A Drink with Jeff | Geraldine Dean

In our “A Drink with Jeff” series, Campbelltown Catholic Club community liaison Jeff McGill has been catching up with a diverse selection of club identities. This time, he caught up with GERALDINE DEAN of Youth Solutions.

You can’t stop young people from partying. That’s the reality of it.

And let’s face it, strict lectures often don’t cut it: some still end up partying until they’re face down in a toilet or, even worse, wrapped around a telegraph pole.

But here’s a thought — what if, instead of preaching at them, we gave young people the tools to make their own smart decisions? What if we empowered them to take charge of their own well-being? Even better, why not enlist local clubs as allies rather than adversaries in this mission?

That’s exactly why Youth Solutions is one of the most respected, and effective, charities in Macarthur. For decades, they’ve been helping young people make informed choices about alcohol and drugs. In fact, Campbelltown Catholic Club has been a proud financial backer of Youth Solutions for much of that time, reaching deep into local schools and communities.

At the helm is CEO Geraldine Dean, who’s led the charge since 2011. She is perhaps more a strategist than a youth worker — her weapon of choice being the power of conversation, education, and yeah, a bit of humour.  And that, my friends, is a whole lot smarter than just standing on a soapbox and telling a problem not to exist.

So we invited Geraldine as our latest ‘Drink with Jeff’ interview.

She breezed through the club foyer, a familiar face to many, and quickly fell into conversation with Sue McGarrity and Christine Edge, two members of our other beloved local charity, the 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer. Macarthur is a community that knows how to make its own luck.

I couldn’t help but recall that it was right here in this very foyer in 2009 where Youth Solutions launched its “Don’t Be [A] Random” campaign — the first of many partnerships with The Catho. Over a quiet (non-alcoholic) drink, I asked Geraldine to break down Youth Solutions’ work for me.

“We’re a youth health service,” she said with a smile. “Our goal is simple: connect and support young people to be healthy and safe. We listen to them, give them purpose, and provide accurate health education to counter the misinformation they might find online. We also give them practical life skills to navigate these challenges. The great thing is, when you give young people the right information and involve them in the conversation, they’re incredibly smart. We engage with them through schools, sports groups, TAFE, and the wider community. A lot of our work is focused on outreach, meeting them where they are.”

What, personally, are the memories that stand out?

“These days, it’s when staff come back from community sessions, all fired up with stories. They’ll tell us about a young person who said it was the first time they felt safe opening up. That’s huge for us. Teachers tell us they’ve had students for years but never heard them speak like that. It’s incredibly rewarding to see young people empowered to share their experiences.”

Geraldine’s background? It’s a fascinating journey. She started in the 1990s working in public relations and marketing for Campbelltown City Council — everything from organising seniors festivals to working as a tourism officer at the Quandong Visitor Information Centre (which happens to be owned by the Catholic Club). In 2000, she got involved with the Paralympics Torch Relay, where she formed a strong bond with Rebecca Whitford, who later joined Youth Solutions as it was being rebranded  [from the Macarthur Drug & Alcohol Young Project]. “I was keen to get involved, not only to work with Rebecca but it was such a great cause.” Little did Geraldine know, this would become far more than a quick job — it would become her vocation. She had a degree in social science, but has since added a host of extra training and diplomas to her resume. Today, she leads a passionate team of youth health workers.

But, in her own youth, was Geraldine a girl who needed solutions?

“I’m really proud and grateful for my childhood in Campbelltown,” Geraldine said. “I grew up in a loving family with two sisters. I went to St Thomas More Primary and John Therry High. My parents, Paul and Rhonda Kennedy, were very involved in our activities. I have wonderful memories, especially of the St Thomas More fetes. But like anyone, my  journey to adulthood was not perfect. I was exposed to issues like drugs, alcohol, mental health, and even suicide through extended family and friends.”

But it was also in her upbringing that she saw the power of conversation and connection and the brilliance in solutions that consider different points of view. “My dad was a staunch unionist, but he had a close friend in the Liberal Party — back when people could still be friends despite political differences. I think today’s young people face a huge challenge in terms of isolation. They’re desperate for real connection and accurate information, not the misinformation they’re bombarded with online.”

Bishop Brian Mascord recently highlighted how clubs play a crucial role in building community, especially in a time where loneliness and disconnection are rampant. He said, “Clubs provide a space where people can be known, respected, and valued.”

Geraldine certainly remembers the Catholic Club as an ever-present backdrop in her life —  from the Jack Crawford Games (named after a former Catho director) at John Therry, to the school formals that were held at the Club. “Remember the old Kings nightclub in the auditorium upstairs,” she beamed. Then, there were all  the times she spent working with The Catho as a young council promotions officer, reeling of fold names such as [former CEO] Steve Muter.

Our club was even the location of her first date with ( now-husband) Donny. “It was around 2003, during the laser light show at Koshigaya Park. We came across to the Catholic Club for a meal, and that was the start of something special.” Fast forward, and they’re now proud parents and grandparents, with a blended family that Geraldine cherishes.

“I became a step-mother to three, and had two more. We’ve now got two granddaughters.  So really, its not the path that most people would expect to take, and it was a huge learning curve, but I’m really  grateful for it all. She speaks lovingly of each family member, their schooling and chosen careers, and says proudly they made wise choices — “most of the time”. (At that point I laughed aloud, and suggested my own kids were a lot wiser in their choices than I had been at their age.) “Just because I’m in youth work and think I know what’s going on,” Geraldine offered, “I’m still a mother who experiences the same stresses as any other mother out there. They’re good kind individuals, my children, but, yes, they can also test me.”

We discussed the hundreds of thousands of dollars the Club has spent supporting Youth Solutions [award-winning] campaigns as part of its wider commitment to training staff in responsible alcohol service and maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for bad behaviour. “Im my experience local clubs do truly care about the community,” Geraldine said. “The boards, senior staff — they’re parents, too. They want what’s best for their kids.”

“Alcohol is so entrenched in society, but we only talk about the behaviours, not always the whys — and if you remove that one item from a scenario it can play out differently. It’s also about challenging a view of what’s normal. Is drinking at an early age normal? Is vaping at an early age normal? It’s okay not to do those things. It’s also about real life practical knowledge, so if faced with things such as a party with unsafe behaviours  they know what to do to help their friends. We want young people to be their own health advocates. We want them to know how to seek help and make changes in their lives if needed. We offer brief advice and referral to support services and are part of a network of organisations  in the local area ready to assist. Youth Solutions does what its name says . . . we offer solutions. We don’t want to be another point of contact that has been disappointing.”

Looking ahead, Geraldine is excited about a new initiative with The Catho, a program called Health Pro+ which works with emerging health professionals to reduce stigma and discrimination against young people dealing with substance use and mental health issues. It’s already making a real difference, she said. “We’ve got programs with students, sometimes in third year of GP practice or fourth year of paramedicine, recognising that a person is more than symptoms and prejudgments. Keeping young people from losing faith in the health care system is something that has come up again and again in our consultations.”

Geraldine knows that no community can thrive in isolation.  Every sector, every organisation, every person has a part to play in creating a safer environment for youth. The venues that host her workshops, the businesses that offer resources, and the community leaders who back her mission all contribute to the broader effort.

I think that’s a secret to Geraldine’s success,. When I looked back at our conversation at The Catho, I feared that I had actually done most of the talking. But Geraldine is not just a speaker; she’s a listener, a confidante, and, most importantly, a role model. Her approach is always relatable, never preachy, and deeply grounded in the real-life experiences.

A great friend for The Catho . . .and vice versa.

So, here’s to Geraldine, let’s raise a glass (but maybe not too many, right?).