Youth Services

Young people are an important part of our community and have a range of needs Council can help with. These may include information or links to services and facilities, recreational events and programs, as well as the opportunity to have their voice heard.

Council's Youth & Community Partnerships team works closely with local young people to facilitate a range of key services that seek to improve quality of life, health and wellbeing of young people in our municipality.

If you're a young person in Banyule, or know one, check out the following services and programs that we're involved in.

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)

FIAB Committee members

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 LADS workers who visit schools in the northern, and southern areas of Banyule to talk with young people and find out about their needs and local issues. The workers then use this information to advocate and coordinate responses to these issues, giving young people a voice on things they feel strongly about.

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 Nillumbik Youth Services Network

We are part of the Banyule Nillumbik Youth Services Network (BNYSN), which is the lead body linking youth services in the region. The network covers many issues affecting young people and workers in a range of fields. The purpose of the BNYSN includes:

  • Identify gaps in service provision 
  • Service planning 
  • Information sharing 
  • Professional development 
  • Proactive lobbying at local, regional, state and national levels.

If you would like to find out more about services for young people in Banyule please give our Youth & Community Partnerships team a call on 9490 4222.