young people’s STREETWORK STories
Streetwork supports high risk, vulnerable young people living in the Greater Northern Sydney Region to turn their lives around. While each of the 11–25-year-olds referred to our program has a story that is unique, they all share a background of personal pain and challenge that place their safety and lives at-risk.
Here are their incredible stories of bravery and transformation.
To protect our young people’s privacy, we have used fictional names and photos.
Jayden's Story
Jayden was referred to Streetwork by the Child & Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS). Struggling with crippling anxiety, he began having panic attacks, was self-harming, avoiding going to school and meeting new people.
Working with his Streetwork Youth Caseworker, Jayden set two goals: to reduce his anxiety levels and to build his self-confidence.
Across a three-month period, Jayden was supported to participate in a variety of social activities that centred around his interest in music and songwriting. He was also introduced to a youth psychologist who assisted Jayden to gain a better understanding of the triggers behind his bouts of anxiety.
At graduation from our program, Jayden spoke of his improved self-confidence and the relief he felt in being able to manage his anxiety and make new friends. ‘I was afraid of everything…teachers, meeting new people, speaking with my parents, everything. My Streetwork Youth Caseworker introduced me to people who I could trust to help me manage my anxiety and my negative self-talk.’
Isobella's Story
Referred to Streetwork by a local mental health organisation, 17-year-old Isobella was struggling at school with learning difficulties. She didn’t have a responsible adult to turn to for guidance, so when her low self-esteem and depression became too difficult for her to manage, she dropped out of high school without a career or education plan.
Isobella was matched with her Streetwork Youth Caseworker and began attending weekly mentoring sessions as part of our Kickstart Mentoring program.
Working to Kickstart’s goal-based framework, Isobella set two personal goals. Her first goal was to feel ‘happy more often’ and her second was to find a job that suited her interests and skills.
Supported by her Streetwork Youth Caseworker, Isobella was introduced to a psychologist who helped her to develop strategies to manage her depression. She was also supported to apply for TAFE and secure a hairdressing apprenticeship.
Tonga's Story
Tonga was referred to Streetwork by the Department of Community Services, Family Support Service. At the age of 16, he had stopped attending school and was challenged by an unstable home environment and mental health concerns.
He joined our Kickstart Mentoring program and attended weekly mentoring sessions with his Streetwork Youth Caseworker.
Over a three-month period, Streetwork negotiated Tonga’s return to school and connected him with the mental health services he needed to help him improve his self-confidence, communications skills and most importantly his mental health and general wellbeing.
‘I was in a bad place, and it felt like I was all alone. My Streetwork Youth Caseworker showed me how to set goals and talk to adults who could help me.’
Tiani's Story
The Police referred Tiani to Streetwork after she was suspected of shop lifting at a local supermarket.
During her weekly mentoring sessions Tiani admitted to her Youth Caseworker that she had no close friends and that because her family were experiencing financial pressure, she had no money for transport or to buy basic personal hygiene products.
The goals Tiani set for herself, under the Kickstart Mentoring program, were to find a part time job and to enrol in a team sport.
Supported by her Streetwork Youth Caseworker, Tiani successfully applied for a weekend customer service role in a local coffee shop, and she joined the school soccer team.
‘I’m getting better at talking to people and making new friends. The money I earn on weekends helps me feel that I have some control of my life. I’m not sure how I would have ended up, without my Streetwork Youth Caseworker.’
Shaun's Story
At 17, Shaun was referred to Streetwork by the Department of Community Services, Family Support Service. Shaun had been suspended from school and was struggling with mental health issues and substance misuse.
During weekly mentoring sessions with his Streetwork Youth Caseworker, Shaun identified two life goals - he wanted to complete Year 11 and minimise his drug use.
After 6 months in Streetwork’s Kickstart Mentoring program, with the support of his Youth Caseworker, Shaun achieved both of these goals.
He enrolled in TAFE, completed Year 11 and continued on to sit his HSC.
During his time at Streetwork, Shaun was connected with a youth, drug and alcohol counsellor, who helped him understand how to manage his mental health and break free of his substance addiction.
