Page 4884 - Week 11 - Thursday, 21 October 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
I am pleased with the new appointees and the energy and enthusiasm that they have brought to the council. These people come from a diverse range of backgrounds and range in ages from 12 to 24 with six females and three males. The council members include one member who is from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, five from culturally diverse backgrounds, and one member has a disability.
I would like to name the nine new appointees: Ms Emily Bulger, Hannah Coleman, Daniel Gaffney, Ruth Simpson, Michael Smith, Elyssa Corner, Rebecca Courtney, Zane Bulot and Melissa Dimmick.
The council will be holding a planning day in November to develop the next work plan for the next 12 months, and I look forward to receiving a copy of this. I am particularly delighted with the new work the council is looking to undertake. For example, it is looking to convene a community forum on young people in transition. I am sure that would be of interest, given the conversations we have had in this place over youth transitions this week. The forum will focus on ways to support young people transitioning from education and training to employment or further education. A subcommittee is working through the details of that, and I am very pleased that that is, indeed, happening.
MS PORTER: A supplementary?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, what qualities do the new members bring to the Youth Advisory Council?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Porter for her interest in YAC. The ACT government thinks it is important to engage broadly with young people in the ACT on issues that matter to them. In order to do that, it is necessary to have a diverse range of skills and experience. I am delighted to say that new appointees bring a range of qualities to the council.
The council has a new member who is currently home-schooling, is a young carer of her mother and a young person with a disability. The new council members are attending schools and universities as well as pursuing vocational opportunities. Some are graduates working full time on youth roles in government departments, and others are in the community sector in the ACT.
One council member is a peer facilitator to the create your future program where she represents Create and young people in care. Another member has worked with vulnerable young people on a range of issues affecting young people. Another council member runs a mentoring group for young males aged between 12 and 16 years and also volunteers at various community organisations, including Youth Alive. In 2005, a council member received the Prime Minister’s award for skills of excellence and, in 2007, was the Tasmanian young Australian of the year award recipient. Both awards were for recognition of work for older Australians in the broader community.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video