Two surveys, completed in 2007 and 2009, showed families in the area wanted a youth service to be based in Fairfield, and teenagers felt disconnected from the community upon leaving primary school.
To counter this, the Saddle Hill Foundation Trust secured funding for a youth worker to run programmes, connect with the area's young people, mentor, offer support and run a weekly youth programme.
Its newly-employed intern, Erin Winder, will join three other youth workers already operating in the East Taieri area.
She will be based with them at The Hub, in Mosgiel, but will establish a headquarters in Fairfield as soon as possible.
"It's just cool if they can hang out in their own community," she said.
The former secondary teacher will work part-time, while studying for a national diploma in youth work.
The trust could only secure funding for the 18-month internship, but hoped to extend her role once the position became established.
Saddle Hill Foundation Trust youth director Brendon McRae said the organisation's relationship with Fairfield spanned 10 years, but youth work in the area was sporadic and it acted more as a training ground than a permanent base.
He hoped a youth worker could be based there long-term.
