National Youth Roundtable 2002 Member Profiles

Belinda, 24, is a Youth Development Officer at South Gippsland Shire Council.

Her role is to promote young people's achievements and create opportunities for them to become active and valued members of her community.

Belinda has been involved in a number of projects, including the establishment of a youth committee, a three-week youth festival, youth forums, a youth leadership program, holiday activities and other events that highlight the talents of young people.

Belinda aims to increase young people's knowledge of and access to services that help them deal with the challenges they face living in a rural area.

She is consulting with young people and service providers and establishing a closer link between them. As transport is a major issue in her area, she aims to develop a means to take information to young people.

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Erin Clark, 17, is a student at Bendigo Senior Secondary College.

She feels passionately about youth involvement in the democratic process, and is a member of the Foundation for Young Australians as a Youth Grant Maker.

Erin is also a founding member of the Bendigo Youth Action Council, a board member of the B-Central Youth Resource Committee, a member of the Bendigo FReeZA Committee, which organises drug and alcohol free events for young people, and an attendee of numerous youth forums.

These include the Victorian Youth Roundtable, Youth Impact 2000, regional and state constitutional conventions, YAC Victoria Reversing the Drift Summit, Here For Life and Victorian Youth Week forums.

Erin's roundtable project centres around fostering meaningful youth participation.

Erin is developing a guide on the formation of youth advisory committees and is examining and evaluating the current operation of youth advisory bodies in her area.

She is in the process of establishing an online network for Victorian regional young people interested in youth participation.

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Louise, 19, is intending to study social work at La Trobe University in 2002.

Louise volunteers at the Internet Café, is a committee member of the Benalla Youth Providers Working Group and was recently voted the new chairperson of the Upyouth Foundation.

Louise is interested in improving the image of young people.

She believes that if young people have more respect for themselves then the rest of the community may share in that respect.

Louise hopes to examine a number of important social issues such as young women and violent relationships, eating disorders and low self-esteem.

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Twenty four year old Reuben has been involved with a number of community services in his area including the Volunteer Rural Fire Service, the State Emergency Service, the Bega Area Health Council, the Bega Valley Shire Council Social Plan Development Focus Group and the Dry River Land Care Group.

Reuben is interested in overcoming the isolation and distance in rural and regional Australia, and changing community perceptions about young people.

His projects will look at the effects of loneliness, chronic illness, disability, low employment and promoting education for young people in rural and regional Australia.

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Simon, 23, is self employed and has been a motivational speaker on a number of occasions.

He has completed a Bachelor of Business and has been involved in youth work at his local church.

Simon is looking at the transition from school to work or school to further employment.

Simon aims to better educate and inform young people, enabling them to make wise decisions.

Simon is developing a coaching and development program aimed at year 9-10 students so that they receive sufficient support and guidance to find successful pathways.

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Nineteen year old Brittany has a young son who is a toddler.

She has been involved in the community for many years with the Clarence Pastoral and Agricultural Society.

Brittany is a regular tutor for disabled youth and has participated in “The Northern Rivers Area Health – Attachment and Bonding Program”.

She also assisted with the “2001 Maclean Travelling Roadshow”.

Brittany is currently employed with the Maclean Community Health
Centre and is studying Human Resource Management via distance
education at TAFE.

Brittany aims to improve the quality of life for young country people, particularly in relation to health care.

Brittany will investigate the isolation of young country people and her project examines issues such as Medicare, bulk billing, teenage pregnancy, mental health and medical services for young people.

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Sixteen year old Amie is currently studying at Taree High School where she is a member of the Student Representative Council.

Amie was selected as the representative from the Taree District for the NSW Student Representative Council Conference 2001.

A keen debater she has won a number of awards for public speaking.

Amie is interested in educating young leaders about their influence on shaping community ideals.

She is addressing discrimination of race, colour and religion in rural communities, and her project will look at maintaining a sense of community, regardless of socio-economic, religious or racial differences.

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Seventeen year old Darren is an apprentice carpenter.

In 2001, he was a finalist in the Apprentice of the Year awards and worked as a team leader on the National Youth at the Centre which brought young people from around Australia to Boonah to build a cottage in two days.

As a member of the Boonah Youth Centre he has attended forums such as the Forum for Apprentices and the Rural Leader’s Forum.

In 2002, he was awarded the Young Citizen of the Year Award in the Boonah Shire in recognition of his achievements and community involvement over several years and was nominated for the Q-build Apprentice of the Year award.

He coaches the under 10 local soccer team and umpired at the recent Queensland state vigoro titles.

Darren is focussing on establishing links between young people at the local high school and the local MP, attempting to bring more youth-based initiatives into the community.

Darren is interested in encouraging young rural people to take positive action to create the changes needed to be beneficial to their future.

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Twenty two year old Brett works part-time at the St George Youth and Community Association - a Rural Youth Information Service Provider.

He attended the Queensland Job Placement, Employment and Training State Conference as a guest speaker and the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Planning Forum.

He is a member of the Balonne Indigenous Youth Progress Group and the Balonne Community Housing Project. Brett works part time for the Department of Family Services as a youth worker.

Brett aims to deliver a collective youth perspective to ensure the future of young people in rural and isolated communities.

He is examining the obstacles rural communities face in pursuing educational and employment opportunities, as well as accessing assistance in other areas to improve/sustain a decent quality of life.

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