2008
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 across Australia as part of the YOUth Making a Difference teachers 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 accommodation return to school.
As CEO of Youth Off The Streets, Father Riley oversees the operation of 20 programs that employ 150 people and involve more than 800 volunteers.
With less than forty per cent 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:
Diploma of Teaching (3 years trained) Australian Catholic University, Castlebar
Road, Chadstone, 1975
Secondary Teachers Certificate of Registration No. 37378, 27 November 1975
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
Guest speaker at Association of Child Welfare Agencies (ACWA) Conference 2003
Guest speaker at “Speak Out Indigenous Women’s Conference”, Darwin, 2004
Member of Advisory Group for the National Community Crime Prevention Program
convened by the Australian Government Attorney General’s Department
Member of National Advisory Group providing evidence to the United Nations
regarding the experience of Australian children in relation to the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Member of National Youth Careers and Transitions Advisory Group (NYCTAG) convened
by the Australian Government Department for Education, Science and Training
Director of DrinkWise Australia an independent organisation promoting responsible
alcohol consumption
Member of the Advisory Board of the Youth Mental Health Foundation. This Foundation
is under the guidance of Christopher Pyne MP, and chaired by Mr Ryan Stokes.
Editor-in-Chief, TeenMatters, Youth Off The Streets quarterly parenting magazine.
In October 2006, attended by invitation of the Vatican, the “Pontifical Council
for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People" 2nd International
Meeting on the Pastoral Care of the Road.
2008 Australia Day Ambassador
AWARDS:
Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Award 1994
Variety Club Humanitarian of the Year, NSW 1995
Vocational Excellence Award, Rotary Award 1997
Australian Achievers Award, Australia Day National Council 1998
Spirit of Crazy Horse, Reclaiming Youth International, South Dakota, USA 2000
NSW Australian of the Year, 2003
Australian of the Year Finalist 2003
Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence and Outstanding Contribution in Drug
and Alcohol Endeavours, 2004
Equity Trustees Not For Profit CEO Awards 2004, Judges Award and Joint Runner
Up CEO Award
Rotary Club of Sydney Centennial Community Volunteer Award 2004/05
Ernst & Young Eastern Region Social Entrepreneur 2005
Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award for exceptional
communication and leadership skills 2006
Member (AM), General Division of the Order of Australia Queen’s Birthday Honours
2006. (For service to disadvantaged youth through the establishment of Youth
Off The Streets and the development of a range of assistance and mentoring
initiatives for adolescents, and to the welfare of children overseas through
humanitarian assistance efforts)
The AUSTCARE 2006 Peter Cullen Humanitarian Award, in the individual category,
for work with refugees and internally displaced people. Father Riley inspired
Australians to support his efforts to raise $2 million in funds to establish
the Children’s Care Centre in Aceh in partnership with Muhammadiyah. Father
Riley has personally motivated his organisation and the Australian public
to focus on the needs of disadvantaged youth overseas by visiting countries
emerging from conflict such as East Timor and Albania.
Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Business Community Partnerships,
2006 National Winner (for mutually beneficial partnership with McGrath Estate
Agents)
The 2006 Human Rights Medal from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
(shared with Phillip Adams, broadcaster), for outstanding contribution to
human rights in Australia for the establishment of Youth Off The Streets,
a non-denominational and non-discriminatory organisation supporting homeless
youth.
www.eucharistic-convention.com