Blog Archives
(YCC) Youth Centre
Teenagers often feel invisible in their communities — unheard and disconnected. The Youth Community Centre is a dedicated space where young people can actually come together, with games, a cafe and community activities on offer. The whole point is to give teens somewhere they genuinely want to be, rather than somewhere they’re just tolerated.
They’re working with council to build a prototype of what the centre could look like, starting with activities young people actually enjoy and using that to show what’s possible.
Sun Transport
Trains are already one of the more sustainable ways to get around, but most still rely on overhead power lines that are expensive and visually intrusive. Switching to solar power removes the lines, cuts reliance on the grid and makes public transport genuinely cleaner from end to end.
They’re putting together a group that visits local primary schools to teach kids about solar power, and hoping to partner with industry to bring along actual solar tech to show off in person.
Trash & Treasure Swap
Fast fashion generates a huge amount of waste, and most people have clothes sitting in their wardrobe that someone else could be wearing. This recurring event gives people a chance to swap what they no longer want, with anything left over going straight to charity so nothing ends up in the bin.
They’re running a pilot at school and bringing in a partner like Vinnies to collect any clothes that don’t get swapped on the day.
Jack in a Box
Most people want to learn new things but don’t know where to start. Every month, subscribers receive a box focused on one skill, whether that’s a life skill, a job-related skill or just something fun, with two to three hours a week of activities to work through. The box also lists the kinds of jobs that skill applies to, with a QR code linking to more information.
They’re creating ten prototype boxes to hand out to Year 7s at school, using it as a chance to test the concept and see whether there’s genuine interest before scaling up.
Carp Cleanup
Plastic and rubbish in our oceans is one of the most visible and damaging environmental problems we face. Bob is an AI fish robot that swims through the ocean detecting and collecting rubbish and plastic, working quietly and continuously to clean up the damage that’s already been done.
They’re organising a local clean-up day, recruiting people from school and their wider networks. Local businesses will be asked to display a poster with a QR code to help promote it and get more people involved.
Connecting Cultures
There’s so much richness in the different cultures that make up a community, but people rarely get the chance to actually experience it together. This event brings people into the same space to try new foods, learn cultural dances, share talents and celebrate what makes everyone different, wrapping up with a fireworks show at 7:30pm.
They’re starting with a potluck at school to lower the barrier to exploring new cultures, and plan to bring in local grocery stores to help offset the cost of the meals.
Happy Heals Headband & Sneakers
Music has a real impact on motivation and performance, and this product leans into that. A headband and sneakers backed by neuroscience that creates positive binaural sounds while you run, keeping you in the zone. Designed to launch alongside a range of run clubs to build a community around the experience.
They’re creating a Park Run at their school with a challenge element, like a distance goal, and engaging local businesses to sponsor it so participants get a proper t-shirt to remember it by.
Magic Tiles
Every day, thousands of people walk through shopping centres without that energy going anywhere. These magic tiles capture the electricity generated by footsteps in high-traffic spaces like Stockland or Highpoint and put it to use, turning everyday movement into a clean energy source.
They’re running an annual step competition in partnership with a local sports retailer like Rebel Sport, where groups sign up and try to hit a step target. Local businesses will then donate the energy cost equivalent of the steps taken by all participants.
Her Mobile
Phones are designed with everyone in mind, which often means they’re designed with no one specific in mind. This campaign petitions a major phone maker to create a phone built around the needs of women, including dedicated space for sanitary products and other everyday essentials that currently get overlooked.
They’re partnering with local sports clubs, council and industry to place free female sanitary products at prominent locations where young people spend time, starting with sporting clubs.
Project Visishare
Not every young person gets access to the same educational experiences, and distance or circumstance can make that gap feel impossible to close. This project sends a VR headset to disadvantaged young people so they can connect to AI drone cameras and experience being part of a MSRC classroom and team, no matter where they are.
They’re partnering with other Victorian schools to run a school swap program, where students spend a day at a school from a different district to build inclusivity and strengthen community connections.
