News & Events

Our New Youth Worker Amy Left: Anna Joy; Right: Amy Riddle

Introducing Amy:

Hi!  My name is Amy Riddle and I have just started as the youth worker with BSYS. 

I am available to help you out with anything that may be going on for you right now,  including things like love life, home life, school life, work life, money stuff, getting in trouble and wanting something to do.  The list is endless.  If something is affecting you then I want to help and if I can’t help you then I can probably put you in touch with someone who can. 

I also get given loads of stuff about great opportunities that young people can get involved in which I  would like to pass onto young people who like to get involved.

So where can you contact me?  Well, there is a BSYS office in town which is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays but I will be hanging out at the school some days and will talk at an assembly on the 4th March so you will know who I am when you see me.  Also you can ring the office number 6650167 and I can give you a call back to arrange a time to meet up.  Looking forward to meeting you soon……

What's On February 2008

Bellingen and Seaboard Youth services have a new Youth Worker, Amy Riddle who will be working at the BSYS office, at the Bellingen High School, the monthly markets and on the Seaboard.  Look out for a full feature on Amy in next weeks’ paper.  

The next Switch Skate Park trip will take place on Saturday 15th March.  The cost of the return bus trip is $10 plus there is a $10 entry fee to the Skate Park.  The bus will leave from Bellingen map at 8.00am and return to Bellingen at around 7pm.  There are 18 places available and tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis.  All enquires and payment to BSYS (open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays).  If you can’t get to the office ring and leave a message on 66550167 and we will call you. 

On 18th February 2008 the Rudd Government invited young people from around Australia to take part in the 2020 Youth Summit.  This summit aims to harness the experience, ideas and enthusiasm of Australia’s young people. One hundred young people (15 – 24 years of age) from across the country will discuss the ten critical areas on the agenda for the Australia 2020 summit, as well as options for the establishment of an ongoing Australian Youth Forum.  Nominations close on Wednesday 5th March.  Anyone aged 15 – 24 can nominate.  For more information go to www.australia2020.gov.au 

The NSW Commission for Children and Young People has produced a Baby-Sitting Guide for Young People.  This is an excellent booklet which has heaps on information on things like what to do before you start, activities for children, safety, first aid, what to charge and emergency information.  If you are thinking of babysitting check out the website for this resource at www.kids.nsw.gov.au 

There are lots of buckets of money available to groups of young people who want to get something happening in the community at the moment.  The Youth Participation Grants Program, administered by Youth Action Policy Association, is a great opportunity for you to get an activity or event funded.  Any type of activity which benefits the community in some way may be funded, so long as it is run by a group of young people, it’s legal, safe, has a wider community benefit, and you can make it happen.  There are 2 rounds of funding available; one closes on 24th April and one on 25th July so there is plenty of time.  If you need any help call the Youth Participation Project Worker at YAPA (www.yapa.org.au/ypp) or call into BSYS.

 


The Foundation for Young Australian’s is calling for applications from young people for The Spark Fund.  The Spark Fund financially supports young people aged 12—25 years to “ignite an innovative idea” which makes a positive contribution to the community and enhances their skills and experiences.  Individuals or small groups of young people may apply for the Spark Fund.  This can be done with the support of an organisation.  Applications for the Spark Fund need to be received by 26th March 2008.  Find out more by logging onto www.youngaustralia.org or calling 03 9670 5436 or 1800 252 316 

 

The Young Endeavour Youth Scheme is a non profit organisation that conducts over 20 voyages each year exploring the Australian coastline in partnership with the Australian Navy.  Onboard, young people participate in a dynamic development program that can be a life changing experience.  Young people aged 16 – 23 can now apply for this opportunity.  Applications close on February 29th.  For more information contact the Scheme on 1800 020 444.

