Youth Programs

If you think a program below could be of benefit to you or your child/ren, please contact the HCOS Community Services Support Team:

Phone during our office hours, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm.
Outside those times, you are welcome to leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
You can also send us an email, or use our form here.

Take A Stand

A program written by HCOS promoting self-esteem and resilience among students in Stages 4 and 5.

The program covers self-esteem, self talk, healthy relationships, team work and establishing support structures using a combination of group discussions, YouTube videos and games.

5 weekly sessions
8 to 15 students in Stages 4–5 (Years 7–10)
Two program facilitators
One classroom teacher

Healthy Relationships

An extensive program designed by HCOS to promote healthy relationships among students in Stages 4 and 5.

Using a combination of group discussions, YouTube videos and games, it covers: self-perception (who am I?); types of relationships; maintaining relationships; healthy and unhealthy relationships; and dealing with conflict.

8 weekly sessions
8 to 15 students in Stages 4–5 (Years 7–10)
Two program facilitators
One classroom teacher

Resilience

An extensive program developed by the HCOS Youth Team to promote resilience in students in Stages 4 and 5.

The program covers the core elements of resilience including: identifying strengths, the importance of belonging, emotional awareness, communication skills, mindfulness/ self control, establishing support structures, humour as therapy, self esteem/ confidence and problem solving.

8 weekly sessions
8 to 15 students in Stages 4–5 (Years 7–10)
One program facilitator
One classroom teacher

Be You

“If you’re your authentic self, you have no competition.” – Anonymous

By being someone we are not, we are telling ourselves that who we really are isn’t okay. So hiding or suppressing who we really are can end up leaving us feeling lonely, disconnected from others, or even worthless.

Developed by HCOS, Be You aims to change all of that by encouraging young people to act in ways that authentically show their true selves by developing self-awareness, mindfulness and self-acceptance.

Outcomes

To increase the social and emotional well-being of young people
To develop resilience through recognising, identifying and regulating emotions
To promote self-awareness and self-validation
To increase social skills and networks

10 weekly sessions across a school term
5–15 participants – mixed genders
Each session runs for one full period

The Friend Cleanse

An in-school healthy friendships program developed by HCOS to assist young people to cleanse and positively transform their friendships.

For young people aged 12–18
9 weekly sessions of 60 minutes
2–10 participants
Two program facilitators

Rainbow Talk

Developed by the HCOS Youth Team in 2021, this in-school social and emotional well-being (SEW) program is for young people of diverse sexualities, genders and their allies. It aims to:

Increase the social and emotional well-being of young people of diverse sexualities, genders and their allies;
Develop resilience through recognising, identifying and regulating emotions;
Promote self-awareness and self-validation;
Increase social skills and networks and
Build and develop cultural knowledge, competence and safety.

5–15 students
Each session runs for one school period

Love Bites

A respectful relationships education program for young people

Love Bites provides young people with a safe environment to discuss and explore respectful relationships. Written by NAPCAN, its strength-based approach supports young people in making active choices to build relationships are free from violence and abuse.

The three critical learning areas are:

Knowledge: youth-led collaborative learning;
Attitudes: critical thinking and decision-making; and
Behaviours: problem solving and communication skills.

For young people aged 15–17
Two interactive workshops: ‘Relationship Violence’ and ‘Sex and Relationships’
Creative workshops
Community campaigns
Can be delivered either in a full day or across multiple sessions

Love Bites Junior

Love Bites tailored for younger students

Since the successful implementation of Love Bites in 2003, community feedback from across Australia has consistently indicated the need for a version designed for younger students.

This suite of three programs is designed for consecutive delivery as each one incrementally builds young people’s skills. They are:

#friends (Year 7) covers: communicating mindfully; warning signs of abusive behaviour; power in relationships; responding to concerns as bystanders; seeking help; and rights and responsibilities in relation to sharing sexualised images.
Respectful Relationships, Bullying and Gender (Year 8) covers: respect in relationships; gender roles and stereotypes; gender and relationships; jealousy; sexual harassment and homophobia; challenging harassment, discrimination and gender stereotypes; and seeking help.
Relationships, Love and Control (Year 9) covers: gender expectations and relationships; responding to jealous feelings; love and control; warning signs of a controlling/abusive relationship; supporting friends; seeking help; and breaking up with respect.

For children aged 11–14
Three programs delivered consecutively to Years 7, 8 & 9

DRUMBEAT

Building resilience through rhythm

A reduced version of DRUMBEAT exploring relationships, conversations, feelings and emotions. Drums are used to express and work through emotions with non-verbal conversations.

Students learn four rhythms on African drums and the program concludes with a short drumming performance.

Up to 15 students, optimally grouped as Years 7 & 8 students together, or Years 9 & 10 students together
Two program facilitators
One classroom teacher

Who helps the HCOS Youth Programs happen?

HCOS Community Services are funded by the NSW Department of Communities & Justice.