In this section:

› Background to the Program Area

› Goals of the Youth Program

› About the Young People Involved

› The Program as an Intervention

› Residential Programs

› Youth Group Program

› Youth Camps

Background to the Program Area

Shortly after the inception of STARTTS in 1988, the counsellors began to realise that young people that had been exposed (either directly or indirectly) to situations involving torture of one or more of its family members often had a number of specific needs. In 1989, STARTTS carried out its first small scale pilot adolescent program in conjunction with the Rivendell Adolescent Unit at Concord Hospital. Since then, the STARTTS-Rivendell Adolescent Camp has become a bi yearly event. It has grown in size, duration, and in the complexity and variety of its program. In addition to the camps, STARTTS Youth Program also organises a series of groups and other youth activities throughout the year. A Wilderness program was designed by the Youth Program and is still awaiting resources for implementation.

To provide refugee young people with a variety of enjoyable activities that they would not normally have access to, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

To provide refugee young people with specific activities in which they can explore their identity, feelings, social skill, communication skills and self-esteem.

To develop in refugee young people notions of teamwork, sharing, support and leadership.

Development of appropriate services and programs to address the needs of Refugee Youth.

To improve access and equity of service provision for refugee young people.

To develop a positive self-esteem and positive self-concept which will contribute to refugee young people overall well being and personal growth.

To provide refugee young people with relief from stress in their home/school environment.

To assist refugee young people to develop strategies for coping in all social contexts.

Identify gaps in service delivery to refugee families and pilot projects to address the gaps.

Raise awareness about the often hidden issues affecting refugee youth.

Promote effective projects and programs held for/with/by refugee young people.

Provide a consultancy service to workers working with refugee young people.

Encourage and support the development of services targeting refugee young people and adolescent torture and trauma survivors.

Promote an understanding amongst refugee youth of Australia’s multicultural society and their place in it.

Provide the opportunity for refugee young people to meet other young people with similar backgrounds and/or experiences.

About the Young People Involved

The young people attending the program activities have experiences torture and or refugee trauma wither directly or indirectly via one or more family members. They are affected by such experiences and may suffer from social isolation, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, aggressive outbursts, mood swings and other problems.

Adolescents are at a particular stage in their development when they confront issues concerning their personal identity. Refugee young people are a particularly neglected group with little attention focused to their specific needs.

The young people may also suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The symptoms include: intrusive recollections, traumatic dreams, distress at traumatic reminders, psychological numbing, avoidance of thoughts/feelings/ situations associated with trauma, reduced interest in usual activities, feelings of detachment, restricted emotions, memory disturbance, increased irritability, difficulty in concentrating, hyper vigilance, exaggerated startle response, guilt, worry and fear.

The young people are from a culturally diverse group. Their backgrounds differ on a range of aspects e.g., ethnicity, socio economic, religion, schooling, interests, and language.

The Youth Program age group is 10 to 18 years old.

The Program as an Intervention

The Youth Program uses early intervention strategies to identify and address the needs of refugee young people.

In many cases the Youth Program has identified area’s for intervention for counsellors to address in long-term therapy which would otherwise not have been available.

The Youth Program acts as part of the holistic approach adopted by STARTTS. Not only are torture and trauma survivors treated directly through counselling but also the program allows for their whole families to be included in the healing process.

The program assists all family members by providing respite and a lasting experience for the young people.

The Youth Program is the principle intervention at STARTTS for adolescents. The activities provide a direct and positive means of intervention, it provides young people with an enjoyable experience that promotes positive self-esteem and self worth.

Of special importance is the need to address the concerns of young people who are victims of torture.

The program has psychotherapeutic value because it allows young people to explore feelings and experiences and to express issues, which concern them. Many of the young people have endured a range of difficulties and the Youth Programs has significantly reduced levels of stress in the participants.

The program allows young people to expend their behaviour repertoire and gives them opportunities that they would not normally have the change to experience.

The Youth Program runs four camps annually, two are held at Rivendell Adolescent Unit and two are held in campsites around NSW and the ACT. They accommodate for approximately 25 young people per program.

Volunteers are often sought for these activities and they are usually given responsibility for a small group of young people. A two day volunteer training course is held and attendance at this is a requirement for those wishing to assist with the Residential Program.

The Residential Program targets 10 – 18 year olds.

Youth Group Program

The group programs run by the Youth Program were introduced following the employment of a youth worker by STARTTS. They run in conjunction with other service providers and community members, and where possible a STARTTS Bi cultural Counsellor.

They aim to provide communities with a support mechanism for young people and also provide community workers with the necessary skills to run their own groups with young people.

For further information or if you want to volunteer with the Youth Program call: Gary Cachia on (02) 9794 1907.

Proudly receiving sponsorship from:

Friends of STARTTS 

and 

Australian Council of the Art

Youth Camps

STARTTS often organises youth camps for children between the ages of 10 and 18 who have settled in Australia in the last ten years.

For more information on applying to attend a youth camp, contact Gary Cachia at STARTTS on 9794 1907.

Target Group

Children between 10-18 years old.

Born overseas and arrived in Australia less than 10 years ago.

Exposed either directly or indirectly to traumatic events.

Having Settlement difficulties living in NSW.

How we select 

Each referral is assessed separately based on information given on the Referral Form.

Selection Criteria

Age requirements for program.

Reasons for referral/benefits the child will receive from the program.

The level of difficulty in settlement is accessed.

The level of the child’s exposure to traumatic events.

The year of arrival in Australia.

The number of previous programs which the child has attended.

The other support they are receiving.

Feedback requested from the program.

Other children on the program.

Child’s physical health.

NOTE:

The culling process for the program only occurs if the referrals received are greater than the allocated places by more than five.