Youth Week this year runs from 10 April to 19 April, base on the theme “It Starts With Us”.
Youth Week is an opportunity for young people to express their ideas and views, act on issues that affect their lives, and create and enjoy activities and events.
Youth Week began as a NSW Government initiative in 1989, and has since grown to be a celebration of young people in every state and territory across the country.
It is organised by young people, for young people, in communities across NSW and Australia. Following the success of the NSW Youth Week program, Youth Week became a National event in2000. National Youth Week is jointly supported by the Australian Government, State and Territory Governments and Local Governments.
National Youth Week is an opportunity for young people to:
- share ideas
- attend live events
- have their voices heard on issues of concern to them
- showcase their talents
- celebrate their contribution to the community
- take part in competitions
- have fun!
So how does NCNS celebrate Youth Week? By getting young people aged 11-17 years old from Cranebrook to participate in a variety of activities, such as the Jumping Castle, Sumo Wrestling, Oz Tag, Art, Hip Hop dancing, Giant Checkers, getting up close and personal with Reptiles, and getting a Temporary Tattoo while learning about Hep C.
While all this fun was being had, we also helped young people engage with and receive information from Youth Services in our area, including Wesley Mission, Going Viral Hep C, Platform, Family Planning, Headspace, and the Smoking Cessation Program and Drug & Alcohol Health Promotion Team from NSW Health.
Our activities were to be held over three afternoons after school on Sherringham Oval in Cranebrook. But, as in previous years, the weather is our main concern and this year was no different. With 90% chance of rain and thunderstorms on our first day, we made the decision to cancel Tuesday’s session.
That put no damper on the rest of our week though, with 60 young people joining in on Wednesday afternoon, and 50 young people coming over on Thursday!
To add to the excitement, over the two afternoons we gave out a lucky door prize. On Wednesday afternoon Jamie Shields won a Bike Helmet, and on Thursday afternoon Isaac Miller, a young man who recently lost everything in a house fire, won a brand new pushbike and helmet. He was over the moon, saying that it could be his Easter Present.
Of course, none of this could be achieved without our financial sponsors – Platform Youth Services, and NBMLHD/NSW Health’s Going Viral – Hep C program – thank you so much!
We also would like to thank our partners – Barnardos and Fusion – who are part of the Cranebrook Youth Services Subcommittee.
What a success! It was two days of smiles, laughter, games and friendship – all while our young people were building relationships with and knowledge about services in the area – helping them to make good decisions, and to reach out to the right people when things get tough.