Live at the Alley, a Youth Advisory Panel and Port Stephens Council event held in Nelson Bay in August 2020, was recognised as a finalist in the connecting communities section of the awards.

Port Stephens, one of five finalists in the category, was the only council area outside of Sydney to receive recognition.

Former Tomaree High School student Beth Phillips was 15 when she first become involved with the YAP and saw the project come to fruition from the drawing board to the final event held at Naked Alley cafe last year.

"It's pretty amazing to see an event you put so much time, energy and passion into recognised on such a big scale," the now 18 year old said.

Live at the Alley was a culmination of 12 months work by the YAP and was a platform for members to share the results of research they undertook which identified that youths were seeking a space on the Tomaree Peninsula to access support and develop a greater sense of belonging in the community.

This research resulted in Port Stephens Council advocating for funding to include a community space for youths in the Tomaree Sports Complex clubhouse redevelopment. The council secured $300,000 from the NSW Clubgrants program for a youth space, which contributed to the total $3.2 million redevelopment cost.

Additionally, YAP members found that connection was a strong theme that arose from their research.

Young people wanted a space to socially connect, to connect with professional support when needed, and have a space with the digital technology to allow them to connect online. These ideas became the basis for the creation of three postcards that explore connection.

YAP members worked with Tomaree Neighbourhood Centre, Port Stephens CDAT, Tomaree Youth Community Action and Real Futures to create an event to better share their research with the wider community, which led to the creation of Write Up Your Alley that was due to be held in March 2020. This was, of course, postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event then became Live at the Alley where YAP members ran a professional live-stream through Port Stephens Council's Facebook page where the postcards were launched, they talked about how important a space in the community for youths is and to raise awareness for youth issues.

James Campbell, Port Stephens Council's community development and engagement officer, said youths who participated in the project enjoyed the opportunity to work in a dynamic team environment and take on leadership roles.

"They drew on their strengths and lived experience, particularly in the digital works, to contribute to a team process," he said.

A new wave of Port Stephens youths have now joined YAP, including Tomaree High School student Phoenix Terkildsen.

The 15 year old is leading the charge to form a supportive group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex youths in Port Stephens.

"Newcastle is the closest place that has LGBTQI support groups for young people. But getting to Newcastle from the Bay when you're a young person is pretty difficult. Having a safe and supportive space here is really important," she said.

Miss Terkildsen is set to hold her first group meet up at Tomaree Library on August 2 from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.