Youth Services

New Youth Council

Mid-Western Regional Council is pleased to announce the new Youth Council for 2009/2010.  It is great to see a mix of new faces, along with some experienced members who continue their fantastic work in our region.

The Youth Council members are: Jessica MacLennan (Youth Mayor), Mary Sparkes (Deputy Youth Mayor), Timothy Blackman, Yolanda Kreuzen, Henry van Laeren, Emily Blake, Alana Drury, Danica Roberts, Kristyana Shereb and Rachael Tant.

The Youth Council provides an opportunity for young people in the region to have a voice in helping determine Council's priorities and highlight issues that need addressing, particularly programs and services relating to youth.

Youth Councillors are directly involved in arranging youth events and facilities in our Region, which has included skate park working parties in Mudgee, Gulgong and Kandos, Youth Week preparations, the Kandos Youth Activity Centre (KYAC) and movie screenings to name a few.

To contact your Youth Council with any issues, suggestions or great ideas, please email council@midwestern.nsw.gov.au

 

Jessica MacLennan Youth Mayor

Mary Sparkes Deputy Youth Mayor

 

Alana Drury

 

 

Danica Roberts

 

Emily Blake

 

Henry van Laeren

 

Kristyana Shereb

 

Rachael Tant

 

Tim Blackman

 

 

Yolanda Kreuzen

 

Terms of Reference 

Mid-Western Regional Council appreciates the advice, voluntary time, commitment, interest and dedication of those willing to be part of the Mid-Western Regional Youth Council.  Recommendations from the Youth Council are welcomed and will be considered in the context of Council's management and strategic planning process.

Composition of Youth Council - The Youth Council shall comprise of two (2) representatives of each of the high schools (including St Matthews Central School, Gulgong, Rylstone/Kandos and Mudgee) together with up to four (4) delegates from the general community including TAFE.  Initial application to be representative on the Youth Council will be limited to local youth aged 13 to 21 years.

Complete copy of the Terms of Reference PDF  (82kb)

Road Trip 

On 12 October 2009 members of the Youth Council went on a road trip to discover more about the region.  This included checking out community facilities in Windeyer, Gulgong, Goolma, Ulan, Cooks Gap and Cooyal.  The Youth Council spoke to community representatives, including local youth, in Goolma and Cooyal about issues specific to their community and potential social and recreational opportunities that could be staged using available facilities.  Thanks to our hosts for their great ideas, along with the excellent BBQ and afternoon tea!

Members of the Youth Council in Goolma: Yolanda Kreuzen, Millie (our youth host in Goolma), Tim Blackman, Alana Drury, Rachael Tant, Mary Sparkes, Kristyana Shereb, Jessica MacLennan, Danica Roberts

New Youth Services Officer

Cathy Leisfield has recently started as Mid-Western Regional Council's Youth Services Officer, a position funded through partnership between Xstrata Coal NSW and Mid-Western Regional Council.

The Youth Services Officer will work with youth, youth agencies, volunteer groups, schools and other organisations to increase the number of events, workshops and programs held throughout the region and to increase engagement with young people on recreational, educational and employment issues.

Cathy will work in collaboration with the current Community and Youth Development Officer, Virginia Handmer.  Cathy can be contacted on cathy.leisfield@midwestern.nsw.gov.au

Youth Strategy

Mid-Western Regional Council recognises the importance of young people within the local government area and their potential to enrich the community, and outlines a number of programs and activities to support young people within the Management Plan.  The recommendations of that Plan are contained in the Youth Strategy Action Plan.  These initiatives will be developed and refined over a five year period subject to budgetary constraints and staff resources, and ensures that services and activities for young people are developed in a coordinated and consistent manner which reduces service duplication and encourages partnerships between local agencies, youth bodies and Council.   

Youth Taxi Voucher Scheme

The Youth Taxi Voucher Scheme has been very successful and the funding from the Ministry of Transport has now been exhausted, therefore the scheme has been postponed until more funding can be sourced.