Supporting Our Community to Bridge the Digital Divide
Have you been wondering what we’ve been up to with our Be Connected Program? Since November we’ve been training community members and high school students to become Digital Mentors!
Through our Community and Intergenerational Digital Exchange program we trained 24 community members and 60 high school students to become Digital Mentors and they have gone on to support people over 50 in their community or family to build important digital skills.
Through our Community and Intergenerational Digital Exchange program we trained 24 community members and 60 high school students to become Digital Mentors and they have gone on to support people over 50 in their community or family to build important digital skills.
In total, our Mentors invested 133 hours of their time training and supporting 82 community members, bringing digital literacy learning and support safely into the community. We recently celebrated with an awards event acknowledging their positive work and involvement helping others and making a big difference in our community. We're very proud of our mentors and we've had a blast working with them! This program was made possible through funding support from the Good Things Foundation as part of the Australian Government Be Connected Program.
If you or a high school you know of would like to get involved in future rounds of the program express your interest by contacting Grace at programs@theplacecharlestown.org.au or on (02) 4032 5500.
Read more about this program in our Newcastle Weekly article here
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We’re thrilled to welcome Tantrum Youth Arts as the newest tenants at The Place! In their 50th year, Tantrum have returned to Charlestown, where the company ran its first weekly program and we couldn’t be happier to have them joining us! As a not-for-profit co-operative and registered charity Tantrum invests deeply in young artists, providing creative and performance opportunities for children and young adults. Through their youth-led drama workshops, Tantrum train young people aged 8-17 in theatre and performance making, and debut original theatre shows throughout the year. Their award-winning disability arts program for young adults, Accelerate Ensemble , is recognised for building community and empowering its participants to make bold theatre. Tantrum also supports early career artists aged 18+, in all disciplines, to deepen their arts practices and business savvy skills, to build a sustainable career in the Hunter. Tantrum’s weekly after-school workshops return in February (held in Rathmines and Hamilton) along with Accelerate Ensemble (held at City Hall Newcastle). It’s a pleasure to have Tantrum Youth Arts at The place, we’re enjoying getting to know your awesome staff and look forward to working together! Find out more about Tantrum and sign up for a free trial via the Tantrum website HERE
As we reach the end of another year, I want to take a moment to reflect on all that we have achieved together. 2025 has been a year of connection, resilience, and community spirit at The Place Charlestown Community Centre. Whether you participated in a program, volunteered your time, partnered with us, or simply walked through our doors with a smile, your contribution has helped make our Centre a welcoming and vibrant space for all. This year has also highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by many in our community. Cost-of-living pressures, social isolation, and complex life circumstances continue to impact people in different ways. Yet, despite these realities, we have witnessed incredible compassion, generosity, and strength from individuals and groups across our community. As we enter the festive season, I encourage everyone to take the time to “fill your cup”, to rest, recharge, and spend time with those who lift you up. It’s important to look after ourselves so that we can continue to support others. At the same time, Christmas can be a difficult period for many. There are those who may be grieving, feeling lonely, or facing financial or emotional hardship. Let’s keep these community members in our thoughts and extend kindness wherever we can. A small gesture, a smile, a conversation, a check-in, a helping hand, can make a far bigger difference than we realise. Thank you for being part of our community this year. Your presence enriches The Place and strengthens the fabric of connection we are proud to foster. We look forward to sharing a new year filled with possibility, hope, and continued collaboration. Wishing you a safe, peaceful, and meaningful holiday season. Cristelle and the team at The Place
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