Time to read:
On Tuesday 25 February, Aimee and Cate from the headspace Grafton Work and Study (WaS) team attended the TAFE NSW Connects Day in Yamba, a collaborative event designed to bring together employers, service providers, educators, and community organisations from across the region.
The day focused on exploring how services can work together more effectively to support local communities and create better outcomes for young people. Through a series of workshops and discussions, participants identified key community priorities, challenges, aspirations, and workforce needs across the Clarence Valley.
What We Heard
Workshop participants highlighted several key community needs, including:
- Affordable housing
- Opportunities for young people to remain in the region
- Access to healthcare
There was a strong aspiration to keep young people locally educated and employed by strengthening education and employment pathways. Participants also emphasised the importance of building stronger connections between schools, training providers, employers, and community organisations to create meaningful career opportunities close to home.
Some of the major challenges identified included:
- Access to healthcare and workforce shortages
- Rising cost of living pressures
- Limited awareness of local education, training, and employment pathways
The discussions also highlighted significant workforce gaps in healthcare, aged care, trades and construction, and digital literacy skills.
Valuable Conversations and New Opportunities
One of the most valuable aspects of the event was the opportunity to network with attendees throughout the day and during the dedicated 1.5-hour networking session, where headspace Grafton established several promising connections and opportunities.
Looking Ahead
The Connects Day reinforced the value of collaboration in addressing local challenges and creating pathways for young people to thrive within their communities. By bringing together education providers, employers, and community organisations, the event provided a platform for meaningful discussions and practical actions that will help strengthen employment, training, and support opportunities across the region.
We look forward to building on these new connections and continuing to work alongside our community partners to support positive outcomes for young people in Yamba, Harwood, and the wider Clarence Valley.
headspace Grafton is delivered locally by Health Voyage and is part of the national headspace network. headspace Grafton is funded by Healthy North Coast through the North Coast PHN Program.
Date posted:
Last modified: