About Us

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Est. 2010

RADFLY: 
Realise A Difference For Local Youth

RADFLY

Realise A Difference
 For Local Youth

RADFLY is run by a group of passionate volunteers dedicated to making a difference to the lives of young people in our Gold Coast Community by raising funds and awareness.

Our values

CARING: RADFLY supports organisations that provide respectful, compassionate and non-judgmental interactions with local youth.

OPPORTUNITY: RADFLY aims to maximise fundraising endeavours in a manner that is beyond reproach.

COMMUNITY: RADFLY aims to positively impact the Gold Coast community

Who we support

YHES House

YHES House (Youth Health Education Services), under the auspices of Wesley Mission, Qld, is located in a purpose-built premise in Southport. YHES House is a free service for Gold Coast youth and young parents. It is a non-judgemental and respectful space that acts as a drop-in centre for young people aged 8-21 years, where they may enjoy a meal, a shower, access to laundry and so forth. YHES House also provides supported access to Centrelink and other allied health professionals, and a unique parenting program ranging from ante-natal until pre-school age.

Ohana for Youth

Ohana for Youth, incorporating Gen-Z Employment and Training, is a service funded by the Australian Government under the Transition to Work program, with a specialised approach to working with young people. They seek to invest in young people through continued development of strengths and talents, exposure to opportunities and resources, and creating real community connection. Gen-Z is a not-for-profit organisation with 17 years’ experience, five venues on the Gold Coast and are currently working with 1000 young people per annum.

Ohana Education

Ohana Education, incorporating Arcadia College, is a Special Assistance Secondary school (Years 7-12) that provides education and educational pathways to students who are disengaged from mainstream schooling. This education is as per the Australian Curriculum and is delivered in heavily welfare-based learning environment. The College offers a suite of programs that expose students to enriched learning experiences, indicative of societal expectations, curriculum imperatives and the complex demands of 21st-centruy life.

Achievements

Ohana for Youth is currently working with

1

young people annually

This year to date, YHES House has provided services to 

1

young people

Arcadia College currently has an enrolment of 

1

students in Years 7-12, undertaking an education aligned to the Australian Curriculum

Our committee members

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Naomi Middlebrook

President

Naomi is a Drama and Communication specialist working in education and the Gold Coast creative industries sector. She is committed to the belief that education and health empower young people to achieve their full potential in life and thereby create a solid foundation for our society. Naomi joined the RADFLY team in 2015 and oversees the marketing and social media for our organisation, as well as facilitating events.

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Amanda Johnson

Treasurer

Amanda is a founding member of RADFLY and from the time she could write had a mission to “make a difference” in the world. Amanda is a Director of Ohana for Youth, encompassing Gen Z as well as Ohana for Education t/a Arcadia College. She is passionate about assisting youth and has mentored and employed students from Arcadia College in her accounting practice. When she is not busy working in her Accounting Practice, she loves travelling.

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Gail Rowland

Archivist

Gail is a founding member of RADFLY. She has a nursing background and a Masters of TESOL (Teaching English to Students of Other Languages). In addition, to her current role of Secretary, Gail has provided a valuable photographic history of RADFLY since inception in 2010. Gail’s other contributions to the Gold Coast community include reading to early learners at local schools and supporting new English learners at TAFE.

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Jenni Maffey

Secretary

Jenni joined RADFLY in 2021 after supporting RADFLY events over the last few years. She has a background in law and teaching and believes in the transformative power of education. Jenni has experience in volunteer organisations working specifically with the homeless in the Gold Coast region and managing groups of volunteers. Her legal training allows her to ensure RADFLY continues to achieve its mission of opportunity and inclusiveness within the constraints of the regulatory environment.

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Vicki Wilkins

Assistant Treasurer

Vicki is a qualified accountant with over 30 years' experience. She was worked predominantly in the accounting profession but also ran a bookkeeping business when bringing up her children. She is the go-to person in relation to Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks. In her spare time Vicki trains and participates in triathlons, marathons and ironman events She is passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people in our community.

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Jane Donnelly

Strategic Direction Advisor

Jane is an experienced and energetic business executive with a demonstrated history of senior leadership within the financial services industry and telecommunications business. Jane is passionate about transformational change, customer experience, strategy and talent development with a deep experience in banking, retail, finance and sales management. She established the Regional Advisory Board for Qld at Telstra and was board chair for 4 years and today sits on several corporate and not for profit boards both as a member and advisor. Jane was a Telstra Women’s and Telstra Business Awards judge from 2016-2018.

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Our patron

RADFLY is fortunate to have the support of Chris Nyst

“No community has a more valuable asset, or better cause, than its youth. For more than three decades in my role as a criminal defence advocate I have had first-hand exposure to the tragedy of young lives that have lost a sense of meaning and direction. The experience has convinced me of the profound importance of ensuring the promise of opportunity to all young people, and the means to realise that opportunity. It is for that reason I feel deeply honoured to be named as a patron of RADFLY, a charity that will direct community support to the vital goal of restoring optimism and hope to the lives of young Gold Coasters.”