Council is committed to ensuring a good range of quality services and facilities for young people. As part of this commitment, Council funds a Youth Activity Centre (YAC) based in Byron Bay which is managed by a full time YAC Coordinator, and also employs a part time Youth Development Officer.
During 2008 Council is undertaking a project called “A Safe Place to Be”, which is partly funded by the NSW State Attorney General’s Department. The funding enables Council to employ an additional part time Youth Development Officer whose role is to focus on issues in the north of the shire. The aim is to address young people’s needs for safe and well-supported events and activities by removing, or addressing the barriers presented by transport, cost and access issues. Another funded position is the Community Safety Officer whose role is to strengthen the community response to safety issues including underage drinking.
Council is currently working in partnership with young people and the wider community to establish its own Youth Advisory Committee and to develop and implement a Youth Action Plan. This will guide our ongoing work with young people in the Shire.
Council’s Youth Activity Centre runs regular workshops and activities throughout the year including school holidays and also has a well equipped sound studio. Each year Council coordinates Youth Week activities such as RUKKUS, a local music and skate event.
All of these programs represent a significant contribution by Council to improving the lives of young people across our community.
In addition to direct services Council also funds and/or provides support to local organisations such as Byron Youth Service, the Uncle Project, Street Cruise, Byron Community Campus and other youth programs.
The role of the Youth Development Officers is to work in partnership with young people, community services, government agencies and the wider community to develop and implement appropriate responses to address the needs of young people in the Shire. The main aim is to support young people to participate more fully in the life of their community. Priorities include:
In response to the limited services and facilities for young people in the North of the Shire a youth forum was held in late March 2008 to map and identify gaps in the recreational needs of youth. A number of action groups were formed to tackle the various initiatives that were raised.
For further information contact:
Youth Development Officer Wednesday – Friday
“Safe Place to be” Youth Development Project Officer Tuesday and Wednesday
1 Gilmore Crescent Byron Bay NSW 2481
The Byron Youth Activity Centre (YAC) is a purpose built facility for young people aged 12 - 25 years and is funded by Byron Shire Council. It is strictly a drug and alcohol free space.
The YAC is free for young people to hire as a meeting space, for band and performance rehearsals, and to host youth-focused events and activities providing the proposal meets the approval of the Centre Coordinator, and the service’s General Guidelines are followed.
Organisations with a youth focus can hire the YAC for youth events, training, meetings, workshops or forums.
The YAC also has the ‘Splendour Studio’ available for young people with an interest in audio projects. Developed from the proceeds of Splendour in the Grass in 2003, the Splendour Studio is available free for use by young people once they have undertaken basic training with the YAC’s Studio Mentor. The Studio has the capacity to create electronic music, record acoustic music, DJ with CDs or Vinyl, or create a radio documentary.
The YAC is currently in the process of undergoing major renovations to improve its services, activities, opportunities and potential events for young people.
Current Programs
As a youth space, the YAC is always interested in hearing young people’s ideas on the programs, events, and activities that they would like to see happening in the Shire. If you have any ideas or enquiries about the YAC space, please contact the Centre Coordinator. We will be happy to discuss your ideas with you and provide support for your project if suitable.
Centre Coordinator: