String of events for our region during extended Youth Week
MEMBERS of the Dubbo Regional Council Youth Council have been busy coordinating NSW Youth Week events for Dubbo and Wellington.
Most of them are at NSW Parliament House today (Thursday, April 12), representing our city’s young people at the Youth Week 2018 Forum. Joining them are about 140 youth from around the state to workshop and document answers to questions about youth in NSW, posed by government representatives and decision makers.
Pictured clockwise from bottom front are Emily O’dea, Sharika-marrie Howard, Phoenix Aubusson-foley, Darcee Nixon, Lee Hilder, Heather Brandon and Rebecca Mcmahon.
NSW Youth Week 2018 is in full swing now until April 24 with fun activities planned for both Dubbo and Wellington.
A Friday the 13th disco, Dubbo parkrun barbecue breakfast, mindfulness meditation, hump day information opportunities, trivia, family fun Olympics, Sportzmania, and a four-hour festival on Wednesday, April 18, in Dubbo called Same-same-different Youth Celebration are all being staged for the region’s youth.
At the Same-same-different celebration, there’ll be music, an eight-metre, four-person rock climbing wall, Arrow tag, a colour run, food and an open air cinema in the evening.
Opening just in time for the celebrations too, is something a little more on the serious side. A free all-ages service dedicated to the prevention and intervention of post traumatic mental health officially launched on Wednesday this week.
The H.O.P.E. Program based at the Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre brought H.O.P.E. Champions, EX-NRL Player Darren Higgins and the Brothers 4 Recovery team, to town to talk about their experiences and overcoming mental health and substance abuse issues.
The H.O.P.E. Program is a team of local highly skilled clinicians who are dedicated to providing trauma informed services to the Dubbo and regional community.
Trauma can arise from situations including violence, abuse, accidents, workplace events, death, robbery, bullying, harassment and medical issues – to name a few.
The community response to the H.O.P.E. service in the first month has been overwhelming, with over 70 people reaching out for individual or family assistance. The team has also provided a number workshops in regional communities and presented to local organisations.
H.O.P.E. is open Monday to Friday with a range of options, from individual treatment to group programs, as well as professional workshops and clinical supervision.
Appointments can be made by calling the service on 1800 312 881 or by dropping into the office at 1/80 Gipps Street Dubbo.
Youth Week 2018: What’s On Friday, April 13
6pm to 8.30pm – Friday 13th Disco, come in costume, Wingewarra Activity Centre – free
Saturday, April 14
8am – Dubbo Parkrun barbecue breakfast, Sandy Beach – free
10am – 2pm, PCYC Wellington Open Day – free
Tuesday, April 17
3pm to 5pm, The 5-step journey to a job, TAFE Student Hub, Dubbo – free
6pm to 7pm, Mindfulness Meditation, Dubbo Pipe Band Hall, gold coin donation
Wednesday, April 18
All day, Hump Day, Dubbo Sexual Health, Headspace Dubbo and Family Planning NSW 12 noon to 4pm, Same-same-different Youth Celebration, Dubbo Skate Park and adjoining ovals – free
6pm, Cinema Under the Stars, “Cars 3” plus popcorn and fairy floss (gold coin donation) – movie free
Thursday, April 19
All day, Hump Day, Dubbo Sexual Health, Headspace Dubbo and Family Planning NSW 10am to 2pm, Wellington Youth Fun Day, Macquarie Regional Library carpark, Wellington – Free 5.30pm to 7pm, Macquarie Regional Library Trivia – Free
Friday, April 20
10am to 12 noon, Family Fun Olympics, Lunar Park, Corner of Wheelers Lane and Myall Streets, Dubbo – Free
10am to 1pm, Sportzmania Dubbo Indoor Sports and Inflatable World, Indoor Sports Centre, Sheraton Road, Dubbo – $5 per person
Tuesday, April 24
2pm to 4pm, Fast 4 Rolla Ball, Kennard Park, Wellington – Free
6pm, Cinema Under the Stars, Kennard Park, Wellington – Free