Our Programs
On this page:
Merri-bek Youth is here for you – a free local service all about supporting young people.
We’re all about creating safe and welcoming spaces where you can relax, meet new people, get involved in your community, and pick up new skills along the way.
You’ll find our team out and about every day – running programs and workshops in schools, hosting events and consultations at local festivals, and hanging out at Oxygen Youth Space, ready to listen, support, and help however we can.
Behind the scenes, we collaborate with youth services and community organisations, and we advocate within council to help make Merri-bek a place with more youth-friendly spaces and opportunities.
We welcome all young people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
You can call us on 1800 MY YOUTH (1800 699 688) for support, advice, and information. Our helpful and knowledgeable team can assist you between Monday and Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
School Holidays
Free activities and workshops during the school holidays.
Book your spot at the Merri-bek Youth Eventbrite.
January program coming soon!
Term 4 programs
Mondays
Drop in @ Oxygen
An after-school space to hang out, make friends, study, snack & find support.
For: 12 –18s
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Oxygen Youth Space
Bookings: No booking required, just drop-in.
Contact: 1800 MY YOUTH (1800 699 688)
Helping Hoops Girls Basketball Program
For: Girls 10+
Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Location: Fawkner Community Sports Hall
Bookings: Please call Renee Clarke 0407 201 868
Tuesdays
Girls & Women-Only Boxing Classes
High-intensity boxing class for girls, women, trans, and femme-identifying individuals. Run by pro coach Stephanie Mfongwot.
For: 12 – 24s
Time: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Oxygen Youth Space.
Bookings: Book online
Soundmakrz Music Mentoring Program
A weekly after-school music program for young musicians. All levels, all genders, all instruments.
For: Year 7 – 10 students
Time: 5:30 pm (Year 7 & 8 students), 6:15 pm (Year 9 & 10 Students)
Location: Oxygen Youth Space.
Bookings: Book online
Wednesdays
Drop in @ Oxygen
An after-school space to hang out, make friends, study, snack & find support
For: 12 –18s
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Oxygen Youth Space
Bookings: No booking required.
Contact: 1800 MY YOUTH (1800 699 688)
Amped Up Events Committee
Meet weekly with a group of peers to plan and organise live music events.
For: 12 – 25s
Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
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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.
You can find out about us and our upcoming gigs at the Amped Up Facebook page and on Instagram through our @ampedupfreeza account.
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
- Maker's Market at the Brunswick Town Hall
- Amped Up goes Acoustic
- The Push Start Competition's local and regional finals.
- It Starts with Us
- R We Ok?
- Sunday Sundaes
- Get Bricked
- Merri-bek Meltdown + so many more!
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.
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 12 and 25 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.
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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.
If you are interested in performing please email Steve shuf@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or by calling us at 1800 699 688.
Thursdays
Fawkner Fastbreak Basketball Sessions
For 12 -18s
3.15 - 5pm @ Fawkner Community Sports Hall
No booking required.
Fridays
Drop in @ Oxygen
An after-school space to hang out, make friends, study, snack & find support
For: 12 –18s
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Oxygen Youth Space
Booking: No booking required.
Contact: 1800 MY YOUTH (1800 699 688)
My Rainbow LGBTQIA+ social group (Monthly)
MY Rainbow is a monthly social group for local young LGBTQIA+ people, best suited for 12 to 17-year-olds. We craft, eat, talk and hang out.
For: 12 –17s
Time: 5:30 pm
Bookings: Book online
Dates: 2026 dates coming soon
Takeover Nights @ The Brunswick Library (Monthly)
Youth get to "take over" the library while the library is closed for fun programs and yummy food.
For: 12 –18s
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: The Brunswick Library
Booking: Book online
Dates: 2026 dates coming soon
Takeover Nights @ The Glenroy Library (Monthly)
Youth get to "take over" the library while the library is closed for fun programs and yummy food.
For: 12 –18s
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: The Glenroy Library
Bookings: Book online
Dates: 2026 dates coming soon
Saturdays
Takeover Nights @ The Coburg Library (Monthly)
Youth get to "take over" the library while the library is closed for fun programs and yummy food.
