MEDIA AND PUBLICITY

REACH FACTS

• REACH VISION That every young person has the support and self-belief they need to fulfil their potential and dare to dream.

• REACH MISSION To encourage all young people, no matter what their circumstances, to believe they can achieve.

• Reach was established in 1994 by Jim Stynes OAM (AFL Brownlow Medallist, youth motivator, and Victorian of the Year 2003) and Paul Currie (drama coach and film director).

• For nearly two decades, Reach has made a positive impact in the lives of over half a million young Australians. Each year 58,000 young people participate in Reach programs.

• Reach delivers 14 programs nationally. Programs include workshops, weekends away and large scale events and are run in and outside of the school system.

• Reach programs support young people to increase self-belief and discover who they are.

• Reach programs promote the mental health and wellbeing of young people, by supporting them to develop skills including resilience and emotional awareness. It has been shown that developing these skills in adolescence can reduce serious problems faced later in life, including depression, substance abuse, homelessness and suicide.

• Independent research shows that Reach helps teenagers to improve overall levels of self-esteem, optimism, and feelings of control over themselves and their lives.¹

• Reach works with over 500 primary and secondary schools across Australia.

• Reach’s national office is located in Melbourne. In 2010 Reach established its first interstate office in Sydney.

For more information please contact Jodi Barry, General Manager – Communications on 03 9412 0927 or jodi.barry@reach.org.au