20 September 2023
13 August 2023
The Youth Council since May 2023 has been involved in understanding the Voice Referendum and is preparing for their engagement in ICfE’s 2023 Voice Referendum Discussion with Indigenous Lawyer Eddie Synot. Event information to register is at https://illawarracfe.com/programs/2023-voice-referendum-discussion/
July 2023
Reflection from Ben John on leaving the Youth Council
23 May 2023
Reflection from Cellina Zayya who is leaving the YC to focus on full-time work
17 April 2023
1 April 2023
Youth Council engaged in understanding the purpose of Referendum 2023, why recognition for First Nations and enshrining a Voice matters.
17 November 2022
Youth Council awarded Highly Commended in 2022 NSW Youth Action Awards! More info
14 November 2022
The Youth Council completes their evaluation of the Grill and Chill event and releases their report.
22 October 2022
Youth Council hosts their first public youth Grill & Chill event for Illawarra youth – https://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/grill-chill-event/
20 October 2022
The Youth Council is shortlisted by NSW Youth Action for NSW Youth Work Awards 2022 in the category, Outstanding Work with Regional Young People!
https://www.youthaction.org.au/youth-work-awards-2022-nominees#regional-youngpeople
Woolworths Kiama shows support for the Youth Council in organising the public youth event, Grill and Chill.
15 October 2022
Kiama High School and Ki Print are supporters of the Grill and Chill Event.
7 October 2022
Article about the Grill and Chill event by Cassandra Zaucer featured in The Bugle 7 October 2022.
6 October 2022
Raffle prizes worth up to $150 is announced for the Youth Council’s upcoming free Grill and Chill event for Illawarra youth on 22 October at 11am-3pm at the Kiama Surf Club. Thanks to our supporter Makuta. More info and registration at https://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/free-grill-chill-event-for-illawarra-youth-18-25yrs/
4 October 2022
The Youth Council and the ICfE have been nominated in the Outstanding Work With Regional Young People category for the NSW Youth Work Awards by Youth Action NSW. The Awards and combined 2 day Conference are being held on 17 November from 7.00pm to 9.00pm at the Australian Theatre for Young People, Eora Country, Dawes Point NSW 2000.
6 September – 22 October 2022
The Illawarra Centre for Enablement (ICfE)’s YOUTH COUNCIL is organising and promoting a free youth event for Illawarra youth 18-25 years of age on Saturday 22 October at Kiama Surf Club from 11am to 3pm where will be games, live music & a sausage sizzle. Registration is at YOUTHGRILLANDCHILL.EVENTBRITE.COM.AU More info
4 September 2022
ICfE’s Instagram updates continue at https://www.instagram.com/illawarracfe/
5 September 2022
The Youth Council opens free General Memberships for youth to join. Members receive updates of upcoming events and news. https://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/want-to-join/
4 September 2022
Ben Johns steps down from the Youth Council and is appointed as the Council’s Honorary Advisor. https://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/reflection-from-youth-council-member-ben-johns/
June – July 2022:
Cellina Zayya and Julia Messore join the Youth Council. https://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/introducing-our-newest-youth-council-member-cellina-zayya/ https://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/introducing-our-new-youth-council-member-julia-messore/
8 July 2022:
Youth Council receives advocacy training by Youth Action NSW CEO, Kate Munro at Flagstaff’s Life Choices Hub in Port Kembla. The COVID Recovery Youth Engagement Toolkit forms the basis of the training utilising a strengths-based approach known as Appreciative Inquiry (AI) to include the voices of young people when planning for recovery. It can be extended to develop skills and strengthen community assets and resilience. https://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/youth-council-to-receive-advocacy-training-by-youth-action-nsw/
3-6 June 2022:
Ben Healey from ICfE’s Youth Council participated in the second meeting of the Regional Youth Taskforce of 18 youth across NSW to provide policy advice on enabling young people to thrive in their regions. https://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/ben-healey-attends-nsw-regional-youth-taskforce-meeting-in-wagga-wagga/
April – July 2022:
Youth Council is continuing to explore opportunities for funding for programs for youth in the IIlawarra. Initial discussions were held with the William Campbell Foundation. Discussions are continuing with other organisations for possible projects in the latter half of 2022.
12 May 2022:
Youth Council member Alvin Chung commences working on a solo leadership project to assist and improve UOW’s Cycling Club for students. He also co-MC’s an event for the Club titled, Bikes for Good on 12 May 2022 that 35 UOW students attended. https://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/alvin-chungs-solo-leadership-project/
9 March 2022:
The Minister for Regional Youth, Hon. Ben Franklin MLC. announced the 2022 Taskforce members. Benjamin Healey was selected to represent the Illawarra and Shoalhaven region on this 18 Member Regional Youth Taskforce.
https://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/2022-regional-youth-taskforce-member/
You can listen to Ben discuss what he will be doing in the Regional Youth Taskforce this with Lindsay McDougall on ABC Illawarra Drive at https://www.abc.net.au/…/programs/drive/drive/13779076 (2.22 in the interview time line).
1 February 2022:
Youth Council Member Alvin Chung mentored by ICfE Director begins working on a strategic leadership and marketing project with UOW Cycling Club Youth Council Special Project with UOW Cycling Club
14 January 2022:
Illawarra Youth Survey reported on in an Article in The Bugle Kiama Newspaper 14 January 2022
20 December 2021:
The Youth Council release their Report on the findings of their Youth Survey. Their Report, COVID-19 Illawarra Youth Survey Report 2021 is endorsed by more than 60 Illawarra organisations, leaders and MPs. The Report is promoted widely to youth and the public as well as the media.
Project Manager of the Report: Alvin Chung; Team Leaders: Ben Healey and Tristan James
Article in the Illawarra Mercury 23 December 2021
23 November 2021:
6 Youth Council Members were awarded the OUTSTANDING YOUNG CITIZENS AWARD by the Kiama Electorate on 29 November 2021 https://illawarracfe.com/youth-council/media-youth-council/
1 September 2021:
The Bugle Newspaper published an article about the Youth Council and their Youth Survey on 1/9/21
23 August 2021:
Youth Council release their Youth Survey for Illawarra youth 18-26 years to understand their experiences, views and concerns about the COVID-19 Pandemic
22 August 2021:
Amar Sultan appointed Youth Council Administrator; Ben Johns as Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator; Ishan Datar and Alvin Chung as Social Media Coordinators
2 August 2021:
ICfE Youth Council commences after being invited by ICfE Director, Diann Rodgers-Healey who will work with the Youth Council to enable leadership capacity and development