Council works in partnership with a number of youth organisations, delivering services to the young people of the valley.
Youth Summit
In June 2023, we partnered with Youth organisation Communities for Children to produce a Youth Summit, bringing together Derwent Valley youth, service providers and community leaders working in the sector to hear from young people and better understand their issues and concerns.
Outcomes from the summit will feed into Council’s new Strategic Plan, and future youth strategies and actions, and is the latest example of how Council engages with partners and stakeholders across a range of social and community programs.
Read the Youth Summit outcomes report, see the projects the group came up with, and a one page snapshot of the plan ahead to keep engaging with this important user group.
Click on the cover of each of the documents below to read
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Apart from Council's plans, other options for youth to get involved with in the Derwent Valley include:
“Families thriving in strong, safe communities”
Communities for Children South East Tasmania deliver programs and activities in the areas of:
- Southern Midlands
- Upper Derwent Valley/Central Highlands
- Brighton
- Derwent Valley
Communities for Children deliver programs and activities for families with Children in the 0-12 year age group that address the priority areas of Safety, Resilience and Aspirations and the Communities for Children Facilitating Partner objectives of:
To improve the health and well-being of families and the development of young children, from before birth through to age 12 years, paying special attention to:
- Healthy young families — supporting parents to care for their children before and after birth and throughout the early years;
- Supporting families and parents — support for parents to provide children with secure attachment, consistent discipline and quality environments that are stable, positive, stimulating, safe and secure;
- Early learning — provide access to high quality early learning opportunities in the years before school; provide early identification and support for children at risk of developmental and behavioural problems; assist parents with ways they can stimulate and promote child development and learning from birth; and
- School transition and engagement - support children and families to make a smooth transition to school and work with local schools to assist children and families with their ongoing engagement with school.
To create strong child-friendly communities that understand the importance of children and apply this capacity to maximise the health, well-being and early development of young children at the local level.
Communities for Children- South-East Tasmania functions as a collaborative impact project, with a strong, vibrant backbone team comprising of our Manager Tanya and Admin & Project Lead Coordinator Jo.
Our 'Collaborative Leadership Table' is named our CfC Steering Committee, made up of our Community Partners, Community Members and people interested in working collaboratively towards our goal of “Families thriving in strong, safe communities”.
KIDS IN THE VALLEY
Creating space for kids & teens to thrive in the Derwent Valley, Tasmania.
Kids in the Valley provide programs and activities for young people 6-18 years and their families. They focus on social education, health, and well-being opportunities to build capacity, connections, and resilience.
Kids in the valley are funded by Communities for Children, with all programs free for participants. Programs offered include:
- In school Support
- School holiday activities
- Out of school programs
- Film Challenge
- Family fun day
- Parenting programs.
Derwent Valley Youth Future Action Team (D'FAT)
Derwent Valley Youth Future Action Team (D’FAT) is a youth led not-for-profit organisation that exists to empower young people to become respected and engaged members of the Derwent Valley community.
D’FAT meets fortnightly on Thursday 7.00 PM at The Salvation Army, Derwent Valley Corps, 79 Hamilton Road, New Norfolk.
D’FAT was formed in 2002* and membership is open to young people (12 – 25 years) in the Derwent Valley Local Government Area (Granton – Maydena).
*D’FAT was the youth advisory group for Derwent Valley Council from 2002 until 2021 (Special Committee of Council from 2004 until 2021).
D’FAT aims to:
- Advise organisations and individuals on youth issues and concerns
- Develop activities and projects for young people
The objectives of D’FAT are:
- To increase awareness of and address youth issues and concerns
- To provide opportunities for community involvement
- To facilitate and promote consultation between young people and community groups and all levels of government
- To represent the views of young people
- To develop young leaders
- To promote a positive image of young people
- To support and co-ordinate activities and projects for young people.
Scouts Tasmania
New Norfolk Scouts is for boys and girls aged 5.5 to 16 years, and focuses on exploring the outdoors, discovery and learning interesting things! Joeys, Cubs, Scouts belong to a unit and begin to learn leadership and teamwork in small teams called patrols.
If you enjoy fun, games and learning new skills then you’ll love being a Joey, Cub, or Scout! You’ll get to go on camps with your unit, and you might attend a camp (like Cuboree) with hundreds of other scouts! As well as learning things like how to use a compass, you’ll go on bushwalks, bike trips, and have the chance to do things like sailing, canoeing, abseiling and sometimes even flying!
Your Joey, Cub, or Scout Leader will help you along the way and encourage you to take part. You’ll learn life-long skills, make friends and have fun! Scouts are keen to learn, belong, and have fun, so our activities are designed to stimulate their emotional and adventurous spirits.
You can find out more on their website or look for their Facebook page: