DIRECTOR

Hi, I am Nikii and I am so thrilled that you have joined me and the team in making a difference in the lives of some of the youth in our community.

I started Progressive Youth because I could see that we needed to do things differently when it came to supporting some of our Youth who have had a challenging time. Being able to create an impact to bring about change is about taking stock of what is happening and looking at what can be done so that we change the trajectory forward for our young people.

Progressive’s philosophy is a holistic one, - it encompasses all things that we need to survive and thrive in life; psychological, mental development, social and emotional growth and self-regulation.

When we can support our youth and look towards a long term plan so that they know that they belong and are part of the community, they feel connected and they know that they can reach for support and guidance and get it. They know that it extends beyond a “tick the box” solution, they feel that they can break the cycle and look forward to the future. Progressive is about long-term solutions- ensuring services are delivered with underpinning regulatory compliance to ensure standards are met.

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Hi, I am Josh! My role here at Progressive is to look after the operational needs of the business. I look after our relationships with external service providers and also areas of accounts, including payroll.

I joined Progressive after an 8-year management position with McDonald’s because I felt it was time for a career change and am proud to be part of a business that has been built by my family.

I feel like I can contribute in my own way in helping them grow and develop a business that they are so passionate about. I have lived my past 20 years watching my mother being a foster care parent and see my sister develop a love for Social work, which is why Progressive is important to me too.

I am here now to support you and help Progressive be a company that serves our youth and community at large.

I look forward to meeting you and want you to know that you can reach out for any questions that I can help you with.

RESOURCE MANAGER

Hi I am Nadine and I work within Resources and Operations here at Progressive.

I joined Progressive as a student and quicky fell in love with everything that Progressive stands for. Progressive aims to present proven alternatives to the generic forms of care which are individualized, holistic and effective. This passion for advocacy and fighting systemic injustice aligns with why I began studying social work.

Personally, I have developed a strong passion for supporting our staff and team members in their growth and development. Ensuring our team and young people are supported and well equipped with everything that they need is a huge part of my role that I take very seriously. Without our incredible team we could not support our young people and clients in the excellent way that we do. The family culture within Progressive is the highlight of working for PYCC for me.

Being a part of the growth of the agency, the young people and the staff has been an honor. As we continue to grow and venture into new spaces, I am excited to work alongside such an incredible group of people to continue to help more vulnerable people within our society.

I look forward to meeting you all and please let me now if there is anything that I can do to help you.

SENIOR SOCIAL WORKER

My name is Dannai and I am a social worker here at Progressive.

My social work journey was inspired after watching many young people experience a system that was not listening to them, an overburdened system that was not working for anyone. I wanted to make a difference – to be part of the change.

At Progressive, we go beyond the “norm”. I believe we are innovators in youth services. All of our services are overseen by social workers who bring a therapeutic underpinning approach on the ground.

We look at our team as a family and endeavour to filter this feeling down to the young people we are supporting, creating that sense of community and making them feel as though they are part of something bigger.

SOCIAL WORK CASE MANAGER

I have been with PYCC for just over three years, starting as a youth worker and then moving into a key worker role before transitioning into our social workspace. Currently, I work as a social work case manager, collaborating with stakeholders and our team to provide the best possible support for our young people and enrich their day-to-day lives.

I love that PYCC continues to fight and advocate for our young people in the face of adversity. No mountain is too big for our PYCC team. The best part of my job is the amazing people I get to work with every day, including our young people, staff, and external stakeholders. Every person I cross paths with in this position helps build my knowledge in the field.

I hold a bachelor's in counselling and a bachelor's in human service. I hope to continue growing as a practitioner to uplift the young people and staff I work with. I love making people laugh and spending time with friends and family.

SOCIAL WORK CASE MANAGER

Hi, my name is Georgia. I am one of the social work supports here at Progressive. I started my journey with Progressive as a youth worker on the ground and then began working in the Social Work department several years ago. I am currently completing my Honours in Social Work.

Having studied and worked in this field, I am consistently confronted with the reality that we face a system that is often set up to fail our young people. I desired to play a part in creating a change for them.

Whilst I have worked with Progressive, I have found a passion for advocating for young people that often do not have a voice for themselves. Seeing our young people's growth remains the biggest motivation behind our work. It makes it all worth it.

SOCIAL WORK CASE MANAGER

HI! I am Jade one of the social work case managers here at Progressive.

My journey with PYCC is a relevantly new one, but to be able to work in a company and with a team that genuinely puts the needs of the young people first and fights for them is something I did not think I would find.

I have a history in Psychology and Criminology/Criminal Justice and it was through studying and placements that I saw a system that continually failed the young people it was designed to protect.

While working with Progressive I have had the privilege to watch our young people grow and achieve incredible things in spite of this system. It is their resilience that continues to fuel my own passion to help create change.

OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATION

Hi, my name is Maddy. I am part of the administration and rostering team here at Progressive. My role involves various tasks that contribute to the operation of the company. I take pride in supporting our team and love to uplift my colleagues and always try to see the positive in everything.

I joined the Progressive family just over a year ago and thoroughly enjoyed being apart of this dynamic team. It has been a pleasure to witness our growth and contribute to our collective success. I deeply value our strong sense of community and the way we support one another in reaching our full potential. I am particularly passionate about the commitment to nurturing and supporting young people, helping them grow to be the best they can be.

I am excited to be apart of the ongoing evolution at Progressive. I look forward to meeting you all and welcome you to our family!

