Darebin Youth Forum

Creating change in our community

The student leaders from NHS middle school years, recently attended the Darebin Youth Forum. This forum allowed us, Rose, Walt and Sidney to meet and work with different schools representing the Darebin student community. 

The day started with students working together to identify issues of concern for them that face the Darebin community. Students went on to work in smaller groups on a specific issue that they felt passionately about. Key issues of concern included better promotion and support for electric vehicles, improved bike paths, more incentives for small business to go solar, support for youth mental health, and raising awareness of local histories. In my group, we discussed youth mental health. We identified where resources are lacking and how they could be improved to better assist young people. We conceptualised potential solutions to present to the Darebin council. 

We learnt about how to put together a community submission that could go to council and how we can be part of the change in our local community. In the afternoon we were joined by the mayor of Darebin, Cr Lina Messina and other councillors where we presented our problems and solutions to them and started a conversation of possibilities for implementation.  

This forum was a really great opportunity to get involved in the community and see what Darebin's councils plan is for our future. 

Sidney McGrath Yr 10