 

The Young Filmmakers Fund was established to support new and emerging filmmakers in NSW (between 18 and 35).  The fund provides a unique opportunity for young talent to break into the highly competitive film and television industry.  The next round of funding is for NSW regional areas and western Sydney only.  For information check out www.fto.nsw.gov.au/

What’s On November 2007

  • Young people now have the opportunity to enter the 2008 Youth Week in NSW Poster and tattoo design competitions for a chance to win $500 and your design promoted as part of National Youth Week 2008.  The closing date is the 26th October 2007.  For more info contact Vanessa Mereweather on 9716 2872 or email
    vanessa.mereweather@community.nsw.gov.au

  • Switch Skate Park: BSYS have organised a bus to the Switch Skate Park in Port Macquarie on Saturday 24 November. The cost of the return bus trip is $10 and the entry fee to Switch costs $10 (attendees must pay this on entry to Switch). The bus will leave Bellingen at 8:00am to arrive at Port at 10:00am. The bus can make additional stops (Urunga, Nambucca) if necessary. It is anticipated that the bus will return to Bellingen at 7:00pm.

    This trip will be first to pay first to go basis and there are limited number of places available. All enquiries to BSYS on Wednesdays or Fridays. If you want to go but can’t call in to BSYS, please ring 6655 0167.

  • The Young Parent Network meets weekly in Bellingen (Fridays at the CWA Hall from 10 - 12) and fortnightly in Urunga (Wednesdays at the Uniting Church Hall from 10 – 12).  All young parents and their children are welcome.  Activities planned for next term include free sewing classes, event management skills development, a teddy bears picnic and a trip to The Jungle Bungle.  For more information call Amy Riddle on 66553087
  • The Young Parent Network is also getting a group of dads together to make presents for their kids.  These sessions (part of the Dads, Hammers and Cameras project), will be meeting on Saturdays arvos throughout October at the Urunga Neighbourhood Centre.  For more info call Dave on 0427928848.
  • Australians vote for the next federal government in late 2007.  With YouTube YouthVote 2007, young people and federal election candidates can talk….and listen….to each other.  Young people are uploading videos for their local election candidates to watch on the topic: What you should do for local young people and Election candidates are uploading videos on the topic: What I will do for local young people if I am elected.  Young people are encouraged to ask their local candidates for their videos and also to make a short video on YouTube.  The more young people who post videos, the more pressure we can put on politicians to respond and the more that youth issues are out there.  To do this check out www.yapa.org.au/youthvote for more info.

  • TAFE Tenants Course: The North Coast Institute of TAFE will be offering the Get Skilled course ‘Successful Tenants, Successful Communities’ at the Urunga Neighbourhood Centre, Bonville Street, Urunga on Thursday November 22 and 29. This course is for people who are having difficulty maintaining tenancy because of budgeting issues, or because of the breaking up of shared households; people who are just going into tenancy agreements and people who have experienced difficulties in obtaining housing. The course is aimed at people not currently engaged in education, employment or training. To apply for a place on this course contact Haridan Ramirez on 6648 2416.

  • Soundcheck: Soundcheck presented by CHYFM is a night of live music by local youth for local youth. Check out Gust of Gravity, NextGo Pretty, Andy Ryan Tribute Band, Inadakwit and Loco Parentus on Friday 30 November at the Exhibition Centre, Coffs Harbour Showgrounds. Doors open 6:00 pm for a 6:15 start, and finishes 10:30 pm. It’s a drug and alcohol free all-ages gig with full security and no passouts. Admission is $15 and tickets are on the door. For more information all Craig Larsen on 0412 374 063.

  • Introduction to Short Filmmaking Course: This three day script to screen workshop is for young people aged 13 to 18 years. It will teach you everything you need to know to make a short movie. Gain hands on experience with digital video technology, learn aspects of video production including: camera operation, lighting, audio, story boarding, scripting, directing and editing. Participants will shoot on Panasonic Mini DV cameras and edit their movies using Mac iMovie. The course is being run at ETC Bellingen January 7,8,9 2008. The course cost is $290 or $250 if you book before 31 December. For more information or to apply, visit www.screenlinks.org or call 6648 4800 or email info@screenlinks.org

  • Share Your Story: The Fourth Annual Black Dog Institute Writing Competition is now running. It is asking people who have or did have clinical depression or bipolar disorder in adolescence to share their story via essay or poem. There are cash prizes for three essays and one poem. Entries will be judged by an independent panel and a selection of the best articles published on the Black Dog Institute’s website. Entries from adolescents, their friends, family, carers or those looking back on their experience are to be in the form of a written article or poem (maximum 1500 words) and must address the topic of Mood Disorders in Adolescence – Grassroots Solutions. Entries close 31 January 2008. An application form and further information can be found on the Black Dog Institute website www.blackdoginstitute.org.au

