Youth Council sets goals for year ahead

Junior Mayor
Farzana Hussaini’s first report to council has been noted, which details the
Youth Council’s priorities for 2020 and its activities since being elected in
February.

Through
a vote, the Youth Council has identified its top priorities for 2020 and the
most important issues to the region’s young people: ‘mental health and
wellbeing’, ‘environment and sustainability’ and ‘safe and accessible
communities’.

Over
the next two months, the junior councillors will continue to meet monthly and
provide advice, solutions and ‘clever and creative’ ideas to council. Where
possible, they’ll take part in the Councillor Connect Mentoring Program with
their respective ward councillors.

The
Youth Council has also chosen six categories for this year’s Geelong Youth
Awards, which have been adopted:

  • The Young Educator award;
  • The Equality award;
  • The Leadership award;
  • The Diverse Cultural Contribution award;
  • The Arts & Music award; and
  • The Disability Inclusion award.

The Youth Council has suggested that the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee be consulted further about the Disability Inclusion award, which recognises a young person who’s worked towards making the community more accessible and inclusive for people with a lived experience of disability. Nominations are now open for the 2020 Geelong Youth Awards.

The Youth Council, made up of 12 young people aged 12-17, advises council and serves as an official ‘youth voice’. Since April, the youth councillors have been meeting online rather than in-person, to comply with gathering restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The Junior Mayor will present her next report to council in June.

Councillor Stephanie Asher – Mayor

After getting to know each other, the youth councillors are now settled and focused on their priorities for the future.

They’ve made good progress despite the pandemic and I look forward to spending more time with them all and watching their achievements over the next few months.

Councillor Sarah Mansfield, Chair, Social Inclusion portfolio

Thank you to the youth councillors for their ideas and enthusiasm over the last few months. It’s been a different start to the year but it’s great to see they’re continuing the work of the Youth Council.

Their input will be as important than ever during this challenging time. I look forward to virtually meeting the Brownbill ward youth councillors over the coming months during the Councillor Connect Mentoring sessions.

/Public Release. View in full here.