Youth Council pushes for more civic education for young people

THE City of Greater Geelong’s Youth Council is advocating for the creation of a program that teaches young people about local
government.
Junior mayor Farzana Hussaini presented the report – the Youth Council’s third – during last week’s council meeting, highlighting advice from the youth councillors to the council group.
Farzana suggested a special program promoted to schools that would allow young people to follow their interests through local government and become better informed citizens.
Junior councillors have also asked for a clause to be reconsidered in the Youth Council’s terms of office, when the terms of reference are reviewed in the future.
Over the past two months, the Junior Council has hosted virtual meetings, engaged with their peers through social media, attended Councillor Connect Mentoring Program sessions and received presentations from the Barwon Community Legal Service and youth mental health organisation headspace.
During the headspace presentation, they learnt about how to talk about youth mental health and ways to support their peers, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Youth Council identified mental health and wellbeing as a priority area for 2020 and has provided advice about this in previous reports.
Last week’s meeting advised councillors of ways to promote sources such as headspace to the community though methods such as social media and City News.
At their next meeting, the junior councillors will be speaking to the Commission for Children and Young People, to give their perspective on how COVID-19 has affected young people in the Greater Geelong region.
They will also have the opportunity to share ideas on the council’s Environment Strategy and Climate Action Plan.
Social inclusion portfolio chair Cr Sarah Mansfield thanked the Youth Council for their hard work.
“They’ve done so well despite the challenges of the pandemic,” she said.
“The mentoring sessions have been a highlight of the council group’s year, as the junior councillors have refreshing perspectives and continue to challenge us with their new ideas.
“I commend the youth councillors for spreading what they’ve learnt among their peers and widening the benefit of the Youth Council.”