Guiding Youth Towards a Brighter Future

Discover How 4TK Australia Supports At-Risk Youth in Victoria

4TK Australia is dedicated to empowering disadvantaged youth through training programs that promote employment readiness and independent living skills.

4TK – For The Kids – offers a safe community space designed specifically to ensure youth feel welcome and accepted. Experienced staff are trained to build self-confidence, and provide a place where youth feel they belong.

Empowerment First

Our tailored approach focuses on providing essential skills, fostering trust, and creating a sense of community for at-risk youth.

Our Mission

To empower Victorian youth to become independent and live healthy lives where they are able to contribute to community.
We listen to our youth, believe in them and empower them.

Our Vision

Caring for and empowering disadvantaged and at risk youth.

Core Values

Trust . Respect . Community . Inclusion . Purpose

Meet the Team

Ricky

Founder

Ricky began his professional career as a Chef, he worked hard and experienced success quickly. After being named in the Top 3 Apprentices for the Year, he was offered an opportunity overseas. Instead of taking a job abroad he filled two passports satisfying his passion for travel. He eventually decided he’d love to be a plumber and went about retraining, including completing business courses and licence streams. He now runs his own successful plumbing business. Ricky’s intention is that 4Tk is the first of many youth centres he will establish in Victoria, in his pursuit to care for disadvantaged youth.

Carissa

Cheif Executive Officer

Carissa enjoyed 16 years as an educator, before getting involved in the early stages of a Not for Profit. Her role was largely in Partnerships and funding procurement, where she learnt the importance of authentic relationships in an organisation’s success. She’s recently spent time in local government working with community leaders to build wellbeing in their workplaces. Across her career Carissa has always worked to improve the physical and mental health of those around her. She loves walking, watching sport and spending time with her family and friends.

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Our Story

Our why, the journey so far.

Our Founder Ricky was born into a family where his parents suffered drug dependency . By age 12 he experienced social anxiety, school refusal and was struggling significantly. Fortunately, Ricky’s Grandma stepped in, and he went to live with her. The move to his Grandma’s house was the catalyst for enrolment and completion of a course at Eastern Health that changed his life. He gained skills that gave him the confidence to move schools, and with the support of his Grandparents, was in a much healthier place.

Ricky was 14 and 9 months when at Grandma’s prompting, he got his first part-time job. Suddenly he realised money brought independence and gave him a measure of control over his future. Ricky worked hard and by age 16 was working two part time jobs, after school and on weekends. Due to having significant gaps in his education when he was younger, he decided to leave traditional schooling and instead pursued a career as a Chef. He excelled and won prizes for his work, he was even offered an opportunity at a restaurant in San Francisco! Ultimately, Ricky decided the life of a Chef wasn’t for him; instead, he went back to school to become a Plumber. 12 years later, he’s 33 and runs his own successful plumbing business.

In 2019, Ricky shattered his foot, causing him to have time off work. With time to think about what’s important in life, he made the decision to give back. It was during this time Ricky rented a space and refurbished it completely to create a facility for at-risk and disadvantaged youth. 4Tk (For the Kids) was officially born.

Little did Ricky know, a global pandemic was about to hit and he’d be faced with two years rent and utilities on a facility that youth couldn’t access due to lockdowns. Despite facing numerous set-backs, he demonstrated persistence and pushed on to ensure 4TK would open it’s doors. With restrictions eased, he has now employed two staff members, and 4TK is being utilised by community groups.

Ricky is a capable young man, with a lived experience and a heart to help kids.

Get Involved and Make a Difference

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