About the project | Townsville Youth Foyer

We’re building a new youth foyer in Townsville to provide supported accommodation for up to 40 young people aged 16 to 25 years. The project is expected to start construction in late 2022 and be completed by late 2023.

The youth foyer will support young people to undertake study, training or employment opportunities. It will teach essential, practical life skills to help them transition into longer-term private rental housing.

We are using the internationally acknowledged youth foyer model, which has seen the delivery of youth foyers in Logan, on the Gold Coast, and across Australia.

The model provides young people with stable accommodation for up to 2 years in a supported living environment. The average stay is 18 months.

The model works by tapping into young peoples’ education and employment goals to nurture, encourage and empower them to build their confidence and capacity to achieve them.

Young tenants receive social and emotional support, and are taught skills like budgeting to manage accommodation and living costs, and how to manage a rental property. These skills help them transition into long-term accommodation.

Foyers aim to increase the number of young people completing study and training, and gaining employment, and reduce the number moving through the housing and homelessness system.

Tenants will sign a tenancy agreement to live in the foyer, much like a private rental. They will pay 25% of their income in rent and bills, and be responsible for cooking and cleaning for themselves.

Experienced youth support staff from Mission Australia will provide 24/7, on-site assistance for the young tenants to ensure support is available when needed.

Townsville was chosen for the youth foyer as there is a high need for independent and supportive housing for young people wanting to pursue education and employment opportunities.

The building will include 40 self-contained units, a communal kitchen and living/dining area, meeting spaces, training rooms, outdoor dining area and off-street parking for residents, staff and visiting support providers.

Learn more about how youth foyers can change young peoples’ lives.

Onsite management and support

The Townsville Youth Foyer will be managed by Mission Australia, who will provide 24/7, onsite support. Young people will receive emotional and social support, which is essential as many don’t have family support at this critical time of their development.

Tenants will receive coaching and mentoring to learn basic life skills including budgeting, financial management, cooking and how to be a good tenant.

Mission Australia is a not-for-profit organisation with expertise in managing supported housing. They have a long history of achieving positive outcomes for young Queenslanders.

Location

The Pimlico TAFE site was announced as the preferred site for the Townsville Youth Foyer on 29 August 2019, following community consultation.

Other sites across Townsville were considered, however the TAFE site was chosen as it offered direct access to study and training options for tenants and minimised the impact to local residents.

The Townsville Youth Foyer will be located between the NRL Cowboys House Boys and Girls campuses and the Queensland Pathways State College. Entry will be from an existing access road, off Fulham Road.

Map showing the location of the Townsville Youth Foyer, between the NRL Cowboys House Boys and Girls campuses and the Queensland Pathways State College. Entry will be from an existing access road, off Fulham Road. The map is indicative only.

Design

Counterpoint Architecture, a Townsville-based studio, designed the youth foyer. It includes a mix of flexible shared living spaces that support recreation and social connection and training activities.

The features of the Townsville Youth Foyer include:

  • 2-story development within landscaped gardens
  • sufficient car parking for residents, on-site support workers and visitors
  • natural ventilation, designed for the North Queensland climate
  • water and energy efficiency
  • views into the Pimlico TAFE campus
  • office spaces for 24/7 access to support.

Community consultation

Consultation began in May 2019 with the Townsville City Council, young people, key stakeholders, local Elders and the community. This helped inform the location at the Pimlico TAFE site and initial designs. Young people living in the Logan and Gold Coast youth foyers have also shared their living experiences to contribute to the design.

The Townsville City Council has reviewed the preliminary design and their feedback is being incorporated into the final schematic design submission.

We are continuing to engage with neighbours, the community and stakeholders about the design and build of the Townsville Youth Foyer. Sign up to receive updates about the project.

We’re building a new youth foyer in Townsville to provide supported accommodation for up to 40 young people aged 16 to 25 years. The project is expected to start construction in late 2022 and be completed by late 2023.

The youth foyer will support young people to undertake study, training or employment opportunities. It will teach essential, practical life skills to help them transition into longer-term private rental housing.

We are using the internationally acknowledged youth foyer model, which has seen the delivery of youth foyers in Logan, on the Gold Coast, and across Australia.

The model provides young people with stable accommodation for up to 2 years in a supported living environment. The average stay is 18 months.

The model works by tapping into young peoples’ education and employment goals to nurture, encourage and empower them to build their confidence and capacity to achieve them.

Young tenants receive social and emotional support, and are taught skills like budgeting to manage accommodation and living costs, and how to manage a rental property. These skills help them transition into long-term accommodation.

Foyers aim to increase the number of young people completing study and training, and gaining employment, and reduce the number moving through the housing and homelessness system.

Tenants will sign a tenancy agreement to live in the foyer, much like a private rental. They will pay 25% of their income in rent and bills, and be responsible for cooking and cleaning for themselves.

Experienced youth support staff from Mission Australia will provide 24/7, on-site assistance for the young tenants to ensure support is available when needed.

Townsville was chosen for the youth foyer as there is a high need for independent and supportive housing for young people wanting to pursue education and employment opportunities.

The building will include 40 self-contained units, a communal kitchen and living/dining area, meeting spaces, training rooms, outdoor dining area and off-street parking for residents, staff and visiting support providers.

Learn more about how youth foyers can change young peoples’ lives.

Onsite management and support

The Townsville Youth Foyer will be managed by Mission Australia, who will provide 24/7, onsite support. Young people will receive emotional and social support, which is essential as many don’t have family support at this critical time of their development.

Tenants will receive coaching and mentoring to learn basic life skills including budgeting, financial management, cooking and how to be a good tenant.

Mission Australia is a not-for-profit organisation with expertise in managing supported housing. They have a long history of achieving positive outcomes for young Queenslanders.

Location

The Pimlico TAFE site was announced as the preferred site for the Townsville Youth Foyer on 29 August 2019, following community consultation.

Other sites across Townsville were considered, however the TAFE site was chosen as it offered direct access to study and training options for tenants and minimised the impact to local residents.

The Townsville Youth Foyer will be located between the NRL Cowboys House Boys and Girls campuses and the Queensland Pathways State College. Entry will be from an existing access road, off Fulham Road.

Map showing the location of the Townsville Youth Foyer, between the NRL Cowboys House Boys and Girls campuses and the Queensland Pathways State College. Entry will be from an existing access road, off Fulham Road. The map is indicative only.

Design

Counterpoint Architecture, a Townsville-based studio, designed the youth foyer. It includes a mix of flexible shared living spaces that support recreation and social connection and training activities.

The features of the Townsville Youth Foyer include:

  • 2-story development within landscaped gardens
  • sufficient car parking for residents, on-site support workers and visitors
  • natural ventilation, designed for the North Queensland climate
  • water and energy efficiency
  • views into the Pimlico TAFE campus
  • office spaces for 24/7 access to support.

Community consultation

Consultation began in May 2019 with the Townsville City Council, young people, key stakeholders, local Elders and the community. This helped inform the location at the Pimlico TAFE site and initial designs. Young people living in the Logan and Gold Coast youth foyers have also shared their living experiences to contribute to the design.

The Townsville City Council has reviewed the preliminary design and their feedback is being incorporated into the final schematic design submission.

We are continuing to engage with neighbours, the community and stakeholders about the design and build of the Townsville Youth Foyer. Sign up to receive updates about the project.