Youth services
Engaging, connecting and inspiring young people new to Australia.
The Youth Transition Support Programs (YTSP) at SydWest Multicultural Services help young people new to Australia make new connections and friendships, as well as adjust to Australian systems and settle in at school.
To support the youth settlement journey in Australia, we focus on helping young people connect with the community, and depending on their goals, provide support with employment and educational pathways.
These programs are designed for multicultural youth from a refugee or migrant background between 12-25 years of age, who have been in Australia for less than 5 years and live in the Blacktown and Penrith LGAs.
Our youth programs
Advocacy and casework
Our direct casework and group sessions address offer one-on-one case management support to provide you assistance with education and employment opportunities, Centrelink and eligibility for local government services.
We also run group sessions that help young people build new friendships, avoid social isolation and build self-confidence by encouraging them to get out of their comfort zone.
SydWest's Youth Team can provide assistance and referrals for:
- Navigating the Australian health systems e.g. Medicare, finding specialists, referring GPs
- Citizenship applications
- Centrelink applications
- Referrals for legal matters and family issues
- Financial crises - emergency relief assistance such as assistance with unexpected medical and electricity bills, EAPA, etc.
Preparing for employment opportunities
Get help with writing your resume and cover letter that meets industry standards. When employers like what they see on your resume, the next step of the recruitment process is interviews. Be mentored and guided to help you develop interview skills, and make a good impression to promote your professional skill set and capabilities.
Our Youth team can help you look for a job that complements your skills and identify a career pathway.
If you’re not ready to start looking for work immediately but have career aspirations in a particular role or industry, our Youth team can help you to identify education or training requirements to help you reach your full potential. We also help you set goals, and provide mentoring support to help you stay on track and achieve your goals so you can start your future career.
We also provide Certificate Training, where we offer free and subsidised certificate training programs to our eligible clients through our networks and partnerships. Clients will be engaged in multiple services for 6-12 weeks and receive a TAFE NSW certificate upon completion.
Group sessions
Sporting activities
We are currently running an indoor sports program that includes soccer, cricket, netball and basketball. We can also refer to external organisations that offer free sporting lessons.
School holiday activities
We run a variety of activities, including ice skating, workshops and summer holiday camp. We also run a variety of excursions through the year, including to beaches, museums, Blue Mountains, and Luna Park.
Information sessions
We run workshops throughout the year to assist young people with health literacy, mental health, relationships, and employment.Education
We have a Study Centre that provides weekly homework support in the Mt. Druitt office. Sessions held Thursday 4pm-6pm during school term.
Eligibility for our youth program
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Anyone from a Permanent Visa Subclass or Humanitarian Stream can access these programs. - If you are a young person or want to refer a young person that fits the criteria for these programs, please give us a call at (02) 9261 6633.
Contact us
Blacktown
Level 2, 125 Main Street
Blacktown NSW 2148
Mt Druitt
Level 1, 13 Cleeve Close
Mt Druitt NSW 2770
Steps to being part of our youth programs
1.Referral
Potential youth clients are referred to us either through another organisation, self, or a family member/friend.
2.Eligibility assessment
The youth team checks eligibility during the intake process to figure out the needs. Once eligibility and needs are confirmed, the young person becomes a client.
3.Commencing support services
The youth client will be added to online spaces and/or a contact list where they will receive updates on events that SydWest’s Youth teams are running.
Early intervention
SydWest Multicultural Services offers programs for young people who are or are at risk of getting in trouble with the law.
What kind of support does early intervention provide?
Case management
Once we receive a referral, we assess the factors that put the young person at risk e.g. education, social groups, and family dynamics.
Afterward, we establish a case plan that can meet the young person’s goals and needs e.g. through referrals for drugs and alcohol support, education, employment, leisure, and recreation.
Offence-focused behavioural and family intervention
We provide a program based on cognitive behavioural therapy that is designed to address the criminogenic needs of the young person.
This includes discussing with clients and, when appropriate, their families, to communicate goals, assess family dynamic issues, and then create steps to address their behaviours through cognitive behavioural therapy.
Useful resources for download
The Navigating Resettlement project research report, launched 25 July 2018, is a research report prepared by WSU, commissioned by SydWest Multicultural Services, to document and evaluate the project’s approach in working with young people as they navigate the settlement process in Australia and explore their career and life aspirations.
Checkout https://youthaction.org.au/wsp/ for more information on the Navigating Resetttlement project.
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