Great Mates Transforming Young Lives

The Place Charlestown Community Centre is a not-for-profit community facility that is all about connecting community, celebrating diversity and creating opportunities for people living in and around Lake Macquarie.

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Established in 2010, The Place welcomes and supports a diverse community to meet, connect, belong and grow - providing a wide range of programs and services for the whole community.

Along with providing services like their free book exchange and a Kindness Cupboard for those in need, The Place offers programs like Charlestown Square Tuesday Club (a social group for senior ladies), Be Connected digital literacy training and Made @The Place, an arts program for young people. One of their newer and incredibly successful programs is Great

Mates – Young Men Empowered, which has been running since the beginning of 2023. Thanks to generous funding from the NSW Government the initiative was developed in response to community need.

After running confidence and emotional wellbeing programs for young girls The Place received significant feedback from local parents, carers and schools who were crying out for a program for young men. When the opportunity for funding for youth programs in Lake Macquarie came about, The Place was excited to develop a life skills and social program for local young men with Well Education.

Cristelle Govender, Centre Manager at The Place, believes that empowering community members and creating opportunities for belonging and connection, is critical, especially for the future of our young people.

“IN ORDER TO EMPOWER AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, WE MUST LISTEN TO THEIR NEEDS."

"Our community strongly expressed a need for opportunities for young men to not only connect in a safe space outside of school but to be supported in developing confidence, self esteem, positive experiences and relationships."

Great Mates offers participants aged 12-16 eight weeks of engaging activities, held on Thursday afternoons from 4 pm to 6 pm at The Place. Activities range from thrilling reptile shows to exciting indoor hockey games, nerf battles, fitness activities, creative skateboard design and painting sessions. Self-defence courses and more are also on the agenda, ensuring a well-rounded experience for the young participants.

The Place works collaboratively with Well Education, an organisation that provides emotional and well-being education as part of the program. Laura Collison from Well Education facilitates discussions on pivotal topics such as emotional regulation, effective strategies for handling challenging situations, the dynamics of healthy relationships, masculinity and consent. These discussions take place in a supportive and comfortable space, allowing the young men to engage in meaningful conversations while enjoying delicious refreshments.

Due to the funding provided, the program is entirely free for participants. This allows a unique opportunity for young men of all backgrounds to come together, fostering meaningful friendships while accessing crucial information and support to build confidence, self-worth, resilience and essential life skills.

Youth Programs Coordinator Rhys is proud of the program and the young men who have already been through it.

“Throughout the program we've witnessed the blossoming of strong friendships, remarkable moments of reflection, and quite often a display of maturity beyond their years,” said Rhys.

“I’ve particularly enjoyed the laughter-filled teamwork challenges like constructing marshmallow and pasta towers and engaging in competitive indoor hockey. The excitement has been palpable, with the boys eagerly returning, brimming with anticipation for what awaits them.”

Through facilitated thought-provoking discussions participants have shared their personal journeys, navigating the pressures and expectations placed upon them as young men, and have discovered healthy coping mechanisms to overcome adversities. At the end of the day, it’s a safe and accepting space, a place to connect, have fun and make friends. Great Mates has achieved remarkable results. Participants have reported improved self-awareness, enhanced emotional management skills, and a deeper understanding of their own emotions.

Parental feedback has been extremely positive, with one parent saying it was “an excellent program for young boys as they transition to adolescence… My son has developed a more positive attitude, and his self-worth has been very good … he has enjoyed his time and making new friends. Thank you!”.

Participants have commented, “It has taught me important things about life …” “I learned strategies to cope …” “I know more about myself …” and “It has helped me control my emotions …”

There is one more round of the program this year, running from 1 August to 19 September. Registrations are open, and spaces are limited. Contact The Place: Charlestown Community Centre on (02) 4032 5500 or reach out to Rhys via email at youthprograms1@theplacecharlestown.org.au.