Reef to Outback History

Our beginnings

Through a series of events from 1982 - 1984, Phil and Toni Powell believed God was highlighting North Queensland to them in terms of a ministry location. Initially they began ministering in Cairns (which is around 380kms north of Townsville). For four years there, the primary ministry focus was amongst backpackers.

In 1988 Phil and Toni returned to the Brisbane base to be involved in a DTS. They used their time to recruit staff and then led an outreach team back up to Cairns to re-establish ministry. It was during this outreach that it became apparent that other ministry location options needed to be considered. In November 1988, Phil and Toni felt to move to Townsville after being offered a house there.

Ministry went well and the primary focus for YWAM Townsville continued to be backpackers until 1990 when the first DTS of four students began. From 1990 - 1992, many changes took place and the ministry began to decline. There was a period when there was only one male staff remaining to maintain a presence for YWAM.

In October 1991, Ken and Robyn Mulligan led an outreach team from Brisbane to Thursday Island and spent a week in Townsville on the way home. It was at this time that the Mulligans felt God birthing a vision in their hearts to see the centre re-established in Townsville.

After being commissioned by the Brisbane base, the Mulligans arrived in Townsville along with seven single staff in August of 1992. Since 1984, they had had a vision in their hearts to see resources made available to some of the more isolated areas within Australia and to see mobile teams going out, 'digging for gold' in outback Queensland. For the first year or so, the base operated a high-school evangelism team called AXENTS. The team did evangelism and presented missions to schools, youth groups and churches from Gladstone right up to Thursday Island. Relationships began to form with a couple of key churches around the city as favour continued to grow.

In 1993, during the visit of the Pacific Ruby to our shores, Ken took on the role of Australian Coordinator for Mercy Ships, being inducted at the Trans-Tasman gathering in Melbourne that year. At this point, the major thrust of the centre shifted towards Mercy Ships. As Townsville became the national office for Mercy ships, much time and effort was expended in seeing the ministry strongly established in the nation.

In 1995, the national office of Mercy Ships, Australia was moved to Newcastle and Ken stepped down from the coordinator's role to remain in Townsville to focus once again on his longer-term vision.

In 1996 the first Reef to Outback Mobile DTS was run with a total of 13 students. In 1997, RTO began running the BLS along side the DTS. It was not until 1999 that two DTSs began being run a year.

Beginning in 2000, the RTO office was moved from under the Mulligan's house to its present location on Ingham Rd. Staff numbers up until 2000 averaged around 20. After 2000, the average grew to around 50.

Early 2001, Reef to Outback became a registered training organisation under the Australian Recognition Framework by the Training Recognition Council. Youth With A Mission - Reef to Outback IA 7865, trading as Reef to Outback - Institute for the Nations Australia, is a Registered Training Organisation Reg No. 30164, and is on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) CRICOS Provider No. 02205D.

In 2001, the ministry warehouse was acquired.

Our history continues to unfold, and as you have become a part of the work of Reef to Outback it will be exciting to watch as God unfolds to us all our future.