Frankston FReeZA Program hits the right note with young people

Published on 10 March 2021

Young people are gaining invaluable skills in organising music, arts and cultural events via the Frankston FReeZA Program thanks to support from Frankston City Council and the State Government.

Council and the State Government are funding the innovative Frankston FReeZA Program with Committee members and supporters planning, organising, promoting and running all ages music, arts and cultural events and projects for the Frankston community.

FReeZA is a Victorian Government initiative that supports young Victorians to get involved in their community by planning and running drug, alcohol and smoke-free events for other young people.

The FReeZA Program is one of many great programs being run by Frankston Youth Services. Other Programs representing Frankston City Council’s significant investment to help young people reach their potential include the Youth Council, RAD Program, Project-Y, Mindshop Excellence and the Youth Steward Program, which allows local young people to volunteer with Frankston Youth Service as peer leaders to support youth programs and events.

South Ward Cr Liam Hughes said 14 young people have recently joined the Frankston FReeZA Committee, adding: “Committee members will receive training and mentoring by local industry experts in event management, promotions and design, production and sound production.

“It gives me enormous pride to be part of a Council that recognises the potential of young people and actively invests in that potential,” Cr Hughes said.

Cr Hughes added: “The Program this year will have a special focus on music production with the Fresh recording studio, based at the Ebdale Community Hub, set to reopen.

“Volunteers operating the recording studio are matched with young people who live, work and/or study in the Frankston municipality to support them to record their music. Between June to July, Frankston FReeZA we will be recording, creating press release photographs and videos and releasing the music at the Local Showcase in August.

“FReeZA has a proud track record of running high quality events for young people in Frankston City over the past 15 years and 2021 will be no different,” Cr Hughes said.

State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke, said: “FReeZA is a great way for young people to get hands-on experience in setting up events.

“Frankston has a lot to celebrate and our young people need a safe space to show off their talents,” Mr Edbrooke said.

FReeZA Frankston will run music events in line with COVID safe practices as part of this year’s Live and Local Event Series (replacing the former Waterfront Festival) over 20 – 21 March.

JayJay, who has served on the FReeZA Frankston Committee for three years, said the Program had given him a great insight into how the music industry works, particularly the business side.

“The program has definitely developed my confidence to plan and manage events, as well as provide me with a creative outlet.

“While I aspire to further develop my guitar skills, my current interests are in sound engineering so I’m really excited to develop this with the Program this year,” JayJay said.

For more information about Frankston FReeZA, please visit http://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/freeza

For more information about the Live and Local Event Series, please visit