Ordained as a Salesian priest in 1982, Father Chris Riley AM went on to become a tireless advocate for the rights and wellbeing of disadvantaged young people in Australia.

In 1991 he founded Youth Off The Streets, beginning with a single food van in Sydney’s Kings Cross. Under his leadership, the organisation grew into a non-denominational youth service delivering crisis accommodation and housing support, education pathways, drug and alcohol counselling, youth justice programs, community outreach, cultural support and more. He stepped down as CEO in 2020 due to health challenges.

Father Riley believed that children are shaped by their environments and circumstances, and that these should not define them or limit their potential. He welcomed young people from all walks of life, including those experiencing homelessness, family violence, trauma, involvement with the justice system and all forms of systemic disadvantage.

Throughout his career, Father Riley worked closely with multicultural communities, ensuring that young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds had access to education, housing and counselling support that was tailored to their needs. He also built bridges across religious and social divides, earning support from leaders across the community.

He pioneered flexible schooling models for young people who had disconnected from mainstream education and founded six accredited independent high schools across NSW, including Key College in Redfern and EDEN College in Macquarie Fields. These schools offered alternative education pathways to young people, many of whom went on to pursue further education, employment and leadership roles in a range of professions.

Father Riley’s work did not just change individual lives, it had a generational impact. His determination to improve life outcomes for at-risk young people meant they had access to support and opportunities that would otherwise have been unavailable to them.

Father Riley garnered cross-party respect from political leaders and his legacy is remembered through many honours. This includes a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006, a Human Rights Medal in 2006, an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Western Sydney in 2010 and being named NSW Australian of the Year in 2012.

Father Riley’s work positively impacted tens of thousands of young Australians over more than three decades. After stepping down from Youth Off The Streets due to illness, his vision continues through the work of over 220 staff and a dedicated community of volunteers. The organisation remains committed to Father Riley’s founding principles of empathy, non-judgement and belief in every young person’s potential.