Last Wednesday, an exciting new chapter for local youth began with the official opening of FADIC’s Youth Hub at the Community Connections Hub in Vincentia’s Burton Street Mall. 

Created for youth, by youth, FADIC – which stands for Free Activity Drop-In Centre – is one of four incredible student-led initiatives developed through Firefly Bay and Basin’s Youth Voice Project at Vincentia High School. 

With the generous support of Community Connections, the hub space has been transformed into a welcoming and inclusive environment where young people aged 12 to 18 can connect, relax, and participate in free weekly activities. 

At the official launch, Ariah and Willow, the young changemakers behind FADIC, cut the ribbon to declare the hub open. Their vision for the project is to create a safe and fun drop-in space where young people can hang out, try new things, and feel a stronger sense of belonging in the Bay and Basin community. 

The FADIC Youth Hub will be run as an eight-week trial, giving the community an opportunity to show their support for a permanent youth drop-in service in the area. Early surveys showed strong interest from both youth and adults, with many expressing that a youth hub like this is exactly what the Bay and Basin needs. 

Now, it’s time to turn that community enthusiasm into action. The success of the trial will depend on attendance and engagement — so if you know a young person aged 12–18, encourage them to come along and check it out! 

This project is a shining example of what happens when young people are empowered to lead. Congratulations to Ariah, Willow, and the whole Youth Voice team for bringing this vision to life — and thank you to Community Connect for their partnership and support.