Father Chris Riley (AM) is an
Australian Catholic priest who was born in Echuca, Victoria, in 1954 and grew up
on a dairy farm in the district. He
was educated by the Salesians and, inspired by the movie
Boys Town went on to train as a teacher.
In 1982, he was ordained a priest, as a member of the Salesian order, at
Oakleigh, in Victoria.
Riley founded Youth Off the Streets (YOTS) in 1991 with
a food van delivering meals to homeless youth in the Kings Cross area in Sydney.
The organisation now offers services such as Aboriginal programs, crisis
accommodation, alcohol and other drug services, counselling, accredited high
schools, outreach, residential programs and a mentoring program.
The organisation is non-denominational and works for young people, aged
from 12 to 21, who are homeless, drug dependent and recovering from abuse. YOTS
has helped over 50,000 young people since its foundation.
Chris Riley is the founder and current CEO
of Youth Off the Streets and has worked with disadvantaged youth for more than
35 years in a variety of roles including as a youth worker, probation officer,
residential care worker and principal of the charity Boys Town at Engadine, NSW.
He oversees the operation of over 25 programs which employ over 180 staff
assisted by more than 250 volunteers.
Many of the behaviour modification strategies he has implemented have
been adopted by schools across Australia and by government agencies. The TV
personality, David Koch with his wife Elizabeth have been longtime supporters of
Father Chris and a centre for youth in Macquarie Fields has been named after
them. Riley has also worked with the
Islamic organisation Muhammadiyan and helped build an orphanage in Aceh,
Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami. YOTS
has also provided support in East Timor, Indonesia and Tanzania.
In 2006, Father Chris Riley was appointed a
Member of the Order of Australia for service to disadvantaged youth through
Youth Off the Streets and the range of assistance and mentoring initiatives for
adolescents and to the welfare of children
overseas through humanitarian assistance efforts.
Twice winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence, in 2006, he
also received the Human Rights Medal from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission. In 2010, he was awarded
an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by the University of Western Sydney in
recognition of his work. In 2012, Father Chris Riley was nominated as NSW
Australian of the Year for his work with disadvantaged youth.
Father Chris Riley continues to work with
selfless determination, hard work, respect for his clients and staff, and, above
all, good humour. He still believes:
‘There
is no such thing as a bad child. There are only bad circumstances….’ Father Chris Riley
References:
Wikipedia
Youth Off the Streets website (http://www.youthoffthe
streets.com.au)
Father Chris Riley AM (http://www.australianof
the year.org.au/honour-roll)
Sydney Morning Herald
