What's changed
Connect has been rebuilt from the ground up, and every change below is aimed at the same thing: better access, stronger sector collaboration, and helping a young person, or a worker supporting them, find and reach the right service faster.
Richer listings
Listings now capture far more than a name and a number: structured cost (free, bulk-billing, sliding-scale), age range, eligibility, delivery mode, wait times and how to access, and can be flagged as First Nations or LGBTIQ+ specific. Expanded, clearer categories sit on top, so a young person or a worker can filter straight to the right service.
Available in more languages
Connect now uses neural machine translation (a highly accurate, natural-sounding AI technology) to make listings available in the most commonly spoken languages in the ACT. English always remains the source of truth for contact details, addresses and phone numbers, so nothing safety-critical can be lost in translation.
Easier on the eyes
Connect now adapts to how people prefer to read: a bright, clean light mode and a comfortable dark mode, switchable at any time. It's easier on the eyes at night, kinder to low-vision and light-sensitive users, and respects whatever theme someone's device already prefers.
Found on Google
Connect is now a fast, statically-generated site with per-page titles and descriptions, canonical URLs, rich link previews, schema.org structured data and a generated sitemap. Combined with content designed for clarity, it means listings surface in Google (where people actually start looking), not only inside the directory. It builds on a site with strong existing usage: high search rankings, steady organic traffic and hundreds of backlinks.
Sector communication
A new sign-up lets youth workers receive timely updates and share what matters: new programs, changes to existing services, and news on waitlists or newly available spots. It makes it far easier to pass opportunities to colleagues quickly and strengthens communication right across the sector.
Beyond programs
Organisations can now list events alongside ongoing programs (workshops, drop-ins and info sessions) each with its date, time, format (online, in-person or hybrid) and a direct registration link. And anyone can suggest a change to a listing without logging in: just pick the listing and submit an update, so the directory stays accurate without a bottleneck.
Questions answered
An FAQ on the website answers the common questions, including how to use Connect effectively, how to update and maintain your own program listings, and how to submit events, programs and updates, and it will be expanded and kept current as needs change.
Built for all users
The rebuild was designed against WCAG guidance from the ground up: full keyboard navigation, visible focus states, semantic structure for screen readers, colour contrast that holds on the violet palette, right-to-left support for Arabic, and respect for reduced-motion preferences. A persistent Quick Exit button lets anyone leave the site instantly if they need to.
Old site vs new
Search the directory now by keyword, category or age to find a service for young people aged 12–25 in the ACT and surrounding region.
