YOUNG locals have an outlet for their good ideas while building leadership and organisational skills through membership of the South Gippsland Shire Youth Council.
The current group of 11 members help guide South Gippsland Shire Council’s future direction through their interaction with councillors and council officers, ensuring young voices are considered in determining the Shire’s needs.
Event planning is another focus for the Youth Council, with the organisation and running of a successful youth disco in Mirboo North a highlight.
Demi Bradford, South Gippsland Shire Council’s community development officer, supports the Youth Council members, allowing them to drive initiatives and helping them develop their leadership and event management skills.
The group meets monthly in various South Gippsland towns, with Cr Brad Snell attending each session.
As well as the youth disco that attracted over 120 attendees and ran smoothly, the Youth Council has run a youth book club throughout the shire.
Demi said it is an incredible feeling seeing the group develop skills they can use for the rest of their lives, describing learning how to run an event as “a massive undertaking”.
Isla Haw has been part of the Youth Council since it began in 2023, persuaded to join by an expectation it would be fun and the fact she enjoys leadership positions.
“I like making a difference,” she said.
Isla spoke of the teamwork required to organise the youth disco and the fact everyone carried out their specific roles, with that including getting food truck quotes in her case.
She said that as well as creating an outlet for young people’s ideas, the Youth Council helps them to disprove the negative stigma around teenagers, showing they can be valuable contributors to the community.
As well as organising and running the disco, the group’s promotion of the event ensured it exceeded expectations, with initial predictions that between 20 and 50 people would attend.
Promotion took place across schools, through social media, South Gippsland Shire Council, community noticeboards and local newspapers.
There is strong communication within the diverse group that form the Youth Council, the members of which are supportive of each other.
Luke Hannigan has also been a member since the start, enjoying working as part of a group and the opportunities to connect with others in the community.
“It’s been a great way to meet councillors and council officers,” he said, explaining that leads to opportunities to contribute to South Gippsland Shire Council decision-making and advocacy efforts to other levels of government.
Erica Begg also loves working with other Youth Council members.
“Meeting these guys and hearing their ideas,” she says when asked what she considers the highlight of belonging to the group.
Thalia Baker found her way onto the Youth Council through her involvement with Live4Life, a mental health education model designed specifically for rural and regional communities, with Demi holding a crew support role with that organisation.
“I really like the community of Youth Council,” Thalia said, describing it as welcoming and warm.
Foster, Yanakie, Mirboo North, Leongatha, Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower are represented on the Youth Council.
Its membership was open to those aged between 14 and 25 years, and while that is currently full, there is a possibility of additional spots opening up if staffing allows.
Sentinel-Times will report if such an opportunity occurs.
