The Drum Yarra

the drum Yarra is thankful for the ongoing support from Yarra city council to help us offer services for young people (aged 12-25 yrs) who live, work, study and play in Richmond and Collingwood. We run several programs across city of Yarra, including Richmond Girls Club, Richmond Mix, Collingwood Youth Drop-In, RYMS and school holiday activities.

We’re grateful to have recently been awarded the Collingwood and Richmond Youth Grant 2020-2023 enabling us to continue and grow our work alongside young people on the Collingwood and Richmond Estates for the next 3 years. Thank you to the local community, City of Yarra and our other funders and partners for believing in our work!


Who helps run the drum Yarra?

Meet Ria!
Youth Development Practitioner (she/they)

Ria has been working alongside young people since she was a young and somewhat confused person herself! She started working as a youth facilitator when she was 17 and learned a lot about what it means to listen to and work with young people of all identities. She has prioritised supporting young POC and has worked with development agencies based in India to promote sexual health and autonomy. They now co-run a Naarm-based non-profit that focusses on engaging young people in social change through local arts and music, and also loves to DJ at events in Naarm. She brings her passion for community engagement, creativity and youth empowerment to her role as Youth Development Practitioner on the drum’s Drop-In programs in Collingwood and Richmond.

 

Meet Faly!
Peer Leader (he/him)

Faly is our Peer Leader who works on our Collingwood Drop In and Richmond Mix programs. He is passionate about uplifting young people and building community. He recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in International Development as he has plans to go home to Madagascar to run locally based projects, however his focus is currently dedicated towards empowering young people in Naarm. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to music, playing sport and socialising with friends and family.

 

Meet Akolda!
Peer Leader (he/him)

Akolda is one of our Peer Leaders at the drum Yarra who brings a passion for music, art and connecting with young people through shared experiences through his work. Akolda holds a Diploma in Community Services and takes a leading role at our Collingwood Youth Drop-In, The Venny Boys Group and RYMS programs.

 

 

Meet Christobel!
Youth Development Practitioner (she/they)

Christobel is the Youth Development Practitioner for the drum Yarra team – she supports our Richmond Mix programs and is the lead for RYMS (Real Youth Music Studios). She also works with our friends FLN Youth (Fitzroy Learning Network Youth) on their Youth Sewing Program. She studies psychology at uni and is super interested in how music and creative practices benefits our wellbeing.

 

 


How Can I get Involved?

 

For organisations wanting to reach out to support the drum Yarra please contact Ayub at ayub.abdi-barre@ds.org.au or 0436 820 805

If you’re a parent or guardian wanting to find out how to get your children involved please email youthservices@ds.org.au and/or connect with us through Facebook and Instagram.

 


Live Wires

LiveWires is a much loved after school and holiday program activity for primary school aged children on the Collingwood Housing Estate. It has been supporting and engaging children for 15 years, with Drummond Street taking on the responsibilities since 2020. 

Live Wires is a community development program. It seeks to build resilience, foster creativity, and enhance learning for Collingwood’s children. Live Wires provides healthy meals, creative and expressive outlets, recreational and sports activities, play-based approaches to numeracy and literacy, and peer leadership programs.

Drummond street and the drum youth service are excited to continue to support children by providing them with opportunities to regulate their emotions, feel safe and create avenues for improved trust.

The After-School Program runs on Wednesday and Thursday from Afterschool to 5:30pm.

Wednesdays @ the Collingwood Neighbourhood House, 253 Hoddle St.

Thursdays @ the YouthSpace, 253 Hoddle St.

You can learn more about Live Wires here.

To register a child for the Live Wires program you can contact :

Eva on 0478 834 490 or 9663 6733

 


Meet the Team!

The following people help run and facilitate the Live Wires program:

 

Eva (she/her)
Live Wires Practitioner – Wednesdays and Thursdays

Eva is passionate about working with young people in the community space. She loves celebrating strengths and learning new things. Eva has worked with children and young people for over 10 years. She also has experience working in disability services, and at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Eva began co-ordinating the LiveWires afterschool program in 2022 and is excited to use her Social Work degree to continue building on respectful skills, communication, and community connection.

 

Ewinia (she/her)
Live Wires Practitioner – Wednesdays

Ewinia has been working at Drummond Street for 8 years. In this time, she has worked closely with pre-school children, primary school children, the elderly, and families. She has been volunteering in the Collingwood area for over 10 years. Ewinia studied Community Services 4 years ago and this qualification has helped to develop her knowledge and skills to better work with her community. Ewinia uses her Mandarin, Cantonese, Indo and English language skills, alongside her deep community understanding, to help bridge social gaps and ensure everyone feels supported.

