Our Story
From disco lights to positive pathways
Blue Light Victoria began with a simple idea — and a dance floor.
In 1976, police members from the eastern Melbourne suburb of Mooroolbark asked a powerful question:
What if young people had a safe, fun place to go — without drugs or alcohol — and a chance to see police as people, not just uniforms?
The answer was the very first Blue Light Disco.
The Blue Light Disco era
Those early discos were:
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Drug and alcohol-free
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Fully supervised
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Designed to be fun, inclusive and safe
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Focused on positive interaction between young people and police
Word spread quickly. What started as one local event soon became a statewide phenomenon, with thousands of young people attending Blue Light Discos each year across Victoria.
For generations of Victorians, the Blue Light Disco became a rite of passage — a first dance, a first night out, a shared memory that cemented Blue Light into the cultural fabric of the state.
👉 Watch the ABC short capturing the nostalgia and legacy of Blue Light Discos
From grassroots idea to recognised organisation
The impact of the Blue Light Disco model didn’t go unnoticed.
The then Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Mr Sinclair “Mick” Miller AO LVO QPM, strongly endorsed the approach, recognising its value in building trust, connection and prevention through positive engagement.
Blue Light Victoria was formally established as a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity, providing a foundation for the program to grow, evolve and reach more young people.
With support from Victoria Police, Blue Light continued to expand its youth engagement work, delivering discos and community activities from 1976 through to 2014, while laying the groundwork for broader prevention and early-intervention initiatives.
Evolving to meet young people’s needs
As the needs of young people changed, so did Blue Light Victoria.
While the Blue Light Disco remains an iconic part of our story — and continues to be delivered through our branch network — our focus has grown to include evidence-informed early-intervention programs that support young people before challenges escalate.
Today, Blue Light Victoria delivers:
- School-based early-intervention programs
- Community and one-to-one support programs
- Prevention initiatives that build confidence, resilience and connection
- Programs designed to support positive decision-making and wellbeing
- And of course our branches still run the iconic Blue Light Disco
This evolution reflects our commitment to responding to what young people need now, while staying true to what has always mattered: connection, safety and positive relationships.
A proud and ongoing partnership
Victoria Police remain proud partners of Blue Light Victoria.
Police members continue to:
- Volunteer across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria
- Support program delivery in non-enforcement roles
- Contribute to local branch committees as chairs and members
This partnership remains grounded in prevention, trust-building and community connection — the same principles that sparked the first disco in Mooroolbark nearly five decades ago.
Honouring the past. Supporting the future.
Our history is one of innovation, fun, trust and evolution.
From dance floors lit by blue lights to classrooms, community spaces and one-to-one support, Blue Light Victoria has always been about meeting young people where they are — and helping them move forward with confidence.