Nimbin Youth has stepped into 2026 with some exciting new opportunities for our young people.
One of the biggest developments this year is the launch of our ‘Alternative Learning Space’ through the Nimbin Comskool. This space supports young people in ways that feel right for them, with flexible, creative and practical opportunities to learn and grow.
As part of this, we’re beginning a youth-led ‘E-Zine’ – an online magazine created by young people, for young people. It will showcase local voices, featuring everything from Nimbin fashion and photography to art, stories and personal reflections.
While it’s youth-driven, it’s something the whole community can enjoy (and yes, everyone’s welcome to grab a copy! There will be printed copies) Stay tuned – we can’t wait to share more.
We’re also proud to be working alongside the Nimbin Neighbourhood and Information Centre (NNIC) to deliver ‘The Village Way’, a life skills program designed to help young people navigate our default world.
The program covers practical, real-life skills like getting a Tax File Number, understanding Centrelink, reading rental agreements, writing resumes, preparing for job interviews (including mock interviews), working towards a driver’s licence and learning about relationships, sexual health and drug harm minimisation.
It’s already generating strong interest, and we’re excited to see young people stepping forward to be part of it. If your young person is interested – please reach out to me, email: office@nimbinyouth.org.au
Our community continues to grow, with new volunteers joining the Nimbin Youth team. We recently held a relaxed ‘Vollie and Chat’ evening, where we shared what’s involved in volunteering – from the important compliance side of things to the genuinely rewarding experience of supporting young people.
If you’ve been thinking about getting involved, we’d love to hear from you.
Our weekly DND (Dungeons & Dragons) sessions are still going strong, with some of our participants now stepping up as Dungeon Masters themselves. Watching their confidence and storytelling skills grow has been something special.
And of course, our drop-in days continue to be a hub of food and support. Our famous THCs (tomato, ham and cheese toasties – not what you might think) are still a favourite, alongside fresh fruit and snacks. A heartfelt thank you to the Nimbin Food Co-op for increasing our store credit – the fresh, organic food makes such a difference, and the young people really appreciate it (especially the watermelon, which never lasts long!)
Outside of drop-in, we continue supporting our young people as things come up, and helping out where we can. Working with young people in our community is both a privilege and a responsibility we hold deeply. Every day we see their strength, their creativity and their potential, even when life has been tough.
We are continuing to advocate strongly for funding to keep our doors open and to grow what we know is needed here. The support we’ve received from local organisations and community members means more than we can say. We are so grateful. Nimbin is a special place – a village that shows up for its young people with heart. Thank you for standing with us, for believing in this work and for being part of the village that helps raise and support our next generation.
