One in four young people in Australia are from a refugee or migrant background.
Behind the numbers are young people rebuilding their lives after displacement and disruption to their education and family networks. For many, arriving in Australia is just the beginning of a new set of challenges.
“It’s not just about settling in, it’s about getting used to a whole new way of life,” says Adina Dawod, Senior Youth Worker in Youth Off The Streets’ Sydney Engagement and Support team. The team supports young people in Fairfield, Bankstown and Campbelltown involved with the youth justice system and at risk of disengaging from education and employment.
For Adina, this work is deeply personal. Her family fled Iraq when she was just a baby. From a young age, she helped her family with translating, paperwork and booking appointments. Today, she does the same for young people building new lives in Australia.
Addressing unique challenges
Young people often face a unique combination of challenges as they settle in Australia. These can include learning a new language, grief and loss and separation from family and friends. Many also experience racism and discrimination. At home, they may be living with family members who are also dealing with their own trauma, which can limit the emotional, educational and practical support their parents can offer them.
Another significant challenge is understanding how systems work in Australia.
“Our court system, for example, is so different to that of other countries,” says Adina. “It can be hard to understand even if you speak perfect English.”
Adina’s work includes helping young people access mental health support, reconnect with school or work, build practical skills like writing a resume or studying for citizenship tests and navigating essential services such as health, legal and social services.
“There was a young person I had to go to court with whose mum was agreeing to everything [suggested by police],” says Adina. “We have to explain to these young people and their families that the legal system is different here; you have to read everything and get legal assistance before you sign anything.”
Adina’s role often involves explaining the ins and outs of systems, including helping young people understand they can get charged, have a criminal record and even go to juvenile detention or jail. She’ll also use the help of an interpreter when needed.
Adapting to a new country also means adapting to a completely different way of life. For some young people, this includes entering the education system for the first time or returning after years away.
“Young people who may not have had consistent schooling are suddenly expected to sit in a classroom, learn English and follow a new curriculum,” says Adina. “That can be so difficult and it’s often where we see disengagement begin.”
Working with families is key
Ensuring families feel comfortable with services is a critical part of helping young people access support.
“For me, what’s important is explaining to the family what we do, so they can feel at ease,” says Adina. “A lot of parents don’t let their child do things because they’re unfamiliar.”
“Something as simple as a Work and Development Order can be misunderstood. Families might think it’s a scam – that’s when I come in, explain how it works and show them how their child can benefit from one. Once they understand it, they feel much more comfortable.”
These young people are also often negotiating new or changed family roles and responsibilities as they settle in Australia.
“Particularly for young men, we see many cases where, back home, they’ve left school to help provide for their family,” says Adina. “Coming to Australia and being expected to re-engage with school while learning a new language can be particularly challenging for them.”
Strengthening community ties
Adina says that disconnection from community is often a factor that leads young people from refugee backgrounds to get involved with the justice system. To address this, Adina and her team have built strong relationships with local schools to reach young people who may not seek support themselves.
“Because we’ve got those relationships, Student Support Officers and Refugee Community Support Officers at these schools can refer young people to us,” she says.
The team also runs weekly drop-in sessions at the Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) centre. The drop-in sessions are well known in the community, with young people often referred by STARTTS staff.
“A lot of young people come in, some of them having just been in Australia for a few months,” says Adina. “We help whoever needs support and slowly build rapport with them.”
This early intervention approach focuses on building trust so that young people feel comfortable seeking support when they need it.
“I was helping a young person apply for Centrelink recently,” she says. “He didn’t know how to go through the process so I said, ‘I’ll come with you, but I want you to do the speaking’. We practiced what he would say beforehand and I was there to help when he needed it.”
For Adina, these moments of support are about building confidence.
“Just knowing someone is there to guide you is so important,” she says. “It helps young people feel less embarrassed walking into places they don’t understand.”
Adina’s team also runs Cultural Motion, a community connection program run in collaboration with local organisation Community Minds.
“Each week we bring in different people to do a performance and talk about their cultural background,” says Adina. “The young people get so involved and they learn about the different cultures that make up the community.”
Recent performances have included Middle Eastern drumming – where young people learned the difference between Lebanese and Assyrian rhythms and got to try their own hand at playing – as well as Bolivian dancing and Brazilian Capoeira.
“Initially, many young people are shy and hesitant, but as the workshops continue they let go of their reservations and have fun.”
Where support leads
A key change Adina sees after consistent support is that young people start proactively advocating for themselves.
“I see a lot of young people go from not speaking much to being more confident,” she says. “The situation goes from we as youth workers constantly reaching out to see what the young people need to them ringing us up and telling us what they need help with.”
It’s this impact that saw Adina receive the 2025 Multicultural Youth Support Medal for her work supporting young people from refugee and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The award, she says, is dedicated to the young people she supports who continue to show up for themselves.
“Showing up and knowing that there is someone to support you is the most important thing.”
