Kiama Council will be celebrating an extra special Youth Week this month (20 to 30 April), with SENTRAL Youth Services turning 30!
Since opening their doors at the Hindmarsh Park Heritage Cottages in 1993, our SENTRAL team has spent three decades providing local youngsters with a safe place to meet up, make friends, play pool, basketball and 'chill out'.
At the same time, a fantastic succession of youth workers has also been helping these young people gain life skills to help them reach their potential.
To celebrate the tireless efforts of these often-unsung community heroes, Kiama Council is hosting a reunion of former and current SENTRAL staff on Saturday 22 April (2pm-5pm).
The reunion is open to everyone who wishes to join in the celebrations, congratulate our SENTRAL team old and new on their great work, and learn more about the proud history of our youth services program.
Youth Week 2023 activities
As well as our SENTRAL 30th birthday celebration, there's a bumper range of Youth Week activities, kicking off this Thursday with the Kiama Downs basketball competition.
Hoops, disco, flicks or chillax, our SENTRAL team has youth covered!
Thursday 20 April
Basketball Competition, Kiama Downs, 9am-5pm
Friday 21 April
DJ Workshop / Disco Night, Joyce Wheatley Centre, 3pm-5pm / 6pm-9pm
Friday 28 April
Outdoor movie night, Joyce Wheatley Centre, 7pm-9pm
Saturday 22 April
SENTRAL 30th anniversary celebrations, SENTRAL Youth Cottage, 2pm-5pm
Saturday 29 April
The Hangout – music, markets and circus workshop
SENTRAL Youth Cottage, 12pm-5pm
SENTRAL highlights
Our youth workers over the years have provided an award-winning range of programs and other services, including:
- Intergen Munchout
- Friends for Life Program
- Young Men's Program
- Create to Connect
- Vocal Workshops
- Rainbow Run for all ages at Werri Beach
- Kiama Youth Markets
- Event management training
- Smash Lab
- Podcasting Workshops
- Outdoor movies
- Music concerts
This work has seen numerous nominations, commendations and awards from organisations such as the Heart Foundation, Community Industry Group, Local Government NSW and the NSW Government.
A stand-out achievement has been the establishment and evolution of the annual Youth Engagement Meeting, where local primary and secondary students discuss key issues facing young people with Kiama's councillors.
Another was the leadership shown by SENTRAL Youth Services during COVID-19 and the significant impact it had on our young people.
Our thanks to our network of community partners who have played a major role in helping deliver these support services over this period.
