YOUTH PROGRAMS

The Community First Step Youth Team is made up of passionate and hardworking social workers, youth workers and volunteers. We are committed to ensuring every young person gets to be heard, supported, advocated for and encouraged.

Our team has a wide range of skills where we are able to understand and adapt to the needs of the young people in our area.

We offer a vast range of programs, recreational activities, educational activities, case management and client support that includes:

Youth Drop-In:

For at risk, disengaged and newly migrated teens from trauma backgrounds that provide free access to:

State of the art sporting facilities
Vocational training
Access to other services such as Legal Aid
One on one case management and support

Specialised supports groups and support programs:

QUNITE (LGBTQIA Support Group for 14-17 year olds)
Girls Support Group
Work and Development Orders
Youth Justice Conferences
Employment Skills Support

Various programs in schools:

These can be tailored to the specific cohort.

RAGE (Renegotiating Angry and Guilty Emotions
GRASP (Group for Raising Awareness of Suicide and Prevention)
School Suspension Program

YOUTH CENTRE

DROP IN

Fairfield Youth and Community Centre

44 Vine St, Fairfield

Opposite Fairfield pools

5 mins from the train station

12 years - 24 years

Monday – Thursday

3pm - 6pm

FREE

Activities Available

Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Touch Football, Badminton, Trampolining, Arts & Crafts, Games, Xbox Competitions, Pool Table, Table Football, Table Tennis, Employment Help, Homework Help,

Computers available for use, free WIFI.

Legal Aid Outreach Service available for free legal advice and assistance.

Registration Process

Just come in and talk to a staff member at reception.

For Under 18s – a form to be filled out upon arrival and a waiver form to be signed by parent/guardian.

Over 18s – are able to sign themselves up upon entry each person is asked to sign in each time they attend.

The Youth Drop In Service is run by Youth Workers, Social Workers and Case Workers to provide a safe and engaging environment

Download Flyer for more information.

Workshops & Groups

RAGE (Renegotiating Angry and Guilty Emotions)

This 6 session program is run by trained Youth Workers and Social Workers where young people learn strategies to manage emotions build resilience and how to cope with and control feeling of anger.

Download Flyer for more information.

Girls Group

Sessions focussing on self-care, healthy relationships and consent, body positivity, time-management, personal hygiene, bullying, employment, resilience, and confidence.

Employment Skills

A tailored workshop for young people at any stage of their employment journey. How to find a job, resume writing, teamwork, communication skills, how to manage difficult situations at work, Your Rights in the Workplace (in partnership with Legal Aid), interview skills and time management.

GRASP (Group for Raising Awareness of Suicide and Prevention)

This 6 week interactive program is designed for young people, targeting those who have attempted, or at risk of attempting, suicide. Each session combines psycho-educational support with interactive activities to increase student’s quality of life and reduce the risk of suicide.

Download Flyer for more information.

QUNITE (LGBTQIA Support Group for 14-17 year olds)

This group meets once a month to support young people in the LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate their identity and culture. This is done by providing interactive and informative sessions as well as giving young people a safe space to meet friends who are going through similar issues and are able to be completely themselves without fear of judgement.

Download Flyer for more information.

Individual Case Management

Early Intervention & Prevention

Available for any young person who may need some additional support with a range of issues including, but not limited to; peer relationships, bullying, school, mental health concerns and seeking employment

Work and Development Orders

CFS Youth Staff are able to complete mentoring programs with young people who have received fines. These can include train fines, speeding fines and court fines. This program is designed as an alternative option to pay off fines for those who cannot otherwise pay them. They will be able to reduce and or eliminate their fines through tailored workshops, mentoring sessions or volunteering.

Download Flyer for more information.

School Suspension Program

This program works with young people who have received long suspensions from school by providing case management services as well as assistance with integrating back into school with the aim of reducing the likelihood of the young person being re-suspended in the future.

Download Flyer for more information.

Youth Justice Conferences

CFS Case Workers are able to support young people through their Youth Justice Conferences by being monitors and assisting with mentoring, helping the young person complete their outcome plan and supporting them to make better decisions in the future.

referral process

For Sporting and Recreational Activities

Just drop in on the day of the activity and join in!

For Case Management Support

FOR SERVICES/SCHOOLS: Please complete the CFS Referral form and email it to referrals@cfs.asn.au

FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Please email details to referrals@cfs.asn.au or call our reception on 02 9727 4333

Click here to download Case Management Support Referral Form

For Workshops & Groups

FOR SERVICES/SCHOOLS: Seen elements you are interested in from multiple workshops? We are

happy to tailor a workshop focusing on any topic you see as being valuable.

FOR PARTICIPANTS: Just sign up at reception or speak to one of the youth workers.

Interested in any of these groups or workshops?

Please contact Jessica Thomson by emailing on

Jessica.thomson@cfs.asn.au

“This group has helped me with my identity and finding that I shouldn’t be ashamed of who I am, truly… I have found myself as a person and am no longer confused about my identity – Ready to step forward and start making a change for myself.”

QUNITE Participant

“We have been incredibly happy with the workshops you have provided us this year. Students have learnt a great deal on important social and wellbeing issues they will be and are currently dealing with as young adults”

Teacher Feedback regarding Girls Group

“Jess isn’t just a youth worker but someone with good legal advice and very focused and she shows up to your event such as me having court and she shows up for me sits in my meetings with my lawyer and gives her input and ways to help and she’ll do it again, if needed, always wants to find out where you are and just making sure you are out of trouble lastly the care she has for kids, any kid could need your help and she’ll help you”

Youth at Risk - Early Intervention and Prevention Participant