STUDENTS from high schools across Hamilton gathered on Tuesday to celebrate the launch of the Southern Grampians Youth Directory as part of Victorian Youth Fest 2022.

Held each September, Victorian Youth Fest is a month-long statewide celebration that highlights the contributions and achievements of young people in their communities, with a focus on reconnecting and celebrating their accomplishments.

The Southern Grampians Youth Network (SGYN) youth service providers have worked alongside young people in the district to develop the Southern Grampians Youth Directory - a detailed online directory of services and opportunities targeted at people aged 12 to 25-years-old who live, work or study in the region.

Brophy Family and Youth Services Hamilton service coordinator, Rowena Brinkmann, said the directory was made in partnership with young people, for young people, with the goal of increasing their support networks.

“It’s a place for young people to go to find help and support, get active, and connect both locally and online in an easily accessible location,” she said.

“There are links to online resources, information about a range of programs, services and supports and ways you can become involved in the community.”

The directory was developed as a partnership between Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic), SGYN, and Brophy Family Youth services, with collaboration from young local people who contributed artwork to the website and assisted with bringing the idea to fruition.

YACVic regional development coordinator, Karen Walsh, said the website would not have been possible without the hours of hard work put in by local youth.

“Young people in a survey a couple of years ago said they didn’t have a clue how to find help in Hamilton if they were having problems - they didn’t know where to go,” she said.

“A website seemed like a really good way to get the information out, we had a young person, Emily Unity from Melbourne, she volunteered her time and put it all together.

“We realised (the website) was going to look dead boring so we got these four fabulous young women, and a couple people who aren’t here, to rent us some fabulous art works they produced for a youth art competition a couple of years ago.

“We’re really lucky that we’ve got their beautiful work on the site, it makes it much more interesting, it makes the posters totally beautiful, and it also just created a great connection with some young people - who again were really interested with helping us to promote the website.”

Four of the contributing artists - Annie Johnstone, Olivia Rees, Michaela Tonissen and Sienna Maddocks - attended the launch on Tuesday and spoke about how they became involved in the project after entering their art and photography pieces in a FReeZA competition for local youth.

Sienna Maddocks said she was part of the planning committee for the Southern Grampians ‘Back to the drawing board’ FReeZA art competition held in October last year and had also entered a watercolour piece, but said she never thought the entries from the competition would end up having such a wide reach.

“When I first did the art competition, I was really worried that nobody would do it and I’m just really glad that it’s actually had an impact on people’s lives,” she said.

Annie Johnstone said she also felt proud to be involved in such an important youth resource that could benefit the community, after submitting her photograph of a tractor under the stars. 

“(The website) can link you to so many things and if you don’t have parents who can help you with that or teachers at school, then it’s a really useful resource,” she said.

“It’s important that it was made for youth and by youth.”

Michaela Tonissen said she had been involved with the project since March after she jumped at the opportunity to have her photograph of Mt William, taken in December 2020, featured on the website and promotional material.

“I’ve always had a passion for photography,” she said.

“I have enjoyed meeting with people and learning new skills.

“It is amazing how we were able to get this website out into the community within these few months and I believe it is going to be really beneficial.”

Olivia Rees also entered the FReeZA art competition with her oil on canvas piece titled ‘Nigretta Falls’ which combined abstract techniques, impressionism, and realism to explore the theme of mental health – making it very fitting to promote the youth directory website.

“My aim for that art piece when I entered the competition was it all had to do with the mental health aspect that each person struggling with mental health sees things in a different way,” she said.

“I just wanted to present that on my art piece.

“I myself have struggled with mental health and had no idea where to go (or) who to talk to, and I have recovered but it makes me so happy that there’s a website out to provide guidance.”

Posters and brochures featuring the QR code for easy linking to the Southern Grampians Youth Directory are now displayed around the region, with the site also accessible at sgyouthdirectory.com