About the Youth Advocacy Centre
Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC) is a Brisbane-based not-for-profit organisation that has a mission to increase young people's access to justice, both legal and social.
Our mission
To increase young people's access to legal and social justice by actively supporting and speaking out, with and for young people.
Our vision
Young people achieve their full potential through the community accepting collective responsibility for their importance, empowerment, rights, well-being and humanity.
Our approach to youth support
YAC takes a holistic approach to speaking out for and supporting young people through free legal services, free social support and family support service, and a community legal education program.
Examples of the service YAC provides to young people beyond legal support include finding somewhere to live, sorting out mental health issues, getting back to school, or helping re-build relationships within their family.
This integrated casework approach aims to address the core issues that affect young people in contrast to band-aid fixes.
Just as integral to YAC's mission is youth advocacy involving working to improve social and legal systems so that they are more responsive and appropriate to the needs of children and young people.
YAC's unique, professional, evidence-based approach enables its leadership positioning in youth justice and support.
Our services
YAC provides legal services, youth support and family support assistance and services to young people generally aged 10 to 18 years (inclusive) who live in or around the greater Brisbane region, particularly those who are involved in, or are at risk of involvement in, the youth justice and/or the child protection systems; and/or are homeless or at risk of homelessness (up to 25).
We provide more limited support to those under 10 and over 18 years of age; and to young people outside of Brisbane via telephone, website and publications.
YAC can help young people with things like:
- legal hassles – including being charged with breaking the law or child protection issues
- support while on bail
- problems at home or school
- family relationships
- lack of accommodation and/or income
- being the victim of a crime (including abuse)
- discrimination issues
If you aren’t sure if we can help with a problem – call us anyway! We can help link young people up with other services in the community to assist them if YAC can’t.
All YAC services are:
Free - YAC is funded to provide these services
Voluntary - YAC only works with a young person if they want to work with YAC staff
Confidential - no contact is made with anyone (eg families, teachers, police, other adults, government agencies) and no information about the young person is passed on to anyone else without the young person's permission (unless there is a serious risk of significant and immediate harm to the young person or someone else or the law says we must - in which case, we will tell the young person)
Our advocacy
As well as individual young people, YAC works to improve social and legal systems so that they are more responsive and appropriate to the needs of children and young people, which take account of their developmental and situational issues, and importantly Australia’s international obligations.
YAC contributes to public debate on these issues as appropriate.
Follow Us
Follow us on social media for information on laws, youth rights, and news.
Contact YAC
Street address: Level 4, 16 Peel Street, South Brisbane Q 4101
Mailing address: Level 4, 16 Peel Street, South Brisbane Q 4101
Tel: (07) 3356 1002
Bussiness hours: 9am - 5pm, Mon - Fri
If you need urgent assistance outside of these hours:
- Youth Legal Advice Hotline 1800 527 527 (Mon to Thurs 8am - 9pm, Friday 8am to Sunday 5pm)
- Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 (24/7, 365 days per year)
- Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7, 365 days per year)
- Homelessness Hotline 1800 474 753 (24/7, 365 days per year)
- If you are over 18, and seeking access to Mental Health Services in Queensland, Acute Care Team on 1300 MHCALL (1300 64 2255).
