About Us

Adolescent and Family Counseling Program

What is a Counsellor?

What can I talk about in counseling?

Who can come?

Young people may come alone, with their family, or someone they feel safe with.

Parents and carers of young people may come alone or with other family members.

Others who live or work with young people.

What can I expect in counseling?

• Counselling at Auburn Youth Centre is confidential and free of charge.
• Counselling is voluntary – you decide with the counsellor how often and for how long you wish to attend.
• You decide what you want to talk about.
• Your cultural, religious, political and personal beliefs will be respected.

What other services are available in the counseling program?

The Adolescent and Family Counsellor also conduct workshops in schools and community centres on topics that concern young people. Topics may include:

• Conflict resolution
• Anger management
• Mentoring
• Mental health

Here are some examples of group work in the past:

Women-only excursion to Manly Beach to talk about domestic violence on 16 April 2007

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Ryan Buesnel

Youth Worker

Auburn Youth Centre provides a number of recreational and youth work based activities, coordinated by Ryan.

Drop In

Drop in with friends on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 3pm to 5.30pm, Enjoy free internet, snooker, play station 2(3) or just hang out. General information and support is also provided by AYC staff.

Girls Only Day

Thursday afternoons if reserved for young women only at AYC. Every Thursday between 3 and 5:50 young women can come to AYC to hang out, use the internet, play games and participate in various activities, such as jewelry making, henna art, painting, beading etc. For more information about girls day activities, please contact Leah on 9646 2122 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

School holiday Program

AYC organised extra activities such as excursions, sporting events and BBQs during the four school holiday periods throughout the year. It changes every term, so call us to find out what’s happening next.

The Blu Corner Gym

The Blu Corner gym is an ongoing exercise program which takes place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Auburn Youth Centre; The Blu corner gym provides a safe environment for young people to come and work out and let out some steam on the boxing bags. One of the main aims of the program is to empower young people to develop healthy lifestyles, including information and workshops about nutrition, body fat testing, general check ups with the G.P. The program also ventures into anger management and conflict resolution with clients. At AYC we believe in “A healthy body, healthy mind”.

Media Workshops

Any young people interested in making a short films or music now have the opportunity to use the latest media equipment free or charge! The program allows young people to use recording equipment, learn about how to make a short film and develop their interests or skills further. Short films and film clips can be entered into many nation wide short film competitions.

Case Work

Ryan also maintains a small number of ongoing casework files.

Get Ready

Every Wednesday ten students from Granville Boys High School come to Auburn Youth Centre to work in AYC’s alternative learning program. This year the students are making a film about their parents’ experiences surrounding their migration and settlement in Australia.

Homework Help

AYC provides homework help for students aged 12 - 24 on Monday and Wednesday from 4pm - 6pm during school terms. Come and do your homework with your friends in a relaxed environment with help from our ultra smart tutors. Monday homework help is held in the technology room of the Auburn Library, and Wednesday homework help in the technology room of Auburn Youth Centre. 

Please feel free to contact Ryan for further information on 9646 2122 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Cameron Thompson
Newly Arrived Pathways (NAP)- Project Manager

The Newly Arrived Pathways program works with young people and their families, who have arrived in Australia within the last 5 years, are on a humanitarian or family stream visa (with low English proficiency), and are aged 14 - 24. It aims to build the capacity of newly arrived young people to realise the possibilities of their career pathways.

This is delivered through:

• Pathways workshops - skills matching, job search, job application, interview skills and orientation to the workplace environment
• Careers Pathways evenings with parents
• Education and Employment Casework

Please feel free to contact Cameron on 9646 2122 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kelly Chan
Administration

Kelly provides AYC with bookkeeping, payroll and administration two days per week. AYC would grind to a very inglorious halt if not for Kelly’s number wizardry!

Sam Barrett
Executive Officer

Sam is in charge of coordinating the whole thing. There are many facets to this position, from strategic planning, liaising with various funding bodies and partners, to managing staff, budgets, IT, maintenance and watering the plants…Sam is often seen walking around looking stressed despite the fact that everything is going well.

Board of Directors

AYC is an Incorporated Not For Profit organisation. This means it is run by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Board meet monthly to review operations and maintain AYC’s governance. The Executive Officer reports the month’s activities to the Board. The members of the Board are as follows-