NSW Youth Week (16 – 26 April) celebrates Australian youth through a range of community events and activities.   

The 2026 theme is ‘Dream. Dare. Do.’, encouraging young people to take bold, creative steps toward their aspirations. 

The Benevolent Society delivers several services across New South Wales (NSW) to support young Aussies. These include The Shack, the Rural Youth Mental Health Service, and the recently launched Level Up program in Macarthur. 

How The Shack is supporting young people 

Since 2013, The Shack has been providing a range of recreational, educational and support services for young people ages 12-17 who reside in the local government areas of Randwick, Bayside, Georges River, Waverley, Woollahra and the City of Sydney. 

The Shack supports young Australians who need assistance and guidance in various areas including general health, mental health, employment and education, as well as general advocacy. 

The Shack runs a variety of youth support programs both in schools and the local community: 

• 'Youth Drop-In' service – Held in South Maroubra each Thursday night during the school term where young people get together to enjoy activities like gaming, arts and craft, a BBQ and support. 
• This Is Me - an 8-week psychosocial program supporting Year 6 students as they transition to high school. 
• Shack Tutoring (in partnership with UNSW) - Cost-free tutoring for students in Years 6-12 living or going to school in the Randwick and Bayside LGA. 

Rural Youth Mental Health Service (RYMHS) 

In rural communities within Western NSW, The Benevolent Society offer a free voluntary mobile outreach program providing mental health support for young people aged 12-25 years.  

It is run in partnership with the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation, funded by the Western New South Wales (NSW) Primary Health Network 

The program supports young people (aged 12–25 years) in Western NSW rural areas (Cobar, Condobolin, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Cowra, Forbes, Gilgandra, Mudgee, Nyngan, Narromine, Parkes and Walgett) and helps them overcome mental health challenges and isolation. 

The team have supported over 1,300 young people with mental health support since its inception in 2018. 

Level Up youth mentoring in Macarthur 

Benevolent’s Families in Focus team recently launched its new Level Up program in Macarthur to provide Youth mentoring services within the community.  

It is a mentoring and wellbeing program, designed to empower pre-teens (10 to 12-year-olds) by fostering meaningful growth across key areas of their lives. 

The program engages pre-teens who are at risk of disengagement from school, family and community, are showing early signs of mental health challenges, and aims to increase positive outcomes. 

Run in partnership with Camden Council during the school term, the program provides weekly mentoring sessions at Julia Reserve.  

Level Up mentoring provides pre-teens with guidance on healthy relationships, bullying, sleep and routines, body image and dysmorphia, emotional regulation and coping skills, health and wellbeing around risk-taking behaviours. 
 
For more information on our range of Youth and Mental Health Support services and programs, click here or call 1800 236 762.