Sriya Arcot | 2025 October Living Streets Association's young people were once again invited to serve as the ACT Children's Week Youth Ambassadors for the 2025 Children's Week Award Ceremony. This year, Sriya Arcot and Nicole Jennings fulfilled their role beautifully, impressing ACT Ministers, Children's Week Association members, and community group volunteers in attendance. Children … Continue reading My Experience of being a Children’s Week Youth Amabassador
Inner North Playground Grand Opening
Living Streets Association | 2025 August The Inner North Playground has finally opened! It’s so exciting to see how young people’s active care for their community and willingness to take action have helped create such a great local space. To read about the community’s involvement in the development of this land from 2017 until now, … Continue reading Inner North Playground Grand Opening
Neighbours Celebrate a Festive Christmas in July
Rowan L. | 2025 August On Friday, 5 July, the families of a street came together for a heart-warming Christmas in July celebration that was full of laughter, good food, and festive spirit. With 13 children and 13 adults in attendance, the event was the perfect blend of community connection and holiday cheer. The afternoon … Continue reading Neighbours Celebrate a Festive Christmas in July
The Concept of Giving
Living Streets Association | 2025 May In the ideal community, people use their energy towards helping others and enjoy contributing to creating a sense of belonging, happiness, and well-being in their community. The spirit of reciprocity and sharing can be achieved through the work of community building in urban residential cities. Dr Thomas W. Nielsen … Continue reading The Concept of Giving
Easter Egg Hunt Tradition
Living Streets Association | 2025 April Check out some photos from the Easter Egg Hunt this year! Now that the Easter Bunny's visit has become a yearly tradition, many neighbours look forward to the day they can enjoy a lovely autumn stroll on the street as all the children run around looking for chocolate. To … Continue reading Easter Egg Hunt Tradition
Celebrating community at Watson Day
By Lucy Astolfi | 2025 March On the 30th of March, Living Streets took part in Watson Day, where the community came together to share art, culture, stories, and sausages. Living Streets’ prompt to attendees was to “share a heartwarming story about community that has touched your life.” We encouraged people to write their stories … Continue reading Celebrating community at Watson Day
Watson Community Day- Restoring a sense of security and belonging in the suburb
The WCA hosted a Watson Community Day in April to encourage everyone to build up friendships among neighbours. The event was supported by ACT Housing and the Watson SuperBarn Express, a sausage sizzle was cooked by the Majura Mountain Scouts Group, and ACT Policing officers were in attendance for people to chat with.
We’re recruiting, come and join our community-building projects!
Carmel Richardson- Board President | 2023 Nov The Living Streets Association (LSA) continues its very worthwhile project of engaging local young people in interesting and deeply appreciated community activity. As Board Director I was recently invited to address a youth meeting where planning was underway for the September school holidays. The Youth Leaders worked enthusiastically … Continue reading We’re recruiting, come and join our community-building projects!
International Community Education
Living Streets Association | 2023 July Our Living Streets Youth meeting this month was joined by international students doing an English immersion and Community Education course. Together, everyone would get to know one of the local community groups and this time we chose to volunteer with Lyneham Commons. These young people from diverse backgrounds worked … Continue reading International Community Education
Street Video Game Nights
Living Streets Association | 2023 June Street events like Easter Egg Hunts and Halloween Trick or Treating always see gaggles of children and their parents out having fun and interacting with other neighbours. However, as these children grow older, they start to feel these activities are too childish for them, or they feel a disconnect … Continue reading Street Video Game Nights
Street Easter Egg Hunt
Living Streets Association | 2023 April Living Streets Association ran another successful Easter Bunny visit on Easter Sunday. The Easter Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny has become somewhat a tradition for neighbours of all ages to hang out together on the street to start their Easter Sunday. For the past few years, a new … Continue reading Street Easter Egg Hunt
Summer Holiday Program 2023- The Power of Thoughts, Words and Intentions
Living Streets Association | 2023 January How much power does our thoughts, words and intentions really hold? How much impact can positivity or negativity have on ourselves and others? These were the questions the Living Streets Youth discussed at the December youth meeting. Through heartfelt sharing and listening to one another, we concluded that they … Continue reading Summer Holiday Program 2023- The Power of Thoughts, Words and Intentions
Association for Learning Environments- Kelley Tanner Innovation Award
Living Streets Association | 2022 October The Association for Learning Environments has recognised Living Streets Association's Community Codesign- Bottom-Up Neighbourhood Planning Process by awarding us the Kelley Tanner Innovation Award- Most Valuable Player of 2022. Acknowledged as on of the world's most innovative, we strongly hope this codesign process can be the mitigate to widespread … Continue reading Association for Learning Environments- Kelley Tanner Innovation Award
Educational Significance of Community Consultations
Community consultation is an excellent opportunity for residents of all ages to exchange ideas on an ideal community. These consultations also have an important educational significance.
Children’s Week Youth Ambassadors
Living Streets Association | 2022 October Just a few years ago, Living Streets were the Awardees at the @act_childrens Week ceremony, but this year, we were invited to become their Youth Ambassadors! It was a great honour to host the Children’s Week Launch and Ceremony and have the chance to participate in the behind-the-scenes work. It was … Continue reading Children’s Week Youth Ambassadors
Children and Young People’s Commissioner’s Special Award
Living Streets Association | 2022 August The Living Streets school holiday program was proudly recognised by the Children and Young people commissioner, Jodie Griffiths-Cook with her special Children's Week ACT award last year. We were finally able to meet in person and celebrate together at the Human Rights Commission. Thanks also to the Living Streets … Continue reading Children and Young People’s Commissioner’s Special Award
Spring Street Play Day 2022
“THIS is how consultation should be run, with clear diagrams, models and information, out on a sunny weekend with lots of the community around, and young people involved in these issues!” This sentiment was shared by many passers-by who engaged with the Living Streets Youth at the Community Consultations held at Watson shops over 2 weekends of the April school holidays.
