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Local out of home care program BCS Pathways, located in Wyong, celebrated 20 years of care to young people on Thursday 9 June.

Former and current staff and residents of the programs joined with BCS Chief Executive Officer Mr Ross Low and the NSW Children’s Guardian Ms Kerryn Boland to enjoy a slice of birthday cake and receive the five year accreditation certificate.

BCS Pathways is an out of home care youth accommodation service, providing seven day residential care to six young people aged between 12 and 17 years.

Manager of BCS Pathways Mrs Sam Gribble has been with the program for 14 of its 20 years.

“The residents here at BCS Pathways have all experience traumatic backgrounds and experiences,” said Mrs Gribble.

“Due to the adversity they have had to endure, these young people have not had the same opportunities as others. At Pathways, we endeavour to give these young people what every child deserves; the chance to live a ‘normal life’, which includes giving them the opportunity to experience a different way of life, one that is abuse free and full of good memories.”

“One of the benefits of being at Pathways for so many years is being able to see many of the young people return, and to hear how their life has transpired with Pathways having played a positive role in their journey.”

"It is really nice to be around long enough to hear this! Because like many children who first move out of home, it is often not until they mature and even become parents themselves that they realise that their parents, or in our case, caregivers, did have their best interests at heart,” she said. 

The BCS Pathways program was established on a 50 acre property at Somersby in February 1991, and relocated within its first year of operation to the current Wyong property.