‘I was so confused, dark and unhappy when I first started with Streetwork, but my Youth Caseworker persevered and always took my phone calls. He helped me get into TAFE so that I could continue my studies. Reducing the drug use hasn’t been easy, but I’m managing better now.’
Jude’s Story
Jude was referred to Streetwork by his mother.
He was exposed to ongoing domestic violence at home and was also being bullied at school.
He felt he had nowhere to turn and started sleeping rough and he cut off all communication with his parents and teachers.
During his early mentoring sessions with his Streetwork Youth Caseworker, Jude set two life goals: a return to school and an improved relationship with his mum and dad.
With his Youth Caseworker’s support, Jude was transferred to a new school and continued his education. Streetwork connected Jude with Headspace, a mental health service that helps young people to manage their work, studies and home life. Headspace was able to help Jude understand how to better cope with his family situation.
‘Streetwork was the best thing to happen to me. I have made a couple of new friends at my new high school and I’m doing well in a few of my elective subjects, particularly Art and Science. I’m still not happy at home, but it’s not as bad as it was and after I get old enough, I’m going to do an apprenticeship and find a place of my own to live.’
Juliette’s Story
At 14, Juliette referred herself to Streetwork after attending a Streetwork program at her high school. She had been in trouble with the Police and was required to attend court proceedings. She had dropped out of school and because she was finding it difficult to manage her temper, she was losing friends and the ability to communicate with her parents.
During weekly meetings with her Streetwork Youth Caseworker, Juliet began to realise that the decisions she had been making were placing her safety at risk and cutting her off from her support networks. She was supported to set goals and to make life changes and together with her Streetwork Youth Caseworker she soon fulfilled her court obligations.
Juliette was then connected with a specialist organisation who taught her anger management techniques. Feeling more confident and settled, she soon returned to school and resumed her studies. Juliette even started to reach out to her family and began healing her relationships with friends.
‘I was angry all the time. Everything, even small things like sitting in a classroom, made me feel stifled and unhappy. The court stuff was really difficult. Even though I knew that I had to do it, I just ignored the deadlines: pretended they weren’t there. I didn’t know how to fill in the forms by myself and I didn’t want to ask anyone for help. My Streetwork Youth Caseworker has made a world of difference to me and I feel much calmer now.’
Campbell's Story
After committing a number of offences, Campbell was referred to Streetwork by local Police.
He attended weekly mentoring sessions as part of Streetwork’s Kickstart Mentoring Program.
Working with one of our Youth Caseworkers, Campbell identified the personal goals that he wanted to work on, to turn his life around.
He wanted to stay out of trouble and fulfil all of his bail conditions. With his Streetwork Youth Caseworker’s support he quickly achieved those goals.
Campbell’s family were struggling financially so it wasn’t uncommon for him to go without meals. Money for clothes and shoes that fit was always tight too and that became more of a problem when he wanted to start looking for a job and earning an income. He told his Streetwork Youth Caseworker that he lacked the self-confidence to achieve this important goal.
Over a 6-month period, supported by Streetwork, Campbell attended a Transition to Work Program provided by a local Youth Employment Service. His Streetwork Youth Caseworkers then helped him to find and apply for an apprenticeship and he is now working as a trainee mechanic at a local car dealership.
‘I’m so happy that all that trouble with the police is finally over. I was always scared, hungry and ashamed of my uncomfortable clothes. I felt that there was nothing I could do to help change the situation. Working with my Streetwork Youth Caseworkers helped me to understand how to find and apply for jobs. I also know how to set life goals now and work to a plan.’
Tai's Story
Referred by the Department of Community Services, Family Support Service, Tai was a socially isolated 11-year-old. He was being bullied at school, singled out because he lacked energy, was unfit and had no interest in exercise or team sport.
Tai often spent large amounts of time alone: he found it difficult to make friends, and both his parents worked in a small catering business that demanded long hours, including night shifts and weekends.
Regular mentoring with his Streetwork Youth Caseworker gave Tai the support he needed to live a healthier and happier life.
Over the last four months, Streetwork has connected Tai and his family with a specialist team of adults including a PE teacher, an after-school carer and a family psychologist.
Tai is learning how to communicate with people his own age and has started a new hobby in song writing. He has now built a regular exercise regime into his week and attended a number of workshops to try-out different sports.
