Not helpless

This project equipped 120 young migrants and refugees experiencing homelessness, aged 16 - 25 years and residing in Hope Street's Refuge and Supported Youth Accommodation facilities in Whittlesea, Melton and the Northern Metro region, with the basic life skills needed for independent living and to encourage positive interactions with each other.

Group sessions provided practical information, education and support for young migrants and refugees to actively participate in the community, gain confidence, learn living skills and develop community networks. Topics included:

  • Orientation and access to the Australian Community Services: navigating the service system
  • Housing and Accommodation
  • Education, Training and Employment
  • Financial Counselling and Budgeting
  • Language, Literacy and Numeracy
  • Mental Health Information and Support
  • Relationships Skills Enhancement
  • Loss and Grief
  • Conflict resolution
  • Obtaining Learners Permits and Licence
  • Cooking and Nutrition
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Sexual Health
  • Connect to Social and Recreational activities

The project's immediate outcomes for young migrants and refugees included:

  • Improved understanding and access to appropriate housing, financial resources, psychological, emotional health, wellbeing and quality of life
  • Better relationships with peers and their local community that could lead to accommodation, emotional and wellbeing support, links to employment, and sense of belonging
  • Clearer understanding of appropriate ethical and protective behavioural practices
  • Independent living skills
  • Identifying and avoiding dangerous/anti-social situations
  • Building and sustaining respectful relationships
  • Secure affordable, safe and sustainable housing
  • Education and training with a view to gaining employment
  • Community connections to enhance their wellbeing and resilience
  • Enabled them to reach their full potential and bring about long term positive sustainable change in their lives

Project Partners / Stakeholders

This project involved a range of stakeholders in the Whittlesea, Merri-bek and Melton local government areas working with Hope Street to plan and deliver the project such as family violence providers, ethno specific community leaders, new and emerging community network service providers and the following organisations:

Featured Partners

Other Stakeholders

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