Geelong Youth Hub included in new Youth Strategy

VICTORIA now has its first Youth Strategy, and Geelong’s young people have successfully pushed for a hub dedicated to their needs.

Launched last week, the Victorian Youth Strategy 2022-27 aims to improve the lives of all young people in the state both now and into the future.

Thousands of young people and sector leaders from across Victoria contributed to the development of the strategy – titled “Our promise, your future” – which the Victorian government says had young people’s experiences, need and ideas at the centre of government decision-making.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens has been backing the creation of a Geelong Youth Hub for some time, and thanked the many young people from Geelong who contributed to the Victorian Youth Strategy during its formation.

“Young people in Geelong told us that they wanted a central youth hub,” she said in Parliament last week.

“They talked about wanting a place to spend time with other young people they do not usually get to meet to learn about the many different cultural groups who live in our community and to have a conversation with Aboriginal young people and understand the past and the need for treaty.

“Young people with a disability talked about wanting a place to meet other young people with a disability.

“Young people talked about having a place to go to share jamming sessions or creative arts, with more recreational facilities, or to talk to someone about how they are feeling.

“Young people expressed their passion for a fairer and more equitable world. They want to have a voice, to be listened to and to see action.

“Well, in Geelong young people have been heard and listened to loud and clear.

“Geelong will be one of the first youth hub locations coming out of the strategy – exactly what young people asked for – along with the basketball court on the [Geelong] waterfront, recently announced.

“Young people are really excited about this new facility, and we are looking forward to progressing this.”

The strategy is backed by more than $600 million from across government in this year’s state budget.

To complement the strategy, an additional $5.3 million will open doors for young Victorians to be involved in policy development, to get access to opportunities in education, jobs, and community, and to support their mental and physical wellbeing.

The strategy, developed in consultation with more than 2,000 young people, sector partners and community members, includes 74 initiatives that will be delivered over five years.

To read the full strategy, head to vic.gov.au/victorias-youth-strategy-2022-2027.