Leti's Story
Leti’s mother was struggling with substance use and addiction and had left Leti in the full-time care of her elderly grandparents, who wanted their home to be ‘quiet and peaceful’ and wouldn’t allow Leti to have friends over.
Lonely and missing her mother, 11-year-old Lettie began suffering from depression and anxiety. She started to stay up until the early hours of the morning talking with her friends on social media. The resulting lack of sleep meant that Leti was regularly late for school and her teachers noticed that she was falling asleep in class.
The school referred Leti to Streetwork.
Talking with her Streetwork Youth Caseworkers, Leti shared her goals. She wanted to improve her sleep, hygiene and meet her friends in-person, rather than on social media. She decided that to feel ‘happier’ she needed to have contact with her mother.
During the three months Leti spent in Streetwork’s Kickstart Mentoring program she was supported by her Youth Caseworker to find friend’s she could visit after school. Her teachers were updated about her living arrangements, and they offered her understanding, praise and encouragement especially when it came to her schoolwork.
At graduation, Leti was following a healthy, night-time routine and she was regularly talking with her mother on the phone.
Ari’s Story
Ara was 8 when his mother was sentenced to 50 years in prison for attempting to smuggle drugs out of Asia, leaving him and his brother in the care of their father, a tough Armenian who had escaped conflict in the Middle East and fled to Australia.
His father had a history of domestic violence and found it difficult to cope with the demands of single parenting.
*Not his real name
At 16, Ara began rebelling against his father’s instructions and their relationship became violent. After being expelled from school, Ara and his father had an argument that ended in the police being called.
Ara’s father took out an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) against Ara, that left Ara homeless.
The police referred Ara to Streetwork and his Youth Caseworkers immediately helped him to find a place to live and supported him to navigate the requirements of the police and legal system.
While on the Kickstart Mentoring program, Ara attended a counselling course that assisted him to break the cycle of destructive and aggressive behaviour and to take control of his life. He subsequently graduated from Kickstart and went on to complete a TAFE certificate and now enjoys a career in plumbing.
‘When you’re on the street, kids just 12 or 13 are using drugs: you’re surrounded by the same kind of people. Streetwork helped me to make goals and to achieve them and make real changes in my life.’
David's Story
David had a history of violent crime and substance abuse. At 16 he referred himself to Streetwork while at one of our outreach BBQ. David asked for support with some legal matters and his Juvenile Justice order. He also wanted to learn strategies to help him overcome the constant feeling of anxiety.
Streetwork encouraged David to take part in the Pride Empowerment Program and an Anger Management course. He gave 100% in both of these and was the most improved on both courses. Currently one of our Youth Caseworkers is helping David to look at apprenticeship opportunities as he wants to leave school and work full time.
celebrating ‘Levelling up’
There are few terms that we consider to be exclusively Streetwork. ‘Levelling up’ is the term we use when our young people have ‘graduated’ or completed their time with us and achieved some or all of the goals they set for themselves. Typically, this achievement is cause for great celebration and one ‘levelling up’ reward worth standing out was when we took two of our graduates to the Blacktown drive-in of the premier of the All Eyez On Me - 2Pac movie: any hip-hop fans’ nirvana.
One of the young people had been referred to Streetwork at 17 through the Juvenile Justice system as he had a number of assault charges against him. He and his Youth Caseworker would travel to the Children's Court for hearings around the charges and the Youth Justice Conference outcomes included delivering an apology letter to the victims of the assaults. He also needed to continue anger management classes with his psychologist and pay back money towards the medical expenses of his victims. Success on all counts was great cause for a special celebration.
The other young person was referred to Streetwork by his school due to extreme issues of anxiety. His primary goal was to finish Year 12 and finish his HSC. Two years on, after a few false starts, some truancy lapses and trying out four different schools before settling at the Beach School, he finally smashed it and used his Streetwork Aftercare meetings to review opportunities to study at Macquarie University.
At the film premier there was live music by Grammy Award winnings Hip-Hop artists, fancy cars (that bounce like the music videos), food and the movie's sound delivered through the reliable Streetwork Toyota Tarago stereo. A memorable night for all and an absolute credit to how far both of these young people had come.
