Pride Formal 2026

Get ready for a night of fun, music and self-expression at the 2026 Pride Formal! Open to LGBTQIA+ young people aged 14–24, their friends and allies! This free event is your chance to come together in a safe, inclusive and welcoming space.

Enjoy live performances, a drag MC and DJ, lip sync battles, prizes, a photo booth, plus food and soft drinks throughout the night.

📅 Saturday 29 August 2026
🕒 6pm - 9pm
📍 Cardinia Cultural Centre

Our annual Good Choice Awards are back!

Great choices deserve to be celebrated! If you know a young person in Cardinia Shire who has shown resilience, kindness and strength of character in 2026, nominate them for a Cardinia Shire Good Choice Award. All young people nominated for a Good Choice Award will be recognised at a private event in September 2026 at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.

Nominations close on 3 August 2026.

Join us for our upcoming Skate, Scoot and BMX event in Koo Wee Rup!

Grab your board, scooter or bike and join us at Cochrane Park, Koo Wee Rup on Thursday 1 October from 10am–4pm for a day of skate, scoot and BMX action.

Choose from skate lessons or the YMCA Skate League, and celebrate Victorian Youth Fest with other young people from across Cardinia Shire.

Keep an eye out for more information, as registrations are expected to open in early September.

Youth Action and Advisory Committee (YAAC) 

Want to have your say and make things happen? Join YAAC and help shape projects, events and decisions that matter to young people in Cardinia Shire. Build leadership, communication and advocacy skills, create lasting connections, and help shape youth-led projects that make a positive impact. If you're aged 15–24 and passionate about creating change, YAAC is your chance to be heard, grow your confidence, and be part of something meaningful and fun.

Amplify Youth Committee

Love music, events and making things happen? 

Join the Amplify Committee and learn how to plan, promote and run youth events, connect with artists, and build valuable skills alongside other young people in Cardinia Shire.

🎤 Designed for young people aged between 15-24 years old
📅 Fortnightly Wednesdays 
📍 My Place, Pakenham

Let's get cooking!

Our Creative Cooking program gives young people aged 12–17 the chance to learn essential life skills, including how to cook healthy meals on a budget in a fun, hands-on and supportive environment. Popular recipes in term 2 included making pasta and pizza dough from scratch.

📅 Thursdays from 3:30pm – 5pm

📍My Place Youth Facility, 5–7 Main St, Pakenham

Young Parents Group

Looking for connection and support as a young parent? Our Young Parents Group is a relaxed, welcoming space for young parents (under 25) and their children to connect, learn and socialise. Throughout term 2, the Young Parents Group actively participated in the Sing and Grow program, where young parents and their children enjoyed opportunities to connect through dancing and play.

📅 Mondays from 11am – 12:15pm
📍 Pakenham

Get active after school

Get moving after school with Sports Fest – a fun, relaxed active program for young people aged 12–17. Each week features sport sessions where participants can try new activities, build skills and take on exciting challenges in a supportive and social environment. Sports Fest helps young people grow in confidence, make new friends and develop healthy habits (with fresh fruit provided). Many participants have shared feeling more connected, included and inspired to get involved in community sport.

📅 Mondays from 3:30pm – 5pm
📍 My Place Youth Facility, 5–7 Main St, Pakenham

Cardinia 5on5 Basketball Competition

Following the success of our after-school basketball program at Edenbrook Secondary College, we're excited to bring young people together for another action-packed basketball event. Whether you're a seasoned player or just love the game, Cardinia 5on5 is a great opportunity to compete, connect and have fun. Individual and team registrations are welcome – keep an eye on our socials for details!

📅 Friday 2 October 2026
📍 Cardinia Life, Pakenham

Following a series of fully booked music industry workshops, the Rising Sun Amplify Committee is excited to deliver three more sessions later this year.

Whether you're interested in music production, songwriting or learning more about the music industry, these workshops are a great opportunity to build your skills, connect with other young creatives and learn from industry professionals.

Keep an eye on our social media channels for upcoming workshop dates and registration details.

