The Youth Empowerment and Support Service is MADEC’s free voluntary support service for young people aged 12–21 years.

The Youth Empowerment and Support Service (YESS) offers a range of free and voluntary support services to young individuals between the ages of 12 and 21. Our team of dedicated Youth Support Workers provide confidential assistance, guidance, and access to various referral pathways. Based in the Mackay and Whitsunday regions, including Sarina, the Pioneer Valley, Bowen, and Collinsville, we aim to address barriers and empower youth and their families to achieve favourable outcomes. Our holistic approach ensures comprehensive support tailored to individual needs.

YESS can help youth with:

• Confidential support and assistance
• Connecting to community, culture and recreational activities
• Opportunities for personal development
• Flexible and responsive case management
• Provide opportunities for young people, and with consent, include their family and significant others to take part in decision making
• Share/exchange information between services with consent and encourage accountable, efficient service delivery with the aim of achieving positive outcomes for young people and their families
• Transitioning to high school, employment and/or adulthood
• Accessing housing and Centrelink
• Help with transitioning to high school or adulthood
• Assistance and encouragement in pursuing personal development and empowerment
• Arranging cross-agency referrals and maintaining inter-agency links

Our friendly YESS Team are trained in providing person-centred supports that are focused on the strengths of individual young people. Ultimately, we want our young people to become self-sufficient adults with healthy relationships. To achieve this we provide quality supports and opportunities that allow youth to go beyond their present circumstances and achieve their goals.

You may have met our team before in the community, or at local school and youth events!

If you or someone you know would benefit from the YESS program you can refer them online via this referral form, or get in touch via the below. We accept referrals from other agencies, services, organisations, and schools. Young people, families, and friends can also self-refer:

Mackay Region (including Sarina and the Pioneer Valley)
Mobile: 0400 171 033
Email: yessmackay@madec.org.au

Whitsunday Region (including Bowen and Collinsville)
Mobile: 0429 366 451
Email: yesswhitsunday@madec.org.au

Youth at MADEC

Since 2001, MADEC has worked closely with Federal and State Departments and the regional youth sector, giving assistance and support for young persons who are vulnerable, have complex needs, and are at risk. MADEC’s youth programs provide a range of individual, holistic support. We help young people to work through barriers they may be facing, with the overarching aim of diverting young people away from circumstances that place them at risk.