Youth outreach · ACT & surrounding region · since 1986

Meeting young people where they are.

Raw Potential youth workers support 12–25-year-olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness: creative, flexible support that comes to you, anywhere across the ACT and its surroundings. No judgement, ever.

Donate now I need support

Donations are tax deductible. Every dollar stays in Canberra.

A scene from the Raw Potential introduction

Watch introduction

For young people

Doing it tough? We've got your back.

Worried about where you'll sleep, your safety, or just don't know who to trust? Our youth workers work across the ACT and its surroundings, and we come to you. Call or email and we'll take it from there.

Help with immediate needs, plus short and long-term goals
ID, Medicare, Centrelink and Housing ACT applications
Accommodation advocacy and connections to housing providers

Call us (02) 6282 2644 Email us rawpotential@wcs.org.au

Drop in 29 Callam Street, Phillip ACT

Teacher, worker or parent? Download the referral form (PDF) or reach us on the same lines.

What we do

Support that goes to the young person, not the other way around.

Raw Potential isn't centre-based or tied to one region. We work across the ACT and its surroundings, assisting with immediate needs as well as short and long-term goals. We're not an accommodation service, but we connect young people with accommodation providers and partner with local youth services on safety, health and wellness, education and career options, and social inclusion.

A big group of young people and Raw Potential youth workers smiling together under the Possum Shed at a program day

Case management and coordination

Short to long-term case management, approximately 3 to 12 months, for young people experiencing homelessness. Engagement is voluntary, goal-centred and individualised to each young person. Access is via referral, and wait times can apply.

Goals and supports can include outreach support where we come to you, case coordination across multiple services, applying for ID, Medicare, Centrelink and Housing ACT, OneLink registrations and accommodation advocacy, food relief and community pantries, legal support and Legal Aid, referrals to specialist health and wellbeing services, and resume, training and employment help.

A young person receiving free treatment from a dentist on a Dental Rescue Day

Dental Rescue Days

With the Australian Dental Health Foundation, we coordinate Dental Rescue Days four times a year: dental care for young people who may not otherwise be able to access it, with transport and aftercare organised for all eligible young people.

Training days & resume workshops

ACCESS Recognised Training provides five face-to-face hospitality training courses each year, free of charge, delivered at Woden Community Service with a maximum of 12 young people per course, plus targeted and tailored resume workshops.

A group of young people at a high-ropes course activity day

Raw Connection

A partnership with Synergy Group Canberra: fun, engaging day activities hosted several times a year, built on social engagement, teamwork and connection, encouraging young people to step outside their comfort zones in a safe and supported environment.

Events & outreach

With the Youth Engagement Team, we're out at events all year: Youth Week activities, Sunset Festival, Mental Health Month, Youth Homelessness Matters Day, Homelessness Week, NAIDOC celebrations and many more.

Our impact

Forty years on the same streets.

These aren't projections. They're what Raw Potential has already done, reported by our team.

1986: The year Raw Potential was established in Canberra. We've been doing outreach here ever since.
10,000+: At-risk and vulnerable young people helped since the charity began.
1,500+: Young people supported through our outreach programs in 2022 alone.
95%: Of every donation goes directly to helping young people in need, and all of it stays in Canberra.

Watch

Fifteen minutes with the people doing the work.

Numbers only say so much. The Raw Potential documentary follows the youth workers and the young people, in the words of the people living it. Worth every minute.

Watch documentary on Vimeo ↗

A scene from the Raw Potential documentary

Watch documentary

Donate

Keep Raw Potential going.

Raw Potential is fully funded by sponsorship and donations. Our programs and youth workers are supported by the generosity of local Canberrans and businesses.

More than 95% of every donation goes directly to young people, and every dollar stays right here in Canberra. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Prefer to talk it through, or want to give another way? Call (02) 6282 2644.

Choose an amount

$25 $50 $100 $250 $500 Your amount

Donate securely via TryBooking

You'll finish your donation on TryBooking, our secure donation partner. Your donation is tax deductible.

Humans being human

528+

donations from locals, every single one keeping a youth worker on the street.
Make it one more.

In their words

“I'm extremely happy, happiest I've ever been at a dentist.”
Dental Rescue Day participant

“A lot of the time that just means showing up, being present, and doing what we say we will do.”
Stacey, youth worker

“They started feeling much more confident and empowered, taking control of their life.”
Case worker

Our ambassador

Xavier Savage

Canberra Raiders

Canberra Raiders winger and fullback Xavier Savage is Raw Potential's ambassador, lending his profile to the young Canberrans this work is for.

News & events

What's on, what's new.

Fundraisers, program updates and stories from our community, all on our news page.

See news & events

Get involved

Money isn't the only way in.

Raw Potential runs on donations, but it's carried by people. Here's where you fit.

Volunteer

Join the crew behind outreach nights, community events and program days. Training and good company provided.

Ask about volunteering

Partner with us

Corporate sponsorship keeps our youth workers on the move year-round. Join the local businesses already backing the work.

Talk partnerships

Fundraise

Workplace giving, a birthday fundraiser, a community event: every local effort keeps help on the streets.

Start a fundraiser

Sponsor shoutout

The locals who keep us moving.

Raw Potential is fully funded by sponsorship and donations. Every program we run and every young person we support benefits from the generosity of Canberra businesses and foundations. These are the people helping make it possible. Thank you.

Want your name up here? Become a sponsor