Got an idea you want to bring to life? My Place Studio is a free creative space for young people aged 12–24 to make music, record podcasts, edit videos or try DJing.

The studio is equipped for recording, editing, and mixing, and can host up to 5 people per session and bookings are essential. 

📍 My Place Youth Facility, 5–7 Main St, Pakenham

🕐 Bookings available Monday - Friday

Winter Teenage School Holiday Program (TSHP)

Our 2026 Winter Teenage School Holiday Program (TSHP) was our biggest and most successful program yet, with a record number of young people aged 12–17 joining us for two weeks of fun, creativity and connection.

From comic book workshops and Mario Kart tournaments to virtual reality experiences and trivia challenges, there was something for everyone. The positive feedback we received highlights just how important these opportunities are for young people to connect, learn new skills and have fun in a safe and welcoming environment.

Keep an eye out for the 2026 Spring Teenage School Holiday Program, with activity details and booking dates coming soon!

Side Quest

Side Quest was a huge success, with more than 480 tickets sold and Anime and Cosplay fans of all ages coming together for a day of creativity, connection and fun.

Supported by the Rising Sun Crew Amplify Committee, young people helped shape the event, from planning and promotion through to delivery. Their passion and ideas helped create a welcoming space where attendees could celebrate their interests, meet like-minded people and express themselves freely.

The event showcased the power of youth-led initiatives and marked an exciting milestone for Amplify, opening the door to even more creative community events in the future.

Nova Radio visited Pakenham!

What a turnout! The Cardinia Youth Services team had a great time at the NOVA Radio event in Pakenham on 14 May! An estimated 450–500 residents came along to see Jase, Lauren and Clint, as well as connect with Council services and support local businesses.

We loved chatting with local young people and sharing information about the supports, programs and opportunities available through Youth Services.

Young people get All In for Reconciliation

Cardinia Youth Services was proud to join students at the Cardinia Cultural Centre and Emerald Hills Hub to celebrate National Reconciliation Week.

This year's theme, "All In", encouraged everyone to take meaningful action towards reconciliation and support First Nations peoples. Young people explored the theme through a creative badge-making activity, designing their own unique badges and sharing what reconciliation means to them.

St Francis Xavier Careers Expo

Cardinia Shire's Youth Services and People and Culture teams recently attended the St Francis Xavier Career Expo, connecting with students and parents to showcase the opportunities available to young people in our community.

The teams shared information about local programs, events and support services, while highlighting the diverse range of career pathways available within local government. The expo provided a valuable opportunity to help young people explore their interests, build skills and learn more about career opportunities and pathways at Council. 

BMX track upgrade celebrated in Bunyip!

Local riders and families came together to celebrate the opening of the newly upgraded Bunyip Sanctuary BMX Track at a community BMX Jam on 6 July. Around 70–80 people attended the fully booked event, with riders of all ages and skill levels putting the upgraded track to the test.

The refreshed BMX facility now features upgraded jumps, a junior pump track, improved berms and better spectator spaces, creating a safer and more inclusive experience for the community. Whether you're new to BMX or an experienced rider, the track is now open and ready to enjoy at 71 Wattletree Road, Bunyip.

Local school visits

Recently, Grade 6 students from Pakenham Consolidated Primary School visited My Place to tour the centre and learn more about the range of services, programs, and activities available to young people aged 12 to 24 years.

The visit provided an opportunity for students to gain a better understanding of the support and recreational options available to them as they transition into their teenage years. Students also shared their ideas and feedback about the types of activities, events, and programs they would like to participate in.

Rhythm to Recovery: in-school program

The Youth Services team are pleased to offer local secondary schools the opportunity to participate in the Rhythm to Recovery program for 2026.

Rhythm to Recovery is an engaging, evidence‑informed program that uses drumming and rhythm‑based activities to build connection, boost wellbeing and support emotional regulation.

Schools interested in hosting this program during a school term are encouraged to submit their bookings early by emailing request to myplace@cardinia.vic.gov.au