Flexi School Seminar focuses on issues surrounding youth

More than 300 Toowoomba residents and academics gathered at USQ this month for the Toowoomba Flexi School Alternative Education Seminar for disengaged and disenfranchised youth.

CEO of Youth Off The Streets, Father Chris Riley, gave an inspiring keynote address on his highly successful programs assisting homeless youth at the event, held on October 7.

Father Riley has worked with marginalised youth for more than 30 years in a variety of roles including teacher, youth worker, probation officer, residential carer and school principal. 

During the seminar, Father Riley briefly outlined the origin of the Youth Off the Streets program as an outreach service designed to reach young people at risk or disadvantaged.

Chair of Friends of Flexi, Professor Glen Postle, said Father Riley focused on issues surrounding young people today such as substance abuse, homelessness and violence and the impact that these can have on educational outcomes.

'Father Riley believes we need to build infrastructure in communities to bring people together,' Professor Postle said.

At the age of 15 Father Riley was determined to become a priest to take care of the kids who had no one else. After becoming a Salesian Priest, he worked for the charity Boys' Town in a variety of roles and finally as Principal.

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 across Australia as part of the YOUth Making a Difference teachers' resource.

Youth Off The Streets has become one of the largest youth services in Australia, offering crisis accommodation, residential rehabilitation, clinical services and counselling, outreach programs, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, specialist Aboriginal services, education and family support.

Father Riley is a USQ alumnus and recently graduated with a Master of Special Education.

USQ Associate Professor Lorelle Burton and Senior Lecturer (Education Foundation) Dr Marian Lewis also spoke at the seminar.