6 July 2022

Winter holiday programs provides youth the opportunity to connect and socialise

| Shri Gayathirie Rajen
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Young people painting

Young people can try their hand at a diverse range of activities through the state government’s Holiday Break program. Photo: NSW Government.

NSW Government’s $10 million Holiday Break program provides young people with opportunities to connect, socialise, and have fun during the school holidays.

The holiday initiative has a range of free and subsidised activities, including various workshops, programs and trips over the winter break.

Youth in Cootamundra and Gundagai will get the chance to take a trip to the snow and learn how to ski and snowboard while Coolamon youth will get to try their hand at a NAIDOC painting workshop.

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Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the holiday program provided opportunities for young people to learn new skills, meet people and have fun at the same time.

“The program empowers young people to come together, step out of their comfort zone and do activities they might otherwise not have ever dreamed of doing before,” Ms Cooke said.

Minister for Regional Youth and the Arts Ben Franklin said young people could enjoy a diverse range of activities through the program.

“We have a vibrant youth arts sector in NSW that covers many forms, which is reflected in the wonderful array of workshops that will be on offer for young people during the winter school holidays,” Mr Franklin said.

The break program also supports 34 leading arts, screen and cultural organisations as part of the State Government’s commitment to making arts more accessible to young people.

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“We are investing in our innovative arts, screen and cultural organisations and making their ambitions a reality while improving access to high-quality and diverse experiences for children and young people,” Mr Franklin said.

“These inspiring sessions provide an important opportunity for young people to find their passion, develop new skills from professional artists and explore exciting forms of self-expression and collaboration.”

Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said the program also offered several free sports and recreation activities to help keep kids active during the break.

“These school holidays there are 16 camps across regional NSW that include meals and activities such as archery, BMX, orienteering, problem-solving skills and more,” he said.

“Holiday break camps are a fantastic opportunity for regional youth to challenge themselves and learn new skills. I encourage all parents to register their kids now and give them an experience they will never forget.”

The Office for Regional Youth funds the program for young people in the regions. Click here for more information on the program.

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