  • Have a Chat: Have A Chat is a coffee talk group where you can come and chat about anything on your mind. The group will decide on topics to discuss. The group is for young people 15-20 who are out of regular school, possibly attending TAFE or JPET. It’s run every Monday morning 10:00 am to 12:00pm, with the focus session from 10 to 11. It’s at the Harbour Youth Service, Community Village, Earl Street.

 

 

Youth What’s On July 2007

  • Putting On A Show: Playback Theatre 4 Young Women is a six week course for young women aged 16 to 25 living in the Bellingen Shire. Participants will work with Bellingen Playback Theatre and TAFE NSW to learn new skills in improvised theatre, stage production, event planning and management, media writing and much more. Work in these skill areas will culminate in the participants producing a performance by Bellingen Playback Theatre for young women. For more information or to register, please call Bellingen & Seaboard Youth Services (BSYS) on 6655 0167 or email bsys@bnc.org.au
  • Fashion Works – A Get Skilled Program is a fourteen week course being run by TAFE NSW in Bellingen. Starting the 13 August 2007, the course is packed with fascinating, practical hands-on topics. Learn to design your own clothes, make fashion accessories, bags, hats, jewellery, craft items and much more. The course runs 9:30 am to 3:00 pm at the Memorial Hall in Bellingen and is for people who are not currently employed. For more information call Deb on 6655 9319 or Fiona on 0407 217 843 or Anna at Bellingen & Seaboard Youth Services on 6655 0167.
  • Are you a young musician, DJ or band? Are you looking for an opportunity to showcase your talent? Bellingen & Seaboard Youth Services are once again running a youth music gig at the Memorial Hall, Bellingen in mid August (date to be confirmed). If you think that you or your band would be up for live performance, contact BSYS on 6655 0167 or email bsys@bnc.org.au
  • Two of Australia’s biggest bands, Silverchair and Powderfinger are coming to Coffs Harbour on Thursday 6 September at the Showgrounds. Tickets are available from www.acrossthegreatdivide.com.au  or via phone sales call centre on 1300 762 545, usual Ticketek outlets, 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au, Coffs Music Centre, Park Beach Music and Bellingen Butchery. Bellingen & Seaboard Youth Services will be running a bus to the concert for young people aged 12 to 24. Times and ticket details for the bus will be made available closer to the date.
  • Have you ever wanted to be on the radio, rocking out the airwaves? RAW Radio at 2BBB needs fresh new presenters for its afternoon shows. BSYS youth worker Eno will be running a course for potential radio presenters at 2BBB, learning the basics of running a radio studio, on air technique, track selection, interviewing and making promos. If you are interested, call BSYS on 66550 167 or email  bsys@bnc.org.au  
  • Skaters and BMX bikers of Bellingen – a huge new skate park is planned for the current site at Jarrett Park. The design has been drawn up and is ready to be viewed by young people to give their feedback and ideas. Come down to the BSYS office to check out the design.
  • Young parents – Young Parent Groups are currently being run in Bellingen and Urunga and are open to new members. If you are a young parent (mums and dads) or a parent-to-be, aged up to 25 years, come along for group sessions including guest speakers, social activities, outings, workshops and much more! The Urunga group meets fortnightly at the Uniting Church Hall, Bonville Street, Wednesdays 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. The Bellingen groups meets weekly at the CWA Hall, Church Street, Fridays 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Contact project worker Amy Riddle on 6655 3087 or email her at ypesn@unc.org.au
  • The BSYS Youth Bus is still running to Hot House Parties and other gigs as requested by you. But we are finding that young people want to buy tickets at the very last minute. The problem is that we have to have the bus booked by a certain time on the day of the gig. If we don’t have enough tickets bought by that time we have to cancel the Bus, no matter how many people want to buy tickets after that time. So if you want to ride the Bus, make sure that you get in early, so that the Bus goes ahead and you get to the gigs you want to see.
  • If you are aged 12 to 24 and have any ideas about events or gigs or services that we can provide for you in the Bellingen and Seaboard areas, let us know, by dropping into the Youth Services offices, calling us on 6655 0167, emailing us at bsys@bnc.org.au or leaving a comment on our Myspace, www.myspace.com/belloyouth_bsys

 

 Putting on a Show – Playback Theatre 4 Young Women

Bellingen & Seaboard Youth Services have been successful in securing an Art Start Grant which will be used for a project called ‘Putting On A Show – Playback Theatre 4 Young Women’. 

