationships Australia, Options Disability Services and ET Australia Secondary College with an upper level warehouse space converted by RYSS in 2007 into the Youth Arts Warehouse. In 2007 the shadow spokesman for the Arts Peter Garrett joined Federal Member for Robertson, Jim Lloyd, Minister for Central Coast, Grant McBride and Gosford City Mayor Laurie Maher at the official opening of The Youth Arts Warehouse. Five years and $500,000 in the making, the dream of having a Multi Art facility for young people was realised.

2011 - 2016 Since the purchase and development of Parkside, RYSS has continued to provide innovative and effective programs for young people on the Central Coast across a broad range of fields. RYSS today has a CEO position and an Operations Manager, five Team Leader/Co-ordinator positions- Abilities, Early Intervention Placement Prevention Program, Indigenous Justice Program, Wyoming Youth Centre and The Youth Arts Warehouse Coordinator. Wyoming Youth Centre opened the Woodshed and transferred from a drop in centre to a Skills based centre in 2015. RYSS now is a larger support team of twelve permanent staff and twenty five casual/part time staff. In 2016 RYSS went full circle and in December 2016 launched it’s first mobile youth centre since the early day's in the form of a full size transit bus.

The last thirty three years of Regional Youth Support Services Inc has been an amazing journey. The innovation will continue with a great team of staff and volunteers and enormous community support for this worthy suite of services. Partnerships will continue to evolve and new programs are under development based on the vast knowledge and skills held at RYSS. The launch of the BUS project- a full sized transit Bus equipped as a child, youth and family mobile centre is significant in moving the agency and our partnerships forward. The Bus (Together Helping Everyone Better Utilise Services) project takes our partnerships and RYSS services on the road and will be a high profile signature project for our agency.

Latest

Write, Act, Belong

This theatre and script writing program will inspire creativity and self expression whilst strengthening connection to community and culture. Young people will develop a script and take it through to production whilst under taking master classes in storytelling through movement with industry professionals.
The RYSS Bus - Mobile Outreach Centre

The RYSS BUS has continued to pioneer best practice for Youth Outreach Engagement across the Central Coast. The BUS delivers personal development workshops about personal development and self awareness; including Body Confidence, Respectful Relationships, Anti DV, Anti Bullying, Cyber Safety and Celebrating Safely. The RYSS Bus has a committed team of Youth Leaders to develop & deliver BUS Stops across the Coast – Youth Advocacy, Information and Engagement on wheels!
Celebrating Diversity

We acknowledge the Darkinjung people who are the custodians of the land and pay respect to the elders, both past and present". Regional Youth Support Services Inc is committed to diversity and social inclusion. This includes Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people who identify as LGBTIA+, people with a disability and those from Culturally and Linguistically diverse backgrounds".
Science For Fun

Come together as a group for a hands on experience to learn about the science of everyday life. This fun interactive group will have you learning and experimenting in a social setting under the facilitation of our qualified staff. This 8 week program will follow a structured plan looking at chemistry, physics, astronomy, and using technology to create DIY experiments and learn while having fun and making friends.

Youth Action Youth Work Awards Winners!

It was a proud moment for all at Regional Youth Support Services when our work was nominated and awarded at the 2019 NSW Youth Work Awards. We are extremely happy to win the award for “Outstanding Youth Participation” for the work of The RYSS BUS. A huge congratulations goes to the RYSS BUS Crew who do a fabulous job engaging the young people in our community and continue to pioneer best practice for Youth Outreach Engagement across the Central Coast.
Write, Act, Belong

This theatre and script writing program will inspire creativity and self expression whilst strengthening connection to community and culture. Young people will develop a script and take it through to production whilst under taking master classes in storytelling through movement with industry professionals.
Metro Fest

Metro Fest an all ages, drug and alcohol free, mini festival that brought good vibes to the Youth Arts Warehouse in Winter 2019. A double headliner with Sydney based Gold Member and local legends The Moving Stills who were supported by three class acts that are emerging onto the scene, Loose Leeches, Turtle Custard and Aw Heck! 'Gossy Good Times' were had by all!
Donate

RYSS is a not-for-profit regional community organisation based on the Central Coast serving the region to help young people who are vulnerable and at risk in our community for over 3 decades! Making a donation to RYSS will assist us in providing quality support services for those in our community who need it most.
The Wholesome Collective

The Wholesome Collective is a fun and interactive nutrition and cooking program that will help to inspire you in the kitchen. It will involve four, totally hands-on cooking sessions using every day, seasonal ingredients that are good for your health.
The Shed & Garden

The Shed and Garden is an after school program where young people 12 - 18yrs can learn woodwork skills by creating their own masterpieces and plant, nurture and grow your own food in our garden.
Terms and Conditions
What We Do

Information, Support, Assessment, Casework and Referral to services. RYSS is your point of access across the entire Central Coast for high quality services, resources and facilities specifically tailored to children, young people and their families, young people with disabilities and those wanting to increase independence, build skills and engage in their community
All Systems Go

Are you ready for work? This course is a fully subsidised 4 week work-readiness program, offering the skills you need to enter the hospitality industry. Conditions apply.
Early Intervention

The EIPP Program aims to provide support to vulnerable children, young people and families to stop problems escalating and to reduce the likelihood of children and young people entering or remaining in child protection and out-of-home care.

Write, Act, Belong

This theatre and script writing program will inspire creativity and self expression whilst strengthening connection to community and culture. Young people will develop a script and take it through to production whilst under taking master classes in storytelling through movement with industry professionals. Read more