Youth Off The Streets

Way to go, RTO! 👋 This month, our Registered Training Organisation (RTO) has been busy with fundraising and educational initiatives in the community. A few weeks ago, we were invited to Black Market Coffee's 'Flow Breakfast Party'. Everyone enjoyed great coffee, music and vibes, with all proceeds going to support accredited hospitality training for adults and young people. Next up, we organised a construction workshop for young people, ‘The Basics’, that focussed on painting and carpentry skills. Big thanks to Future Ready Australia, Bower Reuse and Repair Centres, Sydney, ALAND and NextGEN for their fantastic talks and workshops! Everything ran smoothly, thanks to our amazing hosts, Sachi and Anthony from Best Option Training RTO. Afterwards, two attendees were interviewed by ALAND and offered apprenticeships! The RTO then ran two more 'The Basics' workshops at Key and Craig Davis College (CDC). The students built rustic wooden benches, which we later showcased at CDC’s Family and Community Day. At the event, Alison Byrnes MP was impressed by the students’ craftsmanship – and had insightful conversations with their parents about resilience. To learn more about vocational training with the RTO, visit https://ow.ly/myP450TO810

“I didn’t speak English, so I couldn’t tell them what was going on.” Why are young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds overrepresented in the youth justice system? Yousef*’s story shows why we need culturally responsive, trauma-informed support to make a real difference in this sector. “Not everyone who does something bad needs to go to jail,” says Yousef, who was just 14 when he was jailed for protecting his sister from family violence. “What they did might not even have been that bad, and jail might break them. That’s no good at all.” Read more about how childhood trauma and a lack of cultural awareness in service systems impacted Yousef's life: https://ow.ly/Mo5x50TTXtX

Your workplace should feel like a Sanctuary – where everyone feels respected, valued and safe. 🤲 This week, more than 150 staff from across Youth Off The Streets learned about the Sanctuary Model, a trauma-informed program that builds resilience, self-reflection and healing communities for YOTS team members, children, young people. Through interactive professional development sessions, we learned how to prioritise self-care and embed Sanctuary’s eight commitments into our work. A big thank you to all the organisers and team members who travelled to Mascot, Parramatta and Campbelltown for this Sanctuary kick-off event. Together, we're making Youth Off The Streets a safe, welcoming space for everyone!

"I started as a youth worker with the Hunter team earlier this year. My role is all about running programs, offering 1-on-1 support to help build skills, brainstorming ways to improve what we do, helping create new initiatives and doing weekly outreach. "The biggest challenges young people face in our area are around education, employment, and AOD (alcohol and other drugs) misuse. To tackle these, we enrol them in the local schools' self-development program. It’s designed to teach them about the effects of AOD while getting them involved in educational discussions and fun activities. "We offer employment support mainly through 1-on-1 sessions, helping with things like resumes, cover letters and job searches. We’re also working on an employment program to reach more young people. "What drives me is taking on these challenges and seeing the positive impact on young people’s lives. I love helping them set goals and watching them achieve things they didn’t think possible. "People are often surprised by the struggles young people deal with, especially around AOD. The fact that so many can access these substances and how often they're using them is pretty shocking. That’s why I’m so passionate about AOD education. "From working with kids and young people, I’ve learned that everyone has their own story, challenges and motivations. "And if I had to describe my team in three words, it would be passionate, driven and supportive."– Harrison Kociszewski, Youth Worker – Hunter Valley 🙏💜 #TeamStreets

Ultimate Frisbee is more than just a sport – it’s a way of teaching young people about respect, communication and self-management. Lucinda, one of Youth Off The Streets' teachers and an accomplished player, shares how the game builds character by allowing players to referee themselves. 🤝 "There’s no aggression or temper flaring because it’s all about communicating with the other team to resolve things together," she says. "You have to be aware of what’s happening on the field, work with others and call things fairly. It’s a very calm, happy sport." For Lucinda, this approach is especially powerful for young people. "It’s a different kind of sport and that levels the playing field. You don’t go out there just to beat the other team – you’re working with them, which is rare. That kind of teamwork builds great friendships." She also believes in showing her students that success comes from passion and effort, not just talent. "I didn’t start playing Ultimate Frisbee until I was 25, but I worked hard and now I’ve made the Australian team. That’s what I tell the kids: if you love something and put in the effort, you can achieve amazing things." The Aussie team is heading to the World Ultimate Championships this November and we're cheering on Lucinda every step of the way! We're already so proud of all you've achieved. Best of luck! 👏

