Fun, Food & Friendly Faces: FADIC School Holiday Program Wrap-Up
The FADIC School Holiday Program, supported by Firefly was in full swing this January, bringing local young people together for a series of fun, youth-led activities. From messy creative workshops to high-energy scavenger hunts, it was amazing to see young people take the lead in shaping their own holiday fun!
A Huge Thanks
We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the NSW Government’s Holiday Break funding via the Office of Youth, whose support made this program possible. Our thanks also go to Vincentia Community Connections for providing the space and helping promote the sessions, and to Youth Insearch, whose staff supported the Firefly team in delivering the program. Christine, Firefly’s Community Connector, led the program with support from Ash, Gemma, and Tash, and the results were inspiring.
We also want to thank Willow and Ariah, student from Vincentia High School, for their ongoing support of their FADIC project (part of the 2025 Youth Voice Project). Their initial project results helped secure the Office of Youth funding, which enabled FADIC to extend beyond its Term 4 2025 trial. The project has now wrapped up, successfully meeting its aims of providing free, safe, and fun activities for local young people. Both Willow and Ariah joined in some of the holiday activities, continuing their incredible contribution to youth voice and leadership.
Activities Designed by Youth, for Youth
What made the FADIC School Holiday Program special was that everything was co-designed by local young people. Ideas from attendees of last year’s Wednesday FADIC sessions formed the foundation of the January program, with youth feedback shaping both the activities and promotional materials.
Highlights included:
- Paint & Create | Crazy Drinks Lab – One of our most popular sessions, fully booked, allowing participants to explore their creativity with a local artist. The paintings created were sensational, showcasing an array of talent. The drink creations made in the afternoon session were interesting, definalty colourful and not what you’d typically find.
- Cookie Decorating & Board Games – Another fully booked favourite, full of sugar, smiles, and some truly unique creations.
- Junk Journals – Suggested by FADIC attendee Holly, this session introduced both participants and the Firefly team to the art of creating handmade junk journals. “I loved the session, the music, and having the space to simply collage,” said a 13-year-old participant.
- Scavenger Hunt & Board Games – A fast-paced adventure around local shops hunting for clues. “There was so much running around and laughter, it was awesome!” said a 10-year-old participant.
- Cupcake Decorating & Kids Party Games – Creative, interactive, and sugar-filled fun for all. Playing kids’ party games after lunch was a huge blast. Who knew musical chairs could be so much fun!
In total, the program saw:
- 10 participants for Junk Journals
- 12 for Scavenger Hunt & Board Games
- 15 for Cupcake Decorating & Kids Games
- 20 for Paint & Create & Drinks Lab
- 20 for Cookie Decorating & Games
All sessions were well-attended, with some fully booked, a testament to the energy and ideas young people brought to the table.
Extending the FADIC Impact
The school holiday program allowed us to extend the reach of the FADIC project beyond Vincentia High School, offering young people a safe, supportive, and engaging place to drop in and have fun. Parents noted that there are few activities for 10–14 –year-olds during the school holidays, as most options are geared toward younger children and feel a bit babyish for this age group.
Seeing local youth take the lead, share their ideas, and have a blast is a reminder of what’s possible when young people are trusted to shape their own experiences. The FADIC School Holiday Program has shown that with creativity, collaboration, and a little bit of chaos, young people can truly shine and we can’t wait to see what they dream up next!