About

Delhuntie Youth Care

Delhuntie Youth Care

Delhuntie is a not-for-profit, gift status organisation, founded in 1975 by Elwyn and Helen Scale. Delhuntie is located near Bulahdelah, on the mid north coast of NSW, a comfortable 1 hour drive north of Newcastle airport or 2.5 hour drive north of Sydney on the Pacific Highway.

Delhuntie is situated on 200 acres of pristine coastal bushland with a diverse array of vegetation featuring high cliffs and rocky outcrops overlooking the ocean, and palm valleys with creeks running through them. Set amongst these scenes are exciting, breath-taking activities. Delhuntie also backs on to state forest and the beautiful Myall Lakes National Park, with access to the lakes and ocean within minutes.

Delhuntie provides holistic adventure therapy programs for young people. We have run programs across Australia and overseas, assisting thousands of young people with life’s struggles and helping them positively reset their lives.

We help free young people from depression, anxiety, low self-worth, anger and boredom. We then help them be transformed by providing perceived risk programs in a safe, loving and supportive environment.

Delhuntie’s programs can truly restore and change lives!

OUR STAFF

Our staff are carefully chosen to reflect Delhuntie’s caring atmosphere. You will find them warm and welcoming right from the start.

We aim to ensure that everyone leaving our programs have a higher level of self-worth and a greater sense of peace than before they came to Delhuntie.

Our staff have been through similar and sometimes more trying experiences than participants on our programs, therefore they have a depth of understanding. This builds trust and respect between staff and participants.

Director

OUR FOUNDERS

Delhuntie Youth Care Inc. was founded by Elwyn and Helen Scale in 1975. However, their youth work began in the mid 1960's where they were church youth leaders in Melbourne, Victoria. Following this they travelled Australia for more than four years helping hippies and providing drug education. When they returned to Victoria they established Delhuntie Park in 1975, a centre in Gippsland that helped people get their lives on track.

Delhuntie grew from an 'on the side' ministry to a full-time operation and in 1996 it became registered as a not for profit charity with Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Delhuntie continued to grow, helping thousands of young people and adults through its programs.

In the late 2000's Elwyn and Helen decided that as they were aging, they would sell the property in Gippsland. At the same time their daughter Delwyn was diagnosed with cancer. Just before she passed away, Delwyn told Elwyn to 'light the candle' for someone else to carry on the work. So Elwyn and Helen purchased the property in Bulahdelah, NSW in 2011 and began developing it, along with local, Rob Kent.

Ten years on, Delhuntie operates at full capacity. However, in late 2020 Elwyn sadly passed away after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Helen courageously continues to live and work at Delhuntie and the organisation is now directed by their middle son Rod. He is supported by a team of family members and other staff.