Community corner

A place created by young people, for the community.

The Community Corner is a community space created through The Place is Yours – a youth-led initiative that empowered young people in Raymond Terrace to build skills, strengthen community connections and help shape the places that matter to them.

Developed through a $50,000 Youth Opportunities Grant from the NSW Office for Youth, The Place is Yours gave young people a platform to share their ideas, develop practical skills and contribute to projects that benefit the wider community.

The Community Corner reflects those efforts.

Located at the intersection of Williams and Sturgeon Streets, Raymond Terrace, the space features seating, landscaping, public artwork and a table tennis table, creating a welcoming place for people to relax, connect and enjoy. Table tennis bats and balls are available for free hire from Raymond Terrace Library and Council's Administration Building.

A youth-led space

Throughout the project, young people played an active role in shaping community spaces and project outcomes. Guided by a Youth Steering Committee and supported by Council, local businesses, community organisations and the NSW Office for Youth, participants helped bring ideas to life while developing confidence, leadership skills and stronger connections to their community.

The result is a welcoming space that encourages connection and community pride.

About The Place is Yours

The Place is Yours celebrated the creativity, leadership and contribution of young people across Raymond Terrace and Port Stephens.

Over 12 months, participants took part in a range of workshops and activities, including:

  • Street art
  • Fishing workshops
  • Videography and storytelling
  • Cultural awareness and identity programs
  • Cooking and nutrition
  • Self-defence and wellbeing
  • Creative and community-building activities

These experiences provided opportunities for young people to learn new skills, build relationships and contribute positively to their community.

Working together

The Community Corner demonstrates what can be achieved when young people, Council, local businesses, service providers and community organisations work together towards a shared goal.

Strong partnerships were central to the project's success and helped create opportunities for young people to participate, lead, and make meaningful contributions to their community. The space was brought to life through a series of community working bees and volunteer days involving young people, Council staff, local businesses, community organisations and volunteers.

Creating vibrant and connected places

The Place is Yours supports Port Stephens Council's commitment to creating vibrant, inclusive and connected places where young people feel valued, supported and empowered to participate in community life.

The project delivers on the goals of Council's Community Strategic Plan and Community Wellbeing Strategy by strengthening community pride, participation and belonging through practical, on-the-ground outcomes.

Looking ahead

The Community Corner is a reminder of the creativity, leadership and potential of local young people, and the positive outcomes that can be achieved when communities invest in their ideas.

The skills, relationships and confidence developed through The Place is Yours will continue to support future youth participation and community-led initiatives across Port Stephens.

Acknowledgements

The Place is Yours, and the Community Corner would not have been possible without the passion, commitment and support of the many young people, organisations, businesses and community members who contributed throughout the project.

Youth Steering Committee

Special thanks to the members of the Youth Steering Committee who helped guide the project and ensure young people's voices remained at the centre of decision-making:

Nikki Bradshaw, Emma Rose, Will Close, Tate Maunder, Summer Wood, Peter Law, Beau Lawrence, Liam Threlfall and Maddie Lilley.

Workshop facilitators and project partners

We thank the many organisations and individuals who delivered workshops, shared their expertise and created opportunities for young people to learn new skills and build connections, including:

  • Tex and Jake Feenan, Charlotte and Isabelle Hodges, and Willow Trieger for supporting the Digital Storytelling workshops.
  • NSW Fisheries, along with youth mentors Will Close and Tate Maunder, for delivering the Fishing workshops.
  • Raymond Terrace Men's Shed for designing and constructing the furniture featured in the Community Corner.
  • Samaritans Child and Parenting Support Program for facilitating drumming workshops.
  • The Smith Family Communities for Children, Raymond Terrace and Karuah Facilitating Partner, for supporting connections and delivery of the Drum Chill Connect program.
  • PCYC Raymond Terrace for facilitating the StrikeStrong self-defence and fitness program.
  • KYDS Youth Development Service and Jupiter's Space to Talk team for supporting young people throughout the project.
  • Up&Up for delivering the Elevate – ‘A Space to Create’ street art program.

Youth Week Street Skills Festival partners

Thank you to the local businesses, organisations and community groups that contributed to the Street Skills Festival:

  • ReadyUp Skills
  • Barber Social
  • Terrace Hair and Beauty Supplies
  • Terrace Meats
  • Grundy's Skateboarding
  • Up&Up
  • Youth Off The Streets
  • Samaritans Homeless Youth Assistance Program
  • 11Eleven Filmmaking
  • Maddie Lilley

Youth engagement partners

We also acknowledge the schools, organisations and community groups that helped connect young people with the project:

  • Alesco Raymond Terrace and Nelson Bay
  • Hunter River High School
  • Irrawang High School
  • Port Stephens-Hunter Police District Youth Action Meeting Coordinator
  • Wahroonga Aboriginal Corporation

Thank you to every young person, volunteer, community member, local business, service provider and partner organisation who helped make The Place is Yours a success.