Youth Council

The goals of the Youth Advisory Council are to:

• Provide opportunities for young people to have their say and influence Council policies, plans and strategies
• Promote young people as valuable citizens who make a positive contribution to the community
• Provide opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills
• Provide the opportunity for Councillors to meet, hear and learn from young people
• Provide opportunities for young people to consult with the wider community

The objectives of the Youth Council are to:

• Represent and promote the voice of young people in the Mildura Rural City Council municipality
• Provide a platform for young people to advocate on priorities that are important to their lives
• Advise Mildura Rural City Council on current and emerging issues affecting young people
• Provide opportunities for young people to influence youth-focused programs and projects
• Provide a mechanism for young people to oversee the implementation of the Youth Strategy
• Identify service gaps and opportunities for improved cooperation, coordination, advice and feedback to young people and partnerships that will improve outcomes for young people
• Build a sense of civic pride about young people in the community
• Provide opportunities for young people to be engaged in civic activities and events
• Include young people from diverse backgrounds in decision-making processes
• Strengthen professional development opportunities for young people
• Develop young people’s confidence and leadership skills

Leanne is a Year 12, Deputy School Captain at Mildura Senior College with a strong interest in mental health and community leadership.

She joined Youth Council to better understand the perspectives of young people in the town she has grown up in, ensuring those opinions or concerns are properly advocated for.

Leanne hopes to significantly contribute to meaningful changes within the broader community, while developing her decision-making and leadership skills. 

After completing Year 12 she hopes to attend university for nursing.

Outside of school, part-time work and her Youth Council duties, she enjoys reading as well as taking photos with her friends.

Ollie is a 17-year-old Mildura Senior College student with a passion for creativity and advocacy.

Ollie first joined Youth Council in 2025 to further advocate for a youth voice, ensuring that future generations of our community are supported to effectively share their concerns and opinions.

This need for a youth voice was first experienced when Ollie took part in Council’s first Youth Radio Program in 2024.

Ollie hopes his time on Youth Council will lead to meaningful change for young people in our community.

Ollie hopes to study Law in Melbourne once he completes his Year 12 studies.

Dilpreet is a 16-year-old St Joseph's Secondary College student who joins Youth Council with a desire to get involved in representing young people, while helping to create positive change in the community.

Through the Youth Council, Dilpreet is hoping to build leadership skills, boost communication abilities, and get a better understanding of how local decisions are made.

Working with other motivated young people to turn ideas into action is also a goal.

Katia joins the Youth Council with a goal to be a role model in the community, demonstrating to young people how they can make a difference despite physical, cultural or mental differences.

A current Guide Leader at 2nd Mildura South Girl Guides, and a Rover Scout with the Mallee Rover Crew, Katia wants to further enhance her leadership abilities during her time on Youth Council, while gaining insight into how decisions are made in our community.

Currently living with an invisible disability herself, Katia aspires to show other young people that anything is possible, while being an advocate for those in our community facing similar situations.

Marcus is a Year 11 student at Mildura Senior College, who is joining Youth Council for the first time.

Marcus is excited to take on the role and represent the voices of young people in the community. 

He joined Youth Council to gain new perspectives on the experiences and challenges faced by young people to create meaningful change. 

Outside of Youth Council, Marcus enjoys playing badminton and volleyball, while also having a strong passion for science and mathematics.

In the future, he hopes to pursue a career in engineering.

Born in the Philippines, Marcus moved to Australia with his family in mid-2023. He was elected College Captain at Chaffey Secondary College in 2024, with the role providing insight into community need beyond the school environment.

Marth is an 18-year-old with a passion for supporting young people, especially those from vulnerable communities.

He is dedicated to making a positive impact through advocacy and active participation.

Marth says the Youth Council is an opportunity to contribute to policies that directly affect youth, while helping young people in our community be heard and make a meaningful difference.

Through everyday interactions, Marth tries to support and uplift young people – something he wants to continue during his time on Youth Council.

Nikita is an Irymple Secondary College student who joins Youth Council to step out of her comfort zone, while helping to make a difference in the community.

Through her involvement with the Youth Council, Nikita hopes to contribute strong ideas, make a good impact and gain valuable leadership skills.

In the future she aims to use her voice to help others, while outside of school Nikita enjoys working in teams, while being excited to contribute and create positive change.

Riley is a Year 10 student at Irymple Secondary College with a passion for acting, playing the guitar and hanging out with friends.

Riley wants to spend his time on Youth Council engaging and connecting with the community, while helping to make our region a better place, and taking every opportunity to make positive changes for the community.

Zahra is a secondary school student at Mildura Senior College with a passion for ensuring young people’s voices are heard, especially those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.

Zahra believes young people should have a genuine role in shaping decisions that affect their lives and the community, while also being passionate about youth issues, inclusion and supporting others. 

Zahra plans to bring perspectives and ideas to the role over the coming 12 months. 

1. Applying to consult the Youth Councillors through the expression of interest form does not guarantee a consultation with Youth Councillors.
2. The Youth Councillors will review each application and make a decision to be consulted based on their capacity (the Youth Councillors may be working on other initiatives and/or have other commitments) and if the initiative is relevant to them as Youth Councillors
3. If your expression of interest is approved, you will be contacted by Council’s Youth Engagement Services team, who will then handle all further correspondence
4. All facilitators need to create a youth-friendly presentation to be reviewed by the Youth Engagement Services team.