Developing connections with young people
By Sarah, Youth Case Worker, NSW Sarah is a youth case worker with a community support organisation and has extensive experiencing delivering youth, mental health and community engagement programs across NSW. Step Together asked Sarah to share her insights for how support workers and community leaders can better connect with young people, particularly those who...
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Keeping friends and family safe online – at any age
We often hear concerns about the safety of young people online, but it’s important to acknowledge that there are risks for people of any age. Aside from the well-reported threats to privacy and sensitive data, there are potential impacts on our social and emotional health. Below are some of the dangers, as well as benefits,...
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Helping young people have their say
Many of us have ideas of what changes we’d like to see in our society, but it can be hard to know how to turn these thoughts into positive action. Young people, in particular, can feel that their voice is not represented, especially before they are old enough to vote. However, you can help encourage...
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How to break the negative thinking loop
Feeling worried or anxious every now and then is normal and is not a sign for concern in itself. Worry can keep us alert, help us remember things, and make us aware of dangers. Humans have evolved to feel worry, and we often use those emotions to drive us towards a solution. Worrying or feeling...
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Coping after a large scale traumatic event
Large scale traumatic events don’t only affect those directly involved – you can also feel the impact of trauma through exposure to ongoing media coverage or public discussion. This may make you feel unsafe, anxious, or powerless, and it’s important you address these feelings so they don’t significantly impact your daily life. Below are some...
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How to strengthen family communication
Our closest relationships are often, though not always, with our family. Parents, partners, spouses or kids may know you best, and want to help when times get tough. However, family relationships can also be a source of tension, especially when there is a focus on negative emotions. Creating an environment for positive communication is paramount,...
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Understanding and Managing Anger
Anger is a common emotion and can be expressed in many ways, from mild frustration to extreme rage. There may be real causes for anger, and genuine (and perceived) injustices in daily life that may make us all feel angry. If expressed positively, anger can be healthy and motivating but it is more often a...
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What does ‘community resilience’ really mean?
‘Community resilience’ is a common term used today to describe a pathway to greater strength and harmony, particularly in minority communities. But what does it really mean and how can it be applied? The concept of resilience is usually applied at an individual level, but over the last decade, we are hearing more about the...
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Community leadership in today’s world
A community leader is generally someone who is seen to be the ‘model representative’ of any given community. Sometimes community leaders are elected, or they might hold a prestigious office. At other times, community leaders can find themselves nominated for that position simply because enough people, either from within that group or wider society, hold...
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Understanding Violent Extremism versus Terrorism
Discussions about Violent Extremism and Terrorism are always difficult, as they elicit strong reactions and opinions. In discussing Violent Extremism, and ways that we can help people who might be vulnerable to participation, we are often asked ‘why don’t you just call it Terrorism?’ Well, there are a few reasons why we use the term...
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