Life in regional and rural Victoria is both challenging and enormously rewarding.
Young people growing up in regional and rural Victoria have a pretty different set of experiences from young people growing up in metropolitan Melbourne. There are different activities to get involved in, different types of schooling and then some things, like being a young person, which are completely the same.
You can read stories about young Victorians living in regional and rural areas, from Apollo Bay to Yarrawonga, on the people's voice (external link) website. The Reach Out Rural and Regional Tour (RORRT) (external link) project details what young people say about life in Victorian and other towns.
If you live in the city and are thinking about making a change of lifestyle and moving to a regional or rural area, you'll find information about jobs and life in Victoria's regions at Make It Happen In Provincial Victoria (external link).
The up side of country living
There are many things that people enjoy about regional or rural life including:
- enjoying close bonds with others
- living in wide open spaces
- being part of a community
- having a close connection to the land
- enjoying clean air and beautiful natural environments
The down side of country living
Living in small or isolated communities has its own unique issues. You might get frustrated or depressed about stuff like:
- limited job and study opportunities
- financial and other pressures caused by drought or other events beyond your control
- getting bored if it seems like there's nothing to do and nowhere to go
- feeling isolated or lonely
- negative community attitudes about anyone who seems 'different' because of their beliefs, culture, sexuality or appearance
It's fair enough to want to feel free to be yourself and to be able to look forward to the future.
Five ways to find connections and inspiration:
- talk to someone (external link) about how you feel
- tune into other communities through the radio and online discussion groups
- be creative - draw, write, paint, play music or visit an art gallery
- escape into books - use your free local library service
- become a volunteer and get involved in a community project
There are lots of government and community services for people in regional and rural areas. See some our links below for information specific to your area of interest and check out our Events & Entertainment pages for more inspiration.
Tough issues
Living in a small community often means that you are very closely connected to the people around you, or really depend on them.
In small towns, it can seem impossible to get information or help about health or personal issues without people knowing. You may want more privacy, or anonymity. It may seem easier to put aside problems than deal with them.
Some young people feel torn between staying in their community, and leaving to take up other opportunities. Some say they feel like a failure if they don't leave to study or work in the city.
There are ways through these and other tough situations. You don't have to go it alone. You can draw on confidential information sources and qualified professionals. If you're feeling confused or low, pick up the phone and call Lifeline on 131 114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Links for rural Victoria
Make It Happen In Provincial Victoria
Ever thought about moving away from the city? This website provides news, case studies and frequently asked questions about living, working and investing in regional Victoria.
Better Health Channel
On the Better Health Channel, you can find out about support that's available through rural health services across Victoria. There are also heaps of articles on topics to do with rural life including safety, health issues, stress and children. If you're living and/or working on a farm, take a look at their articles and information on farm and safety issues.
Australian Rural Network - YARN
Here's website for young people working in rural industries. It includes news, events, discussions and information about relevant people and organizations, plus many links.
Regional Entry Point
This site aims to help people in regional Australia to get easy access to government services and programs. It includes a regional events calendar, discussion groups, government news and useful links. If you don't have easy Internet access, you can get information from the telephone information line - freecall 1800 026 222 from 9am - 6pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time).
ABC - Regional Youth Network - Heywire
Heywire is a place for young people in regional Australia to get their opinions, ideas & concerns across to the rest of the country. There's a guest book and a list of excellent links. You can also click on ABC Rural for latest rural news and information about other relevant ABC programs.
Victorian Young Farmers (VYF)
This interest group is for farmers aged 16 to 30 includes rural and farming news, resources and contacts.