For: 12 – 18s
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Location: The Coburg Library
Bookings: Book online
Dates: 2026 dates coming soon
Monday - Friday
Oxygen Jam Room for hire
The Oxygen Youth Space Jam room is fully equipped for soloists and groups. Plug in, turn it up, and make some noise, with access to a full backline, amps, microphones, and more.
For: 12 – 17s
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Oxygen Youth Space
Book: 1800 699 688 or email merribekyouth@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.
Monday - Sunday
Oxygen Jam Room for hire
The Oxygen Youth Space Jam room is fully equipped for soloists and groups. Plug in, turn it up, and make some noise, with access to a full backline, amps, microphones, and more.
For: 18 – 24s
Time: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Location: Oxygen Youth Space.
Cost: One-off practice: $6.70 per hour,
or a 3-month membership is $76 (includes 1 x weekly three-hour session)
Book: 1800 699 688 or email merribekyouth@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.
Gigs, Events & Festivals
Merri-bek Meltdown 3
Saturday 20 September.
Fawkner Festa
Youth Zone + Makers Market
Sunday 26 October.
Blooming in the 'Bek - Merri-bek Meltdown 4
Saturday 22 November, 1 - 5pm @ Triple R Studios, Brunswick East.
Coburg Night Market
Saturday 13 December, acts TBC
Sydney Road Street Party 2026
Youth Zone
Sunday 1 March.
Annual opportunities
Pool Lifeguard training
Do you want a job that saves lives, is flexible, fun, and helps people enjoy their time in the water? Then you should apply for our free Pool Lifeguard course.
On completion of the 3-day course you will be awarded the Pool Lifeguard SISSS00111 & First Aid HLTAID003 accreditations, & the Merri-bek Youth team will support you in finding local job opportunities.
For: 17 - 24s
Bookings: 2025 dates have closed.
Youth Ambassadors (12 - 24s)
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 weekly meetings and workshops designed to build your skills, confidence & networks, so you can create positive change in your community!
**2025 Applications are now closed***
For Students
Student Placements & Work Experience
For Schools
Our team is excited to run engaging workshops and activities, either at your school or right here at Oxygen Youth Space. We currently offer the following:
- Intro to Oxygen Youth Space
- Intro to Leadership
- Intro to Public Speaking
- Intro to Resilience & Confidence
- Social Awareness special event, for example:
- lunch time activities at your school
- incursions, ie, Youth Projects Mental Health. - Design your own!
If you are interested, please email lmatricciani@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.
Other private programs we're running
Lunchtime soccer
John Fawkner College
Gain Train
John Fawkner College
GECOs
Glenroy College
Support Services
Youth Services For Families booklet (PDF 4Mb)
Hire the Oxygen Youth Space
Your local venue for corporate events, private functions & creative workshops! Our vibrant and flexible spaces in central Coburg are perfect for a wide range of events, with easy access to public transport and parking.
With breakout rooms, a ping pong table, audio-visual equipment, and a kitchenette, the venue can be set up to suit your needs - whether it’s for corporate training, wellness workshops, private functions, or community events.
Bookings: Please email merribekyouth@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or call 1800 MY YOUTH (1800 699 688).
Child safety
Merri-bek Youth is committed to being a Child Safe organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse. We recognise our legal and moral responsibilities in keeping young people safe from harm and promoting their best interests.
At Merri-bek Youth, we support and encourage the empowerment and participation of young people. We aim to create a child safety culture and are continually working to ensure we have child-safe and friendly environments where young people are heard, respected, and encouraged to reach their full potential.
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If you or another young person is in immediate danger call 000(triple zero) and ask for the police.
Council can provide support if you have concerns about your safety and wellbeing and you don’t know who else to contact. We have processes in place to ensure any reports of child safe concerns are listened to, treated seriously and responded to quickly. All reports will be treated confidentially. Once a report is received a Child Safe Officer will respond within one working day.
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Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse. We recognise our legal and moral responsibilities in keeping children and young people safe from harm and promoting their best interests.
You can find out more on the Merri-bek's Child Safety and wellbeing page.
Stay up to date
There are many ways to stay up-to-date with Merri-bek Youth. We promote our programs through Eventbrite, Instagram, and Facebook. We encourage you to follow us on these platforms so you'll be notified as soon as we post something new: