City of Palmerston has released the Palmy Youth Info Map, a pocket-sized guide for young people aged 12 to 25. The map lists 17 services across Palmerston and surrounding areas, covering activities, health and wellbeing, education, employment and emergency contacts. Parents, carers, friends and support workers can also use it to help young people find support. The map is available on the council website, with printed copies at Civic Plaza, Palmerston Recreation Centre and the City of Palmerston library.
Gambling Harm Awareness Week, running from 24 to 31 October, highlights how gambling can harm individuals, families and communities. Gambling advertising and gambling-like features such as loot boxes now reach young people through the apps and games they use daily. Research suggests repeated exposure can normalise gambling before young people are legally allowed to gamble. More than one in four Victorians aged 18 to 24 who gamble experience gambling-related harm. Parents are encouraged to discuss gambling content with young people and consider parental controls and purchase approvals. Free, confidential support is available from Gambler's Help services.
Sunshine Coast Zonta clubs will host a community forum on domestic and family violence at the University of the Sunshine Coast Auditorium at Sippy Downs on Saturday, November 14. The forum will examine how exposure to domestic violence affects young people and how abuse can pass between generations. Keynote speakers Associate Professor Divna Haslam and Murray Benton will discuss prevention and earlier intervention. Sergeant Clair Parsons will speak on the role of police, families, schools and community services. Organisers hope the event will help the community work together to break the cycle of violence.
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Hindmarsh Shire Council has opened applications for its 2027 Youth Council for young people aged 12 to 18. The advisory committee of up to 17 members plans activities across the shire, including movie screenings, pool parties, live music and mental health initiatives. Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 29 November 2026. Applicants will be interviewed, with appointments endorsed at the December 2026 Council Meeting. Successful applicants will receive certificates and badges in early 2027 before attending the annual Leadership Retreat.
Moonee Valley City Council has opened nominations for the Neighbourhood Spirit Awards 2027. The awards recognise people who make a positive difference in the community, including young people aged 12 to 25 who have made a contribution.
A new set of neuro-affirming books has arrived at Colac district libraries, intended to give local families, young people and carers trusted resources. The collection was created and shared to support them.
Young people aged 11 to 17 in Mackay can vote this week to choose 12 members of the third Mackay Youth Council from 21 candidates. Polling stations are set up at local schools, Headspace at Caneland Central and other community venues. Voting runs from October 19 to October 23, with counting starting on October 24. The successful candidates are expected to be sworn in for an 18-month term in early 2027. Mayor Greg Williamson said the council was the first in Australia to have an elected youth council under the Foundation for Young Australians' Young Mayors program.
Young people in Pormpuraaw left the 2026 youth summit feeling inspired, motivated and supported, organisers say. The five-day Pormpur Ngamplin Pam Mongthak event combined sport, workshops and services such as help with birth certificates and blue cards. Employers also spoke about job opportunities. CEO Ganthi Kuppusamy said a question session gave young people a chance to raise gaps and challenges they face. She said their confidence has grown with each year of the event, which has drawn growing local and external engagement.
At a community event in Tasmania, children moved easily between English and Nepali. They spoke English with friends and Nepali with parents and grandparents. Some switched languages within a single conversation.
A free white card course for people aged 16 to 24 will run on Tuesday 24 November, from 8am to 3pm, at Start Training in Campbellfield. A white card is required to work on a construction site, and the course teaches injury prevention, risk management and site safety rules. Trainers have industry experience. Priority goes to people who live in Hume, though people connected to Hume will also be considered. Tickets go on sale 2 November. Registering does not guarantee a place, as applicants must first take a phone interview.
The Northern Territory government will legalise OC Spray for self-defence, allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to buy and carry it with parental or guardian consent. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the change follows a year-long trial with a 99 per cent success rate. Since the trial began, 5,976 canisters have been bought, and police have seized 69 canisters and identified 46 prohibited purchasers. The new rules ban young people from taking the spray into school grounds and widen household use in genuine emergencies. Western Australia is the only other jurisdiction allowing general sale of OC Spray.
The Tasmanian government has appointed Sonya Pringle-Jones as the state’s first Commissioner for Children and Young People. Pringle-Jones will lead the new Commission for Children and Young People, which will strengthen child protection oversight and advocate for children’s rights. Attorney-General Guy Barnett said Pringle-Jones has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for vulnerable children. She began the role on 8 October, succeeding interim commissioner Ros Cornish.
Parents, students and safety advocates are calling for stronger protections for young people online. The calls come as the Australian Government develops its Digital Duty of Care legislation. Young people continue to face risks including exposure to explicit content, harassment and unwanted contact. Pressure is growing on tech companies to address these risks at the design stage, before harm occurs.
A paediatrician writes that families from multicultural backgrounds should treat mental health with the same seriousness as physical illness. He describes a teenager who grew quieter and lost interest in sport, with no obvious cause, until hidden pressures to succeed and to meet family expectations surfaced. The author argues that listening, rather than offering quick advice, helps young people and relatives open up. He lists warning signs such as withdrawal, sleep trouble and falling school performance, and urges people to see a health professional when symptoms persist.
Alcohol is widely accepted across Australian society, yet its effects on mental wellbeing often go unnoticed. Timed to Mental Health Month, this piece asks when drinking crosses the line into excess. It focuses on how Australians, particularly younger people, can moderate their intake and support the people around them. The feature image is credited to Vai Johnston, and the piece was originally published by The Wire.
