About 30 people attended the Young People for Refugees launch on Friday night with founder Tayla Hansen telling supporters the group would "be making it known to the government we're here to be a voice for people who wish to make Australia home".

The group, for those in high school and beyond, plan to conduct peaceful protests and vigils in solidarity with asylum seekers and refugees.  

Tutoring and other support services would also be offered to newly arrived Australians already living in Bendigo, Ms Hansen said. 

She explained it was important young people lobbied for the better treatment of asylum seekers and refugees in Australia.

"A lot of action groups are made up of older people," she said.

"But young people are the ones who'll be able to work their way up through the system and make a difference."  

Former Christmas Island detention centre trauma counsellor Chris Cummins also addressed Friday night's launch party attendees, describing the "battering" experience of five years spent working with detainees.

She said it was the federal government's policy that caused her distress, not the stories of trauma asylum seekers brought from their homelands. 

Ms Cummins welcomed YPR as another sign of positive change in community attitudes towards people seeking a new life in Australia.

"It doesn't take a lot of effort, but it's good to make a bit of noise," she said.

YPR will a meeting on the last monday of every month, the first taking place at Hashtag on August 29 at 7pm.

They group will also be involved in the Regional Australians for Refugees national conference in Bendigo on September 3 and 4. 

For more information, contact yprbendigo@gmail.com