Youth Services

Youth Services at MacDonnell Regional Council supports young people to grow up happy, healthy and strong, offering safe spaces, positive role models and programs that build confidence, culture and community connection. Operating under a place-based model, our team engage young people aged 5–25 in a wide range of activities—including sport and recreation, leadership and cultural learning, safety and wellbeing, support into jobs, education and training, and ongoing staff development.

Each year, Youth Services works with more than 800 young people across nine communities, employing over 60 dedicated staff. Programs run five days a week (Monday to Friday) for 4–5 hours per day, with an additional 12 weeks of school holiday programs delivered annually in each serviced community.

We collaborate closely with local stakeholders, families, schools, service providers and community leaders to ensure our programs reflect local needs, priorities and aspirations. Our approach has local decision making centered in our philosophy and is community-driven, strengths-based and focused on supporting young people to thrive.

OUR PROGRAMS

Outside School Hours Learning Program

Funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), this program provides structured, engaging and supportive activities outside of school hours, helping young people build life skills, confidence and positive routines.

School Holiday Program

Also funded by NIAA, this is a structured holiday program providing safe spaces, engaging activities and positive supervision to keep young people active, connected and supported during school breaks. Activities vary by community and may include sport, recreation, cultural sessions and bush trips, creative projects and community events.

Youth Boards

MRC facilitates Youth Boards across all communities to strengthen the leadership and governance skills of Indigenous young people. Youth Boards play an active role in decision-making, generating ideas for program design and raising community concerns to Council and Local Authority Boards.

For more information regarding the Youth Services program please contact the Executive Manager on 0449 798 191.