Happy graduation to our 2020 Maroondah FReeZA crew!

Council has celebrated the achievements of the participants of the 2020 Maroondah FReeZA program, Bassline Productions, at a graduation ceremony held on Tuesday 15 December.

The eight Maroondah FReeZA participants attended the online graduation with a virtual recognition by the Mayor to acknowledge their participation and achievements made throughout the program during a special ceremony attended by family, friends and Council representatives.

Maroondah FReeZA is an innovative youth development program providing young people between the ages of 15 and 25 with practical learning experience and personal development through the coordination and facilitation of accessible music and cultural events within the Maroondah community.

“Throughout 2020, the Maroondah FReeZA committee, Bassline Productions, adapted to COVID-19 and organised three online live music and cultural events which provided opportunities for young people to experience online initiatives,” said Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Kylie Spears.

“Despite the program being very different to previous years, each young person on the committee rose to the challenge and adapted to the change with an open mind,” she said.

The FReeZA crew’s first event ‘Stuck in with Stuck Out’ was an Instagram live-streamed performance and Q&A with the band Stuck Out.

“This was the crew’s first-ever online FReeZA event and was a great success with 300 views over the hour-long stream,” Cr Spears said.

The second event, ‘Beats to Get You on Your Feet’, was a partnership with Council’s Leisure team to create an 80s inspired home workout set to music from local young people, which is available to view on

The third event, ‘Raise the Stakes’, was a vampire murder mystery event hosted over Zoom. The crew played the role of suspects while attendees played detectives, asking the crew questions to help solve the mystery.

Cr Spears said that while this year’s graduates did not have the usual full hands-on experience, they continued to be provided with the opportunity to learn, develop and practice a range of specialised skills for the events industry, including risk assessment, events promotion, hosting events via online platforms, communication, negotiation with industry managers and setting up live performances at EV’s Youth Centre.

“In addition, the committee has had the opportunity to develop a range of other skills - teamwork, budgeting, problem solving and resilience - all of which are highly transferrable to many other employment fields,” she said.

“Being part of the FReeZA program is a big commitment to take on and the graduation is an opportunity to thank these hard-working young people for their contribution to the community,” Cr Spears added.

The committee meets weekly, planning and preparing for each event. During events, Bassline Productions take on responsibility to ensure they run smoothly, as well as evaluating them after their completion.

Cr Spears said this year’s program had also provided numerous opportunities for young people as audience members to engage with the community during a time of physical isolation.

“I would like to congratulate each member of Bassline Productions. You have challenged yourselves immensely over the past year, worked through testing situations, accomplished great outcomes, and shown maturity beyond your years. I am sure that the life skills you have developed will assist you far beyond this program, and well into your already bright futures,” Cr Spears said.

“In addition to recognising these young people, I would also like to thank parents, carers, families and friends for encouraging the crew of Bassline Productions during their participation in the program, particularly during challenging times.

“I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Council’s Youth Services Team who have worked hard to deliver such a high-quality program,” she said.

Applications are now open until Friday 8 January to join the FReeZA crew in 2021.

To be eligible to participate in the Maroondah FReeZA program, applicants must be aged between 15 and 25; live, work or study in Maroondah; and be willing to commit to the program for a period of 12 months.

Places are limited with a maximum of 12 participants per year.

To find out more or to apply, visit www.maroondahyouth.com.au or phone 9294 5704.