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Father Chris Riley - Profile
Father Chris Riley, founder and CEO of Youth Off The Streets, has worked with disadvantaged youth for more than 30 years in a variety of roles including teacher, youth worker, probation officer, residential carer and principal.
Father Chris Riley was inspired by the 1931 movie "Boys' Town", and at the age of 15 was determined to become a priest to take care of those kids who had no one else. He worked for the charity Boys' Town in a variety of roles and finally as Principal.
In 1991, he left Boys' Town and began to set up a variety of programs for troubled youth. The programs are always responsive to need and are designed to help them develop the skills and qualities that will enable each young person to regain control of their own lives.
Father Riley has implemented innovative behaviour modification strategies to help young people deal with a history of trauma, abuse and neglect including the Values Education Service Learning curriculum which is now available to schools accross Australia as part of the YOUth Making a Difference teacher resource.
In 1997, Father Riley opened Key College independent High School and pioneered flexible education delivery model to help young people living on the streets and in temporary accomodation return to school.
As CEO of Youth Off The Streets, Father Riley oversees the operation of 20 programs that employ 150 people and more than 800 volunteers.
With less than forty percent of funding coming from government sources, Youth Off The Streets has become one of the largest youth services in Australia, offering residential rehabilitation, counselling, street-based programs, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, specialist Aboriginal services, education and family support facilities.
Father Chris Riley believes there is no such thing as a "child born bad", but acknowledges that there are bad environments, circumstances and families that impact negatively on our young.
"We must have the courage to demand greatness from our youth"
QUALIFICATIONS
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Diploma of Teaching (3 years trained) Australian Catholic University, Castlebar Road, Chadstone, 1975
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Secondary Teachers Certificate of Registration No. 37378, 27 November 1975
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Primary Teachers Registration Board, 19 March 1976
- Bachelor of Theology, Melbourne College of Divinity, Clayton, Victoria, 30 April 1982
- Bachelor of Arts (major Sociology and English) Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 6 June 1984
- Diploma of Abuse Counselling, Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors, Lutwyche, Queensland, 4 January 1996
- Diploma of Psychology, Applied School of Psychology, Sydney, 1997
MEMBERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION
- Australian Institute of Professional Counselling
- Fellow of Reclaiming Youth International, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
- Australian representative at the World Health Organisation (WHO) conference on street children and substance abuse 1994
BOARD MEMBERS
MR TONY STEWART - CHAIRMAN YOTS OVERSEAS RELIEF FUND
Personal:
Born in Sydney. Tony Stewart is 50 years of age and has lived in the Canterbury-Bankstown area for thirty-eight years.
Qualifications, occupations, interests:
Tony Stewart attained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of NSW (1979) and holds a Distinguished Diploma in Education from Sydney Teachers' College (1980).
He worked as a High School teacher, teaching History and English in several NSW public schools and also at TAFE where he taught English as a second language.
In 1987 Tony Stewart was seconded from his teaching position to work at the Australian Trade Union Training Authority (TUTA) as Trade Union Training Officer. After working with TUTA for twelve months Tony then received an appointment to the Labor Council of NSW where he took up a position as Occupational Health and Safety Education Officer.
In 1989 Tony was appointed to the Federated Iron Workers Union as National Organiser and later worked with the newly amalgamated Australian Workers Union where he was appointed as National Branch Secretary for the Union's Technical, Administrative, Professional and Salaried Division. Tony also served as a member of the AWU’s National Executive.
Tony Stewart was elected as a Councillor to Canterbury City Council in 1991 and completed a 12 month term as Deputy Mayor. During this period Tony established a strong commitment to important local issues such as improving health amenities, law and order, creating jobs, improving public transport, education and environmental needs. He was also instrumental in local moves to save Canterbury Hospital from closure.
In 1995, Tony Stewart was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and has successfully contested State Elections since that time.
Immediately following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, Mr Stewart joined Father Chris Riley of Youth Off The Streets in Banda Aceh with a view of establishing an orphanage for homeless children. Mr Stewart played an integral part of making initial contact and establishing a positive relationship with Indonesian welfare group Muhamadiyah. As a result of this a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in February 2005 and updated in July 2005, ensuring that Youth Off The Streets would purchase land, build an orphanage and fund its operations for 5 years and that Muhamadiyah would run the centre and provide for the children’s cultural, religious, educational and welfare needs.
Tony Stewart has also been closely involved in on-going discussions with Embassy officials in Jakarta to maintain positive relationships between the organisations involved and to promote goodwill and friendship between Indonesia and Australia.
Mr Stewart is Chairman of the Youth Off the Streets Overseas Relief Fund Limited.
Mr Stewart is a Board Member of the The Kokoda Track Foundation Limited and has completed 2 successful treks along The Kokoda Track and on each occasion has raised considerable funds for charity.
Recreational pursuits include: fishing, photography, live theatre, music and sports, particularly rugby league.
BERNARD (BERNIE) MOORE
Bernie was previously Company Secretary of Espreon Ltd, a public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. He worked for Espreon and its predecessors for 17 years, performing management roles in the finance and administration divisions of the business. He is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and a Professional member of the National Institute of Accountants, and currently manages private investments.
KERRY MCCABE
Kerry has been involved with sales management, media sales, advertising and marketing for the past 13 years. He is currently Sales Director at Australia's leading out-of-home media company. Kerry is also involved with the not-for-profit sector, holding the position of Chairman, MAYDAY (Media Assisting Youth) and volunteers with Ted Noffs, and volunteers with a number of local charities.
ELIZABETH (LIBBY) KOCH
Whilst pursuing a nursing career, then raising four children, Libby became a company director, assisting husband David with writing a weekly syndicated finance column for national newspapers. Libby then volunteered to teach English to international adult students, which continues today. Active in previously coaching school netball for many years, she then moved back to nursing by becoming a community nurse, working for an agency that specialised in care for the elderly. Libby now manages Davids' mail replies and writes a column for YOTS Teen Matters magazine. She is particularly passionate about Timor Leste (East Timor) and the education of its children.
SUSAN KLUSS
After obtaining her Degree majoring in law and economics - industrial relations, Sue began her legal career as a solicitor with the Legal Aid Commission of NSW, where she defended people charged with criminal offences in the Children’s, Local, District and Supreme courts for 9 years.
Sue was called to the Bar in 1990 and currently practices as a barrister at Maurice Byers Chambers in Sydney. Her trial and appellate practice now also takes her to many major country centers and she has extensive experience in the Court of Criminal Appeal, the Police Integrity Commission, Independent Commission against Corruption, the Crime Commission, Administrative Decisions Tribunal and the NSW Parole Board.
She has maintained her commitment to providing services to Legal Aid organisations and brings more than 27 years of advocacy for young people, the socially, mentally and economically disadvantaged and has assisted on various projects with Fr Riley since 1994.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Arts (majors in Law and Economics)/Bachelor of Laws Macquarie University 1979
- College of Law 1980
- Admitted to practice as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales July 1980
- Admitted to practice as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales Feb 1990
- LEADR Alternative Disputes Resolution qualified 1993
CURRENT POSITIONS HELD
- Member Legal Aid Committee NSW Bar Association
- Member Criminal Law Committee NSW Bar Association
- Vice President Women Barristers Forum
- Committee member Criminal Defence Lawyers Association
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