Middle Years and Youth Services

Join us on every Thursday evening for an epic gaming session at Emerald Hill Library. Think Mario Kart Tournaments, Just Dance, VR and more!

When: Every Thursday - 4pm to 6pm
Where: Emerald Hill Library, South Melbourne
Cost: FREE - no need to RSVP!

The Youth Advisory Committee is a committee of passionate young people who want to make a difference in their community. Being a part of the committee is a great way to improve your leadership skills, build your professional resume, and to be influential in local government decision making on behalf of the young people in your area.

The committee meet once a month, engaging with guest speakers from within council and from external organisations, as well as managing self-guided community projects.

To be eligible to join the YAC you must be aged between 15-25 and live, work, study or play in the City of Port Phillip.

Applications for 2024 are now closed. 

Have an idea for an event or gig you'd love to see in the City of Port Phillip?! Interested in expanding your skills in event management, music production, graphic design or marketing? Eager to build a network within the local creative arts community? Then FReeZA is for you!

Find out more about FReeZA and how you can get involved!

Applications for our 2024 Youth Access Grants are now closed. 

To find out more and stay up to date for future grant rounds, head to Youth Access Grants Program - City of Port Phillip.

Available for young people who live, study or play in the City of Port Phillip. The Middle Years and Youth support program offers support to 8 to 11-year-olds (Middle Years) and 12 to 25-year-olds (Youth). Support is also available for their families.

Our Lead Workers can support you with various areas of your life. Think: your wellbeing, school advocacy and support, understanding your child's developmental needs and other referrals.

Read more about the program on the Support and advice for young people page.

Located in South Melbourne at 211A Dorcas Street, our adventure playgrounds are designed for children 8 to 12 years.

Find out more about Skinners Adventure Playground.

Located in St Kilda on Neptune Street, our adventure playgrounds are designed for children 8 to 12 years.

Find out more about St Kilda Adventure Playground.

Email us at youth@portphillip.vic.gov.au

If you are a professional who works with young people and would like to refer someone to the program, please check the Support and advice for young people web page for next steps.

If you are unsure that this is the right support program you can email us at youthsupport@portphillip.vic.gov.au.

Headspace

Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation and provides early intervention mental health services to 12 to 25-year-olds.

Lifeline

Lifeline provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Rainbow Door LGBTQIA+

Through advice, referral and support from an experienced LGBTIQA+ peer, Rainbow Door help LGBTIQA+ people navigate the system to access the supports they need.

Phone: 1800 729 367
Text: 0480 017 246
Email: support@rainbowdoor.org.au

Ask Izzy

Izzy is free and anonymous, and you can search over 360,000 services to find housing, meals, healthcare, counselling, legal advice, addiction treatment and a whole lot more.

Frontyard Housing Support

Frontyard provide multidisciplinary holistic programs to meet the needs of young people aged 12 to 24 who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Centre for Multicultural Youth

The Centre for Multicultural Youth is a non-for-profit organisation based in Victoria, providing specialist knowledge and support to young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Bullying. No Way!

Bullying. No Way! provides information and ideas for students, parents and teachers. If you need to talk to someone in person or online check out their website.

Family violence contacts

1800 Respect | Phone: 1800 737 732

Safe Steps | Phone: 1800 015 188

MensLine Australia | Phone: 1300 78 99 78

The Port Phillip FReeZA Committee create an annual magazine titled Vision.

Vision began in 2020 with the goal of replicating some of the experiences that young people were missing in the first year of the pandemic: connection, art, dance, language, culture, voice, humour and creativity.

In 2021 the committee asked for artists to respond to the prompt Future Vision, showcasing how young Victorian-based creatives were envisioning the uncertain days ahead, and the potential futures that these artists can create.

Vision - being a small, self-published magazine, aims to create paid opportunities for emerging artists and promote the work of our youth.

Catch up with the previous editions:

• Vision Magazine edition 1
• Vision Magazine edition 2

Early in April 2022 the Youth Advisory Committee transformed a Chapel Street substation by painting a mural under the guidance of artist Queensland-based artist Alison Mooney.

The Committee worked together to develop a project brief, researched and communicated with various artists, and assisted with painting the mural on the day. 

The committee liaised with the Graffiti Mitigation team at Port Phillip with the added benefit of discouraging graffiti by painting a mural.

During the school holidays, our team run multiple programs, in the past these have included:

• Family Movie Night - held at the Emerald Hill Library. Families attended to see the screening of Astro Kid, with Popcorn and plenty of Easter eggs on hand. The night was filled with laughs and positive feedback from families.
• Cooking Program - held at the South Melbourne Market, our team provided an opportunity for young people to learn how to make a sushi roll. Twenty-six young people attended the program and enjoyed connecting with others while mastering their cooking skills.
• Fishing Program – a collaboration with Reclink Australia and Fishcare Victoria, ths all-abilities program was held at Kerford Road Pier, providing young people with education and knowledge about fishing and care for the ocean.
  
  

Watch this space for upcoming holiday program information.