Playback Theatre is a spontaneous, interactive, improvisational and entertaining theatre of storytelling. It works in an unusual and highly innovative way where the audience provides the basic script. The audience members, in response to the performance theme, volunteer to tell experiences, dilemmas or events from their lives to the Playback Conductor.

“Putting on a Show” will engage a group of young women aged between 16 and 24 to work with Bellingen Playback Theatre and TAFE NSW to learn new skills in improvised theatre, stage production, event planning and management, media writing and much more.

Work in these skill areas will culminate in the participants producing a performance by Bellingen Playback Theatre for young women on Saturday 22 September 2007. 

The theatre skills work will be taught by the members of Bellingen Playback Theatre, whilst the work in event management will be taught by TAFE teachers.

The program will run one day a week for six weeks from Monday 6th August. The project will take place in Bellingen, but transport may be available for young women in Urunga and Dorrigo who would like to participate. 

If you, or someone you know are female, between the age of 16 and 22, and living in the Bellingen Shire and would like to participate in this exciting opportunity, please call Bellingen & Seaboard Youth Services on 66550167 or drop into the office (open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday), to be get a registration form.

Fashion Works - Get Skilled

Are you unemployed, bored, looking for something to (a.) Fill your time (b.) Be creative (c.) New career path?

Do you live in the Bellingen, Dorrigo, and Urunga area?

Coming to Bellingen in August is the Fashion Works “get skilled” course! Organised by TAFE This brilliant course is for people who are not employed, and are interested in Designing your own Clothes, Making Accessories, Bags, Hats,  Drawing and painting, Sewing, Design, Jewellery, Craft items, Gifts to sell or give to friends.

Fashion works will be held in Bellingen and will be run by experienced Fashion and Design teachers from TAFE.

TAFE have been running “Get skilled” courses in rural communities over the years and have a caring, positive approach to students who have little or no experience in their chosen area

A student from a previous “Get Skilled” course comments

 “I noticed the Get Skilled advertisement in the local paper last year while experiencing a lull in my usual job. I decided to go along to the information day to see firstly, what it was all about and secondly, to see if it really was FREE!  It was free and it turned out to be an enormously creative experience, so much so I decided to make a career change and do a full time course this year. I had little more than a very basic knowledge of sewing when I started the Get Skilled course and became quite proficient at sewing and over-locking. I also thoroughly enjoyed being inspired to create such things as fabric-printed cushion covers, jewelled birds, and many things beaded, appliquéd, embroidered and otherwise made beautiful, including a dress, all of which I could actually use and/or give as gifts. I am truly passionate about the course I am doing this year and feel that the inspirational and incredibly patient teachers in the Get Skilled course unlocked a creative future I didn’t know I had.

The course will also cover learning how to sell and market your designs, craft products and accessories, and how to operate your own market stall. At the end of the course we will hold our own “Fashion show”!

Even better news is that the “Fashion Works, Get Skilled” course is totally FREE!  With no extra or hidden costs guaranteed. TAFE will also supply materials FREE.

There will be information provided on full- time and part-time TAFE courses. The teacher’s will be able to discuss, offer advice and provide information on all courses available

The course starts on 13th August 2007. It will be 2 days per week (Monday and Tuesday, 9:30am to 3:00 pm) for 14 weeks.

If you are interested contact:

Deb 66559319

Fiona 0407 217 843

TAFE OFFICE 66485000/66482422

Or Anna (Bellingen Seaboard Youth Services) 66550167

There will be an information day for anyone interested at 10:30 a.m. 1st August 2007 at the Memorial Hall, (supper rooms, at the back of the hall) Bellingen.