Resources for families, carers and professionals
Practical guides and free tools to help you understand youth mentoring, community access, Respite / STR, group activities, day programs and camps for young people aged 13–28.
Whether you are a parent, carer, support coordinator, case manager or part of a young person’s care team, this page is designed to make the next step clearer.
Supporting young people and young adults aged 13–28 across Victoria.
Start with clarity.
Find the right support pathway before making a referral.
Start here
Four simple entry points for families and professionals who are new to Kickstart Youth Services.
What is youth mentoring?
How mentoring supports trust, confidence, life skills, routine and community access.
Understanding Respite / STR
A practical guide to Short Term Respite and how it can support young people and carers.
How to make a referral
What information helps our team understand goals, needs, risks, interests and fit.
Is mentoring the right fit?
For families, carers and professionals considering mentoring for a young person aged 13–28.
Find resources for your role
Different people come to Kickstart with different questions. These pathways keep the page simple.
Parents & carers
Understand support options and what the first steps can look like.
Support coordinators
Referral guidance, service fit and information to include when referring.
Case managers & DFFH
Resources for care teams supporting young people with complex needs.
Young people
Simple explanations of what mentoring and activities can look like.
Core resource areas
A simpler structure, focused on the main service areas people need to understand first.
Youth Mentoring & Community Access
Relationship-based support that helps young people build trust, confidence, life skills, routine and independence in everyday settings.
Respite / STR
Short Term Respite resources for carers and referrers, including planning, preparation and what information helps before a stay.
Group Activities & Day Programs
Structured group-based support focused on social connection, routine, practical learning and safe participation.
Camps
Adventure-based experiences designed to support confidence, resilience, connection and meaningful memories.
Free tools and checklists
These can start as coming-soon resources, then become downloadable PDFs as we create them.
Youth Mentoring Referral Checklist
For families, support coordinators and case managers preparing a referral.
Coming soon
Respite / STR Planning Checklist
A tool for routines, preferences, risks and support needs before respite.
Coming soon
First Mentoring Session Guide
Help young people and carers understand what the first session may look like.
Coming soon
Videos and free training
We are building a free video library for families, carers and professionals. This section can grow once the first videos are ready.
What to expect from youth mentoring
Understanding Respite / STR
How to make a referral
Need support for a young person?
Kickstart Youth Services works with families, carers, support coordinators, case managers and care teams to provide practical, relationship-based support for young people and young adults aged 13–28.