Youth services
What we do
Are you aged 7 to 25 and living, working, studying or socialising in the City of Whittlesea?
We're your Youth Services team.
We work with children and young people to help them feel connected, supported, included and involved in their community.
We welcome young people from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and abilities. We also work with families, schools, community groups and other services to help improve outcomes for young people across the City of Whittlesea.
We can support you by:
- giving you opportunities to have a say and help shape your community
- delivering programs that support wellbeing, confidence, safety and healthy relationships
- helping young people build leadership skills and get involved in community life
- helping connect you with information, support and other services
- working with schools, families and community organisations to respond to issues affecting young people.
We want young people to feel safe, valued and connected. We also want to hear from you about what is working, what needs to change and what you would like to see in your community.
Explore this section to find out more about what you can get involved in.
Middle years (ages 7 to 11)
The middle years are an important time as children grow, build independence and prepare for their teenage years.
We support children and families during this stage through programs, activities, information and support. Our programs for children generally start from age 8 and are designed to build confidence, social skills and connections with others.
Activities include recreational and school holiday programs, as well as targeted programs such as our Transition to Secondary School Program.
We also work with parents and carers of children throughout the middle years, providing seminars, information and practical support to build their confidence and help them support their children as they grow and move towards secondary school.
Mental health and counselling support
We work closely with headspace Plenty Valley to help young people access mental health and wellbeing support when they need it.
headspace provides free and confidential support for young people aged 12 to 25. This can include support with:
- mental health and wellbeing
- physical and sexual health
- alcohol and other drug concerns
- work, study and education.
Through our partnership with headspace Plenty Valley, headspace services are available alongside our Youth Services team at EDGE Youth Hub at Westfield Plenty Valley.
We also work together throughout the year to deliver programs and activities that support young people's mental health and wellbeing.
Other supports available
Explore the links below to find additional support options available to you.
Rainbow Tick accreditation
We're immensely proud to be Rainbow Tick accredited.
Rainbow Tick helps us make sure our services are welcoming, safe and inclusive for LGBTIQA+ young people, staff and volunteers.
This includes people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, gender diverse, trans, brother-boy, sister-girl, non-binary, intersex, queer or questioning.