Newcastle Youth Week opens with book club milestone celebration

newy.com.au – City of Newcastle will launch its annual Youth Week program by marking the fifth anniversary of Newcastle Libraries’ Young Adult Book Club, with award-winning author Gary Lonesborough to headline a special event celebrating the milestone.

The book club, founded in 2021, meets monthly at Newcastle City Library and draws between 10 and 15 people online and in person for each session. Open to readers of all ages with an interest in Young Adult fiction, it is attended mainly by high school and university students from across Newcastle.

Youth Council Standing Committee member Councillor Paige Johnson said the week was about recognising young people and their place in the city. “City of Newcastle supports young people all year round, from creative programs like the Young Adult Book Club, leadership opportunities with the Youth Council and grant funding for youth-led climate action projects, to the annual program of Youth Week events and activities,” Cr Johnson said. “We’re committed to creating spaces where young Novocastrians feel safe to connect, create and be themselves.”

Club founder and Library Customer Service Officer Danielle Hilliard said the program had become an important space for young people to feel connected and supported. “The club is deliberately relaxed and welcoming, people can talk, listen or just enjoy being there,” Mrs Hilliard said. “What makes it special is the sense of trust and community that’s developed. Seeing friendships form and knowing people have found a safe space where they feel comfortable and included has been incredibly rewarding.”

NSW Youth Week 2026 runs from 16 to 26 April under the theme Dream, Dare, Do. Newcastle’s program, backed by a grant from the NSW Office of Youth, will continue with the Future Makers event at Newcastle Museum on 17 April, featuring youth-led live music, creative workshops, skateboard demonstrations and collaborative activities.

Performers Rose White, Evan Worgan and Filthy E and the Clean Teens are scheduled to appear, while activities will include badge-making, blackout poetry, origami, upcycled fashion and a collaborative art installation led by local artist Ken O’Regan for display at Wallsend Library. The program will also include a creative writing workshop, Surviving Dystopia, inspired by the museum’s Model Newcastle exhibition, and a Switch gaming workshop.

Director Museum Archive Libraries and Learning Julie Baird said the Youth Week program reflected the city’s focus on access, participation and youth-led cultural spaces. “Youth Week allows us to deliver free activities, workshops and performances developed in collaboration with young people,” Ms Baird said. “By activating places like libraries and Newcastle Museum, we’re creating welcoming cultural spaces that support youth creativity, connection and wellbeing, while highlighting the diversity and innovation of youth culture in Newcastle.”

The program will conclude with a free skate competition at Wallsend Park on 25 April, featuring divisions for girls, young entrants and non-binary skaters, with workshops from Grundy’s Skate Store and $2000 in prizes through a partnership with Globe. City of Newcastle will also offer nine free cycling and creative workshops for school-aged young people from 14 to 19 April, covering bike maintenance, city riding skills and art sessions led by Yvette Ten-Bohmer, Jane Lander and Aksara Harriram.