Young Voices Shaping North Melbourne Community Centre

The North Melbourne Community Centre (NMCC) Youth Advisory Group provided young people with a platform to shape their community centre while developing leadership and advocacy skills. In partnership with YMCA and the City of Melbourne, the program empowered participants to refine their communication and problem-solving abilities while contributing ideas to improve the North Melbourne Community Centre. 

Throughout the 10-week program across July-November, 12 young people worked collaboratively to identify opportunities for enhancing the centre’s inclusivity and engagement. They explored the question: What would you do with $10,000 to ensure the North Melbourne Community Centre is more welcoming, fun, inclusive, and usable? Through lively brainstorming sessions, passionate debates, and a few wild ideas thrown into the mix, they developed two key proposals: 

• A Maker’s Space - A creative hub for arts and crafts 

• A Games Room Revamp - improving equipment to make the space more engaging. 

The program culminated in a final presentation, where participants pitched their ideas to YMCA and City of Melbourne staff. This process not only encouraged youth-driven innovation but also helped strengthen relationships between young people, and key decision makers, ensuring their voices remain central to facilities future planning. 

“This process gave young people the opportunity to be heard and have a say in how their community centre serves them.” – YMCA Staff 

Moving forward, the advisory group will continue working with YMCA to refine and implement their proposals. This initiative has demonstrated the power of youth engagement in shaping community spaces, and we look forward to seeing these ideas take shape.