TRAINING SPECIALIST

TRAINING SPECIALISTS MANAGER

Hey my name is Liu and I’ve been with progressive since Nov 2021, Part of the Training sector managing the Specialist courses. Running both MAYBO and PART Training

Coming from the floor working on the ground first hand experience with the YP’s and working the key worker role gives me a lot of confidence in training our staff to be the best versions of themselves and to give them the confidence & tools they need to help best support our YP’s but keep themselves safe at the same time while working with those complex behaviours

Best part of the job is being able to pass on the knowledge but also being able to provide the space for our students to come through and learn as much as they can

Our PYCC Village style is like a big family, we all support each other and look out for one another and get through the challenges as a team

Qualifications-Certified Maybo Trainer

Accredited PART Trainer

"My main goal is to get our staff armed" with as much knowledge and tools to help assist them while on shift working on the ground with our young people and being able to assess the safest options when dealing with a situation

I love my footy, Big Knights fan and NSW all day!!!

ADMIN

Hey there! I started with PYCC in November 2020 as a Youth Worker and have since made my way through being a Key Worker to now working in our Administration and Operations Teams.

I love problem solving, being in nature with my beautiful Border Collie and curling up with a good book or tv show.

PYCC captured my heart when I first started and has held it ever since due to its integrity and dedication to not giving up on the tough kids and further to that, not babysitting but raising Young People to give them the best chance at life post 18.

I love the community that has been built, we are a big family, and we love to encourage and lift each other up. I love that we are a group of dreamers who aren't satisfied with the status quo but have the guts to question the system and the drive to see change come through.

I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you into the craziness that is our PYCC family.

HOUSE COORDINATOR

I joined PYCC in 2020

My roll in the company is House Coordinator I have been a worker on the ground for three years prior to this roll predominantly as a key worker. My roll now is to ensure our homes are up to the required standard and if not to get them there.

the best part of the job is when I see both our YPs and our staff learn, develop and grow within themselves.

My qualifications/ certifications.

cert 4 business management

cert 4 adult education

advanced medical cert

Occupational health and safety

lead teams qualification

lead leaders qualification

cert 3 mechanical engineering

mental health first aid

less lethal, Internataional instructors qualification

cert 3 security operations

numerous other leadership qualifications.

What do I hope to achieve? simple all our home running to the same high standard required with little in put from myself ie things running right.

HOUSE COORDINATOR

I’m Ri, my roll in progressive is house coordinator and maintenance. I help to maintain the homes and make sure they are safe and in good working order for our young people with the standards of pycc.

I’ve been apart of PYCC 2 years full time and I have love seeing how far we have grown since the start four years ago. I really enjoy the community feel that progressive has.

The best part of the job is being able to out on the ground and help out anywhere that it’s needed.

I’m a really active person so I like to be outside playing sport or going for a hike.

MAINTENANCE

Starting as a youthworker at PYCC from the very beginning, I have seen the organization grow over the years from a small handfull of staff to what it is today. Now, having worked my way up to the housing and maintenance department as the in-house maintenance man. It has been a remarkable journey witnessing the transformation of PYCC from a small team to what it is today. The level of support, training, and encouragement provided by the management team to every employee is unmatched. Joining PYCC means joining a community that truly values and invests in its staff from day one.

In my role I bounce from house to house doing everything from landscaping to hanging a picture frame. Despite not being directly involved anymore with the children PYCC has supported over the years, it is still rewarding to witness their progress.

During my free time, I often find myself working on my hobby farm or in my workshop creating items like stockwhips, bags, and belts as a leather craftsman to keep myself busy.

PAYROLL OFFICER

Hi there, My Name is Tom I work in the accounts department for Progressive Youth Care. My main role is payroll officer, ensuring that all employees pay is correct and on time. I also deal with all of Progressive's invoices and pricing schedules. (Exciting stuff I know)

What I love most about my job is the small family community that Progressive has built and continues to develop even as we grow bigger. Making work life seem less stressful knowing that there is a dedicated team of professionals who will always look out for each other.

I may not be as tough as our dedicated youth work team. Who tirelessly and unselfishly ensure that our young people's lives are filled with the structure and security they desperately need. With the guidance from our wonderful social work team who plans are set in motion to give these young people the best chance at life. It brings me joy knowing that I can be a small part in this process that I would otherwise be unable to contribute so greatly.

It's my hope that in the future when these young people grow up into young adults, they can look back and say Progressive was a place I felt safe when I had nowhere else to go. A place where they were given the opportunity to change their story for the better.

ACCOUNTS OFFICER

ADMINISTRATION OPERATIONS MANAGER

Hi everyone, I'm Kimaea and I'm the Administration Manager for PYCC. I am 1 of 3 admin staff you will find in the Head Office helping all the departments with jobs they may need, assisting with rosters and answering all the phone calls.

I'm a Kiwi girl who moved over in 2012. I love watching my family play footy in the weekends and get pretty competitive when it comes to State of Origin - Go NSW!

A good friend encouraged me to apply as a Youth Worker. I love being able to help others and love everything PYCC stands for. What drives me is knowing I can be a consistent positive role-model in the lives of our YPs.

I never thought it would be something I would enjoy as I'm known in my family as a "grumpy aunty", however, I've been with PYCC for nearly 3 years so it's if anything, that's a testament of how much I genuinely enjoy this role.

PYCC will have your back and everyone- even the Director herself- will bend over backwards to ensure our YPs and our YWs are safe and supported.