There’s a garden bed at Brentwood that started as a simple patch of soil. Eighteen months on, it’s full of cauliflower, sage, basil and parsley, a reminder of what steady tending can do.
The same could be said for Brentwood itself.
A Garden Worth Tending To
More Than a Place to Live
Brentwood opened in April 2025 as an in-reach supported accommodation program for young people experiencing homelessness. It provides young people with a place to live, alongside case management and tenancy support from a dedicated team.
The purpose is simple but significant: create stability, build independence, and support each young person to sustain their tenancy and transition towards longer-term housing. Over the past few months, that’s exactly what has been growing.
Building Skills and Independence
Four young people started TAFE this semester. Every course was fully funded by Brentwood, including protective clothing and equipment for placements, so no one had to choose between study and covering the cost of living.
For one young man, the road there was longer. He’d deferred last semester because he didn’t have a laptop that could handle the coursework. His case worker sourced a donated one to get him started, and thanks to a Centrecare Youth Grant, he now has a brand new laptop of his own on the way.
On the work front, three young people started new jobs, including one who secured a FIFO role after Brentwood covered the cost of his RSA certification. Another started work while navigating a legal matter and health issues at the same time. One young woman is running her own small business, with Brentwood funding storage shelving for her stock, and another young person has held continuous employment since the day he moved in.
Moving Towards Long-Term Housing
Two young people moved on from Brentwood into long-term accommodation this semester, the outcome the whole model works towards.
One is a first for the program: a young person settled into long-term housing. The other moved into a property with NEST, a Youth Futures service supporting young parents and their children.
“With young people facing significant housing and cost-of-living pressures, Brentwood offers more than a place to live. By combining accommodation with case management and tenancy support, the in-reach model creates the stability young people need to build independence and sustain a tenancy of their own. That’s why supported housing pathways are so important to preventing and ending youth homelessness.” – Rachael Nudds, Head of Homelessness Services
Celebrating Every Win
No matter how big or small the wins are, each one builds stability. One young person paid off a fine in full through the Work and Development Permit Scheme, another renewed their driver’s licence, and others have been supported to look after their health and wellbeing, from GP appointments to funded swim passes for stress relief.
“For me, seeing a young person achieve their goals is one of the best parts of being a Case Worker at Brentwood. It’s really rewarding to see where a young person starts and then, over time, watch their confidence, independence and belief in themselves grow.” – Heather, Case Worker
Still Growing
Behind every one of these outcomes is a case worker who chased the grant, made the call or drove out to pick something up, because they knew what that young person needed to take their next step.
What’s growing at Brentwood now, in the garden bed and in the lives of the young people who call it home, shows what stability and steady support can make possible.
Subscribe for updates
Be the first to hear about our latest news, stories, programs, and initiatives. Whether you're a supporter, a partner, or someone who simply believes in the potential of young people, we'd love to keep you in the loop. Sign up below and we'll be in touch.