When Dylan* first connected with Youth Off The Streets, he didn’t have a birth certificate.
With missing essential documentation, the proud Gamilaroi teenager was locked out of services and opportunities that relied on formal identification.
“I didn’t even exist,” he says. “I would call up places – even the place I was in care with – and they’d say they have no record of me.”
“It created a lot of problems.”
Through a school program, Dylan came into contact with Kyla, a First Nations caseworker at Youth Off The Streets.
What seemed like a straightforward task – obtaining a birth certificate – quickly revealed a maze of system barriers.
Because Dylan was in out-of-home care, the documents needed to apply for a birth certificate were held by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). Accessing them required identity verification from his original caseworker, who had since left the department.
Kyla helped Dylan navigate the administrative process of working around system constraints to obtain a birth certificate, get a Medicare card and set up a myGov account. She came to his school to help him set up the necessary appointments, make phone calls and go through paperwork.
“It was a whole process that Kyla helped me through,” says Dylan. “From start to finish, getting my birth certificate took half a year.”
Obtaining a birth certificate has allowed Dylan to do things he wasn’t able to before.
“I can now get a doctor’s appointment because I have a Medicare card,” he says. “Before, if I got sick, I’d just stay home.”
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Now, Dylan will also be able to independently open a bank account, register to vote, enrol in further education and training, get a tax file number and his driver’s licence – all things that will become increasingly important as he gets older.
Kyla also supported Dylan with other goals in his case plan, including developing positive strategies to regulate his emotions and locating evidence of his ADHD diagnosis so that he can access appropriate medical treatment and services. She also helped him strengthen his connection to culture through cultural activities, learning opportunities and engagement with his Aboriginal identity and community.
With Kyla’s support, Dylan achieved every goal in his case plan.
“This was an extremely challenging process at times, as there were a number of barriers relating to documentation, service access and getting historical information,” says Kyla. “I worked closely with school staff and other relevant services, maintaining regular communication and continually advocating on Dylan’s behalf.”
Growing in culture and confidence
Now that he has his birth certificate, Dylan is looking ahead. One of his next goals is to get his driver’s licence when he turns 16.
Dylan attends the Aboriginal Learning and Engagement Centre (ALEC) at his school, which provides wellbeing, academic and cultural support for First Nations students. He’s also passionate about creating opportunities for other Aboriginal young people to connect with culture.
“At the moment I’m trying to get a men’s group started at school through ALEC,” says Dylan. “It’d be great to get an Elder to come in once a week and talk to us about men’s business.”
For First Nations young people, learning about men’s business and women’s business – including rites of passage, community responsibilities and traditional roles and skills – can play an important role in strengthening cultural connection.
Dylan recently participated in the Youth Off The Streets cultural camp in Dubbo, which he says helped him feel a stronger connection to his identity and community.
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“Hanging out with new people has been fun,” says Dylan. “I’ve also been enjoying learning about my culture at the camp, as well as other cultures.”
While the camp strengthened his connection to his own culture, Dylan also enjoyed learning about the Wiradjuri people, their beliefs and their connection to Country. He says the Dreamtime stories shared at the camp differed from those of his own Country.
“One of the most significant positive changes I observed in Dylan was through his connection to culture,” says Kyla. “He particularly came out of his shell during the Corroboree.”
“He appeared genuinely comfortable in expressing himself. It was a noticeable change from when I first began working with him.”
Connecting to culture is something Dylan hopes to continue back home. Although he’s experiencing family difficulties, he says his auntie plays an important role in helping him strengthen his connection to his Aboriginal identity.
“She’s very cultural in that sense,” says Dylan. “If she gets a chance to teach me about something, she’ll take that opportunity.”
Because of his positive experience with Youth Off The Streets, he’s also thinking about transferring to a Youth Off The Streets school next year.
“Youth Off The Streets has been really helpful; they’ve guided me through a lot,” says Dylan. “I know I can reach out if I need help again.”
