Upcoming Community & Youth Events/ Activities
Crown of the Kart with The Shire of Ashburton at the Youth Centre.
Past Events
School Holiday Programs 2026
Jilya Tharndu Youth Week – Youth Chella May 2026
Our recent Youth-Chella event was a fantastic success, welcoming young people for an evening filed with fun, creativity and connection. The event transformed our Youth Centre into a vibrant space featuring a silent disco, graffiti wall, craft station, music and so much more. A huge thank you to the Shire of Ashburton for collaborating to help make the event possible. Youth-chella was wonderful opportunity for local young people to socialise in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. We thank everyone who attended the evening to make it such a memorable success.
Girls in Charge Program March 2026
Girls In Charge 2026 was an undeniable success, delivering meaningful outcomes for participants and demonstrating strong value for the funding invested by the Department of Communities. The program created a structured, supportive, and empowering environment for young women who often face significant pressures in their daily lives and who can struggle to navigate the barriers in the world around them. The funding enabled GMCYSS to deliver a program that was not only educational, but also extremely meaningful for the participants. From an organisational perspective, the investment was exceptionally well spent. It allowed the development of a program that addressed important areas that are not often spoken about openly in other arenas. The program’s design, which was practical, using experiential learning techniques, rather than lecture style, proved to be popular with the group and the outcomes reflected the effectiveness of this style of program delivery.
December 2025 – Carols By Glowlight
Carols By Glowlight 2025 was very different compared to previous years with the weather against our plans for this Annual Community Event. Everything was moved indoors in response to the storm that was approaching and with the towns Christmas spirit and commitment from all the services involved, Carols went ahead and it was definitely a night to remember!
Our staff at GMCYSS enjoy working with the services involved ever year but specifically a special thank you to the Shire of Ashburton, Combined Tom Price Baptist Church, Nintirri Arts Hub, Pilbara Bruthas and Rio Tinto.
October 2025 – Halloween
Spooky Season did not disappoint! On Friday 31st October 2025, Garduwarra Mia’s Youth Centre was transformed into a Halloween walk through with unexpected corners of frights and scares! This year GMCYSS aimed to create a ‘spook-tacular’ experience for all community members to enjoy and participate in. With positive feedback and screams of joy, we look forward to 2026 and the exciting plans we have forming!
June 2025 – Pride Month
We were so lucky to welcome Barbie Q and Dean Misdale and friends to our centre for a night of Karaoke and fun. Our Karaoke with Drag Queens event was a hit. Thanks to Barbie Q, Dean Misdale and the Shire of Ashburton. This Pride month, we’re reminded that every voice matters, every identity shines and every person belongs. Here’s to love, laughter and lifting each other up.
May 2025 – Razzy Mak joined us for a song writing and reels session at the Tom Price Youth Centre as a part of our Reconciliation Week 2025 celebration.
Razzy Mak showed the group a well structured process to create a song from concept to recording.
The youth were happy to get involved in recording and we think we may have found some future rap talent amongst the group. We can’t wait to see the final product that will include Paraburdoo’s input as well.
April/May 2025 Jilya Tharndu Youth Week
This year’s Jilya Tharndu Carnival was a little different. From consultation with youth delegates, we listened and heard that teenagers in this region felt that community events tended to cater for little children rather than their age group.
We partnered with the Shire of Ashburton and Tom Price Senior High School this year to deliver a Jilya Tharndu Carnival for high school students.
With funding from RDA Pilbara through the West Pilbara Communities for Children grant, we were able to support delivery of most of the requests from the teens. This included; food eating competitions, pie throwing (at very brave teachers – thank you Mr Bravington and Mr Daniels), silent disco, 360 photo booth, carnival games like ring toss and balloon darts, basketball shoot out comp, and others.
Thanks to the Shire of Ashburton and the GMCYSS team as well as support from friends and TPSHS for putting on a wonderful day.
December 2024 – Carols by Glow Light
The community of Tom Price and surrounds joined Garduwarra Mia Community and Youth Support Services (GMCYSS), Shire of Ashburton, combined Tom Price Baptist Church, the office of Peter Foster MLC, Rio Tinto and other service providers to deliver a family friendly community event in the lead up to Christmas.
In such isolated towns, so many families travel during this time. It is great to see everyone show up and celebrate together with such highlights as Santa, Benny’s caroling and presents for children. This event always draws a crowd. GMCYSS delivered a free sausage sizzle and drinks, electric candles, glow sticks, presents for different age groups of youth and staff for delivery.
February 2025 – Community event
In February of 2025, GMCYSS held a community event to celebrate our new name. This was a family event with stalls, food, activities and collaboration with local service providers.
Head Space were kind enough to send some team members across from Newman to support Danielle with the smoothie bike station promoting physical activity and healthy eating as well as services.
Cherry on Top ice cream van was there also, serving up well earned sweet treats in the heat.
October 2024
Our renaming luncheon was held at the youth centre end of the Garduwarra Mia Community and Youth Support Services Inc building at the end of October. This was a great opportunity to share the name Garduwarra Mia and its meaning in Banjima language; “house of help”, or “healing house”.
The event was attended by many Elders and families locally, as well as representatives of many organisations and our partners and sponsors.
July 2024 – NAIDOC Celebrations
Held across the country from 7-14 July 2024, NAIDOC Week will celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s theme chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee, is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.
The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Garduwarra Mia along with the collaborative efforts of other local stakeholders help organise community events each year celebrating Frist Nations cultures.
June 2024 – PRIDE
Here at Garduwarra Mia, Everyone is welcome.
Each year, more specifically with our Youth Centre, we celebrate Pride Month with a range of fun and engaging activities that our staff plan throughout the month of June. These include creative crafts, games and competitions, food workshops and a great big party to close at the end of the month.
Keep an eye or ear out for more news as we get closer to June!