Our Programs

Settlement Youth

Cultural Identity, Building Connection, and Immersive Camps

Cultural Camps are run throughout the year. They provide an experience that encourages them to connect with their culture, unplug from city life and engage in various cultural, recreational, team-building and social activities with other young people and staff.

These camps are often connected to other programs delivered by The Settlement Youth Team including Leadership and Men’s and Women’s programs. Cultural Camps also provide an opportunity for partnership with other local organisations, bringing together the expertise from multiple staff.

These camps allow participants to:

• Explore the local culture but also to build an understanding of how important their own connection to culture is in shaping their identity.
• Build on living skills such as cooking cleaning and hygiene and have respite from daily experiences and technology.
• Work on positive social skills including considerate communication, healthy relationship building and peer leading activity.

“Cultural camps are such a good time. Thanks for the opportunity, especially liked being able to look after the younger guys”
– Ethan, 17, The Settlement Youth Leader

Specialised Individual Case management

The Settlement Youth Team provide specialised case management and individual interventions developed with young people who are experiencing factors such as drug and alcohol issues, homelessness, family breakdown, mental health concerns and barriers to education/employment.

The Youth Team use a client centred approach to empower young people to set their own goals and provide a supportive environment to nurture positive opportunities and combat barriers that hinder achieving outcomes.

We have a no wrong door policy, providing young people with a safe place to come with any issue they are facing. The Settlement can also act as a referral service where specific help is required.

Some of the key areas young people come to us for support on include:

Homelessness and housing, Education, Health Court Support, Employment, Work Development Orders, Centrelink Support, Support Letters, Warm Referrals, General Support, Family Support, Information and Advice, Advocacy and many more…

“My caseworker has helped me with things I just couldn’t do on my own. They have been there for me and helped me become a better person. They have helped me get back on track when I was spiralling out.”
– Tegan, 18

“My caseworker has helped me by motivating me and encouraging me. They have made me feel positive and that I am able to achieve any goal with a strong mindset”
– Angie, 19

Social, Health and Wellbeing

These include:

• Health info sessions
• Weekly fitness and training program
• Youth Led Health events including the annual Mental Health Week Event that sees upwards of 200 young people attend

Settlement Youth Advisory Committee and Leadership Program

The program supports young people to explore their identity, culture, inspirations and aspirations, and of course – how they think they can be a leader and role model in both their individual lives and in the wider community. The Leadership Program aims to foster new experiences and opportunities through a variety of social educational workshops, excursions to future pathway opportunities, and community engagement and volunteering.

It empowers participants to deliver Youth Led events and to give back to the local community and beyond.

“This Program has not only taught me more about where I’ve grown up but it has taught me to be aware of my surroundings, to listen to the many people I have met and will meet along the way… it has shown me how I can make a change no matter my age, no matter my gender and no matter where I come from.”
– Hayley 16

Skills, Education & Employment

Our team works to support pathways to employment in both individual capacity and within programs.

These services include:

Accredited transition program for the young people leaving school (participating in the School Support Program) where they will be supported to further education or employment and be assisted with workplace skills, formal CVs and interview tactics.

Learn to Drive Program: young people are supported to prepare for their learners test, build driving hours in a safe space and prepare for provisional exams.

“Getting my licence is going to change my life and the life of my family members. It’s so expensive to get lessons so it is so much easier just to go with the guys at The Settlement”
– Trinity, 18