YETI - Youth Empowered Towards Independence

Directions Website Contact the organization

YETI - Youth Empowered Towards Independence Youth Empowered Towards Independence (YETI) is a support agency for young people aged 12-25 years The project is led by Helen Travers based at YETI in Cairns.

Youth Empowered Towards Independence (YETI) is a community based organisation that works with vulnerable young people. YETI aims to provide a supportive, empowering, responsive and healing environment to meet the needs of vulnerable young people through the provision of holistic services that foster social, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being. It’s a safe, free and friendly space for young people aged from 12 to 25. Two new programs along with two new faces have been incorporated into YETI’s Just North capacity building initiative. Just North funded by Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC) is a capacity building program that addresses Volatile Substance Misuse (VSM) or sniffing, through supply reduction and building the capacity of workers across Far North Queensland that work with at risk and vulnerable young people ( Just North can be helpful in many and various ways). The Just North faces are Tonya Fuschtei, Mandy Welfare, Wendy Sammons and Maria Mabo. RADIO (Remote Alcohol and Drug Intervention and Outcomes) and SUN (Schools Up North) are both North Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) funded programs and are a natural extension of YETI’s work to be helpful and supportive of workers/services across the Cape and Torres region. RADIO is a partnership between YETI and a number of agencies in the Cape. Currently Northern Peninsula Area – Family and Community Services, Cooktown District Community Centre and Weipa Community Care have employed Youth Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) workers to deliver AOD counselling and treatment in their communities. A fourth AOD worker will commence in the Torres region in 2018. Cathy Lee coordinates RADIO and is a senior AOD Clinician based at YETI in Cairns, Cathy builds capacity and provides support to RADIO workers. SUN is working closely with two schools in the Cape and Torres Strait region and is establishing a model that will build the capacity of secondary teachers around; mental health knowledge and understanding, the ability to make connections with appropriate and relevant services related to mental health and social and emotional wellbeing, as well as building individual resilience. SUN aims to strengthen the confidence and capacity of secondary school staff to maintain emotionally vulnerable young people within the school system. Helen is linking SUN with research that will contribute to the evidence base to inform further development of mental health capacity building in secondary schools in the Cape and Torres region.

🐟 This Friday is our annual day of FISH! 🐟Sound fishy? That’s because it most definitely is. Every October here at YETI ...
20/10/2026

🐟 This Friday is our annual day of FISH! 🐟

Sound fishy? That’s because it most definitely is. Every October here at YETI we celebrate FISH DAY – the day YETI's young people welcome some new fishy friends to the Drop-in pond, and the day we all share in a delicious fishy feast.

Come along 11.30am this Friday, 23rd October to MEET the new fish and EAT some fish! 🎣

SSAY-IT Youth Group (YETI) MasQUEERade Carnivale is THIS WEEK! Get your tickets now, so you don't miss out on the most a...
18/10/2026

SSAY-IT Youth Group (YETI) MasQUEERade Carnivale is THIS WEEK! Get your tickets now, so you don't miss out on the most amazing party of the YEAR!
🎟️ https://events.humanitix.com/masqueerade-ball-presented-by-ssayit

🎪✨ Roll Up! Roll Up! Come along to the fabulous SSAYIT MasQUEERade! ✨🎪

Come one, come all to our Magical SSAYIT Carnivale! 🎭
Welcome all circus characters, creatures, anything at all...
& of course ~ you are welcome simply to come as yourself!

📅 Wednesday, 21st October
🕓 5pm ~ 10pm
🎟️ Tickets available now! 👉 https://events.humanitix.com/masqueerade-ball-presented-by-ssayit

YETI's amazing Cultural Lead ~ Shannon was recently invited to take part in ‘Women Walking with Women’, an event held by...
15/09/2026

YETI's amazing Cultural Lead ~ Shannon was recently invited to take part in ‘Women Walking with Women’, an event held by Cape York Partnership . They brought together First Nations women of Cape York; and Jewish women from the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia - NCJWA and Executive Council of Australian Jewry - ECAJ; to share Country, culture, stories, food and conversation.

🌈 YETI's staff and young people celebrated Wear It Purple Day on Friday 🌈 The theme 'Colours of Courage' celebrates the ...
31/08/2026

🌈 YETI's staff and young people celebrated Wear It Purple Day on Friday 🌈

The theme 'Colours of Courage' celebrates the many different forms of courage shown by LGBTQIA+SB young people, allies and communities every day.

❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙🩷💜

Last week a small group of workers from YETI were privileged to attend the Australian Winter School Conference 🎉 Congrat...
27/08/2026

Last week a small group of workers from YETI were privileged to attend the Australian Winter School Conference

🎉 Congratulations must go to our amazing worker ~ Shennae Neal, winner of the First Nations Worker, QNADA Outstanding Contribution Award! These awards acknowledge great people working in the AOD sector across QLD.

Proudly walking in the footsteps of her ancestors, Shennae is a dedicated community leader and cultural connector, grounded in her Yidinji, Djabugay, Kuku Djungan and Gunggandji Gurubana heritage. Her work reflects a deep commitment to service, community and cultural integrity.

As Senior Care Coordinator at YETI, Shennae supports young people through culturally safe, trauma-informed and empowering practices. Through YETI's Just North program, she also delivers VSU training, supports workforce development, strengthens interagency responses, contributes to data collection and research, and helps develop resources and initiatives for services supporting young people affected by VSU and other drug use across Queensland.

Today is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day!❤️🖤💛💙💚🤍This year's theme – 'Living Our Truth' – c...
04/08/2026

Today is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day!
❤️🖤💛💙💚🤍

This year's theme – 'Living Our Truth' – celebrates the journey Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children take as they grow, guided by culture, community and connection to Country.

Together, we can nurture their voices and dreams and support a future where every child walks strong in their identity.

07/07/2026

❤️ YETI would like to thank the amazing dance groups who performed for us today as part of our NAIDOC week celebration feast!

🎉 Happy NAIDOC 2026! 🎉♥️🖤💛💙🤍💚We had an amazing feast at YETI today, celebrating NAIDOC week ~ 50 years of deadly ~ with ...
07/07/2026

🎉 Happy NAIDOC 2026! 🎉

♥️🖤💛💙🤍💚

We had an amazing feast at YETI today, celebrating NAIDOC week ~ 50 years of deadly ~ with amazing food, brilliant dancers and great company with so many young people.

Many thanks to the dance groups for blessing us with their stories and dance; thanks to the staff at YETI for the amazing feast; and thanks to our young people for sharing this day with us.

It's NAIDOC WEEK! 🖤💛♥️💙💚🤍Come along to YETI on Tuesday and join us in celebrating by sharing in a delicious feast togeth...
06/07/2026

It's NAIDOC WEEK!

🖤💛♥️💙💚🤍

Come along to YETI on Tuesday and join us in celebrating by sharing in a delicious feast together! We will have a smoking ceremony at 10am, followed by feasting and traditional dance.

🎉 Let's celebrate NAIDOC WEEK! 🎉 5th – 12th July🤍💚💙♥️💛🖤NAIDOC WEEK is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, cul...
05/07/2026

🎉 Let's celebrate NAIDOC WEEK! 🎉 5th – 12th July

🤍💚💙♥️💛🖤

NAIDOC WEEK is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

This year we will have...
👉 Awesome activities all week in the drop-in
👉 A delicious FEAST on Tuesday 7th July, with a smoking ceremony and traditional dancers!

Address

3 Winkworth Street
Cairns, QLD
4870

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when YETI - Youth Empowered Towards Independence posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to YETI - Youth Empowered Towards Independence:

Shortcuts

Sponsored

Share

Category