Central Coast High School students Willow Robinson and Tyson Purchase are part of 18 young leaders selected from across the state to represent their community as the third official Regional Youth Taskforce.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch congratulated Willow and Tyson on their appointment to the ministerial advisory group that will provide operational and policy advice to the NSW Government on behalf of their peers.
“The Taskforce has been selected from more than 130 applicants from each of the state’s nine regions and will officially meet four times throughout the year to discuss issues impacting regional youth,” Mr Crouch said.
“The first meeting will be held in Dubbo next month and will center around what it means to be ‘work ready’ and how the NSW Government can better engage regional youth to prepare them for different career paths and jobs of the future.”
Minister for Regional Youth Ben Franklin said the Regional Youth Taskforce connects young people from regional NSW with their community and engages them on issues including getting a job, mental health and public transport.
“The first two Regional Youth Taskforces have done a fantastic job representing issues important to young people living in regional NSW, including access to services, fee free local youth events, and COVID-19 mental health advocacy,” Mr Franklin said.
“Some of the 2021 Taskforce’s achievements include initiating a regional school Alumni Events Program, running an online event to give advice to young people interested in running for council, and creating positive social media videos to support other young people through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Over the course of this year, the 18 new members will build on the success of their predecessors and gain an insight into how to drive policy change and advocate for real outcomes and results for young people.”
For more information on the Regional Youth Taskforce, visit: nsw.gov.au/RegionalYouthTaskforce.