 

Fakiha (Kiha) (she/her)
Live Wires Peer Support – Thursdays

Kiha is a proud member of the Ethiopian community in Collingwood. Kiha volunteered work with Food Security Org. distributing relief meals during COVID-19. She is currently studying nursing – once graduated, Kiha aims to aid her community by acting as a kind and welcoming support person when receiving health and welling support. She loves to be part of celebrations and activities to support social connection and celebrate cultural heritage for everyone.

 

Tom (he/him)
Live Wires Peer Support – Thursdays

Tom is a qualified childcare worker and has been working in childcare for 7 years. Tom has been working in the community for a long time! He has worked at Connie Benn under the Fitzroy flats and at Gold St Child Care just up the road in Collingwood. Tom loves working with young people, and he is excited for new experiences and to expand his skills now working with the LiveWires kids!

 

Shiv (she/ her)
Live Wires Peer Support – Wednesday and Thursdays

Shiv has graduated Youth Work and loves to be part of the community here. She has been working as a part of the Live Wires team for six months and has a focus on developing a sense of belonging, participation, strength-based practice and fostering an inclusive environment.

 


 

Placement students

We also welcome placement students to support our team, develop their skills and gain experience. Students from programs such as: Youth Work, Social Work, Community service, Psychology, Art Therapy, and Case Management. They are enthusiastic about connecting with community and having fun with the kids! These students are a valuable addition to our team as they bring a fresh perspective, each have their own history and cultural understandings, and are very excited to learn.

Richmond Mix

The Richmond Mix program is a fun, safe and creative space for all young people aged 8-18. This program runs weekly on Tuesdays. The team provides well-being check-ins and various supports to all attendees.

Contact 03 96636733 or email enquiries@ds.org.au


Who helps run the Richmond Mix?

Meet Ria!
Youth Development Practitioner (she/they)

Ria has been working alongside young people since she was a young and somewhat confused person herself! She started working as a youth facilitator when she was 17 and learned a lot about what it means to listen to and work with young people of all identities. She has prioritised supporting young POC and has worked with development agencies based in India to promote sexual health and autonomy. They now co-run a Naarm-based non-profit that focusses on engaging young people in social change through local arts and music, and also loves to DJ at events in Naarm. She brings her passion for community engagement, creativity and youth empowerment to her role as Youth Development Practitioner on the drum’s Drop-In programs in Collingwood and Richmond.

 

Meet Faly!
Peer Leader (he/him)

Faly is our Peer Leader who works on our Collingwood Drop In and Richmond Mix programs. He is passionate about uplifting young people and building community. He recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in International Development as he has plans to go home to Madagascar to run locally based projects, however his focus is currently dedicated towards empowering young people in Naarm. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to music, playing sport and socialising with friends and family.

 

Richmond Girls Club

Richmond Girls Club

Richmond Girls is an empowering, fun, and engaging program based on activities such as cooking, arts and crafts, games, dance, and so much more. Underground Women’s is for female-identifying young people aged between 8-18 who live, work, or play in the City of Yarra.

Contact 03 96636733 or email enquiries@ds.org.au

RYMS
(Real Youth Music Studios)

RYMS (Real Youth Music Studios) is a music and dance program for young people aged 8-13 from Collingwood and Fitzroy. At RYMS, you’ll learn how to write, record and perform your own music with the help from mentors. You will also be connected into performance opportunities. Beginners are welcome.

RYMS is fully supervised by the drum Youth Services and is funded by the City of Yarra and Bendigo Bank.

Contact 03 96636733 or email enquiries@ds.org.au


Who leads this program?

Collingwood Youth Drop-In

Boys Group runs during school terms on Friday Nights, where young people hang out, eat dinner, and have fun! Boys Group is a social and emotional support program for young people over 8 years old. Boys Group seeks to provide young people with positive role models and encourages the expression of feelings and emotions. Dinner and transport from North Melbourne are provided.

Contact 03 96636733 or email enquiries@ds.org.au


Who runs this program?

Meet Ria!
Youth Development Practitioner (she/they)

Ria has been working alongside young people since she was a young and somewhat confused person herself! She started working as a youth facilitator when she was 17 and learned a lot about what it means to listen to and work with young people of all identities. She has prioritised supporting young POC and has worked with development agencies based in India to promote sexual health and autonomy. They now co-run a Naarm-based non-profit that focusses on engaging young people in social change through local arts and music, and also loves to DJ at events in Naarm. She brings her passion for community engagement, creativity and youth empowerment to her role as Youth Development Practitioner on the drum’s Drop-In programs in Collingwood and Richmond.

 

Meet Faly!
Peer Leader (he/him)

Faly is our Peer Leader who works on our Collingwood Drop In and Richmond Mix programs. He is passionate about uplifting young people and building community. He recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in International Development as he has plans to go home to Madagascar to run locally based projects, however his focus is currently dedicated towards empowering young people in Naarm. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to music, playing sport and socialising with friends and family.

