Troy* and his older sister walked home from their high school through a park. There they’d notice Youth Off The Streets youth workers, who would often be running a community outreach program there.
Eventually, curiosity got the better of the pair. “Slowly, as we got older, we started going to [the outreach program],” he says.
At that time, Troy had been feeling pressure in all areas of his life. He and his family had only recently migrated to Australia from New Zealand and while struggling to find a sense of belonging in his new home, Troy recalls his father being “very physical with [me] as the first-born boy”.
“It was pretty difficult for the first couple of years that we moved over. Home life was pretty hectic,” he says. “I just felt like I couldn’t talk to my dad about a lot of things.”
Rather than finding support in his mother, Troy likewise felt misunderstood by her. Although he is a naturally gifted athlete, Troy’s mother pushed him to focus on academics above all else, which further increased the stress he felt when he was at home.
School offered some respite from these pressures – but come the end-of-school bell, Troy knew what was waiting for him. He had few friendships or other social connections to draw on for support.
“My older sister and I didn’t really have friends over when we were younger. It’s not that we weren’t allowed,” he adds. “We were just scared.”
Coupled with the fact that, unlike his classmates, Troy didn’t have social media or even a phone, he often felt like an outsider. “I didn’t really have a lot of social skills. There’s a lot of things that the kids in my grade would talk about that I didn’t know about.”
Youth Off The Streets’ Engagement and Support teams work with at-risk children and young people in Greater Sydney, the Hunter region in NSW and – like those Troy first saw on his way home from school – Logan in QLD. In 2024 alone, 428 children and young people were supported by these teams to address issues including the impacts of domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV), homelessness and housing, disconnection from education, involvement with the youth justice system and mental health concerns. Over 2,177 children and young people were provided with recreational and skill development activities and culturally focused education and wellbeing activities.
Youth Off The Streets’ Engagement and Support teams offer specialist case management, individual support, youth justice programs, outreach activities and more.
Moreover, there were 12,214 instances of support provided to young people through engagement activities at our drop-in centres and outreach programs – much like the support that Troy received.
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The outreach program in Logan offered an opportunity for Troy and his sister to connect with other young people and trusted adults outside of school hours. They found that many of the children who attended were from their high school. “It was a way of having friends outside of school.”
It also set him on a career path he may not have otherwise pursued.
Nearing Year 12 and with a love of helping younger children, Troy had been considering becoming a teacher. However, he came to realise through his engagement with Youth Off The Streets, that youth work would allow him to better support young people going through complex challenges.
“I thought that youth work specifically, with a lot of the issues that our young people have today, was probably better suited for me than being a teacher.”
Tess Laybourn is the Team Leader of Youth Support Services in Logan, where Troy completed his TAFE placement as part of his youth work qualification. She remembers Troy as being “positive, reliable and inspiring”.
“Having once accessed our service as a young person, Troy brought a unique and deeply personal perspective to his placement,” she shares. “His knowledge of the local community, combined with his lived experience, allowed him to build immediate and meaningful rapport with the young people we support.”
One of many young people who train for their youth work accreditation with Youth Off The Streets, Troy stood out for his empathy, professionalism, and natural ability to connect.
“His presence was not only impactful for the young people but also a powerful reminder of the importance of lived experience in youth work,” Tess continues. “We were truly honoured to support Troy on this part of his journey, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact he will continue to make in the community.”
Tess concludes, “We hope our paths cross again in a professional capacity.”
In 2024, 428 children and young people were supported by Youth Off The Streets’ Engagement and Support teams.
On his ability to connect with young people in need of support, Troy also attributes this to his lived experience. “A lot of times when I was younger, I did find it hard to connect with the people who were offering help,” he says. “I think a lot of the time, the people who were offering help weren’t offering it in a way that suited me.”
Troy describes his approach to supporting young people as not pressing them for information right away; instead “I just let them know that I’m there for them. When they’re ready, then I’m ready to help.”
When asked what his advice might be to a young person who feels isolated as he once did, Troy first acknowledges how difficult it is to ask for help. “It’s okay to be nervous about reaching out. Everyone’s kind of scared about reaching out; it takes a lot of courage to do it. But outreach is a bigger group, if you don’t like a one-on-one combo.”
“Whether it be with one of your closest friends or on your own, come to an outreach program, where the barbie is always on, the games are on,” he concludes.
As Troy would no doubt urge other young people thinking about connecting with Youth Off The Streets, wander over to those youth workers set up in the park by your school. You don’t have to be alone.
