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Helping young people in need

Our programs and services help these young people find the help they need and work toward achieving their goals.

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We’ve been helping kids, teens, young adults and their families for over 48 years. We are committed to helping kids succeed and advocating for those in need.

We consider youth homelessness to be a child protection matter, not simply an accommodation issue. Our programs and services help these young people find the help they need and work toward achieving their goals.

Learn more about us

Watch our video overview and see what Caretakers Cottage is all about

Our Programs

Caretakers Crisis Refuge

The Caretakers Cottage Youth Refuge is located in Bondi and houses up to 10 young people between 13 and 17 years old.

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Options Youth Support

Options has a strong focus on working towards independence from the social welfare system.

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Entity Permanency Support

Entity provides 4 places for young people aged from 12 to 17 years old in a house that runs similarly to a family home.

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Safer Pathways

Safer Pathway is a NSW Government program that supports male victim-survivors of domestic and family violence across NSW.

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48 yrs

We’ve provided a supportive & nurturing environment for young people

567

Young people received help from our services in 2023-2024

19.77 %

Of our clients were indigenous during the 2023-2024 time period

About us

Our story began with a teen Drop-in-Centre, a guest house and finally a Youth Refuge. Laurie and Sara Matthews, together with the help of their family and local community, established what would become one of the very first Youth Refuges in New South Wales.

Since opening those early beginnings, Caretakers Cottage has helped thousands of young people – residential and non-residential – find a safe place to live and build a better future.

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Caretakers are a registered charity with ACNC.

We are accredited by the Office of the Childrens Guardian which allows Caretakers to provide support and accommodation for young people who are in the care of the minister.

Caretakers is Australia Service of Excellence Standard (ASES) accredited

“Without you guys, I may have never fully recovered from my experience in hospital and may not be alive today to share my story and help others who have been in similar situations.

No matter how big or small you think you may have contributed, know that you guys have changed my life for the better and I will be forever grateful for that”

Vincent

“Options case management support has been pivotal in helping me achieve my goals, providing me with the means to obtain an amazing job as a mentor that I balance with university work. By referring me to programs that can lead me down the right path, Options has given me the chance to make an impact on the world and achieve goals that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise”

Sarah

“My Caseworker offered me a variety of supports from finance to general advice. I always felt satisfied with the solutions we came up with”

Mirabella

EVERY BIT HELPS!

A small donation can really help our organisation make a huge difference in a young persons life.

PHONE 02 9389 0999

Caretakers Cottage acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land and honour their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities today.
We welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse and non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people at all of our services. We pledge to provide inclusive and non-discriminatory services.