Sunshine Coast: The Place for Young Creatives

Do you ever seem to ask yourself…

Where are all the people my age doing RAD, creative things (aka following their dreams)?

Is there a community out there that will embrace, support and encourage my ideas?

You’re in luck, there’s a place for you that will welcome you with open arms and a cold bevie…  The Sunshine Coast, Australia.

Written by Jess Abraham, Editor in Chief of Tidal Magazine

A few years ago the Coast didn’t have a great reputation as a destination for creativity and entrepreneurship. As soon as teenagers graduated High School, they left the Coast in pursuit of careers or education they thought they couldn’t find here.

Right now there’s a stirring cultural movement that’s reshaping the Sunshine Coast, and this movement of forward progression and thinking isn’t just keeping teenagers here, it’s attracting people from all over Australia to make the Coast their home.

It’s really great to see this culture and creativity become so prevalent in every aspect of life here. I went down that path initially as well, as soon as I graduated I moved states, and for a few months I loved it. I lasted just under a year before coming home, and seeing the Coast with fresh eyes was amazing. I fell in love with it all over again. 

A few months later I was offered a job on the Gold Coast and made the move down South. This time I lasted 10 months before packing up my car, coming home and not looking back. Both times I felt that I had to leave the Coast for personal reasons. I had things I wanted to achieve and opportunities I wanted to take, but there was always something missing and I was never as happy as I was here at home. I’m not sure that I can explain what it is about this place, but it’s got a hold on me and I know that no matter where I go throughout my life, I’ll always end up back here.

  

Photo on Tidal’s Instagram by @theshakorganics

One of the best things about the Coast hands down, especially if you’re a creative working to kickstart your business, is the supportive community. Despite the Coast actually being quite big, it’s a relatively small community, and you’ll rarely meet someone who you don’t at least know one person that they do. You can be floating in the waves and know the guy that paddles past you,  or you get out of the water and wander up to your local cafe, still covered in sand and salt, and know the girl making your coffee. You wave to at least two people on your way home and you don’t actually make it inside your house without talking to one of your neighbours.

It’s a community of people who want their community to do well, who are always the first to jump up and support a new venture and are genuinely stoked to hear about your success. 

There is such a strong notion of collaboration here, people are sharing ideas, working together and creating magic more than I have ever seen before. My favourite part of life on the Sunshine Coast is the balance; the mix of work, creativity, nature and community… and they way they all fit seamlessly together.

 

Photo on Tidal’s Instagram by @benosbornephoto

I heard a brilliant quote by a designer a while ago, “My favourite thing I ever created was my life,” and this resonated so strongly with me. The Sunshine Coast gives you the flexibility to create a life that works for you.

A typical day for me might start with working for a few hours in my “proper job” as a marketing coordinator (I work from home in an office I designed myself so I can’t really call it work), before heading to meet another creative over a late morning coffee.

After lunch I’ll study or work on things for Tidal, before running down to the beach and spending time in the ocean.

Night might see me watching the sun sink over headland beers, or catching some live music in Ocean Street. The Sunshine Coast has the opportunities, the connections and the community that allows for this lifestyle.

No matter what it is that you do, if you’re willing to work hard this place will nurture you and help you grow.

Front photo by Jess