LOCAL kids now have a chance to stake their claim as a future leader in the region with the establishment of the Tamworth Regional Youth Council.
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Tamworth councillors said it has been a while since a youth council existed in the region and this presented a chance to gauge their issues affecting youth.
Tamworth Regional Councillor Charles Impey – who also works as a careers advisor with Calrossy – said there were some good experiences to be gained from the youth council.
“They will be able to pick up skills in communication, building relationships and networking,” Cr Impey said.
There are also obvious skills in leadership to be obtained from the youth council, and Cr Impey – TRC’s youngest councillor – said the initiative would help council get a stronger understanding of issues faced by local youngsters.
“We want to be proactive in building a strong connection with the region’s leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
The councillor said it would be ideal to find a mix of students to represent the youth council.
“I hope there is a really good, solid mix of people representing different backgrounds, like someone with an Aboriginal background, someone living with a disability, someone from a disadvantaged background, someone from Manilla, Barraba or Nundle,” he said.
The youth council initiative was a key outcome from Tamworth Regional Youth Summit held earlier this year.
Nominations will soon be opened for local kids from anywhere in the region aged between 15 and 18 “who are passionate about making a difference in the region and having a say on issues affecting youth”.
“The aim of the youth council is based around inspiring and motivating youth to make informed decisions that will shape the future of our region,” Mayor Col Murray said.
“Representatives will be able to create events and run activities that they feel engage young people in a fun and safe way.”
Nomination forms will soon be made available on the Tamworth Regional Council website.