 

 

Youth Peer Leader Program

Recently four great young people, including Shan (a Youth Peer Leader) and Sabrina (a Peer Leader), featured in ABC’s launch of ‘Takeover Melbourne’ !
At ABC they met with Lord Mayor Sally Capp to kick off the new initiative that creates a powerful platform for young Melbournians to be heard!

Read more about Takeover Melbourne here!



APPLICATIONS HAVE CLOSED!!!

This role is also studying at the same time (at the end of your 12 month contract, you will have CERT 4 Community services). This is a role for someone who can commit to 4 days a week.

Clink on this link to apply!!

What does the Youth Peer Leader in 2019-2020 mean?

  • This is a new initiative where the successful applicant will be also studying with RMIT (as in no fee’s!) so at the end of their contract, they will have a CERT IV (4) in Community services. This will lead to future opportunities either within Drummond St or at other community organisations
  • You will be working 22hrs per week (2.5 days) in the office.
  • There will also be 1 days study at the RMIT campus
  • To make sure young people engage with our programs, you will be leading the social media accounts for the programs you will be running (with help from co-workers)
  • There will be consultations organised with community and young people. This is to help create programs and events with community input
  • Feedback sessions where you hear from attendee’s on how the programs we run are going
  • Collaborating with other organisations to engage with young people that might be accessing their services

Occasionally there will be requirements to attend training days and networking events (during work hours) where you will be a representative of THE DRUM youth services. This will give our supporters a chance to see the good work we do and who is leading these programs (aka you!)

During your contract, there will be opportunities for professional development (this means handy skills to use whilst in this role and to use in other jobs as well!) and training sessions to help you.

 


Running since 2013 our youth peer leader program (YPL) creates real opportunities for young people to build and utilise their leadership skills & to have influence over their local community.

The YPL program recognises that young folks hold valuable experimental knowledge that is vital to how we design and deliver our services as well as to creating the kind of world they want to exist in.

It also provides tangible leadership and employment pathways for the communities we seek to assertively engage. We are committed to making sure that young folk that who don’t always have the same opportunities as their peers are employed. This includes those:

  • Living in public housing;
  • Who identify as LGBTQI+;
  • From diverse religious, cultural, ethnic and ‘racial’ backgrounds
  • International students.

Exciting changes! We’ve grown!

Initially the Youth Peer Leader program was funded by the City of Melbourne for our Youth Services. This meant that young people need to demonstrate that they live, who live, work or have a strong connection to Carlton and Parkville.

From July 2017 we are psyched to deliver this program for young people who live on the Richmond and Collingwood housing estates. We are funded by City of Yarra to do this! Thanks Yarra!


What can you expect?

If you are interested in an YPL position with us you will need to go through our recruitment process. We try to make this as less stressful as possible by creating opportunities for people to volunteer when they are passionate about community but haven’t been involved in ‘formal’ types of community involvement. The application process usually involves a written component and an interview. Our peer leaders & staff are involved in every stage of this so- you will be surrounded by smiling and supportive faces.

If you offered a position, you can expect to work as part of our team for 12 months. We have two YPL every 12 months (October – September). In this time, you will receive some ‘in-house’ training that is designed to build professional skills for working in the community sector. You will be working with our team to then consult with local young people about their aspirations and concerns. This is part of our co-design process, where young people are able to make recommendations on how to respond to what they have heard from their peers. Then you are often involved in the delivery of these activities (planning, budgeting, booking venues and facilitators). You will also be required to come along to organisational meetings as a representative of THE DRUM youth services.


How can I apply?

Our application process opens in September each year and can be viewed hereApplications have closed and will be reaching out to those who have applied in the coming days.

Because applying for a job and especially a dream job like a peer lead, can make folks nervous! We are happy to answer any questions you may have before applying so please message us through youthservices@ds.org.au

 


How can I build a strong application?

We know that young people are often really passionate about their community but might not have gone to uni, had paid work or done volunteer work. To support young folks like this we created volunteering opportunities in our team. Message us to chat more about volunteering with us if you want get a sense of what it’s like to work with the drum.

What are we looking for in potential youth peer leaders?

  • A strong connection to Carlton/Kensington/North Melbourne (live, work, study, play)
  • Passion for your community or social justice?
  • Be a good team player
  • A commitment to being part of our team for 12 months
  • Ideas about issues for young people in the local area
  • Demonstrated involvement in the community
  • Know about LGBTQIA+ issues

And, because you are working with young people, all youth peer leaders need to get a Working with Children Check. We will then complete a Police Check. Applications close 30th September midnight.