Youth Programs
Supporting young people through connection, growth, and transition.
Thrive & Connect delivers relationship-based mentoring and growth programs for young people across Cairns and Far North Queensland.
Our programs support young people at different stages of need — from early connection and confidence-building, through re-engagement, to pathways into work, training and adulthood.
Everything we do is grounded in consistent relationships, real-world experiences, and culturally safe, strengths-based practice. Rather than focusing only on behaviour, we focus on helping young people build identity, belonging, emotional regulation, confidence, and hope for the future.
Programs are adapted to the young people involved, the local context, and the communities we work alongside.
Our Programs
Coastal Connector
Early Connection & Confidence | Ages 8 -12
Coastal Connector is an early-intervention program designed to help younger children build confidence, connection, emotional awareness, and positive social foundations.
Through outdoor activities, movement, group experiences, mentoring, and hands-on challenges, young people build trust, strengthen relationships, and develop a stronger sense of belonging.
The program focuses on creating positive early experiences before disengagement becomes entrenched.
Young people develop:
confidence and emotional awareness
social and communication skills
stronger peer and adult relationships
connection to culture, community, and identity
readiness for school and community transitions.
Thrive Guiding
Mentoring & Re-Engagement | Ages 12–15
Thrive Guiding supports young people experiencing disengagement, emotional complexity, school refusal, behavioural challenges, or early contact with the justice system.
The program combines mentoring, practical activities, group experiences, and consistent relational support to help young people reconnect with themselves, their education, and their community.
Thrive Guiding works alongside young people to help them build trust, emotional regulation, accountability, and positive identity over time.
Young people develop:
tools to manage emotions and behaviour
healthier relationships and communication
resilience, confidence, and self-belief
stronger engagement in school, community, or positive pathways
a greater sense of identity, agency, and belonging.
Emerge
Pathways, Purpose & Transition | Ages 15-17
Emerge is a transition-focused pathway program supporting young people as they move toward employment, training, further education, and independent adulthood.
Through real-world experiences and hands-on learning, participants are supported to develop workplace readiness, life skills, and a stronger sense of personal responsibility. Depending on the cohort and partnerships involved, programs may include opportunities such as first aid and CPR training, practical trade and construction experiences, workplace safety training, and exposure to local employers and training providers.
Young people develop:
readiness for work, training, or further education
confidence and personal responsibility
teamwork, communication, and leadership skills
practical life and workplace skills
stronger motivation, clearer direction, and future goals.
How We Work:
Our programs are typically delivered in small groups across the school term, with the exception of Coastal Connector, which runs during school holiday periods.
Thrive Guiding is delivered after school twice per week and includes transport support to help remove barriers to participation. Emerge is generally delivered during school hours across the term and focuses on transition, pathway development, and workplace readiness.
Programs are intentionally kept small to support engagement, safety, and relationship-building, with approximately one mentor to every five young people.
Programs are delivered across outdoor and community settings, including our Thrive & Connect hub based at Cairns Tigers Football Club in Manunda, where young people have access to:
gym equipment and fitness spaces
computers and learning resources
an oval and basketball courts
mentoring and shared group spaces
Depending on the program, activities may also include fishing, cooking shared meals, practical projects, fitness activities, teamwork challenges, and community-based experiences.
Who We Work With:
We work alongside:
schools and flexible learning programs
community and youth organisations
youth justice, care, and diversion programs
government and place-based initiatives
families and referral partners
Programs are tailored to local context, community priorities, and the needs of the young people involved.
Talk to Us
Whether you’re looking to refer a young person, explore a partnership, or discuss a program for your school, organisation, or community, we’d love to hear from you. You can contact the Thrive & Connect team here.