Our History
For over 43 years Swan City Youth Service (SCYS) has been providing assistance for young people in the Midland and surrounds. The service began in 1982, with one staff member housed with other services in the Midland Town Hall. In 2017 SCYS moved into its now home, a purpose-built centre on Padbury Terrace, with 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. SCYS has evolved with the changes in clients and the youth work space and continue to adapt to the needs of our young people and the wider community developing and implementing programs to support young people. Since the establishment of the service funding has been sourced through local, state and federal governments, grants from the wider community, corporate sponsorship from local business and contributions from dedicated donors. SCYS has provided additional support to young people through partnership with local business and community groups who donate their time and expertise. 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, Headspace and many others. SCYS strives to offer a service that abides by the National Child Safety Principles and in 2021 achieved certification as a certified organisation for the WANADA Alcohol and Other Drug and Human Standard. SCYS is committed to continuing to deliver a committed service now and into the future.
Our Priorities
Creating a Safe Space
Navigating the Journey
Educating Young People
Health and Wellness
Engaging Stakeholders
Our Values
Safety, Advocacy, Partnership, Empowerment and Excellence
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.
Our Child Safety Statement
At Swan City Youth Service we prioritise the safety and well-being of children. We recognise our
responsibility to create an environment that is safe, nurturing, and conducive to the healthy development of
every child whilst in our care.
Our Mission Statement
Working Together to Secure a Better Future for Young People.
Meet the SCYS Team
Rachel Robertson CEO
Rachel has been an integral part of SCYS for six years, initially joining as a casual Youth Worker in 2018. With a Diploma in Counselling, a Diploma in Youth Work, and a Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) and Mental Health, Rachel brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Her background in business and banking further enriches her understanding of the diverse needs of the young people we serve. In late 2023, Rachel assumed the position of General Manager, demonstrating her exceptional leadership skills and commitment to the organisation's mission. She is deeply passionate about empowering young people to pursue and achieve their life goals, and her dedication is evident in every aspect of her work.
Graham - Senior Counsellor
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 30 years and counting. Graham calls SCYS 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
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 program and assists young people in developing resumes, job applications and education support. Being a first generation Australian from Italian parents, Orietta 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.
Rush - Youth Worker
Rush has worked extensively within the spaces of youth engagement, case management and mentorship across New Zealand and WA for over 20 years. Rush brings vast knowledge and experience to his role as Music Producer/Youth Worker within the SCYS music program and has built a client base of regular attendees, many of whom describe their weekly studio sessions as “therapy”. Rush has focused much of his work and studies (Bachelor of Social Services Majoring in Mental Health and Disability) around the beneficial aspects of music as an accessible tool to enable self-expression, growth and mindfulness skills. A key aspect of Rush’s role within the music studio space at SCYS is founded on the aim of equipping young people with the skills needed to expand upon their musical pathways independently and to take on a sense of leadership in terms of motivating others to pursue positive artistic pursuits.
Tiago - Youth Worker
Tiago commenced his role at SCYS in 2023 as a Certificate IV Youth Work student, undertaking his prac and working closely with the young people in the education program. Tiago has since come on board with the SCYS team as a Youth Worker focused on drop-in services and continues to build upon his experience. Tiago has a particular focus on young clients with disabilities and he implemented a program designed to bring these clients together for social activities, engaging them in cooking, games and art. Tiago enjoys the diversity of tasks involved with working at SCYS. Tiago has continued in further studies and is currently completing a Bachelor of Psychology at Edith Cowan University and hopes to continue working with young people throughout his career.
Tore - Youth Worker
Torekana’s journey in youth work began in his hometown of South Hedland. At the age of 12, he started as a Hip-Hop dance teacher at a youth outreach program called The HOOD (Hope, Optimism, Opportunity, Dance), and as a volunteer Taekwondo instructor at Hedland Taekwondo Club. That work led Tore to pursuing roles in community work in youth development. At 17, he became an Artist in Residence for Breakthru Hip Hop 4 Health, touring regional north/mid WA, using Hip Hop and martial arts-based fitness as a tool to empower young people. Tore has worked as a Tenancy Support Officer for Noongar Mia Mia, a Youth Officer at Kwinana Zone Youth Space, and most recently, as a Recreation Activities Officer at Banksia Juvenile Detention Centre, before joing the SCYS team.
