The Youth Council has been one of our great initiatives.
It not only provides an opportunity for young people to contribute to civic life, and to have their voices heard.
It has also been a great learning experience, both for our youth representatives and the wider council group.
So, it is fantastic to see one of the projects that Youth Council has strongly advocated for – a dedicated youth space in central Geelong – come to life.
Council will open a Geelong Youth Hub, within the Busport building on Brougham St, from January 2025.
Thanks to a $400,000 Victorian Government grant, we will operate the hub as part of a two-year pilot.
Planning for this initiative was progressed by the Youth Council, during the development of a feasibility study in 2022.
In its last report, the 2023 iteration of Youth Council said providing a secure hub would be a positive way for young people to access services and activities and reclaim space within central Geelong.
Youth Council asked that young people were able to contribute to the planning of the hub, to ensure it meets their needs and they have ownership over the facility.
In line with that, City officers are now sourcing ideas and information via a variety of methods.
This will help inform the design of the hub, as well as the services and activities it offers.
The aim is to create a fun, welcoming and safe hub, that caters to community members aged 12 to 25 years.
I encourage all young people to put forward their views and to help us shape this wonderful facility.
While council resolved to sell the Busport building in 2022, we are not taking any steps to progress this while we review our wider approach to the sale of public assets.
Because of this, the not-for-profit group Outpost can continue to use Busport, while it searches for a more permanent base.
The council operates a fantastic facility, the fOrT Youth Centre, that provides a lot of activities and services for young people in the northern suburbs.
The prospect of a providing something similar in the heart of central Geelong is very exciting.
I’m really looking forward to seeing our region’s young people contribute to what it should feel and look like.
Please visit yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/YouthHub to share your ideas, and to check out details on the information session and co-design workshops.
