Autumn school holiday program delivers fun and learning

Published on 08 May 2025

Children and young people from across the region were able to access a range of experiences during the April school holidays. Armidale Regional Council delivered events and activities during the holiday break, which included NSW Youth Week 2025.

“We are pleased to create space for extra fun and learning for our region’s children and young people,” said Mayor Sam Coupland.

“The diverse holiday program was designed to be inclusive, engaging, and interesting to children and young people from across the community!”

In partnership with community organisations, council’s community services team coordinated a program of activities for Youth Week that included: an outdoor games program in collaboration with NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS); ‘Armidale Youth Got Talent’ showcase and competition alongside Multicultural Youth Consultative Committee,  Mosaic Multicultural Connections; and ‘Proppa Loud’, a high-energy, all-ages event featuring well-known artists and delivered by Mad Proppa Deadly.

Youth Week was also celebrated at Armidale Library which hosted a ‘Dungeons and Dragons Campaign’ – part of Armidale Regional Libraries’ school holiday program.  The Armidale and Guyra Libraries hosted a full program including craft, Lego free play, virtual reality sessions, Easter bingo, and a Nintendo Switch ‘come and try’ day.

Children visited Armidale Folk Museum during the school holidays – taking the chance to 'Decipher the Past’, searching high and low to find morse code letters hidden around the museum and deciphering a hidden word, or create their own Anzac Day poppies and add them to the museum’s Anzac ‘garden’ ahead of Anzac Day.

As part of council's comprehensive school holiday program, Armidale Mall was transformed into a hub of activity for an Autumn Activation, ‘Something to Talk About: Come and Play’.

This engaging event featured a unique and imaginative children's play space known as ‘Crate City’ - a pop-up creative play space that featured a range of activities, including an Armidale Library Storytime session and Lego Duplo freeplay session. There was badge making with Arts North West, New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM) Mini Minstrels, New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) Art Play, an Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place (ACCKP) Kids Club, and Gubi Gabun Playgroup hosted interactive fun for the little ones!

“Crate City captivated the imaginations of children and parents alike, offering a creative and safe environment for kids to explore, play, and interact. The innovative design of the play space, constructed entirely from crates, provided endless opportunities for fun and adventure,” said Mayor Coupland.

“The autumn activation is part of a larger program intended to increase vibrancy in the mall. It certainly felt vibrant during the recent school holidays!”

Youth Week 2025 activities are delivered thanks to support from the NSW Government Department of Communities and Justice.