We need your support to unlock Australia’s housing system for almost 40,000 children and young people with nowhere to live. Every young person deserves safety and support to stabilise their lives and build independence. https://lnkd.in/dMBM47R6 #HomeTime

“When I was 17, I found the courage to leave my abusive home. I couch surfed with my friends for four months before finding my way to Don Bosco Home, where I asked for help. “When I arrived at Don Bosco Home, I wasn’t receiving any income. I’d disengaged from work and school, and I was self-medicating with illegal drugs every day. At Youth Off The Streets, I learned that no matter how tough my situation felt, there was always a way out. “With the help of the team, I started setting achievable goals on my path to recovery. I struggled with the house rules and curfews initially, because I had been on my own for so long. But gradually, the youth workers and staff supported me through regular meetings, encouragement and guidance. “I managed to secure Centrelink payments, get basic ID documents and find employment through a local youth program. The next step was tackling my substance use. The youth workers helped me identify my triggers and come up with strategies to manage them. “Living independently requires a lot of essential skills that I hadn’t fully developed. Part of my recovery involved learning those skills, so the staff taught me cooking, budgeting and time management. They also helped me build communication and conflict resolution skills to improve my relationships with friends and family. “After about four months, I was offered transitional housing. I secured full-time employment in the hospitality industry and left with the skills I needed to live by myself. “I wouldn’t have reached my goals without the support of the staff and the welcoming, accepting environment at Don Bosco Home.” – Maeve*, 17 #InternationalPovertyWeek

“I was talking to someone recently who experienced homelessness around the same time I did – we were both saying how much easier it was to be homeless 10 years ago than it is now. “When I was first homeless, there were places like Tent City where people could live on the streets in communities where they felt safe. But then, the government started moving people on, and they ended up in unsafe situations because they had nowhere to go. “Plus, “anti-homeless spikes” have been installed in train stations, a lot of public and social housing is being closed for developments and the cost of living has increased. “To get support from Centrelink, you need to have a permanent address – but in order to get a permanent address, you need to have money to pay for a bond and rent. “You end up trapped in a cycle – and if it wasn’t for services like Youth Off The Streets, I wouldn’t have been able to get out of that trap. I got lucky. “People should show compassion and recognise that young people experiencing homelessness aren’t in that situation because of their own choosing. They all deserve respect. Anyone could be that person living on the streets, and I was that person.” – Hayden, activist, dancer and academic Every child and young person deserves a safe place to call home. Join us in calling for change. Send a message to fix housing for young people now: https://lnkd.in/dMBM47R6 #WorldHomelessDay #WorldHomelessnessDay

Not all injuries are visible. 😢 Yousef* experienced trauma as a child and as a teenager he struggled with the impacts of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “Being in Iraq, terrorists invaded my hometown and I wasn’t able to get away in time,” explains Yousef, who is now 17. He witnessed atrocities that affected his early brain development. “Yousef has triggers that remind him of war, including women screaming and balloons popping,” says Fatina Elabd, Team Leader – Engagement and Support at Youth Off The Streets. “He’s very resilient but, because of this trauma, he can find it difficult to manage his emotions.” This resulted in an incident that saw Yousef - then aged 14 - sent to youth detention for three months. Read Yousef's heartbreaking story here: https://ow.ly/1hle50TCSEq #MentalHealthMonth

🗨️ “I’m just a number at mainstream school. But here, I’m seen.” This #MentalHealthWeek, we spoke to a student named Cassidy* about her experiences with alternative education and how her mental wellbeing has improved since switching from a mainstream school. 🧠🫶 “My older cousin came here, and my older sister also went to an alternative school,” Cassidy explains. “When I started struggling, I decided to go to an alternative school because it helped them. “I wanted help to fix my attendance and my motivation for coming to school. “In Youth Off The Streets' schools, they offer a wider array of activities that get you out of your comfort zone. The support is also better than in the mainstream system.” Since enrolling at one of our independent high schools, Cassidy has been active in the NOISE Student Group. She has attended leadership camp, delivered a presentation at the Alternative Schools Conference and discussed young people’s day-to-day struggles with the other members. “I’ve been socialising more often,” Cassidy says. “I also have more hope for the future, as school has opened my eyes and shown me that I can do things I never expected to do.” Cassidy has found guidance and support from youth workers, the teachers and students and a domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) worker. “The teachers really understand mental health here. In mainstream schools, there are too many students for anyone to notice that you’re having a tough time. If you do something "bad", it’s because you’re a bad student, and they don’t have time to sit with you and hear why you do the things you do. “Now, I’m hoping to get my driver licence, graduate Year 12 and become a vet."