Youth Services

• Youth Participation and Advocacy
• LINK-U
• JETS Studios
• Frog in a Blender (FIAB)
• Olympic Village Youth Project
• Local Area Development & Support (LADS)
• Information and Referral Support
• Banyule Youth Express- Young people driving change.

Youth Participation and Advocacy

Our Youth Participation and Advocacy team promotes opportunities and activities that actively engage young people in all aspects of Council's decision making process. The Banyule Youth Charter, which will be completed in late 2008, will formalise the partnership between young people and Council.

LINK-U

LINK-U is a mobile after hours outreach and information program for young people and their families which helps to connect young people and their families to relevant services and facilities in the community.

The service operates on Friday and Saturday nights between 7.00pm and midnight and includes a toll free phone access through 1800 254 658.

JETS Studios

JETS is the best-kept secret in Banyule for those who like to rock. It's a rehearsal and recording studio based at 2/24 The Concord, Bundoora and offers music, band rehearsals, recordings and accredited / non-accredited training programs for young people interested in the music industry.

JETS also runs music/art-based respite programs TWANG and Saturday Sounds for teenagers with a disability.

For more information call JETS on 9467 7152.

Frog in a Blender (FIAB)

Frog In A Blender is a committee of local young people who organise drug and alcohol free music events throughout the year.

The project, which is based at Macleod YMCA, is one of 77 committees in Melbourne and regional Victoria who run music events as part of the Victorian Government's Office for Youth FReeZA program.

For more information on the committee or to find out about upcoming events please contact FIAB at the Macleod YMCA on 9459 9022.

Olympic Village Youth Project

The project is based at the Olympic Leisure Centre in West Heidelberg and engages local young people between the ages of 9 and 18 years in a range of group activities aimed at strengthening their resilience.

One of the project's programs is Girls Rock, a social group for girls in grades 5 to 8 who live or go to school in Olympic Village or Heidelberg West. The group meets on Mondays 3.30-5.00pm during school terms and promotes positive messages through fun and safe physical activities and games as well as social and recreational activities like art, craft and cooking.

Another key program is Brave Banyule, a 12 week health and fitness program for young men aged 14-19 in the West Heidelberg area.

Local Area Development & Support (LADS)

Banyule has two Local Area Development & Support (LADS) Youth Workers, each allocated a region - Northern and Southern Banyule.  These youth workers operate in a community development framework whose objective is to support and advocate for young people in local issues.  This could be anything from consulting young people about open space design in their local park, meeting with local secondary schools to find out about local issues, visiting community groups to inform them of local youth agencies/grants etc.  The LADS workers can be contacted on 9457 9855

Information and Referral Support

Council provides information and referral support to young people and their families who may need to be linked to information or services in a range of areas such as health, housing or legal issues.

Banyule Youth Express- Young people driving change.

Are you 12-25 and want to make a difference in your community?   Ever wondered what it would be like to be the Mayor?

Banyule City Council is offering you a great opportunity to be involved in the Banyule Youth Express on the 1st of April 2009.  This event is your opportunity to have your opinion heard by government and youth agencies on issues that impact young people in Banyule.

Be a driver for change in your community and get yourself involved in this major event.

Please fill out the nomination form below if you are interested in taking part. For more information please contact  Katy Capdevila – Youth Participation Officer Banyule City Council 9457 9939 or katy.capdevila@banyule.vic.gov.au