Services and support

The Buzz It card provides contact details for a range of services that young people may need including: emergency help, financial help, education, finding a job, health issues, mental health, alcohol and drug issues, legal support and housing.

The Buzz It card is available at Council offices, the Castlemaine Library, Castlemaine District Community Health, community organisations, local businesses and education providers. You can also download the Buzz It card here.

Mount Alexander Youth Connect Network (MAYCN), formerly Castlemaine Connect Central (CCC), is a partnership of Community, Health, Education, Local Government providers who aim to empower our most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in the Mount Alexander shire to take control and shape their futures.

MAYCN identifies and addresses service gaps, develops strategic and innovative solutions to common issues, and integrates service delivery that puts the young person at the centre of the network.

You can find more information about MAYCN on the Castlemaine District Community Health website, including the Service Plan for Vulnerable Youth in Mount Alexander Shire and the No Wrong Door Resource.

If you’re a young person looking to achieve your probationary licence but are having trouble finding a supervising driver, the L2P program could be for you.

Gaining the necessary 120 hours of supervised driving can be difficult for some. If you are aged between 16 and 21, have your L plates but do not have access to a car and/or qualified driver - this could be the answer.

Learner drivers will be matched with a specially trained driver mentor and have access to our vehicles. Please contact Lisa Cavallaro to see if you qualify at lcavallaro@cdch.com.au, phone 5479 1000 or visit Castlemaine Community Health website for further information.

The Youth Mentoring Program matches trained adult mentors with a young person (aged 12 to 24 years) in need of additional adult support and friendship. Mentors contribute to a young person's self-esteem and resilience to overcome challenges in his or her life. This can be done either within the school setting or outside school doing a variety of fun and interesting activities together.

This program is a partnership between Castlemaine Secondary College, Castlemaine District Community Health, and Mount Alexander Shire and is funded by the Victorian Government's Engage! Program.

If you are interested in being a mentor now or in the future, or want to find out more, contact Castlemaine District Community Health on (03) 5479 100 or via email email@cdch.com.au. Download a copy of the Mount Alexander Youth Mentoring Program flyer.

Kids Helpline - Kids Helpline is Australia's only free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25. Call 1800 55 1800.

headspace - is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds, along with assistance in promoting young peoples’ wellbeing. This covers four core areas: mental health, physical health, work and study support and alcohol and other drug services. Information and services for young people, their families and friends as well as health professionals can be accessed through this website, headspace centres, online counselling service eheadspace, the Digital Work and Study Service and postvention suicide support program headspace School Support.

ReachOut.com - From everyday troubles through to really tough times, take the first step with ReachOut.com, Australia's leading online youth mental health service.

Cybersmart - Website designed to help children and whole families find out how to be cybersmart and use the Internet safely.

Love: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - A guide for young women on love, respect and abuse in dating relationships.

Employment and training

CVGT - A trusted provider of high quality employment, recruitment, training and apprenticeship services.

Jobsearch - Government run job database. Find jobs, post your resume, receive daily job match e-mails. Free recruitment services for employers and agencies.

Careerone - Find the job that's right for you. Use CareerOne's resources to create a killer resume, search for jobs, prepare for interviews, and launch your career.

Seek - Search or browse jobs across Australia.

Centrelink - Information on the social security payments and services which Centrelink delivers to the Australian public.

Fair Work Australia - An information gateway to information and advice about Australia's workplace rights and rules, including awards and national employment standards.

FReeZA
The Push
Youth Central
Office for Youth
The Source
Youth Affairs Council of Victoria
XtremeInc. Youth Projects