Council & Business
31 July, 2026
Youth hub throws open its doors after closure
The Engage Youth Hub has reopened its doors for the benefit of young people aged 13 to 23 years old.
Central Goldfields Shire’s youth hub is reopening their doors next week, offering a space for community and connection.
The Engage Youth Hub has returned, following years of closure, to the benefit of young people aged 13 to 23 years old.
Its revival is the culmination of months of work, and the input of local youth, creating a space designed by and for young people.
The hub offers them an inclusive space to gather, pursue the things that matter to them, and connect with local organisations.
While the project has long been understood as a valued local initiative it has also proven challenging to implement.
The issues appear as numerous as the attempts to succeed including difficulty finding a permanent home to a feasibility study which never made it to a council meeting.
Despite this, the Youth Hub is back in its old digs, beside council’s main offices, seemingly through the enthusiasm of council’s new youth officer Kyan Laslett O’Brien.
“I’m of the opinion that every small town, and every suburb, should have one of these,” he said.
“In an ideal world I’d like to see that happen.”
The Engage Youth Hub closed a number of years ago, the building had issues with termites according to Mr Laslett O’Brien, before becoming a “dumping ground” for storage.
“When I got given the key on the first day and came in here there was just stuff everywhere,” he said.
Through months of work and thrifty ingenuity Mr Laslett O’Brien said he prepared a “central hub for connecting young people” at no cost to the ratepayer.
It’s an effort made possible through the Victorian Government’s Engage and Amplify grants.
Mr Laslett O’Brien said the hub was funded for three years through these grants with in-kind support from council.
“I want to use this as an example of what you can do with minimal financial outlay and I truly believe you will see the benefits of this place over the next couple of years,” he said.
Beyond being the latest hang-out for local youth, the Engage Youth Hub offers weekly drop-in sessions, creative and social activities (soon including a recording studio), a voice through the Youth Advisory Group, and future partnerships with local organisations.
“It’s a really difficult time to be a young person, and they need help, which I think is fair,” he said.
Mr Laslett O’Brien said the young people involved are already planning a mural for September and an improved music scene with a stage for teenage bands at the upcoming Energy Breakthrough.
“My job is to guide them gently but not be too imposing, not take it over, and I think that’s how things should be,” he said.
“This is their place and we’re excited to see it grow with them.”
Central Goldfields Shire mayor Ben Green said young people deserve a space they’re excited for where they feel safe and respected — exactly what the hub is intended to be.
“We’re proud to offer a space that celebrates creativity, connection and youth voice, and we can’t wait to see the ideas and energy young people bring to it,” he said.
The Engage Youth Hub is at 22 Nolan Street, Maryborough, open Wednesday from 1 to 5 pm with Fridays added later this year.