Fr. Chris Riley

FATHER CHRIS RILEY – PROFILE

Father Chris Riley, founder and CEO of Youth Off The Streets, has worked with

marginalised youth for more than 35 years in a variety of roles including teacher, youth

worker, probation officer, residential carer and principal.

Father Chris Riley was inspired by the 1931 movie “Boys’ Town”, and at the age of 15 was

determined to become a priest to take care of the kids who had no one else. After

becoming a Salesian Priest, he worked for the charity Boys’ Town in a variety of roles and

finally as Principal.

In 1991, he left Boys’ Town and began to set up a variety of programs for troubled youth.

The programs are always responsive to need and are designed to help young people

develop the skills and qualities that will enable each young person to regain control of their

own lives.

Father Riley has implemented innovative behaviour modification strategies to help young

people deal with a history of trauma, abuse and neglect including the Values Education

Service Learning curriculum which is now available to schools across Australia as part of

the YOUth Making a Difference teachers’ resource.

In 1997, Father Riley opened Key College, an independent High School and pioneered a

flexible education delivery model to help young people living on the streets and in

temporary accommodation return to school.

As CEO of Youth Off The Streets, Father Riley oversees the operation of over 25

programs that employ over 200 people and involve more than 600 volunteers.

With only around 40 per cent of funding coming from government sources, Youth Off The

Streets has become one of the largest youth services in Australia, offering crisis

accommodation, residential rehabilitation, clinical services and counselling, Outreach

programs, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, specialist Aboriginal services, education and

family support.

Father Chris Riley believes there is no such thing as a “child born bad”, but acknowledges

that there are bad environments, circumstances and family situations that impact

negatively on our young.

“We must have the courage to demand greatness from our youth”

For more information, please phone (02) 9330 3500 or visit our website at

www.youthoffthestreets.com.au

Updated July 2010

QUALIFICATIONS:

Diploma of Teaching (3 years trained) Australian Catholic University, Castlebar Road,

Chadstone, 1975

Secondary Teachers Certificate of Registration No. 37378, 27 November 1975

Primary Teachers Registration Board, 19 March 1976

Bachelor of Theology, Melbourne College of Divinity, Clayton, Victoria, 30 April 1982

Bachelor of Arts (major Sociology and English) Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 6 June

1984

Diploma of Abuse Counselling, Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors, Lutwyche,

Queensland, 4 January 1996

Diploma of Psychology, Applied School of Psychology, Sydney, 1997

Diploma of Aboriginal Studies, TAFE NSW OTEN, 2010

Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs, TAFE NSW OTEN, 2010

Honorary Doctorate of Letters, University of Western Sydney. “This award is in recognition of

your outstanding humanitarian service to the community, especially youth.” 2010

Masters of Special Education, University of Southern Queensland, 2010

MEMBERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION:

Australian Institute of Professional Counselling

Fellow of Reclaiming Youth International, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA

Australian representative at the World Health Organisation (WHO) conference on street

children and substance abuse 1994

Guest speaker at Association of Child Welfare Agencies (ACWA) Conference 2003

Guest speaker at “Speak Out Indigenous Women’s Conference”, Darwin, 2004

2005 – 2007 Member of Advisory Group for the National Community Crime Prevention

Program convened by the Australian Government Attorney General’s Department

Member of National Advisory Group providing evidence to the United Nations regarding the

experience of Australian children in relation to the United Nations Convention on the Rights

of the Child

2005 – 2007 Member of National Youth Careers and Transitions Advisory Group (NYCTAG)

convened by the Australian Government Department for Education, Science and Training

Member of the Advisory Board of the Youth Mental Health Foundation. This Foundation is

under the guidance of Christopher Pyne MP, and chaired by Mr Ryan Stokes.

Editor-in-Chief, TeenMatters, Youth Off The Streets quarterly parenting magazine.

In October 2006, attended by invitation of the Vatican, the “Pontifical Council for the Pastoral

Care of Migrants and Itinerant People" 2nd International Meeting on the Pastoral Care of the

Road.

On the judging panel for the 2008 Human Rights Medal for the Human Rights and Equal

Opportunity Commission

2008 Australia Day Ambassador to Camden

2008 Australian Government Youth Forum (NSW)

2008 Australian Federal Government 2020 Summit participant

2008 Guest Speaker at the World Peace Forum (WPF), Jakarta, Indonesia

2008 Appointed member of the Children’s Court Advisory Committee

2009 Australia Day Ambassador to Liverpool

2009 Regional Development Australia - Sydney Committee Member

2011 Patron – Pittwater Rugby Club (Juniors)

Updated July 2010

AWARDS:

Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Award 1994

Variety Club Humanitarian of the Year, NSW 1995

Vocational Excellence Award, Rotary Award 1997

Australian Achievers Award, Australia Day National Council 1998

Spirit of Crazy Horse, Reclaiming Youth International, South Dakota, USA 2000

NSW Australian of the Year, 2003

Australian of the Year Finalist 2003

Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence and Outstanding Contribution in Drug and Alcohol

Endeavours, 2004

Equity Trustees Not For Profit CEO Awards 2004, Judges Award and Joint Runner Up CEO

Award

Rotary Club of Sydney Centennial Community Volunteer Award 2004/05

Ernst & Young Eastern Region Social Entrepreneur 2005

Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award for exceptional

communication and leadership skills 2006

Member (AM), General Division of the Order of Australia Queen’s Birthday Honours 2006.

(For service to disadvantaged youth through the establishment of Youth Off The Streets and

the development of a range of assistance and mentoring initiatives for adolescents, and to

the welfare of children overseas through humanitarian assistance efforts)

The AUSTCARE 2006 Peter Cullen Humanitarian Award, in the individual category, for work

with refugees and internally displaced people. Father Riley inspired Australians to support his

efforts to raise $2 million in funds to establish the Children’s Care Centre in Aceh in

partnership with Muhammadiyah. Father Riley has personally motivated his organisation and

the Australian public to focus on the needs of disadvantaged youth overseas by visiting

countries emerging from conflict such as East Timor and Albania.

Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Business Community Partnerships, 2006 National

Winner (for mutually beneficial partnership with McGrath Estate Agents)

The 2006 Human Rights Medal from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

(shared with Phillip Adams, broadcaster), for outstanding contribution to human rights in

Australia for the establishment of Youth Off The Streets

Multi-recipient Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Award (Sapphire) 1994 and 2007.

Lions International Association Melvin Jones Fellowship, 2008

Lions Clubs International Humanitarian Award, 2009 (Father Riley is the first Australian to be

bestowed this honour. In receiving the Award, he joins a list of dignitaries including Nobel

Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, US President Jimmy Carter and Mother Teresa.

This Award provides worldwide recognition of Father Riley’s exceptional contribution and

dedication in support of disadvantaged young people.)