Redcliffe Area Youth Space has secured a funding boost through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, enabling the organisation to deliver Certificate I in Workplace Skills training to 36 disadvantaged job seekers in the Moreton Bay region.
The 24-week program will provide participants with crucial training, qualifications and real-life work experience through RAYS’ social enterprises, including Picnic Hill, 4020 Coffee Cart, Ride Supplies, Misfits United and Connections Catering. Participants will also receive CPR and First Aid certifications, equipping them to enter the workforce with confidence.
Located at 440 Oxley Avenue in Redcliffe, RAYS has been supporting vulnerable young people and their families in the Moreton Bay region for over 20 years. The organisation has adapted continuously to meet changing community needs, evolving from its origins as an arts and music hub to become a comprehensive youth service provider.
Hands-On Experience Through Social Enterprises
The Certificate I in Workplace Skills program provides participants with hands-on experience through RAYS’ various social enterprises, allowing them to develop practical workplace skills in real business environments. This approach gives young people the opportunity to learn while contributing to successful enterprises that serve the broader Redcliffe community.
The funding boost reinforces RAYS’ commitment to transforming lives and strengthening the community through its holistic approach to youth empowerment. The organisation offers tailored programs that address behavioural and mental health challenges, educational support and skill development, fostering social inclusion and capacity building.
Meeting Growing and Complex Needs
Executive Manager Amy-lee Mayes, who has been with RAYS for 17 years, said the organisation has experienced an unprecedented tsunami of need in recent years. Needs have increased and become more complex and entrenched than ever before, requiring the organisation to respond in the most sustainable way possible.
RAYS operates multiple programs alongside its work skills training, including clinical mental health services through its ASHA program, education programs for young people disengaged from school, early intervention and prevention services, and its recently opened Safe Space operating daily from the Oxley Avenue location.
Proven Track Record in Youth Support
The organisation has built strong relationships with young people across Redcliffe, Scarborough, Clontarf and surrounding areas, providing a safe space where vulnerable youth know they can find support. RAYS focuses predominantly on young people who have been significantly impacted by trauma, poverty and oppression.
One participant previously shared how RAYS had become a second home, somewhere she feels safe and accepted, while the team helped her find employment and get her life together. This combination of emotional support and practical skills development sits at the heart of RAYS’ approach to youth empowerment.
The Work Skills Program supports people aged 15 to 25 who face significant barriers to employment, running for six months and tailoring support to individual needs. Young people and families can self-refer to the program, or external support services, schools and police can make referrals.
More information about Redcliffe Area Youth Space and its programs is available here or by calling 07 3283 8769.
Published 10-February-2026.
