Twenty young people from the Horsham area were inducted as members of the city's first Youth Council last week.
Horsham Rural City Council (HRCC) Mayor Mark Radford was on hand to congratulate those selected on their success.
He said the Youth Council would be given the opportunity to develop initiatives and events and also help shape the future direction of HRCC's policies.
"The new HRCC Youth Council will provide an opportunity for our young people to have a voice in our community and create a learning experience that will be useful in years to come," Cr Radford said.
"The views of the Youth Council will help guide decisions for precincts and infrastructure that affect them, and their peers, now and into the future," he said.
The Youth Council is made up of people aged 12 to 25 who are living within the municipality.
There will be a chairperson and a minute taker nominated for each meeting. This will be done on a rotational basis allowing for skill development and participation of all members.
Lily Materne, 18, of Horsham College said there were many reasons why she joined the Youth Council.
"I applied to be a Horsham Youth Councillor because I want to be involved in the community and be able to be part of future decisions that will effect youth, especially to make sure we have strategies and changes that will have positive effect on generations to come," Ms Materne said.
"Strategies to combat issues that arise involving the youth of the region could include changing alcohol culture and creating an environment where we respect and be inclusive no matter what occurs," she said.
Horsham College's Lucas Scott, 16, previously served on the Nexus Youth Committee and said he was looking forward to contributing to the Horsham Youth Council.
"I believe this community needs places to go and have fun away from football, etc. without drugs and alcohol," Mr Scott said.
The next meeting of the Youth Council in September will see the group evaluate what is important to Young people in the Municipality and from this determine a program of delivery over the next two years.
YOUTH COUNCILLORS
- Shivansh Bhutani, 11, Ss Michael and John's Primary School
- Tyra King, 12, Horsham College
- Shanese Brown, 12, St Brigid's College
- Malachy O'Brien, 12, Horsham College
- Scarlett Munday-Terry, 13, St Brigids College Horsham
- Armani Scollary, 13, Holy Trinty Lutheran College
- Montana Crane, 13, Horsham College
- Althea Jai Fernando Tudias, 13, Horsham College
- Daisy Sudholz, 13, St Brigid's College
- Bethany Arnup, 14, St Brigid's College
- Sophie McNeil, 14, Horsham College
- Paris Fiedler, 15, Horsham College
- Michael Collins-Clarke, 15, Murtoa College
- Lucas Scott, 16, Horsham College
- Isabelle Oman, 16, Horsham College
- Miranda Rose, 18, Longerenong College
- Melanie Koop, 18, Skillinvest/Horsham Town Hall)
- Lily Materne, 18, Horsham College
- Brylee Taylor, 19, Federation University
- Zack Currie, 21, Australian Wool Network - Horsham Branch
