Youth Mentoring at TCC

🎉 A Year of Flourishing Futures: Celebrating Our Youth Mentoring Program at Thurgoona Community Centre!
What a truly remarkable year it has been at the Thurgoona Community Centre, thanks to the incredible energy and talent brought by our Youth Mentoring Program! This initiative has not only supported the development of some amazing young people but has also enriched the very fabric of our community.
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A Spectrum of Success
The year kicked off with a wonderful start, welcoming a Year Nine student who was studying Event Management. They provided significant assistance in the coordination of our memorable Shake it up for Parkinson’s Event. It was fantastic to see their classroom learning applied in a real-world community setting.
Next, we were thrilled to host five medicine students from Charles Sturt University (CSU). These future medical professionals wholeheartedly engaged with many of our programs. Their goal was to observe the profound impact of non-medical treatments—such as social engagement, connection, and activity—on people’s overall well-being. This provided a crucial, holistic view of community health.
Pictured here is Chloe actively talking with Eric during the Golden Oldies Chat in Copper Group, a perfect example of the intergenerational sharing that blossomed.

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Building Skills and Knowledge
We then welcomed two VET students from Albury TAFE studying Community Services in Year 11. They delivered an outstanding two-week placement, during which they developed compelling information outlining the benefits of interactive play in our Playgroup. Their participation in various centre programs was invaluable and helped them significantly with their course assessments.
We are excited about developing our relationship with Albury TAFE and look forward to supporting their VET students with work placements again in 2026.
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Diligent Final Placements
The year concluded with two outstanding Community Service students completing their extensive 210 hours of work placement: Anjila, a VET student from Nepal, and Sarah from Wodonga TAFE.
These diligent students worked across many of our programs, but their most significant contribution was:
• Significantly improving our online resources for students doing work placement (to be completed in 2026).
• Furthering our Work Health and Safety (WHS) compliance matters, including the installation of our new Work Health Safety board.

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A Student’s Perspective: Loneliness and the Power of Connection
In a generous move, Chloe from CSU has given us permission to share an excerpt from the assessment she wrote for her medical course. Her insights beautifully articulate the vital role community connection plays in health and wellbeing, validating the work we do every day.
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An Excerpt from Chloe Dearden, CSU School of Rural Medicine Student
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‘Loneliness kills…’; a phrase not untrue that unfortunately is often posted without any tangible method to counteract its morbid self… Loneliness is not just an uncomfortable pitt in one’s stomach that disappears after coffee with a friend, it is a health risk factor that “renders people more sensitive to pain, suppresses our immune system, diminishes brain function and disrupts sleep.” It is thus plain to see that measures to prevent or counteract loneliness and social isolation must be of the greatest importance, but where can we go and what can we do to find them?
A solution to sitting at home, wishing the days away, is seen exemplified in the efforts of the Thurgoona Community Centre (TCC), a thriving hub for social connection and emotional support located in a beautiful Albury suburb. Truly embodying its motto ‘UNITY through CommUNITY’, the TCC brings together people of all ages, from all walks of life, with resounding success. As a student, I felt immensely privileged to be able to partake in a wide variety of the centre’s services and activities… Headed by a brilliant coordinator and supported by numerous volunteers, the TCC epitomises the power of connection through community as an invaluable warrior against modern loneliness.
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(View the full assessment here ‘Unity Through Community’ Social Support Essay Chloe Dearden)
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The Heart of Community
Having these young people in our centre has contributed significantly to intergenerational sharing and mutual understanding. We view this service to our young people as sharing in all that can be learned from working in an environment where volunteering is the heart of the community.
This mutual support strengthens friendship, resilience, and provides peace of mind for those who may lack connection. The result is a community that is stronger, healthier, and wiser.
We are incredibly grateful for every young person who contributed significantly to the life of the Centre this year, and we wish them great success in their future endeavours!
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Acknowledgements
We extend our sincere gratitude for the dedicated mentoring support provided by our staff member, Kathleen.
This annual funding that makes the Youth Mentoring Program possible is provided through the Financial Assistance Program Grant through AlburyCity. We are deeply thankful for their continuing support of our community initiatives.