Join a youth program

Cookin’ Beets is a cooking program for young people that focuses on building life skills, social connections and wellbeing in a fun and relaxed environment. The program helps provide young people with the knowledge, education and confidence to make delicious and nutritious food with affordable ingredients, such as sushi, tacos and burgers.

The program is open to young people aged 18 to 25. No experience is necessary. Just bring an appetite and a willingness to get cooking.

This program typically runs on Tuesday afternoons in Terms 1 and 3. Cookin’ Beets will not run in Term 3 in 2024 as Boroondara Youth is supporting headspace Hawthorn to deliver their Inner Peas cooking program. If you’re interested in registering, please contact headspace Hawthorn. 

Please submit an expression of interest below if you want to participate in future Cookin' Beets programs.

Submit an expression of interest.

Skittles is a fun, relaxed and supportive group for young people in high school that identify with LGBQTIA+ communities.

Skittles offers engaging activities that focus on social interaction and wellbeing. These activities are all about making new friends, connecting with like-minded people​ and having a ton of fun. 

Skittles provides a space for young people to have meaningful discussions about LGBQTIA+ issues and gain ‌awareness of local community services and support networks. Previous themes have included trivia, coming out, self identity, mental health, cake making​ and pride badge making. 

Skittles typically meets 4 to 6 pm on Tuesdays in Terms 2 and 4. Skittles will return in Term 4, 2024. If you are interested in participating in future programs, please submit an expression of interest below.

The community-based Transport Accident Commission (TAC) L2P Program was developed to assist eligible young Victorian learner drivers. Young people between the ages of 16 and 21 years who don’t have access to a supervising driver or an appropriate vehicle can gain the driving experience required for a probationary licence.

For more information, including how to apply, visit our TAC L2P learner driver mentor program page.

Join the Bloom Podcast crew and discover how to craft, produce, record and promote podcasts. Throughout the program, you’ll get:

• to participate in workshops and brainstorming and development sessions
• free access to top-notch equipment
• to work with the Bloom Podcast crew to develop podcasts on topics of your choosing. 

Applications will open in Term 3 for enthusiastic and aspiring young podcasters aged 15 to 25 to join our Bloom team. If you are interested in participating in future programs, please submit an expression of interest below.  No prior experience needed – just bring your creativity and enthusiasm.

Submit an expression of interest.

The Bloom podcast is created for young people, by young people in Boroondara. To listen to the podcasts that have been created through this program, visit our Bloom podcast page.

The Gallery of Young Art (GoYA) at the Boroondara Youth Hub is a space developed by young people, for young people and provides budding artists in our community with the opportunity to exhibit their work in a professional space.

Young artists involved with the initiative have access to valuable resources such as industry mentors, materials and support to nurture and cultivate their creative talents.

To see and learn more about upcoming, current and previous GoYA exhibitions, visit our GoYA page.

Expressions of interest are currently open. 

Submit an application form.

We’re always looking for new artists of all genres to play at events throughout the year, including solo and group performers. Previous events have included:

• Summer at the Park
• Last Days of Summer
• Swinburne Welcome Back Week. 

Use our online form to express your interest. 

Expressions of interest are currently open. 

Submit a performer expression of interest

Studio Skills is a 6-week program for young people aged 15 to 25, which uses the sound recording studio at the Boroondara Youth Hub.

Whether you're a beginner or keen to work on your material, you'll have complete access to our studio, computer, software (Ableton Live 11) and recording equipment. Our experts will support you to capture your ideas, build your sound and experiment with your work.  

Throughout the program, you’ll get hands-on experience and be supported to create some awesome music with beats, instruments, vocals​ and more, and make some new friends along the way. 

No experience required, just bring your passion and creativity. 

Dates

During term 3, Studio Skills will run from 4 to 6 pm on these Fridays:

• 26 July 
• 2 August
• 9 August
• 16 August
• 23 August
• 30 August

Places are limited. Please register here.

If you would like to use the studio for personal use, please visit our Book the Studio page.

Designed for young people aged 12 to 25, the Solar Productions Committee plans and runs music, art and cultural events in the City of Boroondara that are drug, alcohol, smoke and vape-free. Solar Productions meets fortnightly on Thursday afternoons at the Boroondara Youth Hub.

To get involved:

• Join the Solar Productions Committee to help plan events.
• Attend a Solar Productions event and help support our young artists and event organisers. Search our youth events and activities page for current Solar Productions events or visit Boroondara Youth on Facebook or Instagram.

The program is always open for expressions of interest. If you'd like to join the committee, email [email protected] to let us know you’re interested or fill in our participation form.

Submit a participation form.

Solar Productions is funded by the City of Boroondara and FReeZA. FReeZA is a Victorian Government initiative that supports young Victorians to get involved in their community by planning and running drug, alcohol, vape and smoke-free events for other young people. You can learn more about this initiative on the Youth Central Victoria website.

Youth Parliament is a program run by YMCA Youth Services that gives young people a chance to be heard at the highest levels of the Victorian Government. Through this program, young people between the ages of 16 and 25 can share their views on a wide range of issues relevant to their lives.

Youth Parliamentarians are supported in writing a bill which addresses a state-based issue that they would like to see changed or added into Victorian legislation. Bills are introduced into the Youth Parliament, debated and voted upon during the sitting week held in the chambers of Parliament House, Victoria.

In 2023, our team successfully debated a Bill on Travel Emission Reduction Strategies. 

Youth Parliament typically meets across Term 2 each year.

Youth Voice, Council’s youth reference group, is a program designed to engage local young people, providing them with an opportunity to advocate for a youth voice. Young people aged 12 to 17 years old are invited to apply to participate.

The purpose of the group is to ensure that young people in Boroondara are heard and valued. It also provides opportunities to develop leadership skills and take part in community and civic events.

Objectives of the group include:

• providing young people with the opportunity to actively contribute to, participate in and benefit from civic and social activities
• actively participating in local government planning and decision-making
• developing youth led initiatives and projects
• participating in activities which build their skills and knowledge.

The group meets fortnightly on Mondays, from February to November during school term. Throughout the year, young people work on various projects and initiatives relevant to young people in Boroondara. Past members have had the opportunity to:

• attend Council meetings
• meet and greet the CEO, Mayor and Councillors
• participate in consultations with Council departments to provide a young person’s perspective, including Heritage Planning, Strategic Communications​ and Volunteering
• have their say in the Boroondara Community Plan consultations, helping shape the future of Boroondara by sharing what’s most important to them and other young people
• undertake training opportunities facilitated by the Y.