For many young people, navigating local support services can be an arduous task and often knowing where to start can be a challenge in itself.

“Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help, but this showed me that it’s okay—and that there are places ready to support us.” – Ash M, 16

Ladder participants, together with medical students on placement from Monash University engaged in a “Services scavenger hunt”, a hand-on activity that gave young people the opportunity to explore their local community and discover the support services in a fun and informative way.

“The scavenger hunt made it fun to learn about serious stuff. It’s good to know help is just around the corner.” – AJ, 19

In small groups, participants set out to find key services - from health centres and employment support hubs to youth drop-in spaces and mental health resources. The activity wasn't just about finding places on a map; it was about building real-world knowledge of where to turn when help is needed.

Participants were able to form positive relationships, learn from each other, and work together to navigate the community. It was a great reminder that seeking support is a strength and knowing where to go for help is an essential life skill.

The activity also informed our medical student placements about the services they will be referring to once they are become practitioners in the local community.

Doing the scavenger hunt with the young people was a great way to build rapport and boost confidence in communicating with them. Working together in teams to take photos and collect business cards from various local organisations and businesses helped us all learn more about some of the other support services available in the area, while also strengthening teamwork and communication skills in a fun and interactive way. - Monash medical student

“Talking to the Monash students was really cool—they were easy to chat with and helped us understand what each service does.” – Ryan, 16

By the end of the scavenger hunt, participants walked away with more confidence, stronger community connections, and a clearer understanding of the support networks available to them.

“Ladder is such a great support and now they have shown me how many other places there are nearby that can actually help.” – Lilly, 19

“It was good to get out and explore the community. I feel more confident now knowing where things are.” – Bree, 18