Testimonial – Li Ming

 After spending 7 months in crisis refuges, I got accepted at St Laurence House. I have only been here for 3 months, but they have helped me with so much already.

I love that I am now able to stay somewhere long term so I can finish my HSC. Its nice knowing I have somewhere stable to live and I don’t have to move around so much. One of the best things about being in a long term refuge is I get my own room. I had to share a room with a stranger at the crisis refuge. Having my own space is good when I’m having a tough time or need space.

My case worker has helped link me in with a youth friendly doctor at Headspace. It means that the doctor knows all my medical history, can help with medication and anything that comes up for me. My case worker talks to my school teachers and helps me keep on track with all my school work. They have helped me to get school uniforms and tutoring.

I like all the outings they organise for us and how they let us extend curfews so I can go out with my boyfriend. They even let us have visitors to the house.

St Laurence House feels more than just a house. It feels like my home.

Testimonial – Jules

My overall experience at SLH has been very positive. During my time at SLH I have faced many challenges, the first being my Centrelink payment/ claim being heavily delayed/ complicated. My case manager helped to advocate by physically taking me into Centrelink and using my assertive communication.

During this time, SLH was very understanding and reassuring. SLH has also offered much support with my physical and mental health, this support has been carried out by check-ins and supporting me to my appointments.

My case manager and team leader attended a meeting at my school to make a clear outline of my plans and opportunities.

My relationship with staff has been positive, I have had the opportunity to express myself in a safe environment because staff have done their best to create that safe space for me and my other housemates. SLH has offered many outings like Ice Skating and an Ozharvest lunch that has created and opening for me and others to try things for the first time and build connections.

SLH provides workshops that have created a space for me to gain more knowledge on future opportunities and situations. SLH is constantly working with me to build independence at a comfortable pace.

Testimonial – Anaya

From day one, it was apparent to me that SLH only wanted the best for young people. Whether it was chats with youth workers, calming house outings to the beach or case meetings about learning to support myself independently, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support from the organisation and staff.

I didn’t really understand the concept of “my own needs” until I was at SLH. To me, it wasn’t something I really considered, let alone considered important. Through small steps of allowing myself time to relax and also learning what “self-care” meant, I was able to eventually learn how to advocate for myself and how important that really was, especially living and supporting myself independently. Furthermore, SLH supported me in building my life back up from practically nothing but a duffel bag. Initially, I had nothing but $80, but through my time here, I am now happily well-acquainted with Centrelink and was able to develop savings, while also getting employment to support myself
financially. SLH guided me from moving on from one job to another, and recognising my rights in the workplace in the face of my own employer – a scary feat for a 16 year old.

My own dreams and goals towards my education have been greatly aided by SLH by helping me find private tutoring so I could reach the best of my potential in my final years of high school. They’ve always supported me during exams to which I am extremely grateful for, allowing me to get the most out of my education which is the most important to me.

Overall, it is impossible to put into words the impact SLH has made on my life, and I am extremely grateful to be yet another young person who has such a broadened scope of opportunities available to them through the service, and helping me develop emotionally and mentally to live and support myself independently.