Do you care about your community and would you like to make a difference?

Join one of our leadership programs or a committee and have a say in the decisions made by council, run your own project or music event and develop your confidence and leadership skills.

Amped Up Events Committee

Are you aged 16 – 24 and interested in music and creative events? Join the Amped Up Freeza committee!

The Amped Up events committee is a group of young people who work together to plan and organise all-ages live music events in Merri-bek.

You will have the opportunity to run festivals and events, gain hands-on music industry experience & connect with and have fun with like-minded people. You will learn skills in event management, audio & lighting, risk assessment, budgets, booking artists & performers, marketing and promotion & managing events on the day.

Events you’ll be supported to run might include live music events, festivals, markets, art or photography exhibitions, dance showcases & more.

This program is a part of FReeZA, which is an innovative youth development program initiated by the Victorian Government. You can find out more about this program on the Youth Central Victoria website. 

• What events has Amped Up organised?

  Previous events organised by Merri-bek's Amped Up group include the 

  • Oxygen Stage at the annual Sydney Road Street Party
  • Move On Be Strong
  • Faraway stables
  • halloween parties
  • Oxygen movie nights
  • Flicks and Kicks at Harmony Park
  • DJ events in schools
  • Oxygen's Christmas parties
  • Amped Up goes Acoustic
  • The Push Start Competition's local and regional finals.

  Our team has also assisted at

  • Recognise Festival
  • Brunswick Better Block Party
  •  Splashfest featuring Camp Cope
  • It Starts with Us
  • R We Ok?
• If I joined Amped Up, what would I get to do?

  Being a member of the Amped Up team requires a significant level of commitment. In exchange for this committment, each member gets the opportunity to develop event management skills and connections with the music industry with support and guidance from the Merri-bek Youth team.

  Members of Amped Up meet up weekly at Oxygen Youth Space (4/8 Gaffney Street, Coburg North) At these weekly meetings you will get to develop your skills in an extensive range of areas including:

  • choosing and contacting performers
  • designing promotional material, such as flyers and social media posts
  • sound and production
  • photography and design
  • managing budgets
  • organising sound engineers and other suppliers
  • organising risk management procedures
  • stage management
  • running an event's front of house (such as selling tickets, handing out programs and recruiting for new members)

  Members of Amped Up also run events on the day, including managing performers, suppliers and crew and solving any problems that arise. 

  You can find out about us and our upcoming gigs at the Amped Up Facebook page and on Instagram through our @ampedupfreeza account.

   

• When does the Amped Up team meet?

  Our team for Amped Up meets regularly every Wednesday  from 4.30pm to 6pm in the Studio at the Oxygen Youth Space.

• What are the time commitments for Amped Up team members?

  There is a significant level of commitment involved with being a member of Amped Up, but in exchange you get invaluable experience in the live music industry. If you are considering joining the team, you will need to commit to attending:

  • At least 80% of weekly meetings (these meetings stop over the school holiday periods)
  • All Freeza events and training opportunities

   

   

• How do I join?

  Amped Up are always looking for new members. If you are between 14 and 24 and interested in the arts and supporting the community, we'd love to meet you!

  If you're interested in Amped Up, we're here to help answer any questions or give you more insight into what being a part of the team is like and what our members do.

  If you think this is the right team for you, you can register by emailing Steve shuf@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or by calling us at 1800 699 688.

   

   

• Want to perform at an Amped Up Event?

  We love supporting local artists (soloists, electronic artists, hip-hoppers, rappers, djs's and bands alike) by giving them the opportunity to showcase their skills at our events. 

  Along with our annual Push Start Battle of the Bands event, we are always planning new opportunities for Merri-bek artists to perform at Amped Up events. 

  If you are interested in performing please email Adelaide at ajones@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or call 1800 699 688.

   

   

Merri-bek Youth Ambassadors 

*Applications have now closed.

Interested in creating change in your local community? Then apply for a role as a Merri-bek Youth Ambassador!

As a Merri-bek Youth Ambassador, you will work with a group of passionate young people to represent the voices of young people in Merri-bek.  The program runs for a total of 18 months, with fortnightly meetings and workshops designed to build your skills, confidence & networks, so you can create positive change in your community!

Merri-bek Youth Ambassadors are paid for their time.

• What does it involve?

  As a Merri-bek Youth Ambassador, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Represent the views of young people in Merri-bek

  • Work with other young people on a youth-led project to create positive change

  • Build meaningful connections within your community

  • Participate in fortnightly meetings and workshops with Merri-bek Council staff

  • Discuss, debate and develop solutions to issues that are important to you

  Each Merri-bek Youth Ambassador will be paid for their time, expertise and lived experience each month to attend meetings and training.

  How long does the program go for?

  The program runs for a total of 18 months, with a break from January - February. 

  When and Where?

  The program will begin in late February 2023.

  Fortnightly meetings will alternative between in-person and online. In person meetings will be held in venues around Merri-bek.

• Who can apply?

  All young people aged 12 to 24 who live, work, study or have a strong connection to the city of Merri-bek are welcome to apply. 

• How do i apply?

  Applications for the 2023 intake have now closed.
   
  In this application, we ask a few demographic related questions, such as age, gender, cultural background and connection to Merri-bek. This information is kept private and is only collected to ensure we represent the diverse voices from our community in Merri-bek. 

  More information

  If you find any of the questions in this form a little confusing or want more information, please email Sarah Rocca at srocca@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or call 9389 8642, or Lillian Dunn at ldunn@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or call 0429 268 305.

  Commitment to Child safety

  Merri-bek is a child safe organisation. By taking part in our opportunities, you agree to join us in our Commitment to Child Safety.

   

Merri-bek Advisory Committees and Reference Groups

Applications to join Merri-bek City Council’s Advisory Committees and Reference Groups have now closed. You can find out more about these groupson our Advisory Committee and Reference Group page.

Resources for Schools

The resources on this page have been compiled by Merri-bek Youth as part of our commitment to fostering Lifelong Learning and Participation in our community.

VCE Vocational Major

To support local education providers in delivering the VCE Vocational Major curriculum Merri-bek Youth has curated a suite of project ideas that can be run in collaboration with Merri-bek City Council.

To find out what projects are on offer, please read through our VCE VM Council Project Opportunities booklet (PDF 438 Kb).