Pat Ryan, the CEO of Third Link charity partner Dismantle, has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours for his exceptional service to the community through social welfare organisations. Through his leadership at the award-winning charity Dismantle and his advocacy in the social enterprise sector, Pat has made a profound impact on thousands of vulnerable young lives across the state of WA.
“Receiving the Order of Australia Medal is a humbling acknowledgment of our collective efforts to support vulnerable youth. This honour belongs to every volunteer, staff member, and supporter who has tirelessly contributed to our cause. I’m proud of the impact we’ve made to date, but there is still a long way to go before we can say that every young person is getting a fair go.”
Pat Ryan
Dismantle’s innovative approach to supporting at-risk young people through programs like BikeRescue and ReNew Property Maintenance has carved out a model of crucial early intervention and sustainable pathways to employment, transforming lives and futures along the way. Third Link has supported Dismantle since 2018.
BikeRescue has worked with close to 2000 at-risk young people as of June this year, including rolling out a series of regional and remote programs in the mid-west of WA (Mullewa, Yalgoo, Mt Magnet and Leonora) targeting a cohort of Indigenous teens experiencing physical, mental, and/or emotional disadvantage and/or related psycho-social issues. All 40 young people involved with the programs kept their newly restored bikes, with the rest donated to the local community.
In five short years, ReNew has turned a $100k start-up grant into a $2 million (annual turnover) enterprise, recently surpassing $1 million in wages paid to at-risk young people and creating over 100 jobs for WA’s disadvantaged young people. More than a financial milestone, these figures represent life-changing opportunities and financial independence for young people like Taylor.
Taylor’s story
“Taylor” (pictured) began her journey with ReNew in early 2021 at the age of 22. Initially reserved and cautious, she encountered challenges in finding her voice among team leaders and fellow youth employees. However, over time, Taylor’s transformation became increasingly apparent.
Gradually, she overcame her social anxieties and embraced the opportunity to connect with her colleagues at ReNew and Dismantle, particularly when conversations revolved around her deep passion for horses and animals. Growing up surrounded by farms and horses, Taylor possessed a natural connection and knowledge for animals.
Over the past three years, Taylor’s journey has been remarkable, with staff from all areas of Dismantle commenting on her growth. Starting from tentative steps into HQ, she has evolved into a confident and empowered individual, almost unrecognisable from the shy young woman who first walked through Dismantle’s doors.
Fuelled by her passion and newfound confidence, Taylor approached an equine hospital in Perth’s outer metro, where they immediately noticed her fantastic work ethic and love for the horses, quickly moving from one day a week to almost full-time employment. A pivotal moment in her journey was when she confidently addressed the entire office to announce her new position – something that seemed unimaginable just a few years earlier.
“Taylor’s journey has been the most significant confidence transformation I’ve witnessed in my three years at ReNew. She has overcome significant personal hurdles along the way with maturity and compassion for the people around her. I couldn’t be prouder of her and can’t wait to hear about her continued success in pursuing her passions.” – Team Leader at ReNew
Every young person who signs up for one of Dismantle’s programs has to overcome extreme personal, family and other challenges. Taylor has secured an exceptional opportunity and provided an example of what a journey will look like for new recruits starting out.
For more information about BikeRescue or ReNew Property Maintenance, contact Dismantle.
