A huge congratulations to the first cohort of Foyer Central residents who have graduated from the TAFE NSW’s Petersham College Life Skills Program!

In March last year, SGCH partnered with Uniting, the City of Sydney, NSW government and Social Ventures Australia to open Foyer Central. This accommodation is the first of its kind in NSW and offers young people exiting the out-of-home care system wraparound support and stability as they move towards independent living.

A critical feature of Foyer Central is its partnership with TAFE NSW’s Petersham College. Each young person enrolled at Foyer Central must complete a TAFE designed Life Skills Development course, created to provide continuing pathways to education and help build their life skills to independence.

AHURI research shows those leaving out-of-home care experience considerable disadvantage, with 54% of the cohort accessing homelessness services in the four years after exit. Use of other services such as mental health, alcohol and other drug and hospitals is also high.

Foyer focus on education and employment whilst providing safe and affordable housing to young people. The integrated learning and accommodation setting provides the stability and pathways needed for its young residents to thrive and develop skills in their chosen education and employment fields.

Of his recent graduation, Foyer Central resident Brody said: “I really enjoyed learning because it unlocked new skills which had been hidden deep down inside of me.”