They have done amazing work to support youth such as my daughter Skye. In Year 10, she did the Sea to Snow program with them.

She found such a great family of people who saw her potential. Skye found academics a challenge and this was a perfect avenue for her. They suggested Skye might like a school-based traineeship.

Going into Year 11, she signed up for the next two years. Her one day at TAFE and one day working at The Crossing meant she only went to Narooma High three days a week.

As she wasn't academically inclined, her school work did suffer, but her confidence through Dean and Annette soared. She learned about the environment, worked with youth and was a leader when groups came to The Crossing.

She also went on another Sea to Snow last year as a leader. She attended the last couple of Cobargo Folk Festivals as a singer.

She did some background work preparing veggie beds at River Cottage and participated in so much more.

The Turners showed there were other options if being a top school student was not the way.

Last year, through their encouragement, she applied to Outward Bound and was offered training with 15 other people.

She will be with them for the next few years.

I just spoke to her on the phone after being out of communication for two weeks. She wore through a pair of hiking boots on an adventure she said was the hardest thing she had ever done.

She was extremely happy.

This opportunity would not have been there for her if it it was not for Dean and Annette at The Crossing giving our youth a direction and ambition.

Deborah Threlfall

Nerrigundah

Each year on Australia Day, Australians come together to celebrate living and being part of this nation - a multicultural nation, a nation expanding and thriving on accepting people of all different races, cultures and backgrounds.

This year, I am asking you to look at multiculturalism from a different angle.

While multiculturalism describes the values and beliefs we hold close, this term can be divisive in nature. 

Multiculturalism recognises the differences in background, skin colour and lifestyle and asks us to accept them.

Instead of multiculturalism, a term which focuses on the differences of our country and our people, I implore you to focus more on a common humanity.

We all have this, yet no one celebrates what we have in common, we instead focus on our differences.

The key to acceptance and harmony is both; finding similarities, and accepting differences.  Neither are more important, and having one without the other creates an imbalance which grows into disconnection with community, feelings of being unwelcome and isolation.

Our country is diverse, and we should celebrate that. But we should celebrate not just the diversity of our friends, family and neighbours; we should celebrate our common humanity. 

I have worked with young people my entire life and have seen a variety of kids from all different cultures and backgrounds grow and develop into kind, generous and thoughtful people. 

Their backgrounds are irrelative to their nature; my kids are good people because that is who they are, and that is what defines them.

Father Chris Riley

CEO and Founder at Youth Off The Streets