ASYASS (Alice Springs Youth Accommodation and Support Service) is a community organisation that provides crisis and supported accommodation, support and advocacy to homeless and at risk youth in Central Australia. ASYASS has been established since 1990 and has a well established client base, largely devloped through peer referrals.

ASYASS provides services and support to approximately 350 young people and their families every year. Approximately 85 percent of these clients are Indigenous, many who are from within the local town camp community.

ASYASS currently provides;

1. A Crisis Refuge - crisis accommodation.
2. Ampe Akweke Place - supported housing for young mothers.
3. Youth Housing Project - semi-supported housing.
4. Counselling Service.
5. Advocacy and Support Service.
6. Case Management Service.
7. Job Placement, Employment and Training (JPET) Program.
8. A Youth Drop In Service.
9. Emergency Relief Program.
10. Deadly Treadlies - bike rebuilding project training young people and providing an alternative to petrol sniffing and substance abuse.

Deadly Treadlies is a bike rebuilding project that has operated out of ASYASS since January 2003. The project was initiated in response to young people identifying bikes as a popular alternative to petrol sniffing and other substance and solvent abuse.

The project has worked with over 500 young people since its inception in local town camps, schools, drop in centres and on remote communtities.

The project not only teaches bike mechanics, but provides young people with a bike of their own from old bikes donated to the project. Through the process of bike building young people also learn skills in team work, planning and personal development. The increase in self belief is one of the most important outcomes of the project, as young people realise their skills and have created something to be proud of.

The ownership of a bike also leads to a healthier lifestyles as well as providing transport to in town services, recreation opportunities and family.

Deadly Treadlies aims for the following outcomes;

1. Reduction in substance and solvent abuse.
2. Reduction in offending behaviour.
3. Reduction in bike theft.
4. Alleviating boredom.
5. Increase in self esteem.
6. Increase in young people accessing further training.
7. Increase in the independence and self sufficiency of participants.
8. Increase in recreational activities.
9. Allowing young Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to work together.
10. Increase in mechanical skills.
11. Increase in bike use.

Currently the project operates;

• A remote Aborigingal community outreach program. This program targets communities with petrol sniffing and other substance abuse. Often operating during school holidays when boredom (and therefore sniffing and crime) is at its highest.
• In town workshops are held at local town camps, schools and drop in centres.
• Workshops are being planned for outstations where young people, who have been sniffing, are in respite from their previous circumstances.
• A sales point for rebuilt bikes where young people can earn some money for rebuilding bikes for the public.