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About Us
What is STARTTS ?
STARTTS is a specialist, not-for-profit organisation that was established in 1988.
It provides culturally relevant psychological treatment and support, and community interventions, to help people and communities rebuild their lives in Australia.
STARTTS also fosters a positive recovery environment through the provision of training to services, advocacy and policy work.
What can STARTTS do for you?
STARTTS provides support and services for newly arrived families and young people resettling in NSW. STARTTS has staff to help young people (like you!), adults, older groups, and other communities.
Building youth potential in a
supportive and safe environment
The youth team is passionate about supporting young people to recognise their own strengths and build the framework for a happy future!
Our Goals
- To advocate for you to share your story of triumph
- To engage in conversations about what impacts you
- To support you to voice your opinions on your terms
- To encourage healthy choices that positively impact your mental and physical health
- To enable you to build a supportive community around you
Our Values
- Resilience: We celebrate the strength and resilience of young people.
- Diversity: We respect and recognise Australia’s rich multicultural past, present, and future.
- Acceptance: We foster a space that is welcoming and respectful to everyone.
Who is the STARTTS Youth Team?
The STARTTS Youth Team is a dynamic group dedicated to empowering young people from refugee, refugee-like and asylum seekers backgrounds.
STARTTS recognises that resettlement and recovery can be difficult to navigate in a new country with different cultural, educational and social norms. By offering culturally-sensitive programs, camps and centres, the youth team creates platforms for young people to express themselves, build resilience, and connect cross communities.
As a group of passionate professionals, the Youth Team is committed to supporting young people overcome challenges and achieve their full potential!
What do we do ?
STARTTS’ Youth Team runs a range of programs and activities to support youth with refugee experience, including:
to promote physical health, teamwork, and community connections.
to foster expression, confidence, and coping strategies.
to build agency and community participation.
How do we Work?
The Youth Team Approach
01
Collaboration and Advocacy
The Youth Team partners with schools and communities to support refugee youth.
02
Trauma-Informed Practice
Support is trauma-informed, helping young people resettle in safe, supportive spaces.
03
Cultural and Community Identity
The team supports cultural identity and belonging through tailored programs.
04
Youth-Led Impact
The team focuses on genuine youth-led impact where young people can be themselves in their new environment.
Who Are We?
Meet the Youth Staff
Learn more about our specialised staff, who work across NSW to supporting newly-arrived young people in metropolitan, regional and rural areas.
Our Story...
What's our history with youth work?
Did you know that youth work has been part of STARTTS since the very beginning!
From the early 1990s, STARTTS recognised that young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds needed safe, fun, and empowering spaces to connect, grow, and heal.
In fact, even our current CEO, Jorge Aroche, was out there with young people in those early days—joining camps, running outdoor activities, and helping create opportunities for young people to build confidence and friendships in a new country. Imagine the CEO leading campfires, sports, and adventures in the bush—that’s the kind of energy that shaped youth work at STARTTS!
Royal National Park, 1993
Garie Beach, Royal National Park
Over the years, youth programs at STARTTS have grown and changed, but the heart of it has always stayed the same:
- Creating safe spaces where young people can be themselves
- Building leadership, resilience, and confidence
- Having fun, making friends, and exploring new opportunities
- Supporting young people to thrive in Australia while staying connected to culture and community
Today, STARTTS Youth Team continues this legacy!
Remember… when you get involved in STARTTS Youth, you’re not just part of a program—you’re part of a long history of young people shaping, leading, and inspiring the future.
Whether it’s kicking a soccer ball, hiking a mountain, performing on stage, or speaking up as a volunteer at a youth centre, young people remain at the centre of everything we do.
Burning Palms, Royal National Park
