May 5th, 2024Youth summit helps shape Macedon’s approach
The Macedon Ranges Council’s future plans and actions for young people in the shire are expected to be better informed, following a youth summit held in March.
“It was the first time I had been invited to an event like this and I have enjoyed being asked about my ideas and suggestions and I feel heard.” one participating Gisborne Secondary College student said.
On 21 March, around 90 young people from local secondary schools convened at Woodend Community Centre alongside the council’s youth services team, councillors, Sunbury Cobaw Community Health, Woodend Rotary, headspace, and Djaara Balaki Wuku, marking the first summit of its kind in several years.
The day-long summit provided an opportunity for young people in the shire to come together to have their voices heard and give valuable feedback on key issues including:
- Public transport and isolation
- Environment and global warming
- Physical activity, art and leisure
- Mental health and wellbeing, Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) matters and body image
- Career and education
- School holiday program, tech space and coding
The council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss, says the council’s ELEVATE Youth Strategy provides a comprehensive roadmap guiding the council on how to effectively support and engage with the shire’s young population now and into the future.
“It’s essential that we actively listen to, learn from, and collaborate with our young people to ensure any initiatives we implement under the ELEVATE strategy are relevant to their needs,” she said.
“The summit has provided an excellent opportunity to do this and it was fantastic to see so many young people engage in it in such a positive way and contribute their ideas.”
The council is now analysing the summit findings to ensure the ideas, opinions, concerns, and aspirations raised are included in relevant future plans and actions, with the council committed to supporting ongoing engagement with children and young people.
