History and Background
Understanding the Issue
In Tasmania, Aboriginal people often live in dispersed communities interwoven with the broader population. Many choose not to affiliate with specific groups or organisations, blending into the broader society while still facing national-level challenges such as education, health, employment, overcrowded living conditions, and institutionalised racism. This creates an "invisible" community that continues to experience significant disadvantages.
This issue is particularly relevant in the Brighton community, where many children and young people face systemic barriers that hinder their social and economic well-being. Below, we explore our local context and the findings that have led to the development of the Bridgewater Youth Hub.
The local context
The Brighton Community
Brighton is a thriving, diverse and vibrant community, full of resilient, resourceful and inspiring people. 11.6% of residents, identify as Aboriginal, which is more than double Tasmania's average of 5.4% (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021). There is a deep connectedness and pride among residents who chose to make this place their home. It is this pride and connectedness that supports and enables the right conditions for place-based work to flourish. Whilst we hold the strengths of this community at the heart of our work, we must also acknowledge the statistical disadvantage surrounding our region.
Brighton Municipality, 20 kilometres northeast of Hobart, and encompasses the suburbs of Bridgewater, Gagebrook, and Herdsman’s Cove, Brighton and Old Beach. With a population of over 20,000, Brighton is a gateway for people passing through the southern midlands to Hoabrt.
The municipality faces challenges such as multi-generational unemployment and low school retention rates, with 37.7% of residents having no qualifications beyond Year 10 (Brighton 2050 Vision, O’Hara & Arnold, 2021). Social housing comprises 14.1% of local housing, reflecting the need for targeted, community-driven support. Brighton’s Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA), indicates the highest level of socio-economic disadvantage in Southern Tasmania with Brighton recording a SEIFA score of 885. As a comparison, Mt Druitt in Western Sydney sits at 888.
The region also has a younger age profile than the rest of Tasmania, with a median age of 34.3 years compared to the state median of 42.2 years 2021.
Place and asset based
Brighton Council and TALS have been working together with a growing coalition of community members and service providers dedicated to working with and supporting young people in the Community. This work is built upon solid historical foundations listening to community voice and activating community potential through Asset Based Community Development that is over 25 years in the making.
In 2022 A key partnership developed between Brighton Council and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service (TALS), formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Youth Hub. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating a safe, inclusive space for all young people—both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal—ensuring they have access to culturally responsive support, services, and opportunities. Co-located within Brighton Council’s growing community team, the TALS Youth Hub Project Officer plays a pivotal role in this collaboration, helping to shape a youth-driven space that meets the diverse needs of Brighton’s young people.
Closing the Gap
Over various studies, community consultations, working groups identifying the challenges facing Brighton’s youth. A recurring and powerful story from our community has been the importance of establishing a dedicated youth hub that provides wraparound services to address the social, emotional, and educational needs of our young people in a culturally safe and responsive manner. As a community, we are closer than ever in creating this much needed safe place. The creation of the Bridgewater Youth Hub will play an incredibly important role in working towards Closing the Gap by directing young people away from the criminal justice system.