Making tracks in Toowoomba

Since the start of Term 1, we’ve been delivering our programs in Toowoomba as part of our expansion under the Youth Engagement Program (YEP) grant in our new permeant home. It's early days, but we're not just visiting, we're here to stay!

Awesome bike safety track and workshop space

Setting up somewhere new isn't just about finding a room to run programs. It's about becoming part of a place, understanding its rhythms, its people, and how we can show up authentically. 

That's why securing physical areas in Toowoomba has been such a meaningful step for us. We’ve even got a permanent team on the ground, including a passionate local Regional Development Manager Sean Mayo. 

The bike safety track was originally built as a collaboration between Toowoomba Regional Council, PCYC and Heritage Bank. It's a really impressive setup featuring a simulated road complete with working traffic lights, a train track crossing, stop and give way signs, roundabouts, and more. 

For the past five years it’s been sitting vacant, and we’re excited to say we've now taken on the lease through a deed transfer, gifted to us by Toowoomba City Council and PCYC. We couldn't be more grateful for this opportunity to expand our services and make a meaningful impact. 

Sean says the team are looking forward with a long-term view. 

“With a 10-year lease, it means we’re not just a pop-up or a pilot program,” said Sean.

“Young people, families and local partners can count on us being part of their community.”

The workshop space attached to the bike track gives us an epic permanent home for participants to be active. “For young people who don't always thrive in traditional classroom settings, a creative space like this with inside and outside facilities is so transformative,” emphasised Sean. 

The park is also open to the public - families are welcome to use it in their own time, outside of our program hours.

You can also book the community hall next door

We’re stoked to add we’ve also taken over the management of Groom Park Hall, a community hub right next door to the workshop area, previously looked after by the Lions Club. 

We're currently working through the logistics of formal bookings and community access, and we'll have more to share soon. 

Why a local space matters

TRACTION's approach has always been about more than programs. It's about presence and relationships. Young people, especially those doing it tough, need to know that the support around them is consistent, reliable and here for the long term. That's hard to demonstrate when you're working out of borrowed rooms or short-term arrangements.

Having permanent spaces in Toowoomba and the addition of Groom Park Hall, gives us the foundation to build genuine relationships with young people, schools, families and local services. It signals to the community, and to potential partners and funders, that we're not testing the waters. We're all in!

A shout out to Toowoomba City Council and PCYC

We want to take a moment to acknowledge Toowoomba City Council and PCYC for gifting us the lease and deed transfer for the bike safety track and workshop space. We're honoured to be its custodians and we're committed to making the most of it for both young people and the wider community. 

Sean and the TRACTION want to say thanks to everyone who has welcomed TRACTION to Toowoomba so far! 

TRACTION delivers evidence-based mentor programs for young people across Queensland. Learn more about what we do and how you can get involved. 

Our Toowoomba expansion is supported through the Youth Engagement Program (YEP) grant.