Engaging, connecting and inspiring young people.
SydWest offers a fun and comprehensive youth program for young refugees, humanitarian entrants and migrants who are settling into Australia.
The youth targets 12 to 25 year olds living in the Blacktown and Penrith LGAs.
For information contact us on (02) 9621 6633 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Useful Links
SydWest says YESS!
SydWest is now delivering the Youth Enhanced Support Services (YESS) to young people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds (CALD) and their families in Western Sydney. The YESS is a friendly service that engages engage CALD communities to raise mental health literacy and awareness of services.
The YESS SydWest Western Sydney service will assist young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds aged 12 – 25 years old residing in in Blacktown, Cumberland, Parramatta and the Hills Shire Local Government Areas to access mental health support. The service will be in the form of early identification, and effective, evidence-based interventions, delivered by primary care and specialist providers working together within a collaborative, accessible, and integrated service framework.
YESS SydWest Western Sydney will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from various locations.
YESS is also available in Northern Sydney and in Nepean Blue Mountains through Parramatta Mission.
Navigating Resettlement Project Research Report
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.
Download: Navigating Resettlement Report3.10 MB
Checkout www.youthinactionws.org for more information on the Navigating Resetttlement project.
We offer the following services and programs
Case Work
Our youth case workers help to empower young people who are new to the country (less than 5 years in Australia) by helping them to access services for themselves and find information that will enhance their own lives. We also provide referrals, advocacy and individual and group consultation as well as information sessions on youth-related topics.
Homework Support & Study Centres
Our two homework centres at Blacktown and Mt Druitt provide support to high school and tertiary students from a range of cultural backgrounds. Tutors from the local community provide academic support in a range of subject areas.
Football Program
Young people from different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to take part in our Football (soccer) program at our weekly sessions at Kevin Betts Stadium in Mt Druitt. Our Football Youth regularly participate in high-profile competitions; professional training clinics with the Western Sydney Wanderers are held quarterly; we assist our young people to register and play with their local football clubs.
Blacktown Emerging Leaders & Advocates Program (BELA)
Blacktown Emerging Leaders & Advocates Program provides leadership coaching and mentoring support to young aspiring leaders. Young people will gain advocacy, community engagement, leadership and public speaking skills. Eligible youth will be aged 14-24 years old, from a migrant or refugee background and interested in social issues affecting migrant and refugee young people at a local, state/territory and national level. All BELA participants commit to fortnightly meetings for at least 6 months. Graduates of the BELA program will form the SydWest Youth Advisory Committee and become SydWest Youth Ambassadors.
School Holiday Activities
Excursions, leadership camps and swimming programs are just some of the things our youth groups get up to in the school holidays. School holiday activities are designed to meet the social needs of young people from different cultural backgrounds.
Youth in Transition
The project supports disengaged young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to prepare for employment and to establish themselves in the labour market by improving their connection and access to employment services and programs. The project includes:
- Education and employment pathway workshops (apprenticeships and traineeship programs)
- Referrals to relevant agencies
- Advocating
- Information sessions on the Australian education system and
- Employment training with Western Sydney Institute of TAFE (resume writing, job search skills, job interview skills, employment related computer skills and career planning.
Youth Events
Youth conferences, festivals and barbeques are just some of the special youth events we hold each year to engage, educate and inspire young people and to promote community engagement and social cohesion. Youth volunteering in high-profile events such as National Youth Week or Refugee Week are some of the ways youth can gain local experience and connections.
Working with educational institutions
We partner with training organisations, Western Sydney University, TAFE NSW and local high schools with high CALD student populations to develop resilience building and life skills programs. These programs aim to enhance the ability of refugee students to cope with the Australian education system and to deal with difficult situations in a positive way.