Hannah - Youth Worker
Hannah as a young person, attended SCYS 25 years ago, it was the staff and centre that kicked started Hannahs passion for working with youth in the community. Hannah is thankful for the opportunity to give back to the next generation and believes in what you give is what you get in return. Hannah's life moto is “Treat people how you want to be treated”. Hannah has years of experience working with vulnerable and disadvantaged youth and is a local to the area. With lived and professional experience Hannah's focus is to offer support through positive engagement and a safe space to help youth reach their potential.
Zoey - Youth Worker
After completing her Diploma of Youth Work in 2023, Zoey gained practical experience at SCYS and was thrilled to join the team. Since then, she has actively engaged in a variety of programs and initiatives aimed at empowering young people and fostering their growth. Zoey is deeply committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment where young people feel encouraged to express themselves and thrive.
Nellie - Youth Worker
Nellie is a dedicated mother of six and grandmother of two, bringing her nurturing spirit and commitment to her role as a Youth Worker. For most of the year, she volunteers with her local rugby union club as a Youth Support Officer and Team Manager, fostering strong community connections and supporting young athletes. Driven by her passion for making a positive impact, Nellie pursued Youth Work qualifications in 2023. She is committed to empowering, guiding, and supporting young people as they navigate life’s challenges. Nellie strives to create a safe, inclusive, and diverse environment where every young person feels valued and supported.
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 strategising on and planning for financial goals by working daily to achieve and maintain the financial health of our organisation all with a smile on her face.
Kristine - Administration
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, policy review and marketing. 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”.
Our Patron - Former Minister for Indigenous Australians
I am proud to officially accept patronage of 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. The 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.
Management Committee
Lara Ellson - Chairperson
With an organisational development background, Lara brings over 25 years’ experience in building high performance teams and learning cultures through working across roles in human resources, leadership development and leading Registered Training Organisations. Her work then purposely shifted to make a larger impact by focusing on driving effective strategic organisational growth, governance and strategy with a focus on people, community and environment.These skills help her to inspire and empower others to be the best they can be in every position to deliver positive outcomes for all stakeholders.She is passionate about supporting the long-term viability of SCYS for the youth of tomorrow and leaving a positive legacy within the community. Lara joined SCYS in April 2023 before stepping into the role of Deputy Chair in October 2023 and Chair in November 2024.
Abhinav Agrawal - Deputy Chairperson
Abby is a highly regarded business leader with a varied range of experience from multiple industries (Mining, Oil & Gas, Leisure & Hospitality, Retail), where he has formed part of diversified functions, leading and managing complex projects, teams and initiatives. Abby has extensive people and network management experience and has held responsibility for the development of stakeholder, strategic, governance and engagement plans for the operational and service delivery of workplace functions for more than 15 years.Abby has established and planned long-term goals, corporate and management plans, and long-term policy direction towards providing constructive, objective and unbiased recommendations to multiple teams deployed within the functions and projects. Abby was formerly a Board member of the Murdoch University Senate and a member of the Murdoch Audit & Risk Committee.Abby is currently a Board member of Central Queensland University and Vice President of the Law Society of Central Queensland University. Abby joined Swan City Youth Service as a member of the Management Committee with the passion and desire to make a difference in the lives of young people.
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 currently 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..
Peter Bennett - Committee Member
Peter has worked in his family business for over four decades. Studied at the Institute of Social Science and The Australian Institute of Management and Business. His focus in recent years has been on philanthropy with a focus on supporting women and children and he brings that passion and drive to SCYS. He has a close relationship with the Telethon Institute and in particular Dr Andrew Whitehouse a leading expert in autism research and development. Another of his achievements is the support of a local movie " Black Cockatoo Crisis " of which Peter and his wife Amy are named as Executive Producers. Our philanthropic focus also includes The Perth International Jazz Festival of which we are patrons and also extends to the support of local independent artists. He was also a founding member of the Raise Up organisation.
Lindsay Earnshaw - Committee Member
Lindsay has been in business for himself for over 25 years. Firstly, running an indoor sports centre in Launceston Tasmania, and then running a successful real estate office the Hills of Perth.Lindsay is motivated by getting in to get things done, helping the community and those who need his help. He first became involved with SCYS as a supporter - making meals for the youth, fundraising and donating funds. Seeing the difference the Service makes to young people’s lives he expressed his interest to help on the MC in 2023 and joined towards the end of the year.
