THESE five young people are examples of the value of SYFS services.

Meet Jaike, Jessica, Amy, Selina and Rebecca.

Jaike Findlay, turned 19 on Saturday. He was married last year and has a three-year-old daughter. Jaike and his wife have used SYFS accommodation services while they complete further education. Jaike has completed a carpentry pre-apprenticeship at Wollongong TAFE and is now looking for an apprenticeship. Last year Jaike joined 14 other young people walking the Larapinta Trail to Uluru with NSW Premier Mike Baird.

Jaike said SYFS support meant his family could stay together.

"Without SYFS we would have drifted apart and I would not have gotten married."

Rebecca* is 16 and left home when she was 12. Rebecca's older and younger siblings have also used/are using SYFS services. After a period with foster care, which Rebecca found didn't suit her, she returned to SYFS. Rebecca left school and tried TAFE. This year she has re-enrolled in school to do years 10-11 and 12 and works two part-time jobs.

Her ultimate career goal is youth work.

"I want to be a leader at holiday camps."

Amy Davies is 22. A year ago Amy was living in Wollongong Women's Refuge's short-term housing. She was referred to SYFS Foyer program.

The program provides medium to long-term supported housing for homeless people or those at risk of homelessness, who are in engaged in or preparing to engage in education, training and pre-employment and employment support.

Amy is part-way through a social work degree. After starting at The University of New England, she will continue it as part of the first group through a new social work course at University of Wollongong.

"SYFS have been fantastic," she said. "They have provided me with so many things, stable affordable accommodation, teaching me living skills, providing emotional support."

Jessica Ratcliffe is 19. She has been in SYFS supported accommodation housing for a number of years and has help from a number of organisations including House with No Steps and Greenacres, where she works four days a week. SYFS has taught Jessica social skills and living skills which has seen her blossom and become much more capable and positive. She currently works at Greenacres four days a week.

She is hoping to enrol in an aged care course.

"At the age of 15, I looked after my grandmother when she was dying and I'd like to do that course," she said.

"The support means a lot to me; without having a roof over my head and somewhere to live I would probably be living out on the street."

Jessica was one of the first to register for the Great Illawarra Walk.

Selina* is 18. She moved into the service when she was 14, from foster care, which she and her siblings were put into when Selina was 12.

Foster care did not work out and a very rebellious but scared Selina was placed into into crisis care for about six months.

Selina is in the care of the state and she went first to a highly-supported care facility and then a semi-independent facility. Selina switched schools and was supported through SYFS to finish her education and with living skills including getting her driver's licence. At the start of last year she did an event management certificate at TAFE.

She currently works as an administration assistant at a successful Wollongong restaurant.

"I am trained in four sectors of my work," she said.

"I prefer the event management side of things because that is what I am trained in."

* Surnames withheld