The search for the City of Greater Geelong’s 2022 Youth Council commences as nominations open today, Friday 15 October 2021.
Young people in Greater Geelong, aged between 12 and 17 years old, looking to make a difference in their community, are encouraged to put their hand up and nominate to join the 2022 Youth Council.
Youth Council, which serves a one-year term as an official advisory committee to Council, commenced in 2019 with the 2022 group set to be the fourth for the City of Greater Geelong.
Greater Geelong Deputy Mayor Trent Sullivan encouraged young people to consider nominating.
Youth Council is a really incredible opportunity for young people in our region to learn more about the process of local government while informing, and actually influencing, Council decisions for young people in Greater Geelong.
If you’ve got some great ideas for our area, whether that’s programs or social infrastructure, health and wellbeing initiatives, environment and sustainability actions or arts and culture projects, and would like to represent your peers, please consider putting your hand up to join next year’s Youth Council.
It’s a great forum for meeting new people who share your interest in making a difference in the community, to form friendships, develop public speaking skills, be exposed to new ideas and information and develop your abilities in influencing and advocating for the things that are important to you.
Nominees will be voted on by members of youth advisory groups, with three youth representatives selected for each of the four Council wards.
The 12 successful candidates will then elect the Junior Mayor and Junior Deputy Mayor.
Cr Sarah Mansfield, chair of the Diversity, Inclusion and LGBTIQ+ portfolio said Youth Council members have played an important role this year.
I’d like to thank the Youth Council for its efforts this year and persevering through the challenges of virtual meetings.
I hope the members know they’ve made a difference to young people in the region and in providing Council with the insights needed to make informed decisions and take meaningful action.
Youth Council members meet once a month and advise Council on important issues like services, health, environment and inclusion.
Throughout the year junior members also engage in the ward-based Councillor Connect Mentoring Program, which gives each ward the opportunity to connect and receive advice from the councillors in their ward.
The 2022 Youth Council will continue the great work of the current members, which has included calling for further promotion of the City’s mental health first aid training, additional youth designated spaces in the region and improvements to how engagements with young people are undertaken.
During their tenure, Youth Council members enjoyed presentations by Barwon Health, headspace and Combined Refugee Action Group and took part in Monash University’s YourGround safety mapping survey and the Growing Up in Geelong Study with Deakin University.
Junior Mayor Elliot Nicholas thanked councillors for the opportunity and applauded his fellow Youth Council members on their efforts during a challenging year.
While it’s sad to be finishing up soon in Youth Council and as Junior Mayor, I’m really excited to see who puts their hand up and continues to give a voice to young people in the region.
Looking back on the year, we’ve achieved a lot as a group and I’m really proud of what we’ve set in motion, such as our advocacy for more designated youth spaces in the region which has seen the City start a Youth Facility Feasibility and Business Case.
I’ve personally learned a lot through this process and recommend other young people in Greater Geelong put their hand up for 2022.
Nominations are open from Friday 15 October until Friday 12 November 2021.
