At 3.45am, Laura and Meggie were walking back to the Safe Space at Town Hall to finish their all-night shift. They found a man lying on the road covered in blood. Immediately going to his assistance Laura commenced providing CPR to the man who had been badly beaten by a group of other men. The man stopped breathing twice as they waited for the paramedics to arrive and take over.
Few people would have known that Meggie is Thomas Kelly’s cousin. Absolutely amazing work. We are so proud of both of you.
Working with the police, ambulance and paramedics this shows how crucial the Savlos Street Teams and Take Kare Ambassadors are to the night scene in Sydney.
"It's great to see the industry itself wanting to do something," said Ralph Kelly. "We're all on the same side. We want people to be safe, we want people to have a fun night out."
Brown knows what he is doing. The 31-year-old is the co-ordinator of the Take Kare ambassadors, a group of Salvation Army workers and volunteers who offer assistance to young people who find themselves in strife on a night out in the city every Friday and Saturday night.
Crossbench senator David Leyonhjelm wants to reignite the debate about Sydney's lockout laws, describing them as an over-reaction to a "moral panic" about one punch deaths.
The Liberal Democrat senator says the controversial laws will be a key focus of his Senate inquiry into the "nanny state" – government rules and regulations that restrict personal choice.
The Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation was invited to present at a fundraiser in Sydney on Tuesday 10th March 2015.
Along with three other charities, all of whom are doing amazing work to make the world a better place. We were each given 6-minutes plus 6-minutes Q&A to get our message across to the audience.
The people in the room that night dug deep and donated a total amount of $212,000 to the four charities. None of us could believe the total generosity of the human spirit in the room that night.
Blown away. Faith restored in humanity. Thank you to all of the people who attended that night.
If offenders of domestic and non domestic violence, stopped and think about the consequences of their actions - for the victim, families, friends - the greater community, we would all live in a much better and safer world.
Part of Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy would like to see a return to the days when players sorted out their differences with a flurry of punches on the field and a post-game handshake.
But the Storm coach admits today's society can no longer allow violence to exist in professional sport due to the prevalence of "one-punch" deaths.
Community victory: Fewer young people are dying and our police are no longer required to channel precious resources into tackling preventable alcohol-fuelled crime.
Today we will receive the first official word on whether Sydney's lockout laws have been a success.
IT was once seething with violence, where coward-punch assaults were all too common and young people put their lives at risk just to enjoy a night out. Twelve months after strict and, to some, controversial lock-outs were introduced, Kings Cross is no longer a hot-bed of crime.
The Lord Mayor - Clover Moore, personally extended an invitation to all of the Take Kare volunteers to attend a "Thank you" morning tea to recognise the volunteers of the 'Safe Space and Take Kare Ambassador Program."
In the program’s first 11 weeks, 130 volunteers provided support to more than 1,700 people – including giving first aid to 200 people, charging 170 phones, and handing out 2,300 bottles of water and 250 pairs of thongs.
NSW Attorney General Brad Hazzard said the government was so pleased with the outcomes, it was investing an extra $37,500 to allow the Safe Space to operate until the end of May.
The Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation today officially announced its partnership with the "NSW/ACT Alcohol Policy Alliance" (NAAPA).
The alliance now has 47 members calling on the State Government of NSW and the Federal Government to engage with the community to make life-saving policy to address current alcohol harms.
The warning message in this quote made 38 years ago has largely gone unheeded:
“Alcohol is the major drug of abuse in Australia. It now constitutes a problem of epidemic proportions [and] …any failure by governments or individuals to acknowledge that a major problem - and potential national disaster - is upon us would constitute gross irresponsibility.”
Thanks to Febfast, Dry July and Ocsober we're getting used to the idea of a holiday from alcohol – a four-week break that can reconnect us with the bright side of zero alcohol like more money and less brain fog. But what about the health benefits of taking more regular mini-breaks from wine, beer and spirits – like the two alcohol-free days a week that are often recommended to help reduce the risks from drinking?
Mr Kelly held a joint press-conference with St. Vincent's Hospital's Dr Tony Grabs, who noticed significant changes since the laws came into place.
"We've seen probably a 50 per cent reduction in the number of people coming through the emergency department that have severe intoxication or as victims of violence in association with alcohol," Dr Grabs said.
Chalk and cheese. That's the common response from frontline doctors and nurses at St Vincent's Hospital when asked about life before and after the introduction of Sydney's lock-out laws.
Since the NSW Government began to limit alcohol availability in key inner-Sydney areas early last year, the volume and severity of alcohol-related trauma presentations to the hospital has changed dramatically. The difference is both stark and very human.
Young people can look forward to a safer night out in Sydney this summer thanks to a Safe Space trial organised by the NSW Government, the City of Sydney, the Salvation Army and the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation.
From tonight, a Safe Space will be established in Sydney Square next to Town Hall to offer first aid, water, phone access and transport information to vulnerable young people who may be intoxicated or affected by drugs.
The NSW Government recognises and supports the work of the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation’s Take Kare program
Take Kare is all about responsible drinking, looking after yourself – your family, friends and even strangers. Knowing when enough is enough, stepping back from a situation that may get out of control, knowing your limitation.
Lawyers have now filed an application for special leave to appeal in the High Court on a number of grounds, including the appeal court's failure to properly take into account that he was an Aboriginal offender from a deprived background.
On Monday 08th September, 2014, the Foundation was invited to participate in a drug and alcohol summit held by the University of NSW, Department of Medicine.