The role of the Youth (& Family) Worker is to provide individual and group-based support to young people and their families. AYC’s support, programs and activities are open to anyone 12-24 years of age (and their families) but target ‘vulnerable’ groups of young people including those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Refugee/Migrant and in Out-of-Home-Care (OoHC) backgrounds.
The Youth (& Family) Worker assists young people to engage with and access services at Auburn Youth Centre. They provide support, mentoring, goals setting, personal planning, information and referral. They facilitate group work to help young people develop skills, knowledge and self awareness. They work with the young person’s family to address issues as required and consented to by the young person. They link young people and families with other services across the Cumberland LGA and Western Sydney as required. Youth and family workers can assist young people with issues including mental health, education, homelessness, trouble with the law, homelessness, AOD, family conflict, financial wellbeing, citizenship and health.
Programs presently facilitated by Youth (& Family) Workers include Girls Only Social Group, Work & Development Orders (fines), Healthy Relationships, Life Skills, Decision Making and Critical Thinking, Empowerment, Job Club, After School and School Holiday Programs
This is a free service and anyone can make a referral to the Youth (& Family) Worker. You can make a referral by completing a referral form (click here for referral form) and email it to admin@ayc.org.au or call us on 02 9646 2122 with any other queries relating to the referral process or the services provided. You can always walk into the Centre and ask for help.
Robin Benz
Robin Benz is a Youth (& Family) Worker at Auburn Youth Centre. He is experienced in and passionate about training, supporting and working with young people from various cultural backgrounds in both the social/community work and hospitality sectors. Robin completed a Bachelor of Socio-Legal Studies at the University of Sydney and a Master of Social Work at Western Sydney University. Having arrived in Australia as a migrant ,and being multilingual himself informs his social work practice and cross cultural communication skills which allows him to make a difference for a range of diverse young people. He is also very aware of the challenges of gaining Australian citizenship.
Areas of special interest include crime prevention, sport and migration.
Gokhan Singec
Introducing the unofficial Mayor of AUBURN, Gokhan Singec –Youth Worker @ AYC who has been working in the community sector now for 10 years. Gokhan has completed his Diploma of Community Services, and Diploma of Youth Work at TAFE NSW. When something happens in the Auburn Community rest assured that someone will ask Gokhan for help.
Gokhan Singec has a great passion for sport and recreation and is a big advocate of sport to connect with all young people. Gokhan has certificates and qualifications in the following, Cert III- Fitness, Cert Level 1 Boxing, Soccer Youth Coaching License C as well as first Aid.
When working alongside young people, Gokhan believes a strength based approach is best practice. For Gokhan this means all young people deserve a chance, a voice and the ability to be the creators of their own dreams. Auburn has always been a community that is ready and willing to learn and change, be helpful and compassionate, these qualities can be found in Gokhan Singec. He is a local, born and bread in Auburn, speaking fluent Turkish.
Tanzila Chowdhury
Tanzila has a Masters of Social Work from Western Sydney University, a Certificate in Child Care and Bachelor of Sociology from Chitagong School of Social Science, Bangladesh. Tanzila has been working at AYC since October 2023 after successfully completing her Masters Placement at AYC in May 2022. Tanzila stayed connected with AYC through volunteering whilst continuing her Early Education Career, jumping at the opportunity for a permanent role when one became available. Tanzila is a proud mother and is passionate about human rights.