THE third annual National Youth Week Leaders Forum was held at Parkdale Secondary College, Friday 22 April.
“This forum has been a great success over the past two years,” federal Labor member for Isaacs Mark Dreyfus said.
“I was very pleased to be able to hold my third leaders forum at Parkdale and I thank the school for hosting this great local event.
“Young people in the Isaacs community have so much to offer and such great ideas to share, and I am glad that my forum offers an avenue for young local residents to talk to community leaders and their local MP.”
About 50 high school students from years 10-12 participated in a Q&A style forum, discussing issues that matter to young people today, with major themes being international development, environment, mental health and education.
The students were joined by a panel of four young leaders from different organisations: Gemma Shea, Dean Levitan, Jacqui Teh and Hunter Johnson, who have a wealth of knowledge about the issues young people care about.
National Youth Week ran from 8-17 April with the theme: ‘It Starts with Us’. The annual celebration of young people runs as a joint initiative of the Australian, state, territory and local governments.
It aims to give young people an opportunity to express their ideas and views, and highlights the achievements of young Australians.
Each year, events are hosted around Australia to celebrate and recognise the contribution of young people. More than 20,000 young people from metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria participate in National Youth Week activities.
Details: youthcentral.vic.gov.au
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 4 May 2016