Our Staff

Laurie Matthews

Chief Executive Officer

Laurie is first and foremost a committed caseworker who has been helping disadvantaged young people and their families for over 45 years. It is this experience that enables Laurie to develop programs and services that have truly changed young people’s lives. Laurie is passionate about helping young people to grow and successfully engage with life and the community through education, employment, and social connection.

Laurie has a body of knowledge that enables him to navigate the complex network of decision makers and policy gatekeepers. Laurie is a key resource for many government departments and is a well-connected lobbyist with both government and the NGO sector.

Laurie and his family sewed the foundations of Caretakers Cottage in 1972 with a grant of just $40 from Woollahra Council to run a drop in centre. Since that humble beginning, the organisation has provided accommodation support to well over 40,000 children, teenagers and young adults across Caretakers four different programs.  Laurie is an industry leader and continues to take a ground-breaking approach to supporting disadvantaged young people.

Laurie has been a Board member of the peak body Yfoundations as well as the boards of some other youth services. He plays a role supporting small NGO’s that are attempting to position themselves in the youth homelessness sector.

Laurie has received several awards in recognition of his tireless work for young people and their families in our community. He has received an Order of Australia OAM, Good Citizen Award from the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, and a Community Service Award from Randwick City Council, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Youth Action NSW, the state’s peak body organisation for youth & youth services.