Section 76 Watson: Future Regenerative Community Living
Ian Shih | 2022 July Since early 2016, the government has made many large-scale developments for the new Watson area because of housing needs. In recent years, due to the soaring population, the local infrastructure has faced the pressure of overpopulation, leading to more inconvenience and loss of quality of life becoming more and more … Continue reading Section 76 Watson: Future Regenerative Community Living
Section 76, Watson Documentary
The 4-year-long Section 76 Watson campaign was captured in our documentary. We hoped to convey the spirit of community that developed as a result of coming together to take action.
Community Picnic Day
What a fun day out with the community, while learning about the local ecology and participating in the conversations about important community issues!
Section 76 Campaign- Community Consultations
“THIS is how consultation should be run, with clear diagrams, models and information, out on a sunny weekend with lots of the community around, and young people involved in these issues!” This sentiment was shared by many passers-by who engaged with the Living Streets Youth at the Community Consultations held at Watson shops over 2 weekends of the April school holidays.
Ecology of Section 76
Residents who have lived in Watson for the past decade will know that block 74 (next to Solstice) is where you can stop by and say 'Hi' to the cows grazing along the fence, and block 76 (next to YWAM) used to be where you could spot tens of Kangaroos lazing around.
How a simple chalk drawing can create the most welcoming street
Often, a few kind words is enough to brighten someone's day, and give them a positive outlook on life. We have many different artists of all ages who like to help decorate the blackboard, and each time, neighbours and passersby will be warmly inspired. Some will walk their dog past the artwork and stop for … Continue reading How a simple chalk drawing can create the most welcoming street
It Takes a Village
Many African countries have proverbs about the shared responsibility of raising children: In Tanzania: “One knee does not bring up a child." The Swahili of East & Central Africa: “One hand does not nurse a child." Uganda: "A child does not grow up only in a single home." While chatting with Uncle M on the … Continue reading It Takes a Village
The reflection during lockdown: Welcoming the new world with a whole new self
The epidemic is spreading again, suspending work, classes, and businesses. The lockdown forces us to stop everything, but the earth has still been rotating and the days have not stopped. Time has passed by, but life has not been suspended. The earth is purifying itself in change, are we also reborn along with this transformation?
The Spirit Behind Mary Kitson Park
Watsoners who have been in this suburb long enough will know that many of the parks have gone through wonderful transformations. One of these parks is the Mary Kitson Park in Majura Rise, and it is all thanks to a group of silent contributors who give by example, inspiring many others to also care for the communal space.
Together Apart – Online Youth Meeting to Brainstorm Ways to Bring Warmth During Covid-19 Restrictions
The young people from Living Streets Association held an online meeting in the autumn holidays to discuss issues about how to be healthy and happy during these uncertain times of the pandemic. due to Covid restrictions, they needed to be a little more creative to spread warmth to people.
“Where do you find the courage to knock on the doors of your neighbours?”
They held their invitations tightly in one hand while in the other, gathered the courage to knock on the first door they encountered. When the door of this house hesitantly opens, the older boy steps up and greets their neighbour,
YAC Youth Assembly 2021
Ryan Jennings | June 28 2021 Just the other day, Cathy and I attended the ACT youth assembly, run by the Youth Advisory Council (YAC). At the event, there were 4 different forums that students or young adults could attend.
Summer Holiday Program 2021
Kirily Martin | January 2021 Another successful holiday program completed! Thanks to the Living Streets Youth for putting on such an amazing program this year. From cooking, to meditation, we did loads of fun things.
Autumn Playday 2021
Natalie Walker | April 2021 On the 17th of April Living Street Association ran an Autumn Playday for the children in Watson. It involved activities run by the youth members of Living Street, from games of capture the flag and fort buildings in Justice Robert Hope Park, to a Studio Ghibli Film (Howl’s Moving Castle) at the end of the day.
Creating a Collaborative Chalkboard
For the past few weekends, 3 teenagers on the street have worked together to upgrade the blackboard and repaint the blackboard fence. The 3 three friends are all at the age where they are starting to look for work experience, job opportunities, and ways to make their first income.
The Beauty of Watson
Every suburb has secret pathways, exciting playspaces, and gathering places that only locals would know, but it is when the community interacts in these wonderful places that the suburb comes alive.
The Three Types of Happiness
Positive psychologist Seligman has pointed out the three types of Happiness: the first type is “pleasure” happiness, when our senses are satisfied and we can enjoy daily pleasures (like eating an ice cream); the second is when we invest in an activity that we are good at to the point of forgetting the time, which is called the “engagement” or “passion” happiness (like doing sports or painting).
Inspiration: The Angel of The Gap
There is a beautiful but infamous cliff at Watsons Bay in eastern Sydney called The Gap. The spectacular views attracts many tourists each year, but locals know of this place for a different reason; many people have committed suicide here by jumping into the crashing sea and rocks 100 metres below.
Friday Bin Day
After school on Fridays, a huddle of kids big and small will walk home together from the nearby school. Like little ducklings, the small ones will follow the big ones, crossing the road safely, chatting and laughing along the way. When they get to the end of the street, they suddenly start running. Why?
Living Streets Association 